Story By: CAMDEN PROUD / OSWEGO SPEEDWAY – OSWEGO, NY – It is safe to say Mike Bruce is a fan of the Twin 40’s.
Just as he did on July 8th in the first round of the Twins, the Oswego driver again started outside pole, took the lead on the start, and led the rest of the way for his third career Supermodified victory, splitting the Twins with back to back winner Tyler Thompson, who dominated the second 40-lapper after taking home $10,000 with his Mr. Novelis Supermodified title two weeks ago.
Despite starting on the front row, Bruce certainly had to work for the win as he was pressured by Dan Connors Jr. in the later stages of Twin 1. The double deuce had originally jumped in front of Lou LeVea Jr. on the start and built a comfortable lead until Connors drove from fifth to second in the 01, working over Bruce to no avail as the laps wound down.
“I was wheeling it for sure on that one. I saw the 01 move up to the front on the restart, and he actually showed me a wheel in turn 1. I pushed up a bit, I think the brakes were getting hot, but I figured I would make him (Connors) go to the outside and just thought as long as I hugged the hub rail I’d be fine,” mentioned Bruce. “But then, all of the sudden I saw him on the outside of me too so I hope it was a good battle up front for the fans and we can put on another good show for the second one. I have to thank my crew for busting their butts. My father is home tonight which sucks, but thanks my fans, Aunt Patty, Uncle Bob, sister and boyfriend for watching on Flo, and want to thank all the sponsors Bruce Electric, Lighthouse Lanes, Vona’s, Millenium Music, East Coast Sealcoat Bruce Construction, Joey Hawksby for helping set this big block up, Bobby Magner my crew chief, Larry Muroski, my brother, Nicole, Carlee and all the crew.”
Settling for second was Connors, his second runner-up finish of 2023. The driver of the No. 01 now has four top five finishes on the year and sits just a fourteen points out of second in the championship standings.
“I could see Mike’s car going away. He was getting loose, mentioned Connors.” I was just a little too tight to get by him, but I could get next to him. It just wasn’t quite enough I guess. Thanks to Paul’s Big M, PJ’s Ice Cream, Top Stitch, and Chris Nelson State Farm.”
Completing the podium was Lou LeVea Jr, who has otherwise had a miserable season filled with bad luck, but finally, the No. 83 was rewarded with a good starting spot and remained in contention at the front from start to finish, holding strong in second until Connors squeaked by on the lap 23 restart.
While for a moment ‘Little Dog’ was gaining on the race leader, after the yellow flag, he instead would have to play defense with the 39 of Alison Sload hot on his heels, but held onto third for his first top five finish of the season and the third podium finish of his career at Oswego.
“I think that yellow cost us second,” stated LeVea Jr.. “We didn’t need that, we just got too free after we restarted. I was just holding on for dear life. Starting up front helps a lot. Raby’s Ace Home Center just came onboard this year, Lighthouse Lanes, Morrison Performance, and the Big Dipper Ice Cream all help us out so I have to thank those guys.”
Despite a good battle at the front, unfortunately, the first twin was marred by a first lap, first corner smash up that involved Brandon Bellinger, Camden Proud, and Lou LeVea Sr.
Bellinger, who tangled with another car and went sideways, collected a spinning Proud, and later LeVea. Proud was done for the night in the Doug Didero tribute No. 3, while LeVea was able to make repairs and start the second Twin, and Bellinger came back out after a pit stop in the first feature.
After a lengthy cleanup, the green flag was put back in the air for the second original restart, as Bruce poured it on, again taking the lead from the outside lane and trying to run away and hide from the 83 of LeVea Jr.
But, it didn’t last long, as only 2 laps were in the books when the yellow came out again as Dave Shullick Jr. went around in turn 1, trying to avoid a pair of cars that banged wheels just ahead of him. Shullick, the high point man, would have to tag the tail with a bent nose wing on the Osetek No. 95.
On the first single file restart, Bruce built a considerable lead with LeVea Jr. still in second and Tim Snyder holding strong behind them after starting in third while it was Connors in fourth and seventh starting Alison Sload up to fifth.
The field would string out and remain in this order with 10 laps in the books, as twelfth starting Tyler Thompson, Dave Danzer, Jeff Abold, Shullick, and Joe Gosek duked it out inside the top 10.
