That’s right - not only will Snyder Racing field a second car for a rookie driver this year, but they also have a new car in the works.

First of all. A deal has been cut for a first time supermodified driver to drive (on a rent -to- own basis) the Hawk Chassis - which was modified before the 2009 season by Xtreme Chassis builder Paul Colloca. Shaun Gosselin, who has driven many different types of racecars, including Ford Focus midgets, will be behind the wheel of the #26 supermodified. Snyder Racing, with the help of Gosselin’s crew, will maintain the car at the Snyder Racing shop. It will probably be a weekly deal, if the team is able to get on the franchise plan, according to Snyder. “They’ll have the use of all of our equipment, spares, etc.”, said Snyder.

Part two - the new car. A new Xtreme Chassis will be - or has been - ordered for the 2010 season. Of course the proceeds of the sale of their current car will go toward the new 2010 Xtreme car. Although it’s a pretty short time frame for Colloca to build a new car by May 1st, since he’s already in the process of building a car for Andy Noto, Snyder is confident that the car can be done in time. But what if it’s not? I asked Tim. “I can find a car. We’ll be there. But we plan to rent the track the week before opener for the new car”.

Note -(January 15th) I just got a text message from Andy Noto, with a picture of the new COMPLETED Xtreme frame. While it’s not the whole car that’s done, the frame is complete as of today, according to Andy. Looks pretty sweet. Go Andy! And keep up the good work, Paulie - you’ve got at least one more car to finish!

#50 Tim Barbeau car - driven to the championship last year by now supermodified driver Dave Gruel:

Tim’s not driving his own car again this year. Tim’s racing this year, but not in his own car. He’s sticking in the Steve Abt #58 car that he drove to a 6th place in points last year. The former Larry Muroski FFB Chassis is a solid car, and Barbeau will be fast in it once again, you can be assured.

Then who IS driving the #50 Barbeau Racing machine? This deal is so fresh that I had to beg Tim to release the information. Which he just did to me not more than thirty minutes ago, when the deal was finalized.

Chris Proud will be the new, full-time driver of the Barbeau Racing #50 that won the championship last year. Proud will maintain and field the car, for a full-time run at the championship in 2010. “He’ll maintain the car exactly the way I would maintain it - or even better”, said Barbeau. Proud called Barbeau about the ride as soon as it was announced that Gruel was moving up to the supermodified ranks. Barbeau had several inquiries about the ride. He had previously asked Hall of Famer Mark Regan to drive the car, but Regan passed on the opportunity. “He’s definitely capable of winning”, Barbeau said of Proud.

“This is different for me. I’m not used to being just the driver - not the owner”, said Proud. “Now I’m working on some sponsorship, I’ve got to get a trailer…” Proud is definitely enthused about the opportunity, and plans to make the most of it.

#60 Ray Pike car - formerly driven by Russ Brown:

Ray Pike debuted a brand new Ray Hedger Chassis in 2009, which was driven by Russ Brown and maintained by Ray Hedger. Brown had an amazing season, finishing in the top three every week except one, and finished a solid 2nd place in points. But Brown wasn’t happy with that, because they never won a race all season, and vowed, (again), to never race at Oswego Speedway again in a car without a roof. (He acknowledges that he would compete in a modified at the speedway at some point.) After maybe the most controversial season ever, filled with drama and angry sound bites, Pike was left without a driver.

“We’re going to have some fun this year - not like last year”, said Pike. “I’m very excited”, said Pike about his new driver. Stan Gates was a first time winner in 2009, and has quietly earned the respect of everyone in the pits as a solid, controversy-free pilot. Gates will park his own Ford-powered machine in 2010, and be the full-time driver of the Pike Bros. Racing #60.

“I’m honored to park my car and drive for Ray”, Gates said. “I think it’ll be really nice having new tires, and more help at the track, and not having to run used stuff all the time“. Stan’s car will serve as a backup, and he’ll compete in some races at other tracks, if any are scheduled, with his car. The Pike Racing machine will be maintained at Pike’s shop in Norwich, N.Y. In Gates’ spare time this year, he will be able to help his friend and teammate George Knight with his own car.

All last year, in addition to fielding the car and working full time, Pike has been fighting cancer. A lot of nights you could tell that he was under the weather. But lately he’s been feeling a lot better. “I’ve been getting (chemotherapy) treatments every 28 days. Doing well. Doctors are happy. I’m feeling GREAT now”, added Pike. A hospital stay in December for pneumonia and H1N1 hasn’t dampened his spirits.

So back to the Ford subject. I asked Stan if, all things considered, would he have taken the amazing ride, if it wasn‘t powered by a Ford engine? “I wouldn’t drive it if it was a Chevy. I think my car was pretty fast toward the end of the year last year”, Stan deadpanned.

New driver for the Double Deuce Racing Super!

