OSWEGO, NY (August 8) – As the race for the 2012 Oswego Speedway track championship continues to heat up, the days continue to count down to Budweiser International Classic Weekend and the 200-lap Supermodified crown jewel. With 26 days remaining, 26 years ago it was Bentley Warren picking up his second Classic win in three years, and the second Classic championship for car owner Ed Bowley.
As in 1984, Warren was once again Oswego Speedway track champion in 1986, with five regular season main event wins heading into the International Classic on August 31 of that year. Warren defeated Joe Gosek, Steve Gioia Jr., Eddie Bellinger Jr., and Warren Coniam in convincing fashion that season in the battle for the championship and all indications pointed to Warren doing the same in the International.
With qualifying time trials moved back to Friday night, Warren started off right where he left off just one week prior to Classic, on the point. Warren turned a time of 17.454 seconds besting Gosek’s lap of 17.471 to claim the pole position for the 200. But when the green flag fell, it was Gosek jumping out to the early lead in the No. 00.
Gosek would go on to lead the first 29 laps of the event before giving way to Warren.
Canadian driver Doug Didero and former Classic winner, Gary Albritain, would take their turns in front of the field, but ultimately it would be Warren retaking the lead from Albritain on lap 136.
With Warren out front it looked as though he was a shoe in for his third Classic crown, but Gosek and Gioia had other ideas. As the Oswego natives dueled for the runner-up position, it was Gosek beginning to draw a bead on Warren for the top spot. Unfortunately for Gosek, he would run into fuel issues on lap 185 dropping him out of contention for the win, handing the reigns over to Gioia to try and chase down Warren in front.
In the last 15 laps of the race Gioia was closing in on Warren with amazing ease, looking as though he could possibly pick up his first Classic win since 1976. As Gioia drew to the back bumper of the Flyin’ 5 of Warren on lap 198, the caution lights would come on for Mike Weeden in turn two. With Gioia’s hopes of a second Classic win dashed, Warren would cross the line for Classic win number three, making it two years in a row that the International Classic 200 would end under caution.
Gioia held on for second ahead of Didero, Coniam, and Dave Shullick Sr. in the 200-lap Top 5.
(Statistical references credited to 50 Years: Oswego Speedway International Classic; Caruso Jr. and Haynes)
Tickets are on sale now for Budweiser International Classic Weekend through the Oswego Speedway box office, located just outside of the main pit gate at the Speedway. To order tickets over the phone be sure to call (315) 342-0646. Box office hours are Monday through Friday from 9am-4pm.
Three day adult general admission passes are $104, while reserved three day admissions are $115. Three day kids’ admission, ages 6-16, is $35, while children ages 5 and under are FREE for the weekend.
Individual day general admission prices are as follows: Friday - $25, Saturday - $42, and Sunday - $52.
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.
CLASSIC WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday, August 31 – Budweiser International Classic 200 Novelis Supermodified Top14 Time Trials; Bud Light Classic 60 Pathfinder Bank SBS Qualifying Heats; 602 Crate Dirt Sportsman “Sizzler” 30
Saturday, September 1 – ATQMRA TQ Midget 25; 21st Annual Bud Light Classic 60 for Pathfinder Bank SBS; ISMA Supermodified Supernationals 60
Sunday, Septmber 2 – Budweiser International Classic 200 Novelis Supermodified 15-28 Time Trials; Novelis Supermodified Bud Light B-Main; 56th Annual Budweiser International Classic 200 for Novelis Supermodifieds
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 Resort and Casino, Universal Metal Works, Vashaw’s Collision Service, Yogi Bear’s Jelly Stone Park