By halfway, LeVea Jr. had significantly closed the gap, reeling in race leader Bruce, with Snyder left to hold onto third as Connors breathed down his tail pipes.
However, the yellow came out on lap 22, with Snyder going wide and spinning out of third in the Zero, also collecting seventh running Danzer, as well as ninth running Shullick.
Snyder and Danzer both sustained no damage and because he spun to avoid, the Mike Murphy Tribute No. 60 of Danzer received his spot back. However, Shullick was once again banged up in this incident and retired from the first feature event only to be credited with a 13th place finish.
‘The Shoe 2’ did however salvage a good points night, starting in that thirteenth spot and putting on a show to drive all the way up to P2 in the second 40-lapper.
During that yellow in the first race, eventual winner of the second twin; Thompson, who charged from his twelfth starting spot up to sixth, pulled the No. 98 to the pits nose first, moving everyone in the top 10 up one spot.
On the ensuing restart, Bruce was able to get a good jump as the LeVea Jr. No. 83 did not fire well, allowing Connors to drive around the outside and take over second.
Connors quickly closed the small gap Bruce had built, and made the race leader work for it as the laps wound down, but Bruce was able to keep Connors at bay for the win with LeVea third, Sload fourth, and Danzer rebounding to finish in fifth.
Abold, Gosek, Snyder, and Logan Rayvals completed the top 10.
Barzee Leads Wire to Wire for Career First J&S Paving 350 Super Feature Win
Nick Barzee of Burnt Hills, NY became the third different first time winner in the J&S Paving 350 Supermodified division this season with a wire to wire victory from the pole for his first career win at Oswego Speedway this past Saturday night.
Family ties run deep at Oswego for Barzee, who is the nephew of Speedway Hall of Famer and many-time track champion Mike Muldoon, of course the great nephew of his Dad, Jim Muldoon, and the brother-in-law of SBS veteran and feature winner Alex Hoag.
While first-hand success at the Steel Palace has been a longtime dream for the Barzee Family, Nick has otherwise had a season to forget, with two heavy crashes significantly damaging the family owned Booth Chassis.
After spending countless hours in the shop to make repairs on two occasions, Barzee’s luck had unfortunately still not turned around as of two weeks ago, when the No. 31 had a healthy lead in the Mr. J&S Paving 350 Super feature, only to see mechanical woes force Nick to surrender the race lead and send him pitside.
But finally, with a very fast race car and a great starting spot, things turned around and it would finally all come together for the Barzee Family this past weekend as Nick, father Bobby Barzee, mother Michelle Muldoon Barzee, and crew celebrated in victory lane for the first time.
“This feels pretty good. I’m kind of at a loss for words,” said Barzee in victory lane. “I have been racing here for so long, and this just feels great. I know I started on the pole, but still, a win is a win and I’m very happy. The car has been great all night so I can’t complain. I’d like to thank JP Jewelers, they have been onboard with us for a couple of years and they are sponsoring the race tonight, MARDON PC, A&P Auto, Barzee Auto Body, and Dreamworks Landscape.”
Scoring his second runner-up finish in as many weeks was Dave Cliff, who picked up a win last month in the Barbeau Racing No. 50. The weekend prior, Cliff and team ventured to Sandusky Speedway for the Outlaw 350 Supermodified portion of the Hy-Miler Nationals, where Cliff was able to secure a fine runner-up effort.
Back at Oswego and starting in fifth, Cliff made quick work of fourth starting Kyle Perry, third starting Talen Hawksby, and outside polesitter Jason Spaulding, who was forced pitside with issues while running in second, and attempted to give chase to Barzee, but instead, was forced to fend off a hard charging Josh Sokolic towards the end of the 25-lap main.
“Our car was pretty good all night tonight finally. It was actually a little too loose for a change,” mentioned Cliff. “Congrats to Nick (Barzee). They’ve had a horrible start to the year so it’s good to see them get this car going again. I could gain on him a couple laps here and there, but by the end he was pulling away and I was just way too loose. He did what he had to do. By the time Josh (Sokolic) and I got through he was long gone, but that was a lot of fun. Thanks to Josh for racing me clean. I have to thank Lonnie at Joe’s Jerky, Midstate Tree Services, Woodchuck Saloon, and Lakeside Restaurant.”
