OSWEGO, NY (June 22) – In Oswego Speedway’s 62 years of existence, it has never seen anything quite like this.
On Saturday, July 7 the Speedway will host the 4th annual Burke’s Do-It-Best Home Centers/CNY Central King of Wings, but with a twist. Joining the International Supermodified Association (ISMA) Supermodifieds will be the world record holding MustSeeRacing.com Xtreme Sprint Car Series, which has set new track records at every track they have competed at this season. The two series will take on the Steel Palace on the same day in the search for speed and bragging rights in what is being billed, the ‘Terminal Velocity Showdown.’
“Oswego Speedway is of course the Home of Supermodifieds, but it is also the home of raw open-wheel short track speed,” said Oswego Speedway co-owner, John Torrese. “For the first time in history we will give fans the opportunity to see all of the best in both of the fastest open-wheel pavement short track series in one night, at one track. It should be a very special evening all around, and one people will be talking about for quite some time to come.”
Each division will run their own schedule of events separate from each other, but will be pitted against one another in speed time trials to see which will be the fastest racecar in Oswego Speedway history.
Currently, the International Supermodified Association holds the fastest lap ever recorded at Oswego Speedway, set by Chris Perley on August 28, 2008. Perley’s lap of 15.198 seconds at an average speed of 148.046mph has stood for over three years and is predicted to fall on July 7, flirting with a potential world record.
But which series will do so?
The winged Supermodifieds of the ISMA circuit boast 900+ horsepower and weigh just over 1,800lbs., making them one of the most exotic racing cars on the planet. Only one division in short track motorsport may out-gun them.
The MustSeeRacing.com Xtreme Sprint Car Series also pushes out over 900+ horsepower and boasts a top wing. However, the light weight and nimble Sprint machines weigh just over 1,300lbs., giving the Midwest native racers nearly a 500lb. weight advantage.
Veteran Indy Car driver and team owner Davey Hamilton, who races Supermodifieds at Oswego and owns two Xtreme Sprint teams, weighs in on the debate.
“The Sprint Cars have broken every track record the Supermodifieds have set at this point,” said Hamilton. “If it were an open competition event the Supermodifieds would go faster, there is no doubt about it. However, with the weight rules the lighter sprint cars definitely have an advantage and you can hang them out a bit more in time trials as compared to a Supermodified.”
Hamilton does believe though that the experience of the Supermodified field at Oswego may make up for the difference in the overall weight of the racecars.
“It is going to be tough for the Sprints to come into Oswego and go faster than the Supermodifieds,” said Hamilton. “The Supermodified guys have so much time and experience at that particular race track (Oswego), but it will be close and interesting to see which car is faster.”
The Must See Racing Xtreme Sprint Series travels throughout much of the Midwest and Northeast, having already competed in five events this season with five new track records and five different feature winners.
California driver JoJo Helberg currently leads the Xtreme Sprint standings over Jacob Wilson, Brian Olson, Jason Cox, and Mike Larrison. Other heralded open wheel aces such as Troy DeCaire, Aaron Pierce, Jeff Bloom, and Brian Gerster are all expected to be in competition come Saturday, July 7.
Jim Hanks, Must See Racing Series President, is thrilled to bring his series and drivers to the Home of Supermodifieds.
“The Must See Racing teams are really looking forward to their first visit to the rich history and anticipated speed at Oswego Speedway,” said Hanks. “With MSR bringing five new track records with five different feature winners in five events with race teams from across the country, it will make for an exciting night.”
The ISMA Supermodifieds also compete across the Northeast, Midwest, and even into Canada.
ISMA has one event in the books so far this season, coming at the Waterford Speedbowl in Waterford, CT on Saturday, June 9. ‘Liquid’ Lou Cicconi won the event and as a result is the series point leader over Canadian Mark Sammut, Tim Ice, NASCAR veteran Johnny Benson, and Jeff Locke.
Midwest Supermodified Association pilots Trent Stephens, Dave Shullick Jr, and Charlie Schultz are all expected to be in Oswego for the ISMA Supermodified portion of the event on July 7.
Defending Oswego Speedway Supermodified track champion Joe Gosek, who destroyed his non-wing Supermodified last Saturday night at the Speedway, is also listed as being in competition behind the wheel of one of the Dave and Lori May Supermodifieds as a teammate to Schultz.
Another driver looking to make the long journey to the Port City for the King of Wings is west coast Supermodified ace AJ Russell behind the wheel of the No. 10 Belfab Racing chassis.
