7/4/10
Ray Graham, Jeff Holbrook, Bob Henry and Kreig Heroth
Pick Up Oswego Checkers
By Dan Johnson
Ray Graham, Jeff Holbrook, Bob Henry and Kreig Heroth
Pick Up Oswego Checkers
By Dan Johnson
Independence weekend kicked off in a big way at Oswego Speedway, as Ray Graham, Jeff
Holbrook, Bobby Henry and Kreig Heroth all grabbed feature event checkered flags Saturday
night. Graham held off Joey Payne in the first supermodified feature, while Jeff Holbrook led all
45 laps enroute to his first checkered flag since 2003. Henry led all 30laps in the first SBS main,
while Heroth made it two new winners in the same night for the SBS class, picking up the
popular win in the nightcap.
Danny Connors and Jeff Holbrook led the 20 car field to the green in the middle of the afternoon
for the rained out portion of the event, with Holbrook wasting no time taking the top spot. Payne
and Otto Sitterly went inside to get by early traffic, while Graham and Tim Snyder chose the high
road. Joe Gosek was a player early too, wheeling the 00 up to fourth on the take off lap.
Keith Shampine wheeled the 88 by Connors early on, and raced to the bumper of Holbrook’s 35.
Gosek followed Shampine through, and a three car breakaway was on. As Shampine raced for
the lea by Holbrook, the caution came out, as Gosek looped the 00 at the east end of the
speedway, giving up his third spot.
The restart saw Holbrook, Shampine, Connors, Graham, Payne, Dave McKnight, Dave Gruel,
Otto Sitterly, Jason Spaulding and Shaun Gosselin in the top ten. Graham shot by Connors on
the outside once green, and shot out with the 35 and 88 cars for a three car train up front.
Holbrook wheeled out at 17.56 laps, as Shampine and Graham were drawing a bead on the 35.
Lap 12, the 35 bobbled, with Shampine and Graham ready to pounce, and we had new leaders.
Shampine quickened the race pace to 17.34, and quickly put a few lengths between himself and
Graham. Sensing something was wrong with the car, Holbrook pitted, out of the race.
Shampine cruised up front in the 88, consistently stopping watches at 17.38 and .44, comfortable
a few lengths ahead.
McKnight moved to fourth on lap 20 by Connors, but was a full straight behind the 88 and 90
cars. Lap 20, the complexion of the race changed, as Shampine lost traction in the 88, and the
tail section came around in turn one, bringing out another yellow flag. Graham looked to go to
the outside of the spinning 88, but stopped just before hitting the Shampine mount. Graham was
not penalized in the incident.
Graham, Payne, McKnight, Connors and Sitterly were the top five with 15 laps to go, with Gosek
back in sixth. Recovering from an earlier spin, Gosek wheeled by Sitterly on the restart, then by
Connors a lap later for fourth. Back up front, Graham cruised in the 17.47 area, a full second
ahead of Payne and McKnight. The lead kept building, and as they crossed under the checkered
Graham was 2.88 seconds ahead at the finish. Payne held on for second, with McKnight in third.
“It was a good race, we were happy with the car,” the race winner said. “I felt bad for Keith, he
had a good race going, and I don’t know if I would have been able to get him or not.”
Holbrook and David Gruel drew front row assignments for race two, with Holbrook again
grabbing the lead once the green flag came out. The inside lane quickly took off, with Shampine
and Payne getting good starts, following the 35 car through. Holbrook quickly raced out to a
comfortable advantage, as he wheeled around the speedway at consistent 17.31 and 17.35
clips. By lap 5, his gap had already grown to over 2 seconds ahead of Shampine, Pat Lavery,
Joey Payne and McKnight.
Further back Tim Snyder, Joe Gosek, Danny Connors, Ray graham, Otto Sitterly and Davey
Hamilton staged their own war for position. Hamilton wheeled by his team car, Sitterly, and
began to chase down the pack just in front of the #6 car.
As the race wound along, Holbrook caught the tail of the field, and went to the outside to move
around with ease. Still under green flag conditions, Payne caught Lavery on lap 22 and went to
the high side for the third spot. At halfway, Holbrook clocked in a 17.37 lap, as he held a 3.21
second advantage on the field.
Lap 27, that was quickly erased as Hamilton spun the 6 car in turn four. Holbrook picked up
right where he left off, racing back out to the lead. A few laps later caution again flew as Jason
Spaulding and Jerry Curran touched, with Bobby Magner getting the worst of it with nose wing
damage, ending his night. The 23 and 24 cars continued.
