Defending Pathfinder Bank Small Block Supermodified Track Champion, Mike Bond, became the first repeat winner this season in the SBS division on Saturday night at the Oswego Speedway. Bond and his Four Sevens Motorsports No. 74 would take the lead away from Barry Kingsley on the sixth lap and race away from the field unchallenged for the victory. It was the 34th-career win for Bond, the all-time leader in SBS feature wins.
Listen to – Mike Bond
Cameron Rowe and Barry Kingsley led the field to the start of the 30-lapper, but Rowe’s pole-sitting No. 77 would spin at the drop of the green. The field would do a phenomenal job in reacting, with both Rowe and the field escaping unscathed. A complete restart would move Kingsley over to the pole position, with Jesse Bearup getting the promotion to the front row.
Kingsley would grab the early lead, with Mark Castiglia, Bond, Dalton Doyle and Camden Proud filling out the top five behind him. Bond would soon slip under Castiglia to take away the runner-up spot. Unable to tuck in behind Bond, Castiglia found himself being freight-trained out of the top 10.
Almost at will, Bond quickly drew Kingsley in on the sixth lap and zipped past the race leader’s left side to take over the prime position. Once atop the field, the No. 74 began to take flight. Two laps later, Doyle and Proud would best Kingsley’s No. 91 on the inside lane for second and third place. However, Bond had already put a dozen lengths on them. At the halfway mark, Bond’s nearest chasers trailed the race leader by nearly a full straightaway.
On the 16th lap, Michael Bruce was able to work his way under Kingsley for fourth, bringing Anthony Losurdo and David Cliff with him. Kingsley’s backward slide would come to an abrupt end three laps later, after pounding the first turn wall after suffering an apparent mechanical failure on the Team Tapout No. 91.
With 19 laps in the books, Bond led Doyle, Proud, Bruce and Losurdo. Cliff, Kreig Heroth, Bearup, Jack Patrick and Luke Jones filled out the top 10.
Bond would have no problems on the restart. Initially, Doyle was able to stay within five lengths of the race leader, but Bond would eventually pull away. With the front trio spread ahead them, Losurdo would continue to hound Bruce to the very end, but to no avail.
Running laps nearly three-tenths faster than the rest of the field, Bond would cruise to the win, putting his FFB Racing Chassis in victory lane for the second time in 2016.
Doyle would earn a solid second place.
Listen to – Dalton Doyle
Backing up a heat race win earlier in the evening, Proud captured a podium finish with a third-place run for his No. 54.
Listen to – Camden Proud
Posting his No. 22’s third top-five finish of the season, Bruce earned fourth.
Listen to – Mike Bruce
Moving into second place in the championship points chase, Losurdo drove his No. 1 to a fifth-place finish.
Listen to – Anthony Losurdo
Having started deep in the field, points chase leader, Cliff, salvaged a sixth-place finish.
Listen to – Dave Cliff
Earning his seventh top-10 run in as many tries, Patrick drove his Hedger Racing Chassis No. 9 to seventh-place.
Listen to – Jack Patrick
Finishing behind Heroth, Luke Jones made his SBS debut in the Ray Hedger-owned No. 13 (renumbered 16). The Super Late Model driver from North Carolina impressed with a ninth-place finish.
Listen to – Luke Jones
Pathfinder Bank SBS 30: 1. Mike Bond (74), 2. Dalton Doyle (01), 3. Camden Proud (54), 4. Mike Bruce (22), 5. Anthony Losurdo (1), 6. David Cliff (50), 7. Jack Patrick (9), 8. Kreig Heroth (04), 9. Luke Jones (16), 10. Tyler Shullick (67), 11. Jesse Bearup (37), 12. Cameron Rowe (77), 13. Scott Shafer (76), 14. James Babcock (15), 15. Rob Pullen (2), 16. Greg O’Connor (90), 17. Barry Kingsley (91), 18. Cameron Black (23), 19. Mark Castiglia (69)
Heat race wins went to Bruce, Proud and Bond.
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