Oswego, N.Y. – Dave Shullick Jr. of North Ridgeville, Ohio, drove to another dominating Novelis Supermodified feature win Saturday, June 30, for his third win of the 2018 Oswego Speedway season, this time in the special Independence Grand Prix 75, the first extra-distance feature of the year.
The win marked Shullick’s 14th feature victory at Oswego and eighth behind the wheel of a Nicotra machine. It was the 37th win for Nicotra Racing since our team started at Oswego in 2007.
Behind the wheel of the Nicotra Racing / Futuri Media No. 2, Shullick rebounded from a disappointing Twin 35 outing on June 16 to show once again that he’s currently the driver to beat in the supermodifieds at Oswego.
Starting ninth next to Nicotra Racing’s G&I Homes / Riccelli Northern / CORR/PAK No. 7 driven by Otto Sitterly, Shullick and Sitterly wasted no time moving to the front. Each breaking into the top five by lap 15, Sitterly led Shullick into the top three and behind early leader Brandon Bellinger. With Bellinger’s 02 running strong out front, Otto did everything in his power to race past the Fulton, N.Y., driver. To no avail, Sitterly slipped high trying to pass Bellinger on lap 23 which allowed The Shoe 2 to get to the inside and past Otto.
From there, it would only take a handful of laps for Shullick to drive past Bellinger for the lead in turn 3 on lap 26.
While DJ raced off into the distance, Otto would battle Bellinger for the second position for the remaining two-thirds of the contest. Sitterly would get several runs on the 02 but was unable to make the pass and would settle for third and his fifth top-five in six features thus far in 2018.
Shullick, who has now won every feature in which he’s been running at the end this season, was a happy driver in victory lane.
“This is a good way to come back after a couple weeks ago when emotions ran high,” Shullick stated in victory lane. “It was a hard battle between all three of us and that’s what I enjoy doing is racing hard like that. Nobody touched anybody and that’s the way it should be.”
Sitterly spoke after his third-place finish.
“Brandon was tough tonight. He runs a good groove and it’s hard to get around him when you’re not right on the money. We were a little tight and I think he was tight also. We had about the same handling car so it was tough to get past him. We had a decent night and we’re not hanging our heads,” Otto said.
Albeit still searching for his first feature win since September 2005, Otto has easily been the most consistent supermodified driver at Oswego this season. With five top-five finishes in six starts, Sitterly has extended his championship point lead to 23 markers over Keith Shampine.
DJ, who has three wins, two DNFs and one DNS, is back up to fourth in the standings and 64 points behind Otto.
Next up is a regular 50-lap feature Saturday, July 7.
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 and currently 37 total Oswego feature races since their debut in 2007 – Otto Sitterly (28); DJ Shullick (8); 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.
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