OSWEGO, NY (June 13, 2021) - After three straight weeks of racing marred by crashes and downright awful luck, Novelis Supermodified rookie Mike Bruce was having a season that he would rather forget - until last night, that is.
Finally, in Saturday’s ‘Steel Palace 50’ for the Supermodifieds, Bruce’s luck turned around in a very big way.
The rookie driver, making only his fourth start behind the wheel of a Supermodified, started on the outside pole and led flag to flag for a convincing win over Michael Barnes, Alison Sload, Joe Gosek, and Max McLaughlin.
“This is crazy,” said the 6-time Pathfinder Bank SBS feature winner in victory lane. “I am at a loss for words. We got into lapped traffic and I was trying to be semi-aggressive with Michael Barnes right behind me. He is one of the best drivers out here and I knew I would really have my work cut out for me. Halfway through, we started to burn the right rear up and it was a bit slick. It started to get in my head a little bit, but after the last restart, I just moved my line up and that helped a lot. Everybody deserves wins here, but to be able to do this in my rookie year is just unbelievable. To win in a Big Block is everyone’s dream, and the group of guys I’ve got to do it with is amazing.”
Barnes, fresh off his breakthrough win in the International Classic, started fourth, and at one point was able to challenge Bruce for the lead, but the caution flag came out as the ‘Hustler’ secured the spot. The driver of the Syrell Racing No. 68 settled for a second.
“Mike (Bruce) looked really good,” offered Barnes. “I could not keep up with him. Racing in the sun like this, I think it is way too hot with the Modifieds and their tire compound. It was just an ice skating rink for us. Hats off to Mike though. I had him there for a minute, and then a caution came out. I thought maybe if I got by him, I could keep him behind me, but out in the open track, he just drove away.”
After missing the International Classic, Sload was back in the seat of the Nicotra Racing No. 39, and put together a solid run, starting and finishing third for her first top-five finish of the 2021 season.
“I feel really good about this. We had made a lot of changes to the car after last week and I was happy that we did,” mentioned Sload. “The adjustments seemed to work out for us. I am really happy for Mike (Bruce) winning his first race tonight. That is a pretty big deal. I just want to say thank you to my team, sponsors, and everyone that helps me. I couldn’t do it without them.”
Leading the 50-lap main event to the green flag were two former SBS competitors; Camden Proud in the No. 54 and Bruce in the No. 22, with Bruce jumping out in front.
Immediately, Barnes and Sload went around the outside of Proud to move into second and third, but an early caution flag came out on lap 2 when Jeff Abold spun and collected Tim Snyder and Jerry Curran in turn three.
On the restart, fifth starting Tyler Thompson and sixth starting Dan Connors Jr. went around Proud for fourth and fifth with Brandon Bellinger, Gosek, McLaughlin, Otto Sitterly, and Dave Shullick Jr. in tow.
The field strung out until a lapped traffic log jam with 15 complete shuffled a few spots around in the top five.
As Thompson began to close in on the No. 39 of Sload for third, he got hung up behind a lapped car and this allowed Connors to go by.
Unfortunately, just five laps later, Connors dropped out with an engine issue while running in fourth, and this moved Thompson and Bellinger back into fourth and fifth, respectively.
With 23 laps remaining; Bruce caught more traffic, and when he went to the outside of a slower car in turns one and two, the No. 22 lost just a little bit of momentum, prompting Barnes to make a daring three-wide move into the third corner under both Bruce and the lapped car to take the lead, but it was all for naught.
Before Barnes could complete a lap as the race leader, Sitterly lost the handle on the No. 7 off of turn four to bring out the yellow flag. This gave the race lead back to Bruce.
Thompson also retired the No. 98T under this yellow, now moving Bellinger and Gosek into the top five.
On the restart, Bellinger tried to take a peak to the outside of Sload off of turn four, but got way out of shape in the No. 02, leaving a hole for Gosek, McLaughlin, and Shullick down low for positions five through sixth.
Back out front, Bruce continued his tremendous performance, running away from Barnes on the restart and opening up a near straightaway advantage over the Syrell Racing No. 68 for the impressive win.
Barnes, Sload, Gosek, and McLaughlin finished in the top five, while Danzer, Abold, Sitterly, Shullick, and Bellinger completed the top ten. Proud and Lou LeVea Jr. finished eleventh and twelfth.
Oswego Speedway is back in action this Saturday, June 19 with Twin 35 features for the Novelis Supermodifieds. The Pathfinder Bank SBS and J&S Paving 350 Supers will also be back on the card, both running regular programs.
For more information on Oswego Speedway, visit online at OswegoSpeedway.com, LIKE on Facebook at Facebook.com/OswegoSpeedway, or FOLLOW on Twitter @OswegoSpeedway.
RESULTS
JDV Productions Steel Palace 50
Saturday, June 12, 2021
Oswego Speedway
Oswego, NY
Novelis Supermodifieds
Feature (50-laps): 1. 22 ® MIKE BRUCE, 2. 68 Michael Barnes, 3. 39 Alison Sload, 4. 00 Joe Gosek, 5. Z8 Max McLaughlin, 6. 62 Dave Danzer, 7. 05 Jeff Abold, 8. 7 Otto Sitterly, 9. 95 Dave Shullick Jr, 10. 02 Brandon Bellinger, 11. 54 Camden Proud, 12. 83 Lou LeVea Jr, 13. 98T Tyler Thompson, 14. 01 Dan Connors Jr, 15. 90 Jack Patrick, 16. 56 Hal LaTulip, 17. 0 Tim Snyder, 18. 99 Jerry Curran
Heat 1 (12-laps): 1. 02 Brandon Bellinger, 2. 68 Michael Barnes, 3. 98T Tyler Thompson, 4. 39 Alison Sload, 5. 0 Tim Snyder, 6. 90 Jack Patrick
Heat 2 (12-laps): 1. 95 Dave Shullick Jr, 2. 05 Jeff Abold, 3. 7 Otto Sitterly, 4. 01 Dan Connors Jr, 5. 66 Lou LeVea Sr, 6. 99 Jerry Curran
Heat 3 (12-laps): 1. Z8 Max McLaughlin, 2. 00 Joe Gosek, 3. 22 ® Mike Bruce, 4. 54 Camden Proud, 5. 52 Dave Danzer, 6. 83 Lou LeVea Jr, 7. 56 Hal LaTulip
D&S Landscaping Hard Charger: #52 Dave Danzer
Lighthouse Lanes Up and Comer: #22 ® Mike Bruce
- CAMDEN PROUD on Jun 13, 2021
- Article Date: 6/13/2021