Joining the Supermodifieds and the Xtreme Sprint Car Series on the racing card for Saturday, July 7 will be the always competitive Oswego Speedway Pathfinder Bank SBS Racing Series. The SBS teams will hit the track for 35-laps of green flag racing.
Tickets for King of Wings IV are on sale through the Oswego Speedway box office. To order tickets call Debbie Bond at (315) 342-0646 or visit www.oswegospeedway.com for more information.
General admission tickets are on sale for $30 with padded reserved seats set at $35. VIP Skybox Seats are available for $90 with food and drink included, as well as a FREE race program.
Grandstand gates will open at 2pm, with racing set to begin at 5pm.
Oswego Speedway events run May through September on most Saturday nights, culminating with the Fall Championship 75 on September 15th.
For more information on Oswego Speedway be sure to visit www.oswegospeedway.com. You can also LIKE the (Official) Oswego Speedway page at facebook.com/OswegoSpeedway, or FOLLOW on Twitter @OswegoSpeedway. To purchase tickets or order merchandise please call the Speedway box office at (315) 342-0646.
About Oswego Speedway: Oswego Speedway, a sports entertainment company, is a 5/8 mile semi-banked pavement racing oval located off the shores of Lake Ontario in scenic Oswego, NY. Oswego Speedway has been a continuously run weekly racing venue since August, 1951. The premier open-wheel pavement short track cars in the world, Supermodifieds, run weekly at Oswego Speedway making Oswego the only weekly Supermodified racing venue in the world. The Small Block Supermodifieds accompany the full blown Supers on a weekly Saturday night schedule which runs from May through September. Oswego Speedway is mentioned in racing circles as the “Indy of the East,” as no fewer than a dozen past and present competitors have competed at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway including Mario Andretti, arguably the greatest driver of all time, two-time Indy 500 champion Gordon Johncock, along with former International Classic Champions Bentley Warren, Joe Gosek, and Davey Hamilton.
Oswego Speedway is honored to recognize several sponsors and corporate partners that help to bring the racing action to you each Saturday night (listed alphabetically): All Seasons Inn, Alliance Bank, Bacc Off, Best Western/Quality Inn, Blue Bowl Sanitation, Bonded Motor Sales, Bosco & Geers, Bracy’s Transmission Services, Bridge Street Jewelers, Brioschi Pharmaceuticals International LLC, Burke’s Home Centers, Burritt Motors, Butler Disposal, Canales Restaurant, Canales Insurance, Century 21 Galloway Realty, Chris Nelson Insurance, Cleaning for a Reason, City Electric, CNY CPR, Coca-Cola, Compass Federal Credit Union, Constellation Energy, Corr-Pak, CPS Electric, C’s Beverage Center, Davis Bros. Meats, Days Inn/Travelodge, Dufore’s Jewelers, Dunkin Donuts, Eagle Beverage, Ellsworth Heating and Cooling, Entergy Northeast, Ferris Industries, Gater Racing News, Green & Seifter CPA, G&I Homes, H. Lee White Marine Museum, Hofmann’s, GMAC Insurance, Gioia Signs, Hoosier Racing Tire, Hudson Dairy, Jerome Fire Equipment, Johnston’s Propane, John Costello & Associates, K&G Lodge, Lighthouse Lanes, Longley Dodge, Marollo Racing Engines, May’s Country Store, McCaffrey Chiropractic, Mickey’s Magical Vacation, Munski’s Auto and Marine, Novelis, Ontario Orchards, Oswego County Federal Credit Union, Oswego Health, Oswego Inn, OTB/Western Region, Oswego Quality Carpet, The Palladium-Times, Par-K Enterprises, Pathfinder Bank, Outdoor Power West, Performance Harley Davidson, Pizza Villa, Ponderosa, The Post-Standard, Precision Balancing, Press Box, Price Chopper, Pullen’s Plumbing, RE Davis and Son, RJ Caruso Tax & Accounting, Rudy’s Lakeside, S&S Tractor, Scriba Electric, Scriba Meats, Shapiro Motor Sales, Sharon’s Hair Gallery, Speedway Press, Steve Abt Auto, Stop DWI – Oswego County, Sunset RV Park, Supercuts, Terrell’s Potato Chips, Thunder Road Bar and Grill, Turning Stone Casino and Resort, Universal Metal Works, Vashaw’s Collision Service, Yogi Bear’s Jelly Stone Park