Holbrook led Shampine, Payne, Lavery, McKnight, Gosek, Graham and Connors with a dozen
laps left. Holbrook went back to a quick three car gap, while further back McKnight picked off
Lavery for position. As laps wound down, Holbrook bobbled coming out of turn four with four to
go. Shampine tried to get by as the 35 wiggled, but couldn’t successfully get by. The top four
broke away, but remained bumper to bumper as they raced to the end.
As the checkered flew, Holbrook held Shampine back by a few car lengths, with Payne,
McKnight and Lavery rounding out the top five. “It’s been what, six years since we’ve won?”
Jeff laughed in Victory Lane. “I was just concentrating on hitting my marks, running my line and
doing what I had to do. I know what I had to do, it’s just a matter of doing it.”
Holbrook, Bobby Henry and Kreig Heroth all grabbed feature event checkered flags Saturday
night. Graham held off Joey Payne in the first supermodified feature, while Jeff Holbrook led all
45 laps enroute to his first checkered flag since 2003. Henry led all 30laps in the first SBS main,
while Heroth made it two new winners in the same night for the SBS class, picking up the
popular win in the nightcap.
Danny Connors and Jeff Holbrook led the 20 car field to the green in the middle of the afternoon
for the rained out portion of the event, with Holbrook wasting no time taking the top spot. Payne
and Otto Sitterly went inside to get by early traffic, while Graham and Tim Snyder chose the high
road. Joe Gosek was a player early too, wheeling the 00 up to fourth on the take off lap.
Keith Shampine wheeled the 88 by Connors early on, and raced to the bumper of Holbrook’s 35.
Gosek followed Shampine through, and a three car breakaway was on. As Shampine raced for
the lea by Holbrook, the caution came out, as Gosek looped the 00 at the east end of the
speedway, giving up his third spot.
The restart saw Holbrook, Shampine, Connors, Graham, Payne, Dave McKnight, Dave Gruel,
Otto Sitterly, Jason Spaulding and Shaun Gosselin in the top ten. Graham shot by Connors on
the outside once green, and shot out with the 35 and 88 cars for a three car train up front.
Holbrook wheeled out at 17.56 laps, as Shampine and Graham were drawing a bead on the 35.
Lap 12, the 35 bobbled, with Shampine and Graham ready to pounce, and we had new leaders.
Shampine quickened the race pace to 17.34, and quickly put a few lengths between himself and
Graham. Sensing something was wrong with the car, Holbrook pitted, out of the race.
Shampine cruised up front in the 88, consistently stopping watches at 17.38 and .44, comfortable
a few lengths ahead.
McKnight moved to fourth on lap 20 by Connors, but was a full straight behind the 88 and 90
cars. Lap 20, the complexion of the race changed, as Shampine lost traction in the 88, and the
tail section came around in turn one, bringing out another yellow flag. Graham looked to go to
the outside of the spinning 88, but stopped just before hitting the Shampine mount. Graham was
not penalized in the incident.
Graham, Payne, McKnight, Connors and Sitterly were the top five with 15 laps to go, with Gosek
back in sixth. Recovering from an earlier spin, Gosek wheeled by Sitterly on the restart, then by
Connors a lap later for fourth. Back up front, Graham cruised in the 17.47 area, a full second
ahead of Payne and McKnight. The lead kept building, and as they crossed under the checkered
Graham was 2.88 seconds ahead at the finish. Payne held on for second, with McKnight in third.
“It was a good race, we were happy with the car,” the race winner said. “I felt bad for Keith, he
had a good race going, and I don’t know if I would have been able to get him or not.”
Holbrook and David Gruel drew front row assignments for race two, with Holbrook again
grabbing the lead once the green flag came out. The inside lane quickly took off, with Shampine
and Payne getting good starts, following the 35 car through. Holbrook quickly raced out to a
comfortable advantage, as he wheeled around the speedway at consistent 17.31 and 17.35
clips. By lap 5, his gap had already grown to over 2 seconds ahead of Shampine, Pat Lavery,
Joey Payne and McKnight.
Further back Tim Snyder, Joe Gosek, Danny Connors, Ray graham, Otto Sitterly and Davey
Hamilton staged their own war for position. Hamilton wheeled by his team car, Sitterly, and
began to chase down the pack just in front of the #6 car.
As the race wound along, Holbrook caught the tail of the field, and went to the outside to move
around with ease. Still under green flag conditions, Payne caught Lavery on lap 22 and went to
the high side for the third spot. At halfway, Holbrook clocked in a 17.37 lap, as he held a 3.21
second advantage on the field.
