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Rick Nelson Photo
OSWEGO, NY (August 3, 2024) – Lou LeVea Jr., driving the WFO Motorsports 83, earned a popular first career win last Saturday night by holding off Dave Shullick Jr. in lapped traffic to take the first JP Jewelers Novelis Supermodified Twin 40 in exciting fashion. After being close many times, LeVea finally sealed the deal, having to run a perfect race to win, and the Fulton, NY driver did just that. LeVea had previously achieved a second and two third-place finishes in his career and had led many feature events, including in the Twins, before mechanical issues slowed him. This time, a Twin 40 once again led to yet another first-time winner, with LeVea Jr. becoming the 97th driver to win a non-wing super feature in Oswego Speedway history.
LeVea Jr. and his good friend Brian Osetek led the field to green for the first of the two feature events. LeVea Jr. jumped right to the lead, with Brandon Bellinger moving under Osetek for second and Dave Danzer dropping into third from his fourth starting position. Otto Sitterly quickly got into fourth, and Jeff Abold in fifth with 10 laps complete. Shullick then advanced to fifth from his ninth starting spot on lap 11 as Bellinger worked over LeVea Jr. for the lead.
A yellow on lap 13 for a spin by Lou LeVea Sr. and Joey Payne bunched the field up. On the restart, LeVea Jr. pulled away from Bellinger. Just as Shullick got under Sitterly for fourth, Dan Connors Jr. spun in turn 4, collecting Tyler Thompson, Michael Barnes, Nick Snyder, Jack Patrick, Payne, and LeVea Sr., bringing out the red flag for cleanup. Thompson, Snyder, and Patrick were done for the race, but everyone else was able to continue.
On the restart, Bellinger moved up to the outside working over LeVea Jr., while Shullick got back under Sitterly for fourth on lap 13. Shullick then passed Danzer for third on lap 16, followed by Sitterly moving underneath Danzer on lap 19. Coming to the halfway point, Shullick was able to clear Bellinger on lap 20 to take second. At halfway, it was LeVea Jr., Shullick, Bellinger, Sitterly, Danzer, Abold, Mike Bruce, Barnes, Joe Gosek, and Tim Snyder in the top 10.
Shullick worked on LeVea Jr. for 12 straight laps until they caught heavy traffic with eight laps to go. LeVea Jr. executed perfectly, and despite Shullick trying both high and low, LeVea Jr. held his ground. On the last lap, Shullick got a run to the inside, but it was finally LeVea Jr.’s night as he held on to claim his first win. Shullick finished second, Bellinger third, Sitterly fourth, and Barnes, coming from 22nd, rounded out the top five. The top ten were completed by Danzer, Abold, Bruce, Connors, and Gosek.
In victory lane, LeVea Jr. said after his first win, “This feels awesome. It’s been a long time coming. I’ve given a few away, and we got it done tonight. Dave (Shullick) is gonna run me clean; he never pulls any shady stuff, so I knew that. I’ve watched him long enough, and he makes a lot of his moves out of turn 2. The car really tractions up, so I kind of had to protect the bottom and back him up a little bit in the center, but we had to do what we had to do to win. I have to thank Raby’s Ace Home Center, Lighthouse Lanes, Morrison Performance—a great guy who gives us a great powerplant—Kathy’s Cakes and Big Dipper Ice Cream, Haun Welding, all the crew, my Mom and Dad, and Dad’s crew. This one here tonight, I had a little extra drive. My aunt passed the other day, so I was trying to get one for her. Obviously, Evan Canfield is in all of our thoughts as well. That is absolutely tragic. I just have to dedicate this to all of those that we have lost before tonight that we shouldn’t have.”
The Novelis Supermodifieds return to action this Saturday, August 10, with $10,000 on the line for the 37th running of the Mr. Novelis Supermodified presented by C’s Beverage Center, also featuring Challenge Race #4. There are two points races left before the Classic.
Stay connected with Oswego Speedway for more information. Visit OswegoSpeedway.com, follow on Facebook or X (@OswegoSpeedway) and Instagram (@OfficialOswegoSpeedway).
About Oswego Speedway: Oswego Speedway is a 5/8 mile semi-banked pavement racing oval located off the shores of Lake Ontario in scenic Oswego, NY. The 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 the Oswego Speedway making it the only weekly Supermodified racing venue in the world. The Small Block Supermodifieds and 350 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, two-time Indy 500 champion Gordon Johncock, and former International Classic Champions Bentley Warren, Joe Gosek, and Davey Hamilton.
RESULTS
JP Jewelers Retro Night
Novelis Supermodified Twin 40 #1
Saturday, August 3, 2024
Oswego Speedway
Oswego, NY
Feature (40-laps): 1. 83 LOU LEVEA JR, 2. 95 Dave Shullick Jr, 3. 02 Brandon Bellinger, 4. 7 Otto Sitterly, 5. 68 Michael Barnes, 6. 52 Dave Danzer, 7. 05 Jeff Abold, 8. 22 Mike Bruce, 9. 01 Dan Connors Jr, 10. 00 Joe Gosek, 11. 0 Tim Snyder, 12. 19 ® Bobby Holmes, 13. 14 Joey Payne, 15. 66 Lou LeVea Sr, 16. 75 Brian Osetek, 17. 04 Camden Proud, 18. 98T Tyler Thompson, 19. 20 ® Nick Snyder, 20. 90 Jack Patrick, 21. 25 ® Ryan Zitzka, 22. 94 Logan Rayvals
Heat 1 (12-laps): 1. 01 Dan Connors Jr, 2. 95 Dave Shullick Jr, 3. 02 Brandon Bellinger, 4. 27 Aric Iosue, 5. 04 Camden Proud, 6. 19 ® Bobby Holmes, 7. 90 Jack Patrick, 8. 68 Michael Barnes
Heat 2 (12-laps): 1. 52 Dave Danzer, 2. 98T Tyler Thompson, 3. 75 Brian Osetek, 4. 22 Mike Bruce, 5. 0 Tim Snyder, 6. 66 Lou LeVea Sr, 7. 25 ® Ryan Zitzka
Heat 3 (12-laps): 1. 83 Lou LeVea Jr, 2. 7 Otto Sitterly, 3. 05 Jeff Abold, 4. 20 ® Nick Snyder, 5. 00 Joe Gosek, 6. 14 Joey Payne, 7. 94 Logan Rayvals
Lighthouse Lanes Up & Comer ($100 bonus to the highest finishing driver who has never won a feature at Oswego Speedway): #83 Lou LeVea Jr.
D&S Landscaping Hard Charger ($25 bonus to the driver advancing the most positions): #68 Michael Barnes
