For the 2009 season, small block supermodified drivers’ representative Tom Aaserud proposed and developed a tire rule. The program was implemented for the small block supermodified division in 2009, which was designed to greatly reduce the biggest expense - the tire bill. This rule limited teams to the purchase of only two tires per week, or 30 for the season. (It was reduced to 28 total tires after the one rainout.) Aaserud did the research, bought the bar code scanner and laptop computer, worked out the details with speedway owner / tire supplier Steve Gioia, and held a few meetings about its proposed implementation. Despite the aggressive protests from a couple teams, the rule was adopted.

Fast forward now that the regular season is over, and the rule was an astounding success. Even the teams that were so against it will have to admit that the program has gone off without a hitch, and be happy about the savings on the tire expenses.

From Tom Aaserud: “In my eyes, this has been very successful for everyone, all in the spirit of keeping cars on the track for our fans. Steve Gioia told me that he was talking with some of the competitors about the rule and he said he received positive feed back on how it was handled. The teams liked the fact that the tire log book was open to the public and they could look at it any time. I also asked Steve how much this affected tire sales, and his response was that It had no significant difference on sales, and he felt that it helped the low budget teams feel they could compete. Not only has it saved people a lot of money, but I also feel that it has closed the gap between the haves and the have nots.”

Some of the teams that maybe haven’t bought many new tires in the past were now inspired to actually buy more tires, since they knew they had a better chance because everybody else was already on four stickers.

Aaserud continued, “In the beginning there was a lot of uncertainty that this program would work. After all, who would ever guess that a group of competitors would ever be able to police themselves? We’ve proven once again that this is a special group of people, and a real class act.”

Aaserud also wanted to recognize the volunteer “tire monitor”, Sam Bradford. “Hats off to Sam Bradford, who single-handedly made the administration of this tire rule so seamless. Sam goes from pit to pit to ask if there were any tires to be scanned and logged, and after every heat he would go to the top four qualifier’s pits and scan their tires. Then he would also be at the scales at the end of the feature. I don’t think Sam understands how important his job is, and what a great job he has done.” Aaserud presented Bradford with a special plaque in appreciation for his efforts at last week’s drivers meeting.

This program has been so successful, that I won’t be surprised if other divisions, and other speedways mirror it. And they should. I am sure that Aaserud would be happy to talk to any speedway or division of cars that would like to know about it.

As expected, Aaserud will downplay his role in this plan, but all of the drivers in the division owe Tom a big pat on the back. Everyone I’ve asked agrees that this has saved them a lot of money, and it’s gone off without one single hitch. Maybe Tom should have bought himself a plaque. Or maybe the drivers should.

Every now and then I opine about the importance of keeping one’s perspective. This week’s events at Oswego Speedway and within the supermodified community have brought that forward once again.

New rules about carrying food and drinks into the speedway, and the way that was handled, made many fans crazy last Saturday. We’ve all heard about it repeatedly - rude security, tough rules, expensive hotdogs, dogs and cats sleeping together, unhealthy food choices, and the topper - the dreaded “juice box conspiracy”. If I hear that juice box story - the untrue or exaggerated one about security supposedly violently ripping a juice box from a crying child’s hand - one more time, I’m going to scream!

It’s old news, people. That’s so last week. Sure, it could have been handled better. It wasn’t. Maybe everyone will learn from it. I predict that speedway security and personnel had a company meeting this week with management after last week’s big blowup, that could have been quickly diffused by the use of some basic customer service techniques, and they will treat people a lot differently this week. I expect that every employee that works at Oswego Speedway will remember from here forward that each person is a customer, and to treat them as such. Because if anyone learned anything from last week’s controversies, it’s the importance of CUSTOMER SERVICE.

And if any fans learned anything last week, we can hopefully look more at the big picture this week. Okay - maybe somebody was a little gruff at the gate last week. We should have been told before hand that we couldn’t bring our fruit rollups and onion juice. But once we got past all of that, we were still able to see a GREAT show and full fields of amazing supermodified and small block supermodified racing action. At the ONLY race track anywhere in the world that gives us supermods every week! Do you know how many people around the country would love to be able to say that? Many would - but we are the only ones fortunate enough to have that honor. Keep that in mind when you’re paying $2.75 for a hotdog - (the same as what you would pay at a restaurant, and probably less than you’d pay at the dome or any other sports facility. I recently paid $7.00 for a hot dog at a concert!) - and TEN BUCKS to get in tonight. TEN BUCKS!

All of that means nothing. Here’s what everybody should be talking about, or typing about on internet message boards.

