The 2016 version of the Jim Shampine Memorial 75-lapper at Oswego Speedway Saturday, May 28, was another hard-fought contest with the fastest non-wing supermodifieds on the planet dueling it out for a $2,500 victory.
Otto Sitterly and Dave Shullick Jr. fielded Nicotra Racing Hawk Jr chassis in the event, marking the first time in 2016 the team has run more than one car.
Sitterly once again piloted the redesigned Independent Front Suspension #7 Nicotra super, and it appears this will be Otto’s car of choice throughout the year, despite not winning a race in three attempts.
Sitterly started P8 and worked hard for a P5 finish in the extra-distance race. Otto quickly pulled in front of fellow fourth-row starter Keith Shampine on the start and proceeded to run P7 behind Brandon Bellinger for the next 40 laps. On a lap 41 restart, Otto slipped high trying to pass Bellinger, allowed several cars to pass.
Now mired in P9, Sitterly quickly retook the eighth- and seventh-place positions with easy passes on Michael Muldoon and Kody Graham. Now in P7, Otto would watch teammate Shullick attempt to pass Bellinger until a lap 64 caution.
Both Shullick and Sitterly overtook a now-fading Bellinger on the restart, and a few laps later Otto would pass Shullick to re-enter the top five.
But P5 was all the Nicotra Racing #7 had on this tough night of racing. Shullick would finish just behind in P6.
Dave Danzer scored the win with Jeff Abold, Tim Devendorf and Dave Gruel finishing ahead of Otto.
Opening night winner Michael Barnes had mechanical problems in the Shampine Memorial and finished P12.
Barnes’s bad finish has now given Otto the Novelis Supermodified points lead for the first time in 2016! Sitterly will enter the June 11 Spring Championship 9 points ahead of Barnes and 14 markers in front of a hot Tim Devendorf, who joins Otto as the only driver to finish top 5 in all three races so far this year.
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John Nicotra Racing is a Supermodified race team owned by John Nicotra and maintained by driver and chief mechanic Otto Sitterly. Nicotra Racing is based in Homestead, Fla., and Canajoharie, N.Y., and has won four International Classic 200s, six Oswego Supermodified track championships and now 25 regular-season Oswego feature races since their debut in 2007.
Nicotra Racing is proud to be sponsored by G&I Homes, Royal Purple Synthetic Oil, Riccelli Northern, 5 Brothers Produce, Burnac Produce Limited, Provincial Fruit Co., Flavor First, Georgia Crate & Basket, Rite-Pak Produce, Quality First Produce, Sam Accursio Farms, Ritz-Craft Homes, Torbert Farms, Elite Harvesting, Green Bean Packers and Sunrise Growers.
PR written by New Concept Race Media.
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