Settling for third was the high point man Sokolic, who has four feature wins this year and a healthy championship lead over Perry with just two events to go.
“We got off to a slow start and had to pick off a few cars early on, but once we got into clean air the car was handling good,” Sokolic said. “I felt like I was pretty even with everyone. I caught up to Dave and tried to stick my nose to the outside, but he’s a clean racer, he knew I was there. I tried and the car didn’t stick. Just have to thank my family, Dad, Mom, sister, sponsors, and everyone who helps out on the car. It was good, but I just couldn’t get up to where I need to be tonight.”
Rounding out the top five were Hawksby and Perry with Robbie Wirth, Cameron Rowe, and Spaulding completing the field.
Novelis Supermodifieds
A Feature 1 (40 Laps): 1. 22-Mike Bruce[2]; 2. O1-Dan Connors Jr[5]; 3. 83-Lou LeVea Jr[1]; 4. 39-Alison Sload[7]; 5. 60-Dave Danzer[6]; 6. 5B-Jeff Abold[8]; 7. OO-Joe Gosek[4]; 8. 0-Tim Snyder[3]; 9. 94-Logan Rayvals[13]; 10. 98T-Tyler Thompson[12]; 11. 90-Jack Patrick[14]; 12. O2-Brandon Bellinger[9]; 13. 95-Dave Shullick Jr[10]; 14. 3-Camden Proud[11]; 15. 66-Lou LeVea Sr[15]
A Feature 2 (40 Laps): 1. 98T-Tyler Thompson[1]; 2. 95-Dave Shullick Jr[13]; 3. O2-Brandon Bellinger[3]; 4. 60-Dave Danzer[11]; 5. 39-Alison Sload[10]; 6. 5B-Jeff Abold[7]; 7. OO-Joe Gosek[5]; 8. 0-Tim Snyder[6]; 9. 83-Lou LeVea Jr[9]; 10. 22-Mike Bruce[12]; 11. 94-Logan Rayvals[2]; 12. 90-Jack Patrick[4]; 13. O1-Dan Connors Jr[8]; 14. 66-Lou LeVea Sr[14]
Heat 1 (12 Laps): 1. 5B-Jeff Abold[2]; 2. 98T-Tyler Thompson[4]; 3. O2-Brandon Bellinger[3]; 4. 3-Camden Proud[1]; 5. 60-Dave Danzer[5]; 6. 0-Tim Snyder[7]; 7. 94-Logan Rayvals[6]; 8. 66-Lou LeVea Sr[8]
Heat 2 (12 Laps): 1. 22-Mike Bruce[1]; 2. 95-Dave Shullick Jr[4]; 3. O1-Dan Connors Jr[2]; 4. 39-Alison Sload[3]; 5. OO-Joe Gosek[5]; 6. 83-Lou LeVea Jr[6]; 7. 90-Jack Patrick[7]
Qualifying 1: 1. 60-Dave Danzer, 00:15.735[5]; 2. 95-Dave Shullick Jr, 00:15.763[13]; 3. 98T-Tyler Thompson, 00:15.807[16]; 4. 39-Alison Sload, 00:15.815[14]; 5. O2-Brandon Bellinger, 00:15.886[2]; 6. O1-Dan Connors Jr, 00:15.949[4]; 7. 5B-Jeff Abold, 00:15.974[1]; 8. 22-Mike Bruce, 00:16.035[3]; 9. 3-Camden Proud, 00:16.056[11]; 10. OO-Joe Gosek, 00:16.312[6]; 11. 94-Logan Rayvals, 00:16.419[12]; 12. 83-Lou LeVea Jr, 00:16.467[7]; 13. 0-Tim Snyder, 00:16.477[15]; 14. 90-Jack Patrick, 00:16.633[10]; 15. 66-Lou LeVea Sr, 00:16.661[8]; 16. (DNS) 70-Dave McKnight Jr
