Oswego Speedway is going to try to open again this weekend.
Facing what has been an uphill climb of rainy spring weather, Oswego will again try to open its 2025 campaign with the 74th season kickoff on June 14.
The track has lost two consecutive events for the first time since the 2003 campaign. The season opener will include the first of four Oswego Super Challenge races, an event lost twice to rain already this year.
The 60-lap Jim Shampine Memorial event will pay $5,000 to win, with at least $1,100 offered to start. The purse has swelled to over $38,000. That is the most lucrative purse offered to the Supermodifieds for an opener and ranks as the most valuable prize structure at Oswego behind only the International Classic. The opener is also part of John Nicotra’s Challenge Series.
Later in June, the 50-lap ISMA/MSS/Oswego Winged Supermodified challenge event is set for June 28. August will feature two challenge races. First is the 38th annual $10,000-to-win Mr. Novelis Supermodified, set for Aug. 9. The second is the crown jewel Budweiser International Classic 200; the 69th running is planned for Aug. 31.
Each ISMA/MSS/Oswego Challenge race offers premier purses and challenge points using the ISMA championship points system. The top 10 in the point standings at the end of the four-race challenge series will share in a $25,000 top 10 fund.
ISMA Supermodifieds were in action over the weekend, racing at Lancaster Motorplex. It was a return of the winged supers to the oval.
Mike Ordway took the win. Tyler Shullick was next with Mike McVetta taking third. Otto Sitterly broke the track standard in qualifying, setting a new ISMA/MSS lap record of 14.932 seconds at Lancaster Motorplex.
Many of the drivers in action will be again on June 28 when Oswego hosts its ISMA/MSS Challenge event.
Looking at this coming weekend, Oswego Speedway media is expecting Supermodified regulars to be in action, including former Challenge champions Sitterly and Tyler Thompson, as well as former track champions Michael Barnes, Joe Gosek, Brandon Bellinger, and Dave Shullick Jr. Others include Jeff Abold, Mike Bruce, Camden Proud, Dan Connors Jr., Lou LeVea Jr. and Logan Rayvals, and non-regulars such as Ben Seitz, Michael Muldoon, Canadian star Junior Farrelly and Jerry Curran.
The June 14 show will include the rescheduled Tony White Memorial, a 35-lap main event for the small block supers. After suffering two washouts, this race will also be their opener.
The GTR Super Stocks will be racing a 25-lap feature that day as well. This is the first of four events GTS Super Stocks will contest at Oswego.
The 350 Supers come back to life on June 21, chasing a $1,000-to-win prize and are not part of the June 14 opener.
Gates open at 3:30 p.m. Racing starts at 6:30 p.m. Tickets and schedules are available on OswegoSpeedway.com.
AREA RESULTSTOURING SERIESRyan Godown showed the way all 75 laps in winning the Anthracite Assault at Big Diamond Speedway earlier this week. It stands as his first Super DIRTcar Series win in three years.
The pace was slowed by a trio of caution periods in the first 15 laps, keeping the fast Godown — who had redrew the pole spot for the original start — within arm’s length. In an extended long run through lap 50, Godown was the class of the field. Alex Yankowski was mostly an afterthought until Godown caught slower traffic. Then, Yankowski served a bold move to take the lead but the opportunity went away as Rick Laubach stopped on lap 53.
On the restart, Godown was a rocket again, and it was not until there were only 10 laps to go that Yankowski could forge a second bid. Again working lapped traffic, Godown was battling to pass Mike Trautschold, and Yankowski was there — closing to within four lengths with seven to go.
Godown stalked Trautschold while Yankowski stalked the leader. A sliver of daylight on the extreme inside line looked like Godown’s chance to clear. However, he nearly struck an infield tire on lap 71 — which would have derailed his winning hopes. This changed his line, and Yankowski drove to the inside line to draw even on lap 72. The high line offered momentum — and a life line — as Godown kept the lead. Moving back low, Yankowski tried to sail around the outside of Godown a final time before the race was flagged in Godown’s favor.
Yankowski took second, his third bride’s main finish of the touring season. Alex Payne was third ahead of Mat Williamson and Matt Sheppard.
Sheppard and Godown were collected in a harrowing crash at Selinsgrove Speedway the next night. There, Stewart Friesen won his 50th career Super DIRTcar Series event.
Friesen started fifth and was second by the end of the first lap. Tim Sears Jr. drew the first caution flag. On the restart, Godown and Sheppard made contact. Sheppard and Godown both rolled. A late impact rear corner of Sheppard’s car added further chaos to the exchange; Sheppard came to rest on his roof and in all, 13 cars were involved in the melee. No one was injured.
The race resumed, and Friesen was trying to lean on momentum to pass former Big Diamond track champion Louden Reimert for the lead. Friesen changed lanes after a few stalled efforts, and forged a winning pass on lap 18. From there, he went untouched to win No. 50. The win offers Friesen a guaranteed starting spot in the Whittaker Cars 200 at Super DIRT Week.
Yankowski was second ahead of Williamson, Payne and Jimmy Phelps.
After winning the Snyder County Showdown, Friesen won Saturday’s NASCAR Truck Series race at Michigan — his first NCWTS win since Texas, 2022.
