OSWEGO, NY (July 22, 2023) - Josh Sokolic of Fulton, NY continued his dream season with feature win number four, holding off New England’s Jeffrey Battle for the rights to the Mr. J&S Paving 350 Supermodified title this past Saturday night, July 22.
Sokolic was involved in the scary back stretch melee on lap 5, and restarted from the rear of the field to beat the multi-time Star Speedway champion Battle with an outside move on a restart to take the lead and pull away from the No. 14.
“I had a hard time getting through traffic at first tonight and it seemed like every time I picked a lane it was the wrong lane to choose,” mentioned Sokolic. “I just hope Jason Spaulding is OK. That was definitely a wild ride. You never want to see anyone wreck like that and I just hope all involved are alright. Our damage only ended up being the nose wing and the crew had it ready for me when I came in. I’m just kind of at a loss for words. You’ve got the best 350 racer in the northeast here tonight in Jeff Battle and it's just cool to be able to come out and race with them and compete.”
Battle, who was making his first start of the season at Oswego, started fifth row outside in tenth, but it only took him 2-laps to crack the top five. After getting by Kyle Perry, Jason Spaulding and Dave Cliff for spots inside the top five, Jeff took over the top spot when early leader Nick Barzee broke on lap 13.
However, a spin one lap later by Eddie Witkum Jr. and Brendan Young bunched the field up for a double file restart, and Sokolic took full advantage of the outside lane, driving around Battle in between turns three and four to take over the lead and pull away.
“Congratulations to Josh on a great run,” said Battle. “This was our first time out this year here so it was a good showing. I’ve got to thank my Uncle Rich for making the tow out, we always have a bunch of fun here in Oswego.”
Multi-time Novelis Supermodified feature winner Dave Danzer was called to drive the Robbie Wirth Racing backup No. 04 and gladly accepted. After starting next to Battle in ninth, Danzer avoided the carnage and found himself in third place at the end of 30-laps.
“These 350’s are totally different,” offered Danzer. “I thought they would drive a lot like an ISMA top wing car and they don’t. I give these guys a lot of respect. It's throttle control and all of that stuff so I’m not really used to it. I just have to thank Rich and Robbie Wirth and all of them. We put this together on Thursday and I’ve got to thank my guys for helping out.”
The original front row for the 30-lap, $2,000 to win feature was Barzee and Nick Kinney, but with an ill-handling car, Kinney fell back several spots on the start with Cliff moving up to second, the Spaulding 23 in third, and the 20 of Perry in fourth in the early going.
Battle; after bypassing Danzer, brother Ryan, Tyler Thompson in the Top Quality Motorsports 45, and also Sokolic, was in hot pursuit in the top five.
An early caution flag came out for a spin by Talen Hawksby on lap 4, but it was on the ensuing restart that the first heavy hit of the night took place in between turns three and four when Nick Kinney and Ryan Battle tangled and pounded the outside foam. Both drivers were ok.
With only four complete, it was still Barzee out in front ahead of Cliff, Spaulding, and Perry, while Battle and Sokolic now dueled for fifth after the green lights came back on.
Down the backstretch, the cars of Spaulding and Perry came together, sending Spaulding for a spectacular crash as his car went airborne along the outside steel before coming to a crashing halt in turn three.
While trying to avoid Perry, who broke his front end after the contact, Thompson and Sokolic were also collected, and Thompson went up and over for a slow roll.
Thankfully, all drivers involved were un-injured, but Spaulding, Thompson and Perry would all sustain substantial damage, effectively ending their evenings.
Sokolic, as mentioned, went pitside for a nose wing change and returned to restart at the rear of the field.
After a lengthy cleanup, it was still the front row of Barzee and Cliff bringing the field back to green with Battle now moving up to third, Witkum in fourth, and Danzer fifth.
Barzee again held the lead over Cliff headed into turn one, while Sokolic was on the move right away, already having gone by Young, Hawksby, Danzer, and Witkum in a pair of laps to close in on the top three of Barzee, Cliff, and Battle.