Lap 27, that was quickly erased as Hamilton spun the 6 car in turn four. Holbrook picked up
right where he left off, racing back out to the lead. A few laps later caution again flew as Jason
Spaulding and Jerry Curran touched, with Bobby Magner getting the worst of it with nose wing
damage, ending his night. The 23 and 24 cars continued.
Holbrook led Shampine, Payne, Lavery, McKnight, Gosek, Graham and Connors with a dozen
laps left. Holbrook went back to a quick three car gap, while further back McKnight picked off
Lavery for position. As laps wound down, Holbrook bobbled coming out of turn four with four to
go. Shampine tried to get by as the 35 wiggled, but couldn’t successfully get by. The top four
broke away, but remained bumper to bumper as they raced to the end.
As the checkered flew, Holbrook held Shampine back by a few car lengths, with Payne,
McKnight and Lavery rounding out the top five. “It’s been what, six years since we’ve won?”
Jeff laughed in Victory Lane. “I was just concentrating on hitting my marks, running my line and
doing what I had to do. I know what I had to do, it’s just a matter of doing it.”
Bobby Henry and Tim Barbeau paced the 20 car parade for the SBS kickoff race on the
afternoon. Henry pounced to the lead as soon as they field came out of turn four when Donnie
Forbes unfurled the green starter stick. Mike Bond and Barry Kingsley went high to wheel
forward, while the rest of the field stayed to the inside portion of the speedway.
Henry, Barbeau, Nearbin, Bond, and Abt were the battled in the early laps, with the lead pack
turning 19.78 laps at the point. Abt made his move as he got by Bond and Nearbin on lap four,
as Dave Cliff began to make his presence felt in the 06 car.
Still under green conditions, the 93, 58 and 85 formed a three car breakaway, as they put 1.38
seconds between themselves and the 06, 26 and 50 cars. As the race neared the halfway point,
rookie Henry was protecting the inside, as Barbeau and Abt staged attempts at the point. With
the lead trio racing hard, Cliff chased down the leaders, no with a four car pack at the head of the
class.
Cliff kept the steam going, wheeling by Abt in turn one on lap 20, only to have Abt return the
favor a few laps later. Henry kept the 93 as low as he could coming out of the turns, as if
someone was going to get by, they would have to do it on the outside. Barbeau looked outside,
but couldn’t get enough steam to pull alongside the orange #93.
As the checkered waved, Henry led a five car train of the 93, 58, 85, 06 and 26 all bumper to
bumper at the finish, with Henry’s right arm in the air, knowing his just picked up his first
Oswego Speedway feature win.
“If they were going to get me, they were going to have to go around me to get it,” the newest
feature winner stated after the win. “The car handled good, and I have to thank jay and all the
guys on the crew for everything they have done, all the hard work they put in to out the car up
front.”
afternoon. Henry pounced to the lead as soon as they field came out of turn four when Donnie
Forbes unfurled the green starter stick. Mike Bond and Barry Kingsley went high to wheel
forward, while the rest of the field stayed to the inside portion of the speedway.
Henry, Barbeau, Nearbin, Bond, and Abt were the battled in the early laps, with the lead pack
turning 19.78 laps at the point. Abt made his move as he got by Bond and Nearbin on lap four,
as Dave Cliff began to make his presence felt in the 06 car.
Still under green conditions, the 93, 58 and 85 formed a three car breakaway, as they put 1.38
seconds between themselves and the 06, 26 and 50 cars. As the race neared the halfway point,
rookie Henry was protecting the inside, as Barbeau and Abt staged attempts at the point. With
the lead trio racing hard, Cliff chased down the leaders, no with a four car pack at the head of the
class.
Cliff kept the steam going, wheeling by Abt in turn one on lap 20, only to have Abt return the
favor a few laps later. Henry kept the 93 as low as he could coming out of the turns, as if
someone was going to get by, they would have to do it on the outside. Barbeau looked outside,
but couldn’t get enough steam to pull alongside the orange #93.
As the checkered waved, Henry led a five car train of the 93, 58, 85, 06 and 26 all bumper to
bumper at the finish, with Henry’s right arm in the air, knowing his just picked up his first
Oswego Speedway feature win.
“If they were going to get me, they were going to have to go around me to get it,” the newest
feature winner stated after the win. “The car handled good, and I have to thank jay and all the
guys on the crew for everything they have done, all the hard work they put in to out the car up
front.”
