Story By: CAMDEN PROUD / OSWEGO SPEEDWAY – OSWEGO, NY – The excitement just keeps on coming ahead of Oswego Speedway’s 68th season of racing as another former Novelis Supermodified feature winner announced via Facebook last night that he will be returning to full-time competition this season.
2015 Supermodified Rookie of the Year Aric Iosue hasn’t taken long to become a force a be reckoned with in Oswego’s premier division, driving to a breakout season just a year removed from his rookie effort which saw a ninth place run in the overall ‘Road to the Championship’ point standings along with two feature wins which included the first of Aric’s career back in the summer of 2016.
When Graham Racing shifted its focus to Dirt Modified racing and put up each of its five cars for sale following that breakout season, Iosue only appeared at the track on three occasions in 2017, but it didn’t take the ‘Flying Pharmacist’ long to be successful. After qualifying an impressive fifth for the 61st running of the Budweiser International Classic 200, Aric also went on to grab his first career top ten finish in Supermodified racing’s biggest event.
Following a strong Classic Weekend with the Graham No. 11 Booth / Xtreme car, that same ride which Iosue has driven the past three seasons still remained up for sale throughout the offseason, but that is no longer the case. Aric talked things over with his father Dave and the duo decided they wanted to purchase the accomplished racer to in turn form ‘Iosue Racing’ and set their sights on a full-time Oswego campaign in 2018.
“I am excited to announce that we have purchased the 11 Supermodified from Ray Graham,” Iosue said. “Iosue Racing will officially be debuting at Oswego Speedway this Memorial Day Weekend and we plan on being there every week this year.”
Ironically enough, Graham is Aric’s brother in-law, who tabbed the longtime Oswego crew member as the new driver of one of his five silver and orange machines back in 2015. At the time, Iosue’s ride was last piloted by Jessica Zemken and Bobby Santos. Three years later, Aric will be on his own for the first time, but still with the same plant he’s seen all of his success with thus far.
“I’m really excited to get back out there and race weekly again,” Iosue commented. “We are certainly going to try to run the full season so I would just like to see if I could get a little bit more consistency out of myself this year. Who knows what the season will bring, but we’ll be trying our best and I just want to continue to keep improving.”
As part of Iosue’s third full-time run at an Oswego track title, continued supporters Acro Fab and Hannibal Pharmacy have already jumped onboard as sponsors on the Iosue Racing No. 11 machine.
“I just wanted to take a quick second to thank Acro Fab and Hannibal Pharmacy for already coming onboard for this campaign,” mentioned Iosue. “We will be on the lookout for additional new partnerships in the very near future and I’m just looking forward to getting back on the track once again.”
In addition to purchasing the No. 11 and signing on two new sponsors, Iosue has amped up his social media presence as well in the form of ‘Facebook Live’ video chats with speedway race fans. Aric plans on going live again on Sunday night at 8pm to have a Q&A with everyone.
“It’s going to be a great season, the more cars the merrier,” Iosue said. “I’m trying to get things moving into the digital age and give fans more access. I think it can help in growing the sport, so if everyone wants to stop in on Sunday night to discuss things, ask questions, or interact with me then I’d love to have you all tune in. I figured we’d try to start something new.”
Iosue Racing and Oswego Speedway kick off their 2018 campaign on Saturday, May 26 which will see the track’s 68th Annual Opening Day set to include Jim Shampine Memorial Twin 50’s for the Novelis Supermodifieds plus the Tony White Memorial 35 for the Pathfinder Bank SBS.
Weekly Contingency Partners Renew for 2018 Season at Oswego Speedway
A handful of new and returning weekly contingency partners will return to Oswego Speedway in support of the 2018 ‘Road to the Championship’ events for the Novelis Supermodifieds and Pathfinder Bank Small Block Supers.
Once again in 2018, Cam’s New York Pizzeria of Oswego, the track’s official pizzeria provider in the concession stands, will also provide a free large cheese pizza to all heat winners in both the Novelis Supermodified and Pathfinder Bank SBS divisions this season.
As announced two weeks earlier, RJ Caruso Tax and Accounting is back onboard as partner for the speedway’s 68th season as well, but this year will offer a special incentive that will see a $50 paid bonus distributed to all Supermodified and SBS heat winners.
Similar to years past, Lighthouse Lanes and D&S Landscaping of Oswego and Fulton have also signed on for contingencies as part of the weekly 50-lap Novelis Supermodified and 30-lap Pathfinder Bank SBS feature events.
Lighthouse Lanes will award a merchandise certificate to the highest finishing driver who has never won a main even before in both the Supermodified and SBS divisions, while D&S Landscaping will award $25 to the ‘hard charger,’ who advances the most positions from his or her starting spot in all of the big block and small block features during the regular season.
23 Novelis Supermodifieds and 24 Pathfinder Bank SBS machines have already been registered for what is shaping up to be an exciting ten race championship series. If interesting in adding to the speedway’s weekly contingency program, email Jenn at jreebel@oswegospeedway.com.
