3/24/10
Jerry Curran And The Nuclear Banana Rides Again!
By Dan Johnson
Jerry Curran And The Nuclear Banana Rides Again!
By Dan Johnson
The Nuclear Banana rides again! After being involved in one of the most vicious and
spectacular wrecks at Oswego Speedway in recent history, Jerry Curran returns to the
supermodified class at Oswego Speedway for 2010. On August 22 last year, Jerry’s
immaculate #24 had a bolt snap, sending the car careening into the outside front
straightaway wall at great force. The car rode the outside wall, entering the first turn,
high in the air, upside down. It appeared briefly that the car flippped outside the
confines of the race track, but it came to a rest upside down, in the first turn area of the
track. “I knew it wasn’t good when I saw the white from the foam as I was upside down,”
Jerry said of his ride. Amazingly enough, Jerry emerged from the mangled machine ok,
while the car was a write off.
spectacular wrecks at Oswego Speedway in recent history, Jerry Curran returns to the
supermodified class at Oswego Speedway for 2010. On August 22 last year, Jerry’s
immaculate #24 had a bolt snap, sending the car careening into the outside front
straightaway wall at great force. The car rode the outside wall, entering the first turn,
high in the air, upside down. It appeared briefly that the car flippped outside the
confines of the race track, but it came to a rest upside down, in the first turn area of the
track. “I knew it wasn’t good when I saw the white from the foam as I was upside down,”
Jerry said of his ride. Amazingly enough, Jerry emerged from the mangled machine ok,
while the car was a write off.
“We’ll be back this year, can’t wait,” Jerry said as he readies his new machine for
Opening Day 2010. “I didn’t think twice about it. Matter of fact, the night of the accident, I
was watching the feature with Danny Soule, trying to work out something with him to get
in his car.”
The 2009 version of the Nuclear Banana, has been stripped of a few parts that could
be salvaged, while Jerry already has a new chassis in the shop he is readying for 2010.
“We have a new Hawk from Joey,” Jerry continued. “We made a few minor changes to
it. We have the body on it now, and were able to save a few things from the accident.
We took a big hit on the motor though. That may keep me from Opening Day, as that’s
where we took a big hit from that accident.”
One way fans can help Jerry get back on the track for Opening day is supporting his
chicken barbecue, April 10th at Dominicks Sports Bar in Scriba, at its new location on
County Route 51a (the old Cheers place). “Hopefully we’ll have a successful fundraiser
and that will really help us get the funds we need to be ready for opening day.”
Jerry looks to go back to the luck he had just before the accident, as the week prior, he
led a number of laps in the feature and finished second that night to Joey Payne.
Opening Day 2010. “I didn’t think twice about it. Matter of fact, the night of the accident, I
was watching the feature with Danny Soule, trying to work out something with him to get
in his car.”
The 2009 version of the Nuclear Banana, has been stripped of a few parts that could
be salvaged, while Jerry already has a new chassis in the shop he is readying for 2010.
“We have a new Hawk from Joey,” Jerry continued. “We made a few minor changes to
it. We have the body on it now, and were able to save a few things from the accident.
We took a big hit on the motor though. That may keep me from Opening Day, as that’s
where we took a big hit from that accident.”
One way fans can help Jerry get back on the track for Opening day is supporting his
chicken barbecue, April 10th at Dominicks Sports Bar in Scriba, at its new location on
County Route 51a (the old Cheers place). “Hopefully we’ll have a successful fundraiser
and that will really help us get the funds we need to be ready for opening day.”
Jerry looks to go back to the luck he had just before the accident, as the week prior, he
led a number of laps in the feature and finished second that night to Joey Payne.
“We struggled early last year, still figuring things out from our accident Classic Weekend
the year before. We finally figured a few things out, and were running decent. We made
some suspension changes early in the season. They didn’t work, and we went back to the
old style where we were, and started to make some headway. We turned the corner and
were running decent the second half of last year, and had a good race the week before,
running well and finishing just behind Joey and the 99.” “Then we had the accident, and
it was one where a 50 cent part cost us $50,000,” he reflected.
