OSWEGO, N.Y. (September 1, 2019) – In her first career Budweiser International Classic 200, Alison Sload drove her No. 39 to an eighth-place finish to lead the Riccelli Northern / CORR/Pak / Peaceful Living Home Sales-backed John Nicotra Racing team in the 63rd Annual version of the richest supermodified race on Sunday, September 1 at Oswego Speedway.
Five-time Classic winner Otto Sitterly ran top five for most of the race and set the race’s fastest laptime on lap 185 in his “Black Betty” No. 7 before dropping out late with a broken transfer arm; he would be credited with 16th in the final rundown.
Idaho native and longtime Nicotra Racing driver Davey Hamilton joined the team at Oswego for the first time in 2019 in the No. 6 but would have a disappointing day. After running near the top 10 during the first half of the race, Hamilton would pit for adjustments on a caution period around lap 100. With the car still not running to Hamilton’s liking, he’d retire early and finish 22nd.
This year’s version of the International Classic marked the end of a remarkable 12-year streak for Nicotra Racing. For the first time in the team’s existence, a Nicotra-owned car did not finish in the top four positions in the prestigious Labor Day weekend event. Prior to Sunday’s race, a Nicotra driver had placed no worse than fourth in every Classic since the team’s first year in 2007.
Here’s the rundown of Classic finishes for Nicotra drivers:
Year / Driver / Finish
2007: Otto Sitterly 2nd
2008: Davey Hamilton 4th
2009: Otto Sitterly 1st
2010: Davey Hamilton 3rd
2011: Otto Sitterly 1st & Mike Lichty 2nd
2012: Otto Sitterly 1st & Davey Hamilton 2nd
2013: Otto Sitterly 2nd
2014: Otto Sitterly 1st & Davey Hamilton 3rd
2015: Davey Hamilton 4th & Dave Shullick Jr. 5th
2016: Otto Sitterly 3rd & Dave Shullick Jr. 4th & Davey Hamilton 5th
2017: Dave Shullick Jr. 1st
2018: Otto Sitterly 1st
2019: Alison Sload 8th
Total Classic Wins: 6
Total Classic Podiums: 13
Total Classic Top 5s: 18
Total Classic Top 10s: 19
After wrapping up a very impressive rookie season in the Oswego Speedway Novelis Supermodified division, a pleased Sload would comment after her top-10 finish.
“First Classic is in the books with an eighth-place finish. We had a great car even with some fuel issues. Another top 10 for the season! I’m really proud of the entire team and so grateful for all their hard work this weekend and the entire season!” Sload posted on her Facebook page.
The end of Classic weekend marks the end of another Oswego Speedway Supermodified season. In 2019, Nicotra Racing accomplished three feature wins (Sitterly 2, Sload 1) and a record breaking ninth Oswego Supermodified track championship with Sitterly.
Nicotra Racing wishes to thank all of our drivers, crewmembers, sponsors and fans for another very successful racing season! Otto’s ninth championship and Alison’s fifth-place finish in the final standings will be celebrated at the annual Oswego Speedway awards banquet on Saturday, October 26.
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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