Hot Laps 1: 1. 39-Alison Sload, 00:16.413[14]; 2. 95-Dave Shullick Jr, 00:16.517[13]; 3. O2-Brandon Bellinger, 00:16.568[2]; 4. 22-Mike Bruce, 00:16.664[3]; 5. 3-Camden Proud, 00:16.678[11]; 6. OO-Joe Gosek, 00:16.744[6]; 7. 83-Lou LeVea Jr, 00:16.866[7]; 8. 5B-Jeff Abold, 00:16.955[1]; 9. 98T-Tyler Thompson, 00:16.977[16]; 10. O1-Dan Connors Jr, 00:17.009[4]; 11. 60-Dave Danzer, 00:17.086[5]; 12. 0-Tim Snyder, 00:17.105[15]; 13. 66-Lou LeVea Sr, 00:17.128[8]; 14. 70-Dave McKnight Jr, 00:17.227[9]; 15. 90-Jack Patrick, 00:18.853[10]; 16. 94-Logan Rayvals, 00:19.476[12]
Hot Laps 2: 1. 98T-Tyler Thompson, 00:16.274[16]; 2. 22-Mike Bruce, 00:16.319[3]; 3. 3-Camden Proud, 00:16.372[11]; 4. 95-Dave Shullick Jr, 00:16.378[13]; 5. O2-Brandon Bellinger, 00:16.406[2]; 6. O1-Dan Connors Jr, 00:16.462[4]; 7. 60-Dave Danzer, 00:16.525[5]; 8. 39-Alison Sload, 00:16.589[14]; 9. 5B-Jeff Abold, 00:16.682[1]; 10. OO-Joe Gosek, 00:16.760[6]; 11. 83-Lou LeVea Jr, 00:16.883[7]; 12. 66-Lou LeVea Sr, 00:17.098[8]; 13. (DNS) 70-Dave McKnight Jr; 14. (DNS) 90-Jack Patrick; 15. (DNS) 94-Logan Rayvals; 16. (DNS) 0-Tim Snyder
J&S Paving 350 Supermodifieds
A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 31-Nick Barzee[1]; 2. 50-Dave Cliff[5]; 3. 26-Josh Sokolic[6]; 4. 79-Talen Hawksby[3]; 5. 20-Kyle Perry[4]; 6. 4-Rob Wirth[7]; 7. O4-Cameron Rowe[8]; 8. 23-Jason Spaulding[2]
Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. 50-Dave Cliff[2]; 2. 23-Jason Spaulding[1]; 3. 31-Nick Barzee[5]; 4. 26-Josh Sokolic[6]; 5. 79-Talen Hawksby[3]; 6. 20-Kyle Perry[4]; 7. 4-Rob Wirth[7]; 8. O4-Cameron Rowe[8]
Qualifying 1: 1. 26-Josh Sokolic, 00:16.895[6]; 2. 31-Nick Barzee, 00:16.917[1]; 3. 20-Kyle Perry, 00:16.966[4]; 4. 79-Talen Hawksby, 00:16.982[3]; 5. 50-Dave Cliff, 00:17.020[2]; 6. 23-Jason Spaulding, 00:17.074[7]; 7. 4-Rob Wirth, 00:17.590[8]; 8. (DNS) O4-Cameron Rowe
Hot Laps 1: 1. 26-Josh Sokolic, 00:17.003[5]; 2. 50-Dave Cliff, 00:17.269[2]; 3. 4-Rob Wirth, 00:17.313[7]; 4. 23-Jason Spaulding, 00:17.510[6]; 5. 31-Nick Barzee, 00:17.517[1]; 6. 20-Kyle Perry, 00:17.525[4]; 7. (DNS) 79-Talen Hawksby
Hot Laps 2: 1. 26-Josh Sokolic, 00:16.835[5]; 2. 31-Nick Barzee, 00:16.984[1]; 3. 79-Talen Hawksby, 00:17.116[3]; 4. 20-Kyle Perry, 00:17.135[4]; 5. 23-Jason Spaulding, 00:17.146[6]; 6. 50-Dave Cliff, 00:17.323[2]; 7. 4-Rob Wirth, 00:17.882[7]; 8. O4-Cameron Rowe, 00:18.058
Pathfinder Bank SBS