Jerry hopped back behind the wheel of a supermodified Classic Weekend last year,
picking up a ride for the 200 in the new set of wheels out of the Pat Strong stable. Jerry
relays the chain of events that led him to the ride, “Pat had been working on the new car,
and it was done. Joey(Payne) and Louie (Cicconi) are buddies, and the ride was Louie’s.
Louie was never comfortable in the car, and came to me and said the ride was mine, and
that he was going back home. He didn’t want to wreck Pat’s new car. I got in the car, and
it ran good.”
the year before. We finally figured a few things out, and were running decent. We made
some suspension changes early in the season. They didn’t work, and we went back to the
old style where we were, and started to make some headway. We turned the corner and
were running decent the second half of last year, and had a good race the week before,
running well and finishing just behind Joey and the 99.” “Then we had the accident, and
it was one where a 50 cent part cost us $50,000,” he reflected.
Jerry hopped back behind the wheel of a supermodified Classic Weekend last year,
picking up a ride for the 200 in the new set of wheels out of the Pat Strong stable. Jerry
relays the chain of events that led him to the ride, “Pat had been working on the new car,
and it was done. Joey(Payne) and Louie (Cicconi) are buddies, and the ride was Louie’s.
Louie was never comfortable in the car, and came to me and said the ride was mine, and
that he was going back home. He didn’t want to wreck Pat’s new car. I got in the car, and
it ran good.”
“We qualified 26th, and made it up to 9th, and were doing ok. With about 30 to go, it
began to overheat, and I pulled it in. I didn’t want to blow it up on Pat, so we were done.
The new car ran really well, and we were really happy with it. They are going to have
some luck with that car this year, it’s a really good car,” Jerry added.”
Jerry is ready and chomping at the bit to get 2010 started. “I’m really excited about
this year, and having a new car to get going with,” he continued. “We made a few
changes, and are just about ready to hit the track. Once we get our motor deal finished,
we’re set to go.”
Two Flags(Bill Davies), Dominick’s Sports Bar, Lavery Welding and Race Chassis,
Jennz Cutting Edge, Jakes Automotive, Ostrander’s Markets, Eagle Beverage, Ted’s
Tree Service, Port City Machine Shop, Luther’s Way Out Graphix, Hawk Race Chassis,
Halsey Machine Shop, Jeff Draper, Brad Haynes, and Bernie Finnegan are the team’s
loyal sponsors that have signed on again for 2010. Jeff Lavery, Mike Lavery, Mike
Foster, Ted Reifke, Benny Michalski, Robin and Harlee are the dedicated crew that will
help getting “the Banana” back on the speedway weekly.
“We should have a strong field this year, and we’re ready to get back on track”, Jerry
said looking forward to 2010. He went through the lowest of lows at the end of 2009,
wadding up what was once a gorgeous race car. A new season is upon us, and Jerry is
ready to be in the thick of things at the front of the pack.
began to overheat, and I pulled it in. I didn’t want to blow it up on Pat, so we were done.
The new car ran really well, and we were really happy with it. They are going to have
some luck with that car this year, it’s a really good car,” Jerry added.”
Jerry is ready and chomping at the bit to get 2010 started. “I’m really excited about
this year, and having a new car to get going with,” he continued. “We made a few
changes, and are just about ready to hit the track. Once we get our motor deal finished,
we’re set to go.”
Two Flags(Bill Davies), Dominick’s Sports Bar, Lavery Welding and Race Chassis,
Jennz Cutting Edge, Jakes Automotive, Ostrander’s Markets, Eagle Beverage, Ted’s
Tree Service, Port City Machine Shop, Luther’s Way Out Graphix, Hawk Race Chassis,
Halsey Machine Shop, Jeff Draper, Brad Haynes, and Bernie Finnegan are the team’s
loyal sponsors that have signed on again for 2010. Jeff Lavery, Mike Lavery, Mike
Foster, Ted Reifke, Benny Michalski, Robin and Harlee are the dedicated crew that will
help getting “the Banana” back on the speedway weekly.
“We should have a strong field this year, and we’re ready to get back on track”, Jerry
said looking forward to 2010. He went through the lowest of lows at the end of 2009,
wadding up what was once a gorgeous race car. A new season is upon us, and Jerry is
ready to be in the thick of things at the front of the pack.
