Coming up on Saturday, November 13th, is the Eagles Fan Club “Payout Party”, and Injured Drivers Fund Fundraiser. This event will be an opportunity for friends, competitors, and fans at Oswego Speedway to get together for a night, and share a few laughs. ALL fans and race team members are invited to attend and have a good time, whether you are or are not a member of the Eagles Fan Club.

“Don’t miss out on the last chance to get together before the snow starts to fly”, said Eagles prez Larry Lee. “This is when we will be handing out the checks for Race Teams from the Eagles Fan Club Fund. We are also trying to raise some money for our injured driver’s fund, which is getting low”, added Lee.

All of the fun happens Saturday, November 13th, at 7:00PM. It takes place at the Oswego Hibernian’s Club, at 1 Munn Street in Oswego, N.Y. The cost of $10 / person includes pizza, wings, and finger food. And Ron Gray’s Millenium Music will provide the DJ entertainment.

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Earlier in the day, the NORA small block supermodified organization will hold a general membership meeting. The meeting will be held at Lighthouse Lanes in Oswego, N.Y., and will be a “moving into 2011” get-together. Ideas for the next season will be discussed, and ALL owners and drivers of small block supers are urged to attend. Discussions such as schedule, personnel, and suggestions for 2011 and the future will be on the agenda. Please show up - and bring your ideas…

This meeting will start at 4:30

Not one. Not two. Not three. No less than FOUR veteran small block supermodified drivers have plans to switch to the supermodified division in 2011.

1. BRIAN SOBUS - “We’re planning on doing the full Oswego schedule”, in the Ray Graham owned #92 supermodified, said Brian Sobus. You may remember that Sobus had his first ever supermodified experience during this year’s Classic Weekend, where he impressed the supermodified community by time trialing into the field 17th fastest, and finished a solid 8th in his first ever Classic. He then followed that up by winning his first ever heat attempt in a supermodified race at Sandusky Speedway in the same car a few weeks later.

Graham was apparently impressed, and plans are to try some ISMA winged events as well. “It all depends on funds - and they will be tight”, said Sobus. Sobus’ complete small block supermodified team is for sale, with all spares, and a spare engine.

2. GUARD NEARBIN - After many years in the small block supermodified division, Guard Nearbin has purchased a supermodified for next year. He purchased the car that was formerly campaigned by Mike Casey, and plans to make his way to the other side of the pits next season. “I’ve just got to put it together”, Nearbin told me when I asked how complete the car is. He’s got the same crew and same sponsors on board for the new season, and is quite excited to try the car out. Of course it sure would help Nearbin’s budget if he could liquidate his small block supermodified inventory, so he has listed it all for sale. He has both his 2009 and 2010 small block super #78’s for sale, one with motor, one without.

3. DAVE CLIFF JR. - “After the great shot Pat and Terry Strong and the guys at Strong Racing gave David, there was no going back! We are looking into buying our own, or securing a ride for David in a Super. We feel the time is right to move up”, said 2010 small block supermodified champion Dave Cliff’s mother Dayna. Cliff drove Strong Racing’s 2nd supermodified several times during the season in 2010, as a teammate to Joey Payne. A 13th place finish in his first ever Classic was a great illustration of his talent. The Cliffs have since sold the championship winning #06 FFB Chassis ride, which will be driven next year by Dave LaTulip, for new owner Carlee Heagerty. The team’s 2nd car, the FFB #36 is also for sale, as the family owned team hopes to move to the other side of the pits for 2011.

4. DAVE DANZER - Dave and his Dad Craig planned on making this move before the season started in 2010, and had their super ready before the beginning of the 2010 season. But a horrible stuck throttle wreck DESTROYED that car during a track rental prior to opening day. The team pulled the small block back out, and campigned that all season.

But that same option will not be available in 2011. The small block has been sold to crewman Dwayne Barber, and a new Hawk Chassis supermodified has been in the works for awhile now. So make that FOUR veterans moving up to supers in 2011.

Needless to say, anyone who questions the importance of the small block supermodified division to the supermodified division - or the speedway in general - is hwackin’ it behind the tool shed. Eight of the top twenty cars in the points, and eight of the top twenty cars in this year’s Classic, came from the small block super division. The ULTIMATE feeder division. Keep up the good work, guys!

“I love working with these guys! And we all know what an awesome car it is….” That’s what Randy Ritskes said about his plans for 2011. Ritskes has secured a deal to drive a new Xtreme Chassis Supermodified for Randy Daratt Motorsports next year, and is pretty excited about it.

—- “I wanted to be involved with these guys, and help them win the championship”, said Andy Noto, the former owner of the Xtreme Chassis that will be piloted by Ritskes next season. “I’m looking forward to Randy beating Otto for the championship in that car”.

—- So here’s how the whole deal happened. Many nights during the season, Noto and crew spent late hours working on and helping Paul Colloca build his new car. Once it was completed, late in the season, engine troubles haunted the team, and caused more work and stress. “After Classic, I didn’t even want to look at the car. I’m emotionally and physically spent. It was going to just sit”, related Noto, who recently bought a 5th wheel camper for needed family time.

