OSWEGO, N.Y (August 20, 2019) – Otto Sitterly with his Nicotra Racing / Riccelli Northern / CORR/Pak / Peaceful Living Home Sales No. 7 brought home his ninth Oswego Speedway Novelis Supermodified track championship Saturday night and John Nicotra Racing’s ninth overall championship in the division.
In an incredible statistic, all nine of Sitterly’s championships have come in a 14-year span, while Nicotra Racing’s nine have come in a 12-year span. Sitterly won his first championship in 2006 with his own black and yellow No. 79; he would team with Nicotra at the start of 2007 and the pair would win their first title together in 2008.
This is the third time Nicotra Racing has won three consecutive Oswego championships. Sitterly won 2008-2010 and again in 2012-2014. Dave Shullick Jr. drove the Nicotra No. 2 to the championship in 2017 and Sitterly was back at the top of the final standings in 2018 and now 2019.
On the track, the night was one that Sitterly would likely rather forget. After suffering a broken thumb in an August 10 heat race accident, Sitterly entered the night with a comfortable points lead over closest challenger Jeff Abold. Not feeling well from the thumb and a recently diagnosed bought with pneumonia, Sitterly was quiet in the Championship Night 50-lapper.
Starting ninth on the 22-car grid, Otto would only advance one position to finish in the eighth position. He spoke after the race.
“I’m glad we didn’t have to race for (the championship) tonight because we weren’t very good,” Sitterly told LakesideRacingNews.com. “I think winning the championship, and multiple championships, shows consistency for a full season and the level of commitment of this race team.
Nobody in these pits works as hard as these guys. I was sick all week and laying on the couch or was sleeping in bed, and there was a garage full of crew members getting the cars ready for tonight. I can’t say enough about this team.”
With Keith Shampine’s first feature victory of the season Saturday night, Otto remained the only driver to win more than a single feature in 2019 Oswego Supermodified competition. Sitterly scored his wins on May 25 and June 22, while Nicotra Racing teammate Alison Sload scored her first-ever Oswego feature win in the nightcap of the May 25 Shampine Memorial Twin 50s.
In addition to winning one more feature than anyone else, Sitterly led the series in top-five and top-10 finishes. His nine top-five results was one more than Abold’s, while Otto and Abold each had 12 top-10 finishes to lead all drivers. Sitterly’s six Hard Charger awards were more than any other driver, as well.
Sitterly wasn’t the only Nicotra driver to finish out the regular season in the top-five in the final standings. Despite a rare DNF in the Championship Night feature due to mechanical failure, Sload would earn enough points to finish fifth in the final Novelis Supermodified standings. The Lyndell, Pa., driver would finish her rookie season with three top-five results and eight top-10s.
One race now remains on the 2019 Oswego Speedway schedule, and it’s the most important race of the season.
Nicotra Racing will be back in action Labor Day weekend, August 30 – September 1, for the 63rd Annual Budweiser International Classic weekend. For the first time since Classic 2018, Davey Hamilton will join Sitterly and Sload to make a three-car Nicotra Racing team for Classic. Hamilton will pilot the blue No. 6 with Sitterly in the “Black Betty” 7 and Sload in her blue 39.
Practice and time trials for the International Classic 200 will take place Friday, August 30. The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and ISMA supermodifieds will be in action Saturday, August 31 and the granddaddy of them all – the Bud Classic 200 – will close out the 2019 Oswego Speedway supermodified season on Sunday, September 1.
John Nicotra Racing is a Supermodified race team owned by John Nicotra with drivers Otto Sitterly, Alison Sload and Davey Hamilton. Since our team’s debut in 2007, Nicotra Racing and has won six Budweiser International Classic 200s, nine Oswego Supermodified track championships, three Mr. Supermodified races, nine Jim Shampine Memorials and currently 46 total Oswego feature races. – Otto Sitterly (35); Dave Shullick Jr. (9); Davey Hamilton (1); Alison Sload (1).
Nicotra Racing is proud to be sponsored by Riccelli Northern, CORR/PAK Merchandising, Peaceful Living Home Sales, 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 and Sunrise Growers.
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