In the nightcap, Guard Nearbin and Dennis Richmond paced the biggest feature field to date, as
24 SBS’rs came to the green. Nearbin had fans on their feet, as the hometowner placed the #78
in the race lead at the start of the event. Coming from his inside row two starting spot, Krieg
Heroth went to the inside at the start, and wheeled under the Nearbin #78 on the front straight on
lap 2 for the point.
By lap 5, Heroth pulled out to a second and a half lead over Nearbin, Richmond, Brian Sobus
and Mike Bond. Bond, Mike Bruce and Richmond’s bid for wins ended a few laps later in turn
four as they ended against the foam in the next few laps.
Dave Cliff again played himself into contention, as he wheeled the family 06 to fourth on the take
off, as Heroth pulled out again on the take off. Laps of 19.91 saw the 44 lead, but fans attention
shifted to Cliff, as he wheeled the 06 up to second, passed Abt and Nearbin. Heroth held a 2.16
second gap on the 06, as the race neared halfway.
With Heroth guarding the bottom, Cliff went to the outside to attempt to get by. When Cliff went
outside, Abt would go inside, looking for the spot. Abt and Cliff traded second and third on a
pair of occasions, each looked to get by Heroth up top. Neither was successful, with Heroth
ever present guarding the inside.
Lap 24, it was Abt’s turn to try the 44, with no luck. Cliff got back under the 85, and looked high
on Heroth. Try as they might, neither Dave Cliff or Steve Abt could muscle by the Heroth 44, as
Krieg Heroth drove the race of his SBS career, cruising under the checkered flag with the 06 and
85 on his back bumper.
“There’s no secret here, you protect the inside, and have them go around you,” the happy first
time winner in SBS competition at Oswego added. “This is so great, picking up a win here at
Oswego, in front of a good crowd, on a nice night, it doesn’t get much better than this.”
24 SBS’rs came to the green. Nearbin had fans on their feet, as the hometowner placed the #78
in the race lead at the start of the event. Coming from his inside row two starting spot, Krieg
Heroth went to the inside at the start, and wheeled under the Nearbin #78 on the front straight on
lap 2 for the point.
By lap 5, Heroth pulled out to a second and a half lead over Nearbin, Richmond, Brian Sobus
and Mike Bond. Bond, Mike Bruce and Richmond’s bid for wins ended a few laps later in turn
four as they ended against the foam in the next few laps.
Dave Cliff again played himself into contention, as he wheeled the family 06 to fourth on the take
off, as Heroth pulled out again on the take off. Laps of 19.91 saw the 44 lead, but fans attention
shifted to Cliff, as he wheeled the 06 up to second, passed Abt and Nearbin. Heroth held a 2.16
second gap on the 06, as the race neared halfway.
With Heroth guarding the bottom, Cliff went to the outside to attempt to get by. When Cliff went
outside, Abt would go inside, looking for the spot. Abt and Cliff traded second and third on a
pair of occasions, each looked to get by Heroth up top. Neither was successful, with Heroth
ever present guarding the inside.
Lap 24, it was Abt’s turn to try the 44, with no luck. Cliff got back under the 85, and looked high
on Heroth. Try as they might, neither Dave Cliff or Steve Abt could muscle by the Heroth 44, as
Krieg Heroth drove the race of his SBS career, cruising under the checkered flag with the 06 and
85 on his back bumper.
“There’s no secret here, you protect the inside, and have them go around you,” the happy first
time winner in SBS competition at Oswego added. “This is so great, picking up a win here at
Oswego, in front of a good crowd, on a nice night, it doesn’t get much better than this.”
News and Notes….22 supermodifieds and 24 SBS cars were pitside. Mike Bond, Krieg Heroth,
and Keith Gilliam won SBS heat races, while Pat Lavery, Joey Payne and Jeff Holbrook won
supermodified qualifiers. This is a two day, two race weekend at Oswego Speedway, with MSA-
Oswego Wing races Friday and Saturday nights this week. Friday culminates with a 40 lap wing
feature, paying $3000 to win, Saturday, a 50 lap, $5000 to win extravaganza. Both days, gates
open at 4pm, with the first event getting the green flag at 6:30pm
and Keith Gilliam won SBS heat races, while Pat Lavery, Joey Payne and Jeff Holbrook won
supermodified qualifiers. This is a two day, two race weekend at Oswego Speedway, with MSA-
Oswego Wing races Friday and Saturday nights this week. Friday culminates with a 40 lap wing
feature, paying $3000 to win, Saturday, a 50 lap, $5000 to win extravaganza. Both days, gates
open at 4pm, with the first event getting the green flag at 6:30pm