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Willy Evernham gets "Classic" SpeedSTR win at Oswego Speedway
The Weikel Racewear SpeedSTR's series was on hand at the historic Oswego Speedway for the 52nd annual Classic Weekend in Oswego, NY. Jeff Gallup of nearby Baldwinsville, NY would lead the STR's to the green flag, but it was Willy Evernham of Mooresville, NC taking his famed red and white number 9 to the point by the end of lap 1 and would fight off all challenges. Billy VanInwegen of Sparrow Creek, NY quickly jumped into the second position with his number 23 STR, as earlier in the evening's Four Star Lettering Shootout winner Doug Rose of Temple, PA would settle into third. VanInwegen was putting heavy pressure on the leader Evernham on the highside as Rose continued to show his nose under VanInwegen along the inside rail. The top three action was very intense as the first of only 2 cautions flew on lap 5.
Under caution point leader Nick Pecko of Vandling, PA would duck into the pits with his NEP Wireless number 42 for service. The crew made the required adjustments and Pecko returned to action. Meanwhile Ray Evernham of Charlotte, NC who had to start at the rear of the field after switching to the seat of the Erin Crocker number 19 due to damage to his own number 98 in the Shootout had already cracked the top 6.
As they went back to green the top three battle continued. Lap 8 would see Rose draw even with VanInwegen, the veteran and the youngster would battle wheel to wheel for a lap and a half as Rose would take over the second position with his Flurer Machine and Tool number 95 and set his sights on the leader Evernham. Lap 12 would see caution number 2, which Nascar owner Ray Evernham was very glad to see. He had made his way up to fourth, but the leaders had more than a 10 car length lead that had now expired with the caution. When the green flag flew Ray Evernham would go to work on the 23 of VanInwegen and take over the third position, by lap 17 Ray Evernham would roll the highside of turn 2 around the 95 of Rose and set sail for the leader, but the number 9 of nephew Willy Evernham was to strong and would earn his first Weikel Racewear SpeedSTR series feature win followed by Ray Evernham, Rose, VanInwegen, and Pecko would come back to round out the top five.
Pit notes: The Weikel Racewear STR's would have a different qualifying format for the 52nd annual Classic Weekend. Instead of their traditional 8 lap dashes, the STR's would compete in a 12 lap shootout sponsored by Four Star Lettering. Doug Rose would win the shootout from his 4th place starting spot followed by former USAC Silver Crown pavement specialist Gary Hieber of Langhorne, PA in his Bucks County International number 6. Rose commented after the race, "It is great to get a win at this historic event in a race sponsored by Four Star Lettering who also letters my cars, it's just very cool".
Ray Evernham was asked after the race what he thought of Crocker's number 19 compared to his own number 98, "I actually liked her setup a bit better, it entered and rolled the corners very well. What I have noticed the most is how great a job Richie (Tobias) has done with the development of these engines. I have driven the 98, 19, 95 and the 7 and I don't feel any difference in any of them. Richie has done a great job with these cars.
Oswego Super Modified driver Steve Gioia III was in the Erin Crocker 19 for the shootout and finished 8th. Once it was deemed Ray Evernham had to much damage to get the 98 ready for the feature, Gioia offered the wheel of the 19 to Ray for the feature event.
Four Star Lettering Shootout: Doug Rose (Amrose Motorsports 95, Temple, PA)
Weikel Racewear Feature Results:
1. Willy Evernham (Evernham 9E, Mooresville, NC), 2. Ray Evernham (Erin Crocker 19, Charlotte, NC), 3. Doug Rose (Amrose Motorsports 95, Temple, PA), 4. Billy Van Inwegen Jr. (Future Racing 23, Sparrow Bush, NY), 5. Nick Pecko (NEP/Napa 42, Vandling, PA), 6. Paul Lotier Jr. (Toby Jr. 17, Lebanon, PA), 7. Steve Hicks (Hicks Motorsports USA1, Doylestown, PA), 8. Gary Hieber (Bucks County International 6, Langhorne, PA), 9. Jeff Gallup (Gallup Racing 9, Baldwinsville, NY), 10. Rich Tobias (Lotier 7L, Hershey, PA), 11. Andy Burkhart (Burkhart Bros. 87, Temple, PA)
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