One of our own, supermodified driver Craig Rayvals, was injured in a racing accident at Lee Speedway last night. According to a post from wife Terry Rayvals via Tammy Geers on Pinner’s message board, Craig has a “badly broken leg, broken shoulder, and bruised ribs”. He’s in the hospital that he was transported to from the speedway, and will require surgery near his home, in Kingston, Ontario.

If you don’t know Craig, you should know that he’s one of the quality guys of racing. Always with a kind word and a smile, I enjoy talking to Craig when I get the opportunity. Craig Rayvals has been a great contributor to the sport of supermodified racing, both on the ISMA and Oswego Speedway circuits. He debuted a brand new Hawk Chassis just last week at Oswego, and has also fielded cars for many other drivers in the division. Jeff Abold currently drives a Rayvals owned car on the ISMA circuit.

It scares me and makes me upset to see guys like Craig Rayvals getting seriously injured because of their love of this hobby. Bobby Bond is still on crutches from a supermodified accident. Shawn Muldoon is still on the mend from a very serious accident earlier this season in his super. Johnny Benson was very seriously injured in his own supermodified accident this year. And don’t forget Doug Didero’s accident earlier this year, which probably had him seeing double for awhile.

All of these bad accidents and serious injuries should really help people put this whole food and security deal in the proper perspective. This sport means enough to these guys that they will risk injuries or their lives to do it - for our entertainment. The least we can do is support them, appreciate them, and quit bellyaching about if this guy looked at me crossways or this guy asked me for $6.00 for a couple of snacks. Perspective, people.

Enjoy the races this weekend. Classic’s coming. Go out and make some positive memories. Appreciate these guys.

Don’t sweat the small stuff.

Get well soon, Craig Rayvals! There are THOUSANDS of us thinking about you! Thanks for all you do for the sport. You’re one of the good guys.

I thought it would be a good idea at this time to blog about Thursday night’s controversy at the speedway involving winner Brian Sobus and the issues that arose after a post-race tech inspection.

Tom Carr volunteered to assist NORA and perform tech on this non-Oswego Speedway sanctioned night, in exchange for his pit pass. Carr performed an inspection on the top three cars, and expressed concern over the exhaust ports on Sobus’ cylinder head. Carr felt that some machining or porting had been done on the head, which would be illegal according to the rules, as the heads must be left stock in the port areas. This determination was made by inspecting the ports with his finger, judging whether the port was smooth or rounded by feeling it with his finger. Carr considered the car illegal at that time, and sent the decision to the NORA board to decide the appropriate penalty.

The NORA board was assembled at that time, to discuss Carr’s findings, and decide which appropriate action would be taken. After further discussion in the tech shed with Carr, the NORA board of directors decided to pursue a second opinion, looking for something more concrete than judging by “feel”.

After no other engine builders were available or willing to get involved with tech, the Oswego Speedway tech team of Mike Bozzuto and Brenda Rice offered to let the NORA tech use a stock World Products spec cylinder head for comparison. (Oswego Speedway keeps a stock World Products spec cylinder head in a cabinet in the tech shed, just for comparison in instances such as this.)

Physical inspection of this head made Carr’s earlier decision even less cut and dried, as one of the ports on the factory cylinder head felt smooth in comparison to the others - similar to the description of Sobus’ cylinder head. Because of this ambiguity, Carr recommended, and NORA agreed to let the win stand. A disqualification, especially in a race of this magnitude, would require a one hundred percent certainty of guilt, backed up by concrete numbers and measurements. As this certainty could not be verified, the victory was upheld.

For further clarification, Sobus requested that Bozzuto inspect the cylinder heads the next day, at a neutral site near Bozzuto’s home, at Raymond’s Garage in Liverpool, N.Y. NORA had no involvement or stake or representation in this off-site inspection.

On Friday, Bozzuto DID perform an inspection on the engine. Bozzuto checked the following:
The intake manifold was removed, and the intake was checked with an aluminum gauge that Bozzuto uses at the speedway for tech, made from a known factory stock intake that the speedway used for tech.
The intake and exhaust ports on the cylinder heads were inspected and measured with a snap gauge. The casting marks were intact, according to Bozzuto, and the measurements were compared to previous numbers that Bozzuto had acquired during previous inspections. The measurements all looked appropriate to Bozzuto, and were noted for final comparison with the speedway’s sample cylinder head on Saturday when Bozzuto gets to the speedway.

Bozzuto’s determination in the voluntary tear-down / inspection is that the upper end of Sobus’ engine is within all boundaries determined by the Oswego Speedway rule book. A lot is on the line when you’re taking someone’s win away, and Reynolds and the rest of the NORA board of directors had to be positive to take a win away.

