OSWEGO, NY (August 5, 2023) - Finally. Following an unprecedented seven second place finishes, Noah Ratcliff is an Oswego Speedway feature winner.
The driver of the Ratcliff Racing / Jake’s Automotive No. 73 started in eighth and dueled with Griffin Miller on a pair of late race restarts enroute to an emotional first career victory.
“I’ve been practicing for this speech for a long time and have no words,” Ratclif said. “The car was on rails all feature long. I’ve got to thank my brother most importantly, my Mom, sister, cousin Drew, Willy, Mike, John, Uncle Darren, Kendra, Mark, Travis, and Jason has been working his ass off for us today and I appreciate it a ton.”
Miller, delivering the second podium finish of his 2023 season, didn’t have quite enough to keep up with Ratcliff on the restarts, but was pleased with runner-up and happy to see the Ratcliff family in victory lane for the first time.
“First of all, if I had to pick anyone here to finish second to it would be those guys,” mentioned Miller. “I tried my best, but the cautions got to us there. The car just got too loose, but we held on. The car was the best it's been all year. We have had a pretty shitty year, but this was a good run tonight. We’re getting there and congrats again to Noah. Love to see it.”
It was Mike Fowler and Jake Brown who originally brought the field to green for the 30-lap feature with Fowler taking the early lead over third starting AJ Larkin.
Trouble immediately transpired down the backstretch as Brown and Tony Pisa tangled headed into turn three. Several cars spun to avoid, but it was a no harm, no foul situation, as everyone was able to continue without damage.
Because the first lap was not completed, this called for an original restart that again would see Fowler taking the lead while Miller, who started in fourth, quickly moved into second and gave chase to the race leader.
When the caution lights came right back on for an O’Connor spin in turn three, his teammate Pisa made the most of the restart, making an exciting three wide move way up on the outside to get by Brown for third.
Meanwhile, Miller made a run for the lead in the high road and cleared Fowler headed down the frontstretch as the field came around to complete lap 3, but another yellow - this time involving O’Connor and Jordan Sullivan slowed the field once more.
On the ensuing choose-style restart, it was Miller and now Pisa in the front row with Miller holding out in front using the bottom lane, but again, the fourth yellow flag would fly for a massive hit into the outside steel by DJ Shuman after brushing wheels with Brown.
Shuman was OK, but unfortunately his No. 62 was heavily damaged.
After a chaotic first few laps, officials elected to go with a single-file restart. The new running order was Miller, Fowler, Pisa, Brown, Tony DeStevens, and Ratcliff.
Finally, the race got rolling as Miller was able to open up a nice advantage over Fowler and Pisa. who fell into third.
With a dozen laps complete, Ratcliff was ready to move towards the front, having already gotten by DeStevens for fifth, Brown for fourth, and next working the inside on Pisa for third..
Just as things were heating up out front, the fifth caution came out on lap 18 for rookie Carter Gates in turn three.
Ratcliff; who had been running third and looking to get by Fowler, elected to take his chances on the outside lane for the choose-style restart and now would fire right next to race leader Miller.
Miller, however, was able to hold strong and inch out in front of Ratcliff, but the yellow came out again a lap later as O’Connor lost the right rear tire on the No. 90 in turn four.
On this choose-style restart, it was Ratcliff’s turn. Noah again picked the outside, and this time found the bite he needed to steal the lead from Miller in the No. 9.
Caution number seven came out for Pisa on lap 20. Tony was working on the outside of Fowler to take third, but got sideways, and was tagged by the Cameron Rowe No. 77 who had charged from tenth to fifth. Pisa’s car was too damaged to continue.
With 10 laps remaining, it was now Ratcliff, Miller, Fowler, Rowe, DeStevens, and Drew Pascuzzi making up the front three rows.
This time, Ratcliff switched it up, going with the inside lane for the restart and it paid off. Despite a valiant effort from Miller up high as the pair stayed side by side for a full lap, Ratcliff was again able to clear the No. 9 and hold onto the race lead.
Just as Ratcliff got the five to go signal, Brown lost the handle on the No. 26 in between turns three and four, leading to a single file restart with five laps remaining.
Noah made it one more lap before O’Connor lost yet another tire, this time in turn 2, bringing an end to a frustrating night for the No. 90 team. Ratcliff and O’Connor had been neck and neck in the Pathfinder Bank SBS points race headed into the evening.
While it seemed like the race would never end with nine cautions including three in the final 10 laps; all Noah needed was to keep Miller behind him for one last restart and he was able to do so with ease.
At the end of 30-laps, it was first-time winner Ratcliff, Miller, Rowe, Pascuzzi and Fowler the front five.
DeStevens, Brown, Larkin, Hilton, and O’Connor completed the top ten.
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RESULTS
JP Jewelers Retro Night Pathfinder Bank SBS 30
Saturday, August 5, 2023
Oswego Speedway
Oswego, NY
Feature (30-laps): 1. 73 NOAH RATCLIFF, 2. 9 Griffin Miller, 3. 77 Cameron Rowe, 4. 72 Drew Pascuzzi, 5. 10 ® Mike Fowler, 6. 24 Tony DeStevens, 7. 26 ® Jake Brown, 8. 35 AJ Larkin, 9. 66 Darrick Hilton, 10. 20 ® Tessa Crawford DNF 11. 90 Greg O’Connor, 12. 89 Tony Pisa, 13. 55 ® Carter Gates, 14. 62 DJ Shuman, 15. 2 Jordan Sullivan, 16. 67 Ken Pierce DNS 27 Steven Bradshaw
Heat 1 (10-laps): 1. 90 Greg O’Connor, 2. 35 AJ Larkin, 3. 77 Cameron Rowe, 4. 26 ® Jake Brown, 5. 89 Tony Pisa, 6. 66 Darrick Hilton, 7. 55 ® Carter Gates DNS 27 Steven Bradshaw, 67 Ken Pierce
Heat 2 (10-laps): 1. 73 Noah Ratcliff, 2. 10 ® Mike Fowler, 3. 62 DJ Shuman, 4. 9 Griffin Miller, 5. 24 Tony DeStevens, 6. 72 Drew Pascuzzi, 7. 20 ® Tessa Crawford DNS 2 Jordan Sullivan
Group Time Trials: 1. 24 Tony DeStevens - 18.790, 2. 77 Cameron Rowe - 18.850, 3. 73 Noah Ratcliff - 18.913, 4. 90 Greg O’Connor - 18.914, 5. 62 DJ Shuman - 19.005, 6. 9 Griffin Miller - 19.111, 7. 35 AJ Larkin - 19.204, 8. 89 Tony Pisa - 19.273, 9. 10 ® Mike Fowler - 19.406, 10. 26 ® Jake Brown - 19.662, 11. 66 Darrick Hilton - 19.962, 12. 55 ® Carter Gates - 19.978, 13. 2 Jordan Sullivan - 20.139, 14. 20 ® Tessa Crawford - 20.246, 15. 67 Ken Pierce - 20.369, 16. 72 Drew Pascuzzi - 27.384 DNS 27 ® Steven Bradshaw
D&S Landscaping Hard Charger ($25): #72 Drew Pascuzzi
Lighthouse Lanes Up & Comer (Pizza & Wings): #73 Noah Ratcliff
White’s Car Care 4th Place Award ($25): #72 Drew Pascuzzi
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- Article Date: 8/6/2023