On lap 8, Cliff slowed out of second, bringing Battle and Sokolic each up one spot.
Five laps later, leader Barzee slowed with problems; a heartbreaker as the driver of the No. 31 appeared well on his way to his feature win.
With Battle inheriting the lead on lap 13, the aforementioned caution came out one lap later, with Sokolic stealing the position as the field came to complete the fourteenth circuit.
Once out in front, Sokolic sped away comfortably for the win in a clean and green remainder of the chaotic feature over Battle, Danzer, Young, and Witkum in the top five.
Top ten finishers were Cliff, Robbie Wirth, Hawksby, Barzee, and Spaulding.
Oswego Speedway is off next Saturday night, July 29 for Oswego Harborfest and the ISMA / MSS Hy-Miler Nationals at Sandusky Speedway in Ohio.
The next scheduled event at the Steel Palace is ‘Retro Night’ on Saturday, August 5th, featuring Twin 40-lap features for the Novelis Supermodifieds.
For more information, please visit the track website online at OswegoSpeedway.com or LIKE on Facebook at Facebook.com/OswegoSpeedway or FOLLOW on Twitter @OswegoSpeedway or Instagram @OfficialOswegoSpeedway.
For more information, please visit the track website online at OswegoSpeedway.com or LIKE on Facebook at Facebook.com/OswegoSpeedway or FOLLOW on Twitter @OswegoSpeedway or Instagram @OfficialOswegoSpeedway.
RESULTS
C’s Beverage Center 36th Annual $10,000 to Win Mr. Novelis Supermodified
Mr. J&S Paving 350 Super 30
Saturday, July 22, 2023
Oswego Speedway
Oswego, NY
Feature (30-laps): 1. 26 JOSH SOKOLIC, 2. 14 Jeffrey Battle, 3. 04 Dave Danzer, 4. 75 ® Brendan Young, 5. 39 Eddie Witkum Jr, 6. 50 Dave Cliff, 7. 4 ® Robbie Wirth DNF 8. 79 ® Talen Hawksby, 9. 31 Nick Barzee, 10. 23 Jason Spaulding, 11. 20 Kyle Perry, 12. 45 Tyler Thompson, 13. 7 Nick Kinney, 14. 21 Ryan Battle
Heat 1 (10-laps): 1. 20 Kyle Perry, 2. 26 Josh Sokolic, 3. 50 Dave Cliff, 4. 31 Nick Barzee, 5. 21 Ryan Battle, 6. 39 Eddie Witkum Jr, 7. 4 ® Robbie Wirth
Heat 2 (10-laps): 1. 14 Jeffrey Battle, 2. 45 Tyler Thompson, 3. 7 Nick Kinney, 4. 04 Dave Danzer, 5. 23 Jason Spaulding, 6. 79 ® Talen Hawksby, 7. 75 ® Brendan Young
Group Time Trials: 1. 26 Josh Sokolic - 16.689, 2. 45 Tyler Thompson - 16.928, 3. 20 Kyle Perry - 16.931, 4. 14 Jeffrey Battle - 17.020, 5. 50 Dave Cliff - 17.033, 6. 79 ® Talen Hawksby - 17.034, 7. 75 ® Brendan Young - 17.111, 8. 31 Nick Barzee - 17.136, 9. 7 Nick Kinney - 17.183, 10. 21 Ryan Battle - 17.230, 11. 4 ® Robbie Wirth - 17.231, 12. 23 Jason Spaulding - 17.257, 13. 04 Dave Danzer - 17.361, 14. 39 Eddie Witkum Jr. - 17.494
D&S Landscaping Hard Charger: ($25): #75 ® Brendan Young
Lighthouse Lanes Up & Comer (Pizza and Wings): #04 Dave Danzer
- CAMDEN PROUD on Jul 23, 2023
- Article Date: 7/23/2023