After finishing his first two feature runs of the 2016 season in the pits following meetings with Oswego Speedway’s outside retaining wall, Dave Danzer capitalized on his front row starting spot Saturday night by leading all 75 laps of the Novelis supermodified Jim Shampine Memorial. It was the eighth feature win for the hometown driver and a much needed morale booster for the pilot of the No. 52 Hawk Chassis. The win continues his streak of having scored at least one checkered flag in each of his six seasons of competition.
Listen to – Dave Danzer
With all three winners this season having come from a front row starting spot, the dash to the first turn following the drop of the green flag between Danzer and Jeff Abold would be crucial. Danzer would win the initial sprint and would not see another driver’s wheel challenge him the rest of the race.
Abold, Dave Gruel, Pat Lavery and Tim Devendorf chased the race leader across the line to complete their maiden lap. Right from the start of the race, Otto Sitterly and Dave Shullick, Jr. would hound Brandon Bellinger for a top-five spot. This three-car battle would last most of the race.
By the fifth lap, Danzer had opened up a half-dozen lengths on Abold. By the 10th lap, that lead would double. As Danzer was lapping his first car on the 14th lap, early-season points leader and opening night winner, Michael Barnes, suddenly slowed and pulled pit-side. He would return, but finish 23 laps down and in 12th place.
Trying to navigate traffic, Danzer would see his lead quickly evaporate as Abold’s No. 05 closed in on the No. 52. Traffic would remain light enough for him to clear it in time to avoid a challenge for his lead. Though the gap appeared to grow and shrink like an accordion, the duo did manage to hold 20 lengths on Gruel, Lavery and Devendorf. Further back, Bellinger continued to fend off repeated challenges by Sitterly.
The caution flag would wave on the 42nd lap after Devendorf and Lavery made contact heading out of turn No. 2 while doing battle in lapped traffic. Devendorf would continue on, but Lavery would end up pounding the inside hub.
Following quick cautions for a spin by Aric Iosue’s No. 11 and a few stalls by Kody Graham’s 21, Danzer led Abold, Gruel, Devendorf and Bellinger back to racing. The front four held strong, but Sitterly and Shullick continued to pester Bellinger for fifth. The trio would even go three-wide, but the No 02 still held on.
At one point, Sitterly would find himself too far up the track, skating backwards on the “marbles.” Shullick would take the opportunity to take a few cracks at the No. 02 as well, but to no avail.
Further ahead, Devendorf began pressing Gruel harder for third while Danzer and Abold continued to race far ahead of the rest of the field.
On the 65th lap, Graham’s No. 21 would stall out again, bringing out the final caution flag of the race. Danzer would welcome the caution, as it would ensure a clear path for the final 11 laps of the race.
The ensuing restart saw Bellinger’s racer bog down and offer up a delayed takeoff at the drop of the green. Both, Shullick and Sitterly shot past the No. 02 and into fifth and sixth place.
As the laps ticked away, Danzer’s No. 52 tip-toed away for the final time. After finally getting around Gruel, third-place running Devendorf began to close in on the runner-up.
However, time would not be on his side. He would settle for third, behind Abold’s No. 05. Gruel would hold off the John Nicotra-owned No. 7 and No. 6 machines to claim fourth place. Bellinger would hold on to seventh, finishing ahead of Michael Muldoon’s eighth-placed No. 15.
Still seeking victory No.1, Abold was very pleased with his run.
Listen to – Jeff Abold
Devendorf grabbed his third top-five finish in as many races.
Listen to Tim Devendorf
Running up front all race, Gruel landed his No. 50 in fourth.
Listen to – Dave Gruel
Having spent the majority of the race behind Bellinger, Sitterly finished a frustrating fifth.
Listen to – Otto Sitterly
The only driver to have run 125 laps in Saturday’s scorching heat, the second half of Shullick’s double-duty day ended with a fifth-place finish.
Listen to – Dave Shullick, Jr.
Having had issues with the car since its arrival on Saturday, Bellinger battled an ill-handling No. 02 all race.
Listen to – Brandon Bellinger
In small block supermodified competition, Mark Castiglia captured the 35-lap Tony White Memorial. Like the two previous feature winners in the SBS division, the Castiglia No. 69 started on the pole, took the lead at the drop of the green and led every lap. Kreig Heroth, Anthony Losurdo, Dave Cliff and Jack Patrick rounded out the top five.
Jim Shampine Memorial 75: 1. Dave Danzer (52), 2. Jeff Abold (05), 3. Tim Devendorf (5), 4. David Gruel (50), 5. Otto Sitterly (7), 6. Dave Shullick, Jr. (6), 7. Brandon Bellinger (02), 8. Michael Muldoon (15), 9. Tim Snyder (0), 10. Kody Graham (21), 11. Hal LaTulip (56), 12. Michael Barnes (68), 13. Aric Iosue (11), 14. Pat Lavery (12), 15. Dave Cliff (24), 16. Dan Connors, Jr. (01), 17. Keith Shampine (55), 18. Lou LeVea, Jr. (83), 19. Kreig Heroth (14)
Qualifying heats went to Gruel, Bellinger and Barnes
Tony White Memorial 35: 1. Mark Castiglia (69), 2. Kreig Heroth (04), 3. Anthony Losurdo (1), 4. Dave Cliff (50), 5. Jack Patrick (9), 6. Camden Proud (54), 7. Mike Bruce (22), 8. Scott Schafer (76), 9. Mike Bond (74), 10. Tyler Shullick (67), 11. Brad Haynes (88), 12. Cameron Rowe (77), 13. Barry Kingsley (91), 14. James Babcock (15), 15. Alex Hoag (7), 16. Andrew Schartner (18), 17. Rob Pullen (2), 18. Dalton Doyle (01), 19, Russ Brown (13), 20. Josh Kerr (8), 21. Greg O’Connor (90), 22. Jesse Bearup (37), 23. Dennis Rupert (99), 24. Cameron Black (23)
Qualifying heats went to Losurdo, Bond and Heroth.
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