Congratulations to Brian Sobus and the rest of the team for their huge NORA / USAC victory - the first of its kind.

“It’s gonna come out, and it’s gonna be first class - new car front to back!”, said driver Joey Payne of the new car. Pat Strong and the Strong Racing crew have been assembling a brand new car, but refuse to rush it, or bring it out before it’s complete. A collaboration between Pat Strong and Joey Hawksby the car will be one of a kind.

Payne almost won the last time out, finishing a close 2nd to Ray Graham, despite finding a broken valve spring in the car later. For being an old chassis “an 18 year-old relic”, as the Jerzey Jet called it, Payne has been quite competitive against the newer cars in 2009. “This old car is a bottom feeder”, Payne explained, talking about the low groove that he is able to run. He compares his line to Tim Gareau’s line from a few seasons ago - only lower.

Payne rides 2nd in points right now, keeping Otto Sitterly within striking distance. The new car will not see its debut on August 1st for the $10,000 to win Mr. Supermodified race. That would be a bad time to come out with a brand new car. But it is expected to be ready for the following week, on August 8th, “if my shock guy gets my shocks done”, said Payne.

Can’t wait to see it!

One of the most anticipated supermodified races - the richest of its kind - is happening this week. Ten grand is the biggest payday offered for winged supers. But that’s only part of it. If you are an awesome supermodified driver, and have the right connections, you have a shot at $40,000 for winning just two races. No, that’s not a misprint. I said FORTY LARGE!

All you have to do is win two fifty lap, ten thousand dollar to win races, and you get an extra $20,000 kick for your troubles. How hard could that be?

Here’s the catch. And it’s a big catch, too. The speedway - and the speedway’s insurance company who are gambling the money - are confident that this can’t be done. Because you have to win one race with a winged super, and another race without a wing on it.

Supermodifieds are awesome vehicles, and are very unique breeds of cars. But the most awesome winged drivers usually are also-rans when they step into cars without wings. And the most amazing non-winged drivers.. well usually people do a lot of yawning when they jump into winged cars.

The most obvious example: Chris Perley. Perley has dominated the ISMA division for years, but has never won a non-winged supermodified race. Not that he can’t, and not that he isn’t a living legend for being one of the greatest drivers in winged supermodified history. But he has only ran a few races without the “crutch", and never contended for a win. So his chances of winning the bonus are iffy at best. But his chance of winning this race? Excellent. Watch him - he’s amazing!

So who’s the best topless supermodified driver this year? I think you’d have to probably say Otto Sitterly. Otto’s running great in the John Nicotra owned Hawk Chassis machine. So how many races has he won flying a kite? Jack squat. They dabble in winged racing from time to time, but I don’t think many people have circled the #7 on their potential list of bonus winners.

We would LOVE to see Bentley Warren win these two races. Bentley is one of the most beloved super drivers of all times, and he was in victory lane at Oswego just a couple years ago in Perley’s backup car, which is owned and fielded by Vic Miller. He could win the winged race again, if he’s in that car or one as competitive. But his unwinged supermodified program this year has been quite unimpressive. That car is sideways, spinning the tires, lifting the left front, and just not fast. Bentley wheels the heck out of it, but let’s face it - you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. He’s going nowhere when the second 10G race comes around. The only hope the legion of Bentley fans has is if he lands a ride in a different car without the wing.

Hey - what if somebody unexpected wins the winged race, but doesn’t have a ride in the unwinged Mr. Supermodified race? Is there a top ride available that someone may be offered to step into? Hmmm…

Bobby Bond has one of those awesome Xtreme Chassis cars that he can’t drive due to a racing injury that kicked the heck out of his brake foot. He’s out of work until at least mid-August, and is a big “maybe” for even Classic. Yes, he wadded the car up recently in an ISMA race. But it wasn’t as bad as it looked initially. In fact, many of the repairs were completed at Paul Colloca’s Xtreme chassis shop last week. I spoke with Bob last Monday, and although the car wasn’t ready to race at that point, there was a chance that it would be soon. But that car was converted to a solid axle machine, which could be loaned out to someone who’s not on injured reserve, under the right circumstances. As of Monday, that wasn’t necessarily the plan, but the option was there if things fell into place. So even if it’s not ready for the King of Wings race, any winged driver that wins this race, and doesn’t have a wingless ride for part two, would be crazy to not get on the horn with Bobby.

