NICOTRA RACING 2ND AND 3RD ON RETRO NIGHT AT OSWEGO SPEEDWAY

Oswego, N.Y. – G&I Homes / Riccelli Northern / CorrPak / Nicotra Racing drivers Otto Sitterly and Dave Shullick Jr. finished second and third in the 45-lap Supermodified “Retro Night” Old Timers Reunion feature on Saturday, August 4, at Oswego Speedway.

The competitive race included an exciting ending that saw Otto, driving a special Retro Night throwback scheme in honor of Fred Graves’ silver No. 39 rear-engine supermodified, pass both Shullick and Keith Shampine for third and then second position on lap 43.  Shullick would also get by Shampine to take over third while the cars raced to the white flag.

With both drivers starting in the sixth row and five fewer laps than normal to get to the front in the special 45-lapper, racing would be fast and furious at the drop of the green flag.  A couple of early cautions slowed the field after Sitterly and Shullick had both made passes to advance into the top 10.

The race would go green to checkered after a lap 6 caution for a simple spin in turn one. Otto initially moved ahead of Shullick in early going but Shullick regained position over Sitterly on lap 9.

The pair would muscle into the top five throughout the mid-stages of the 45-lapper. With Otto hot on his rear bumper, Shullick would negotiate his Futuri Media / G&I Homes No. 2 past Tyler Thompson just past lap 20 to break into fourth. Sitterly would follow Shullick through the hole to move past Thompson and into the top five.

Both DJ’s 2 and Otto’s 39 raced past Dave Danzer a few laps later, moving the pair into third and fourth.  With Michael Barnes way out front, the only driver within striking distance was Keith Shampine in the throwback Jim Shampine 8-Ball car.

For a number of laps it appeared that third and fourth would be the best the Nicotra cars would do on this night as Shampine was able to keep a healthy distance between him and Shullick throughout the second half of the race.

The race would get interesting with about five laps to go as heavy lap traffic slowed the 8 of Shampine.  While working lap 44, Otto would get a great bite off turn 2 to pass Shullick for third.  While Otto was making his way past DJ, Shampine would slip up the track between turns 3 and 4, allowing Otto a hole that he would quickly fill to pass the 8-Ball.  With Shampine stuck on the outside, Shullick took the opportunity to race past the 8 car, as well, keeping stride with Sitterly albeit not advancing a position after Otto passed him earlier in the lap.

With Otto going from fourth to second on the final lap, he would have to settle for an exciting runner-up spot on this night to winner Barnes.  Shullick would take third to fill out the Retro Night podium.

Two races now remain in the 2018 Oswego Speedway points season.  Otto continues to hold a formidable lead but will need to continue his strong runs the next two weeks in order to clinch his eighth Oswego Supermodified track championship.  Sitterly holds a 48-point lead over Barnes while Shullick is fourth in the points, only three markers out of third.

Next up is a regular 50-lap feature for the Novelis Supermodifieds at Oswego on Saturday, August 11.

John Nicotra Racing is a Supermodified race team owned by John Nicotra with drivers Otto Sitterly, Dave Shullick Jr. and Davey Hamilton. Since our team’s debut in 2007, Nicotra Racing and has won five Budweiser International Classic 200s, seven Oswego Supermodified track championships, three Mr. Supermodified races and currently 40 total Oswego feature races since their debut in 2007 – Otto Sitterly (30); DJ Shullick (9); Davey Hamilton (1).

Nicotra Racing is proud to be sponsored by G&I Homes, Riccelli Northern, CORR/PAK Merchandising, 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, Futuri Media and Sunrise Growers.