0n December 29th, Double Deuce Racing announced on their website that multiple feature winner Bobby Magner would not return as the driver in 2010. While his replacement wasn’t announced at that time, talks were under way for the new pilot.

They wasted no time closing the deal to start the new year, when they hired small block supermodified star DAVE GRUEL to wheel the coveted 22 for 2010. Gruel comes off an amazing 2009 season that saw him win the championship and an amazing five Oswego features in the Tim Barbeau #50.

Gruel brings a ton of talent and knowledge to his promotion, and will be a factor for wins - and maybe a championship - in 2010. “They told me they don’t want a learning curve, and I think I can do it”, said Gruel about his conversations with team owners Bill Samuels and Bob Hoefer.

It should be an exciting year!

How many racecars will Dave Danzer have at his disposal this season? He’ll have a couple to choose from!

Danzer Racing has purchased a supermodified from Pat Furlong Jr., and will campaign it in 2010. The full schedule hasn’t been decided, as the car was only purchased as a rolling chassis, less motor. “It depends on the motor, when it gets done”, whether or not they run the whole season, according to Danzer.

The team isn’t selling their small block supermodified, and will campaign that regularly, if they don’t end up running a full season in the super. It’s a little early in the planning stages, for sure. Right now the focus is on making room in the garage for the second car - and banishing the small block to the trailer.

“The car is the old West Chassis that was redone by Hawksby 4 years ago. It has three Classic wins and a couple of track titles”, Dave told me. It’s also the car that Michael Barnes got his first win in, and was also driven by Bentley Warren a few times for Double Deuce Racing. It last ran at Sandusky in 2007.

Dave sounded pretty excited about the season when we were talking about it. The actual schedule for the car will be worked out in the coming months, but there will be some double duty nights, where he’ll run both the super and the small block super. “We’ll run both Classics” in 2010, said Danzer.

Did you ever want to get in a fire-breathing supermodified, but knew you didn’t have the money, skill, knowledge…or guts to drive one? It’s always been the fantasy of many to roar around the steel palace in a supermodified, but not many of us have the thirty to seventy grand to put out to live that dream.

Now you don’t need it!

Coming this summer to Oswego Speedway, speedway management has acquired a two seat supermodified, formerly owned by Davey Hamilton, for promotion and RACING! For just a little a hundred bucks, you will have the opportunity to get the thrill of your life, on Saturdays, and other select dates.

The two packages available will cost $120 for three hair-raising laps, or $150 for five terrifying laps around the famed steel palace. The smaller package includes two general admission tickets for the night’s events, and the bigger package bumps you up to three VIP tickets. Most ride-alongs will take place on Saturday afternoon before the races, and will be limited to a maximum of probably ten riders. A helmet and fire suit will be provided, and you must be 15 years old to ride. Mid-week group / corporate packages will also be available and customized to your group.

This unique creation has been used on the west coast for promotion and excitement for the division. The passenger sits directly behind the driver, for maximum thrill, and vision of what’s happening. The car will be used mostly WITH a wing, for ultimate stability - and SPEED! The car is currently at Joey Hawksby’s shop, and comes race-ready. Of course the car will be completely gone through prior to turning any laps, for maximum safety. But this is a REAL supermodified - something very few people in this world get to cruise.

The first official outing for the 2-seater could be next Sunday, November 15th, at Stephen Gioia III’s fundraiser, at Lighthouse Lanes in Oswego, N.Y. It would be a great time to help out the injured driver, as well as check out what may be the coolest supermodified ever. The $10 pork dinner starts at noon, and will help out with Stephen’s medical expenses and long recovery after seriously injuring both legs during this year’s Classic Weekend. A ride will be raffled off as part of the fundraiser.

The car will also be on display in the Oswego Speedway booth at the National Parts Peddler show at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse N.Y, coming up on November 20-22. “Show special” packages will be available at a discounted rate of $100 or $125. (Limited availability.)

And if you really can’t even wait that long to see this, I’ll let you in on a secret… the car will be at Oswego Speedway next Monday for pictures, so if you go there and act like you know what you’re doing, I’m sure you can have a peek at it. But you didn’t hear that from me….

Now for the coolest fantasy part of this deal…

How would you like to ride around Oswego Speedway with your favorite driver from the past or present? A “Ride with the Legends” program would be amazing! Maybe for an additional charge, perhaps you could get a ride with Bentley Warren? Davey Hamilton? Steve Gioia Jr.? Greg Furlong? J.J. Andrews (just kidding!). Or how about Doug Heveron?

Nothing like this has been planned yet, but I am sure that some drivers will be approached by speedway management about taking some lucky fans around the speedway. Extra proceeds would be for charitable contributions to cancer related charities, I’m told. It’s still early in the planning, but I bet any of those legends, and many more would consider something this fun - and helpful. This could happen Friday night of Classic Weekend, so start working up your nerve now.

What could be more exhilarating than a ride around Oswego Speedway, at speed, without the worries of keeping it off the wall, or the expense of building / owning the car?