A Feature 1 (30 Laps): 1. 73-Noah Ratcliff[8]; 2. 9-Griffin Miller[4]; 3. 77-Cameron Rowe[10]; 4. 72-Drew Pascuzzi[12]; 5. 10-Mike Fowler[1]; 6. 24-Tony DeStevens[9]; 7. 26-Jake Brown[2]; 8. 35-Anthony Larkin[3]; 9. 66-Darrick Hilton[11]; 10. 20-Tessa Crawford[14]; 11. 90-Greg O’Connor[7]; 12. 89-Tony Pisa[5]; 13. 55-Carter Gates[13]; 14. 62-DJ Shuman[6]; 15. 2-Jordan Sullivan[15]; 16. 67-Ken Pierce[16]
Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. 90-Greg O’Connor[4]; 2. 35-Anthony Larkin[3]; 3. 77-Cameron Rowe[5]; 4. 26-Jake Brown[1]; 5. 89-Tony Pisa[2]; 6. 66-Darrick Hilton[6]; 7. 55-Carter Gates[7]; 8. (DNS) 67-Ken Pierce; 9. (DNS) 27-Steven Bradshaw
Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. 73-Noah Ratcliff[4]; 2. 10-Mike Fowler[1]; 3. 62-DJ Shuman[3]; 4. 9-Griffin Miller[2]; 5. 24-Tony DeStevens[5]; 6. 72-Drew Pascuzzi[8]; 7. 20-Tessa Crawford[7]; 8. 2-Jordan Sullivan[6]
Qualifying 1: 1. 24-Tony DeStevens, 00:18.790[4]; 2. 77-Cameron Rowe, 00:18.850[15]; 3. 73-Noah Ratcliff, 00:18.913[14]; 4. 90-Greg O’Connor, 00:18.914[10]; 5. 62-DJ Shuman, 00:19.005[16]; 6. 9-Griffin Miller, 00:19.111[9]; 7. 35-Anthony Larkin, 00:19.204[8]; 8. 89-Tony Pisa, 00:19.273[13]; 9. 10-Mike Fowler, 00:19.406[5]; 10. 26-Jake Brown, 00:19.662[2]; 11. 66-Darrick Hilton, 00:19.962[7]; 12. 55-Carter Gates, 00:19.978[6]; 13. 2-Jordan Sullivan, 00:20.139[17]; 14. 20-Tessa Crawford, 00:20.246[3]; 15. 67-Ken Pierce, 00:20.369[12]; 16. 72-Drew Pascuzzi, 00:27.384[11]; 17. (DNS) 27-Steven Bradshaw
Hot Laps 1: 1. 73-Noah Ratcliff, 00:18.949[14]; 2. 90-Greg O’Connor, 00:19.102[10]; 3. 77-Cameron Rowe, 00:19.180[15]; 4. 24-Tony DeStevens, 00:19.386[4]; 5. 9-Griffin Miller, 00:19.400[9]; 6. 62-DJ Shuman, 00:19.514[16]; 7. 35-Anthony Larkin, 00:19.524[8]; 8. 2-Jordan Sullivan, 00:19.716[17]; 9. 66-Darrick Hilton, 00:19.821[7]; 10. 10-Mike Fowler, 00:19.978[5]; 11. 55-Carter Gates, 00:20.298[6]; 12. 20-Tessa Crawford, 00:20.837[3]; 13. 27-Steven Bradshaw, 00:21.401[1]; 14. 72-Drew Pascuzzi, 02:51.054[11]; 15. (DNS) 26-Jake Brown; 16. (DNS) 67-Ken Pierce; 17. (DNS) 89-Tony Pisa
Hot Laps 2: 1. 73-Noah Ratcliff, 00:18.924[14]; 2. 77-Cameron Rowe, 00:18.927[15]; 3. 24-Tony DeStevens, 00:19.007[4]; 4. 90-Greg O’Connor, 00:19.057[10]; 5. 62-DJ Shuman, 00:19.112[16]; 6. 9-Griffin Miller, 00:19.264[9]; 7. 89-Tony Pisa, 00:19.299[13]; 8. 35-Anthony Larkin, 00:19.435[8]; 9. 26-Jake Brown, 00:19.759[2]; 10. 66-Darrick Hilton, 00:19.877[7]; 11. 55-Carter Gates, 00:20.343[6]; 12. 67-Ken Pierce, 00:20.481[12]; 13. 20-Tessa Crawford, 00:20.513[3]; 14. (DNS) 27-Steven Bradshaw; 15. (DNS) 10-Mike Fowler; 16. (DNS) 72-Drew Pascuzzi; 17. (DNS) 2-Jordan Sullivan