Next, the Super DIRTcar Series heads to Valley Speedway for the annual Mr. DIRT Track USA event. The 100-lap, $15,500-to-win feature is scheduled for June 19, and will offer another guaranteed starting spot at Super DIRT Week. For more, visit www.SuperDIRTcarSeries.com
Empire Super Sprints
Davie Franek won the Empire Super Sprints’ Julia Horton Memorial, taking a $4,000 prize for his work while winning from the pole. Jason Barney was next, with Jared Zimbardi filling the top five.
The Empire Super Sprints will be racing on asphalt next, visiting Evans Mills Raceway park on June 14 for a non-point Kevin Ward Memorial. Visit www.EmpireSuperSprints.com for more.
SATURDAYMat Williamson picked up his third win in four starts this year at Land of Legends Raceway, getting to the lead ahead of a fast Alex Payne en route to the $2,000 payday. Payne raced to second after a tight battle with Matt Sheppard and Kyle Coffey; Sheppard was third ahead of Nick Root and Coffey.
A couple significant crashes forced red flag conditions to start the modified feature; Justin Haers did not return the feature after having what was left of his No. 3 towed back to the pit area.
Gil Tegg was calling the action with Steven Ovens in the scoring tower. He said he was close to having a car together for some sort of team return this season. He is unlikely to be driving the car.
Karl Comfort took the Sportsman win over Tyler Corcoran and Matt Guererri. Bobby Parrow won the 360 Sprint feature over Dalton Martin and John Smith. Mike Welch won the Street Stock main ahead of Rick Crego and Glenn Writenour. Daniel Kerrick scored a popular Hobby Stock win over Marc Minutolo and Blane Smith. Kyle Ridley wheeled his No. 20k to the New Legends Sportsman win ahead of Chris Darling.
At Fulton Speedway, Lance Willix won the Modified feature from the pole, holding off Andrew Buff and Billy Dunn in the 35-lap feature. Larry Wight was next with Willy Decker filling the top five. Jimmy Moyer won the DIRTcar Sportsman feature, holding off Jason Parkhurst Jr. and Emmett Waldron. Mike Fowler and Kyle Perry filled the top five. John Pietrowicz took the Hobby Stock feature. Belle Hogan posted a win in the Novice Sportsman feature.
Eric Leet won the 35-lap Modified feature at Thunder Mountain Speedway. Brian Malcolm was next, ahead of Brandon Loucks. Doug Smith took the 358-Modified win over Jimmy Zacharias and Darren Smith. Eric Winsor won the Sportsman feature. Rich Sharpsteen picked up a win in the Factory Stock feature. Johnny Smith topped Zach Sobotka for the CRSA sprint win. Logan Ladue captured the 600cc modified checkers. Zach Herman won the chain class demolition derby at Fulton, and then ran second to close friend Freddy White in the built compact feature.
FRIDAYChris Hulsizer won his first career Modified feature at Brewerton. Hulsizer took the lead on lap 20 and held off all challenges for the final 15 circuits to win the main.
Chris Hile was a likely winner, but while leading the field he clipped an infield tire, ending his night. Hulsizer had inherited the lead and held off Nick Root on the restart. With 10 laps to go, Hulsizer was maintaining a six car edge; a final stoppage set up a green-white-checker finish and negated the lead. Hulsizer stayed focused and held off Nick Root for the win; Tim Sears Jr. Ronnie Davis III, and Darren Smith filled third through fifth. Emmett Waldron made a rare modified start, driving the No. 1M to 17th after starting 23rd.
Jason Parkhurst won the DIRTcar Sportsman feature, charging to the win after starting 12sth in the 25-lap main. Brett Sears was next, with Austin Germino, Nick Ventura and Tony Finch III earning top five results. Joe Isabell was the winner of the Mod Lite feature over Justin Williams. Chris Bonoffski (four-cylinder super stocks) and Tyler Catalano (600 wingless microsprints) earned class wins.
At Can-Am Speedway, Ryan Bartlett won the 358-Modified feature, denying Lance Willix a third win in a row. Tim Fuller was third ahead of Scott Webb and Billy Dunn. Gavin Eisele topped Richard Murtaugh and Jessica Power for the win in the Sportsman feature. Taylor Doxtater was next in the 20-lap feature; Eric Neir rounded out the top five. Nick Webb won the 602 crate sprint feature. Tony Frezzo took the checkers in the Thundercar feature and Patrick Kudrinko won the Limited Sportsman feature.
Outlaw Speedway rained out. The track has rescheduled the 1-on-1 spectator races, paying $1,500 to win, for June 13.
Friday’s Father’s Day weekend promotion will be $5 general admission.
The rainout has delayed the Gene Sharpsteen Memorial, which was offering the Street Stocks $1,313 to win. Make up dates are being considered, with nothing yet being made official. Follow OutlawSpeedwayllc.com for updates.
Utica-Rome Speedway suffered another rain out Friday. The track will be back in action Tuesday for a 358-Modified special event. The Small Blocks will join the Limited Sportsman and four-cylinders for the show; gates open at 5 pm with racing scheduled for 7 pm.
The oval will return with a Friday night program including the CRSA Sprints this week.