—- After some conversation with friend Johnny Richichi, who fields the car for Daratt, a deal was cut for Daratt to purchase the car from Noto for Ritskes to drive. Noto didn’t feel that he had the time or help to give the car justice, and is excited about the prospect of seeing Ritskes go fast in it.

—- After teaming up late in 2010 after Keith Shampine left the ride, the team seemed to connect immediately. A 9th place in the ISMA Classic and a 5th place in the International Classic - all on the same day - proved that they all work quite well together. “We’re running for the championship!”, Ritskes enthused. It’s the deal that Ritskes has been looking for for years. The Oswego N.Y. resident spent a lot of time driving on the ISMA circuit, but had grown tired of the travel and time away. Just a couple of years ago Randy told me he was done driving, “unless a deal for a great ride at Oswego came along…”, always leaving his options open. This deal, in that amazing car, with those guys that he has so much fun with, is just that deal.

—- “After driving for Craig (Rayvals) a couple years ago, I really wanted another good ride at Oswego”, said the transplanted Canadian. “These guys are so much fun. When I flipped their car over last year, they greeted me laughing when I came back to the pits. They even gave me my own ‘Randicapped parking” space.”

—- So what about the old #88, the car that Shampine and Ritskes drove for Daratt in 2010? Here’s the fun part - Andy Noto will drive it, renumbered as #48. Not on a weekly basis, but Noto will wheel it a few times, and have it there as a spare for Ritskes if he needs it for his championship hunt. “Probably 5-6 times. Plus Classic”, Noto said of his time behind the wheel of the #48 in 2011. Both cars will be housed and maintained at Richichi’s shop, and Noto will race when it’s convenient.

—- Both Ritskes and Noto are very excited about the new season. It should be quite a team to reckon with next year!

Big night of fun coming up Saturday Sept 18th at Thunder Alley Speedway, in Evans Mills. 

      The NORA small block supers will be in action, along with a TON of other divisions. 
From their website: “Thunder Alley Speed Park along with SUNY Canton will say farewell to the 2010 season on Saturday, September 18, 2010. The track will host a night of racing action for the Limited Supers, Open Wheels, Super Stocks, Thunder Stocks, Thunder Cars, Sports Compacts, Men’s Trucks, Women’s Trucks, Jr. Thunder Stocks and Jr. Thunder Cars.”

That Open Wheel division, I’m told is for ANY car that doesn’t have fenders, all mixed together. That in itself should be worth the price of admission, because you could see mods, small block supers (some with modifications!), IMCA mods, or anything there. Anything goes!

And that’s all for just $5.00 admission!
Or a $20 pit pass. 

I won’t be able to make it myself, but Barry Kingsley and Bobby Henry will be wheeling my #93. Please head up there and yell for Bobby- and maybe some of the other guys 

This is the time when new names and new deals start popping up, about who’s driving what for Classic Weekend. I’ll update this blog all week about what I hear, and hopefully you, the “JayMates”, will keep me posted with what you’re hearing and seeing. Go ahead and click the “comments” button below to share news, ask questions, or make a comment. Or if you want to fly under the radar, e-mail me at JJcqracing@aol.com.

First order of business: a small block supermodified driver will make his debut in a supermodified this weekend. It’s Brian Sobus, and he’ll be running both divisions this weekend! While the engine has been changed in the small block car and everything is almost ready to go as of Monday morning, I’m sure it will be a busy week prepping the super.

My prediction is that Brian will adapt very quickly to the supermodified, and won’t have much trouble making the show. If there are no problems, I wouldn’t be surprised if he makes the show through time trials. He’s that good. You watch.
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Pictures have been released of the new Mike Muldoon supermodified, which will be piloted in the Classic by the talented Bobby Santos III. Classic will be the first race on this brand new car, which sounds risky. But Mike Muldoon was known for his ability to have a car one hundred percent ready out of the box, and Santos is the type of driver who can jump in anything and be fast immediately. If anyone can pull off the near impossible, these are the guys.

Watch for Mike Muldoon to be the first driver behind the wheel of the new car at a Wednesday track rental. Santos will sit in the car on Friday for the first time. The beautiful car is number 50, which is also Dave Gruel’s number, so I’m not sure how that will work out. To see some shots of the beauty go to Pinner’s BNG Message Board at www.gosupers.com.

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Next: An addition to the ISMA field for Saturday night is JOEY PAYNE, in the Stout Racing #49. Payne will be teammates with Trent Stephens out of the Stout stables, and will surely give it a hell of a ride. It will be a busy week for Payne, as he will also compete in the Alan Mollot #51 TQ midget race on Saturday. Go JET!
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Small Block super addition: Danny Kapuscinski has secured the ride in the Dave Cliff backup #36 car. Kart race Nick Demling was going to race it, but had to back out for financial reasons after a minor truck accident. Danny K will give that car a heck of a ride, and this is some great equipment!
“Slick” Demling will drown his sorrows by racing in three different divisions of Karts Thursday and Friday.