OSWEGO, NY (April 4, 2024) - As the 2024 racing season draws near, plenty of eyes will be on the promising debut of Matt Matteson in Oswego Speedway's Pathfinder Bank SBS division and the Small Block Super Championship Series.
Matt’s name should be quite familiar to everyone at the Oswego Speedway as at the age of just 23, he has been a seasoned crew member for drivers and teams such as Mike and Bob Bond at Four Sevens Motorsports and Tyler Thompson at Jason Simmons Racing for over a decade.
After 13 years playing baseball, the Mexico, NY native finally decided to go kart racing at age 16, and that has brought Matteson a number of wins at the Oswego, Can-Am, and Weedsport Kartways, as well as a track championship at the Hannibal Kartway.
Matt has honed his driving and mechanical skills over the years, transitioning from small pipe Clone Light racing to the Pro 360 division, in which he won the 2023 Oswego Kartway Classic, setting the stage for his transition to Small Block Super racing.
The opportunity to make his SBS debut came unexpectedly, but fittingly. "Chris Emmons came up to my Dad at one of the first autograph sessions last year and was talking about wanting me to drive an SBS for him," Matteson explained. "So we had talked about it and then saw this car up for sale after looking around a little and we just jumped on the former DeStevens 05 that is the twin to Mike Bond’s car.”
With a stout FFB Race Chassis in his shop, there is no doubt that Matt has quality equipment at his fingertips to chase SBS Rookie of the Year honors - and to no one’s surprise, his preparation for the season has been nothing short of meticulous.
“My excitement has piqued as the season gets closer,” Matteson mentioned. “I was so excited when the car rolled into the shop and as soon as we got in the garage, I just wanted to get out there with my Dad. We’ve been out late pretty much every night doing all the work on it, nutting and bolting and going through everything - stuff like that. The biggest thing for us has just been getting me comfortable in the seat so I can get out and get some laps.”
It is evident that Matt is very humbled by his exciting new opportunity and with that, the goals remain clear: to make every race, finish with the car in one piece, and soak up as much track time and knowledge as he possibly can.
"My main goal is to get in the car and get comfortable," Matteson shared. "I am hoping halfway through the season we are up there competing for top 10's consistently. Your rookie year is your learning year. For your sophomore year, you can up the ante a little and try to go for top 5's, and maybe the first win."
Along with great equipment, the junior lab technician at Davis-Standard in Fulton has the best support system that he could possibly ask for, including a Hall of Fame mentor in Mike Bond.
“Working with Mike over the years has been an incredible learning experience for me and his knowledge can’t be matched,” Matt said. “His focus is getting my car dialed in for the season, but I’d like to return the favor once things are running smoothly and get the 74 going for Mike to run some of the bigger races later in the year.”
Meanwhile, for Matteson and his No. 47, he has all of the Small Block Super Championship Series dates circled on his calendar. This includes both Evans Mills Raceway Park shows in May and September, Spencer Speedway in June, and Lancaster Motorplex in September, all while of course racing full-time at Oswego Speedway.
“The plan is we are going to try to get up to Evans Mills and practice once the snow melts,” Matt mentioned. “We are going to just get laps, try and get me comfortable, and get the feel of it. It is a completely different feel than a go kart, so I need to get used to that and just get as many laps as we can.”
With the support of sponsors CME Electrical Supply, Senior Services Insurance, Otter Creek Winery, D&S Landscaping, Empire Winds, Premiere Landscaping, Regan Automotive, Old 54 BBQ, Bonnofski Excavating, and Cooper Custom Canvas, Matteson's dream of piloting an SBS has become a reality.
Grateful for the unwavering support of his family and mentors, Matteson expressed his heartfelt appreciation. "First and foremost, I want to thank Chris and Michele Emmons for giving me this opportunity, my whole family, Mom and Dad, Chip and Kelly Wood, and Mike and Debbie Bond," he said. "They have been right here for me from the start and it truly means a lot."
Oswego Speedway’s 73rd season of racing will take the green flag on Saturday, May 25th, with the 75-lap Jim Shampine Memorial for Novelis Supermodifieds, 35-lap Tony White Memorial for Pathfinder Bank SBS, and a 30-lap Memorial Day Weekend special for J&S Paving 350 Supers serving as the lid lifters.
The Speedway is very close to making 2024 ticket sales and driver registration available in a new portal on the track homepage.
For more information, stay connected with the Oswego Speedway online. Visit our website at OswegoSpeedway.com, FOLLOW us on Facebook or X / Twitter (@OswegoSpeedway), and also on Instagram (@OfficialOswegoSpeedway).
About Oswego Speedway: Oswego Speedway is a 5/8 mile semi-banked pavement racing oval located off the shores of Lake Ontario in scenic Oswego, NY. The speedway has been a continuously run weekly racing venue since August 1951. The premier open-wheel pavement short track cars in the world, Supermodifieds, run weekly at the Oswego Speedway making it the only weekly Supermodified racing venue in the world. The Small Block Supermodifieds and 350 Supermodifieds accompany the full blown Supers on a weekly Saturday night schedule which runs from May through September. Oswego Speedway is mentioned in racing circles as the “Indy of the East,” as no fewer than a dozen past and present competitors have competed at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway including Mario Andretti, two-time Indy 500 champion Gordon Johncock, and former International Classic Champions Bentley Warren, Joe Gosek, and Davey Hamilton.
- OSWEGO ADMIN on Apr 04, 2024
- Article Date: 4/4/2024