Michael Barnes put the Syrell Racing No. 68 on the pole for Sunday’s 59th running of the International Classic. The Mexico native circled Oswego Speedway’s five-eighth’s mile in 15.899 seconds, besting the field and securing the inside, front-row starting spot in the annual 200-lapper. With a lap only .011 seconds off the pole-sitter, Danzer landed his No. 52 supermodified on the outside of the front row with a lap of 15.910 seconds.
Barnes, who admits his luck hasn’t been the best in supermodified racing’s crown jewel event, feels confident about Sunday’s race and says he and Danzer will talk strategy from leading the 34-car field.
Listen to – Michael Barnes
Defending race winner, Otto Sitterly will start from the inside of the second row. Joey Moriarity took top honors for having traveled the longest distance to invade Oswego’s “Steele Palace” on Labor Day Weekend. The Glendale, AZ resident powered his potent No. 51 super to a fourth-place starting spot.
Liverpool’s Kody Graham will start in fifth. 1997 race winner and Boise, ID native, Davey Hamilton, will start from sixth on the grid. Baldwinsville’s Michael Muldoon will start in seventh and Brewerton’s Tim Devendorf will begin his journey from eighth. 2013 Classic winner and Mexico resident, Bob Bond, will start his race from the ninth starting spot and North Ridgeville, OH’s Dave Shullick, Jr. will start in tenth.
Neither of the two front-row starters have ever won the prestigious supermodified event. In fact, only three of the top 10 have ever visited victory lane on a Classic Sunday – Sitterly, Hamilton and Bond. Also locking themselves into the field on Friday evening were Joe Gosek, Brandon Bellinger, Dave Gruel and Bobby Santos. Only the top 14 times earned starting spots on Friday night. The balance of the contenders will attempt to qualify early on Sunday.
In small block supermodified qualifying for Saturday’s 75-lap SBS Classic, Russ Brown earned top time with lap of 18.695 seconds. Only the top six drivers earned a “bye” from having to qualify via heat race competition. Dalton Doyle, Mike Bond, Andrew Schartner, Dave Cliff and Alex Hoag were the other five drivers to qualify their small blocks racers on time alone. Jason Simmons, Kreig Heroth and Anthony Losurdo each took checkered flags in the qualifying heats.
In Race of Champions modified action, Andy Jankowiak out-dueled Matt Hirschman to earn the 100-lap win. Tony Hanbury, Nick Pecko and Tyler Rypkema rounded out the top five.
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