By the way, who would or could get in that car? As much as I - and half of the small block supermodified pits - would like to see Bob put his big brother Mike Bond in that car for the weekend, Bob didn’t feel that would be prudent. “As good of a driver as he is", Bob said, almost admitting for the first time ever that his big brother is a good driver, “you don’t just hop into a winged supermodified and win in it". I reminded him of a few guys like Ted Christopher, Billy Whittaker, Mikey Ordway Jr., and most recently Trent Stephens who took to winged super racing like a fish to water, but he wasn’t buying into it. (Can you say snot-nosed little brother?) He did offer a wish list of Lou Cicconi or even Doug Heveron who he considered trying to contact if the car was ready, but he wasn’t reaching out to them at this point, since the car was not ready.

Russ Wood and Mike Ordway Jr. and Jeff Holbrook are three prominent winged super drivers that have a home base of less than 10 miles from Oswego Speedway. But curiously, neither of the Holbrook cars are entered. The theory is that since all three cars are entered at a Tuesday night ISMA race at Stafford Speedway, and then a Sunday ISMA race at Cayuga speedway, the $10G race is a little lower priority for the Holbrook team, which concentrates on ISMA. But maybe if everything goes well Tuesday, and somebody asks nicely…..

Another awesome non-winged super is the Xtreme Chassis #3 driven by Doug Didero. Didero is weekly the fastest, or one of the fastest cars at the speedway. But as I and builder Paul Colloca discussed recently, their record without a wing is pretty average. “So far", was Paul’s reply. If they happen to win this Saturday race, I predict Didero will pull out all of the stops to win the accompanying Mr. Supermodified race. But first he has to win this one…

And yet another amazing winged super driver is “Timmy J", a.k.a. Tim Jedrzejek. Timmy J runs very well at Oswego in his winged car. Definitely a favorite for this Saturday. But then what? “Hello - is this Bobby Bond?”

I know what you’re waiting for. Who CAN win both ends of this big bonus event? I’ve got some ideas.

Bobby Magner has a lot of kite flying super experience, running the ISMA series for a coupla years as one of Jeff Holbrook’s hired guns. Oh - and he also was the only driver to win three features at Oswego Speedway last year, in the non-winged Double Deuce Racing super. Is he one of the favorites? In the words of Sarah Palin:, “You Betcha!”.

Dave McKnight is also curiously not on the pre-entry list. But I think they’re just being coy. And mysterious. McKnight has been a top winged driver for several years on the ISMA circuit. In 2009, McKnight has been running weekly at Oswego topless. Is unwinged car owner Gary Syrell not planning to strap on a wing for one of the best drivers on both circuits?

What about Ray Graham? He also has a ton of wing experience, jet-setting all over the country the last couple of years at various speedways. Then in 2009, Graham finally joined the exclusive Thousand Dollar Club, which is comprised of only drivers who are cool enough to win a wingless race at Oswego Speedway. He’s got a crazy fast car, which was worked over by the legendary Clyde Booth over the winter. You’ve got to think that Ray Graham has a great shot at greatness - and $40K.

Greg Furlong is one the few drivers that has won races in both topless and wigged supermodifieds. But that was the old days. In the last couple of years, for whatever reason, Greg Furlong has been average at best. In fact, he didn’t even bother running the MSA winged event earlier in the season. They are aware that they aren’t running well, and don’t want to muddy the waters by diluting their resources by strapping on the wing. So even if they do surprise everyone by showing up this weekend (which I doubt), I don’t hold a lot of optimism for them to win part two, without the wing.

So am I forgetting anyone? Let me see… Wood? Covered him. Perley? He was at the beginning. Didero? Yep - coupla paragraphs ago. Oh, Otto. Oh there he is - back at the beginning, too. Bentley? Timmy J? Magner? Holbrook? Stephens? Ordway Jr.? Graham? Check. Guess that’s about it. I’ve covered everyone that I can think of that could double their pleasure by winning both races.

Hmmm…. I wonder if….maybe….well…..

JOEY PAYNE!!! The Jerzey Jet has won several winged races, both in supers and NEMA midgets. He’s got that going for him. Although his current owners Pat and Terry Strong don’t have a ton of experience flying a kite, you can bet that Payne has something up his sleeve to compensate for that inexperience. Like a NEW ENGINE that has been sitting on the shelf for a few weeks now. If there was ever a time to bring out the new Finger Lakes Machine power plant this is it. Imagine if Joey finished 2nd or 3rd with the current car/engine configuration, which is very possible. The team would never stop kicking themselves with the “what ifs” and “if onlys". “If only we would have had the new engine in the car…”

Then, if he steals the show in the winged portion of the double header, I guarantee that the NEW car, which is almost completed, will be in action for the August edition of the two-part bonus. New car. New engine. Excellent team. Badass driver. Who would you pick?