Write a commentIn a season of struggles, Mark Castiglia finally turned it around on Saturday at Oswego Speedway, leading every lap on his way to victory in the Pathfinder Bank SBS Summer Championship presented by C’s Beverage and CNY CPR.
The victory is Castiglia’s fifth career SBS triumph, tying him all-time with Rob Pullen and Gregg Davis, and is his first since June 15, 2013.
Anthony Losurdo made a late charge at Castiglia for the race win, but fell short ahead of Jack Patrick, point leader Dalton Doyle, and Russ Brown in the top five positions.
“The car was good early, but about halfway through it started to get real loose,” said Castiglia in Turning Stone Resort Casino Victory Lane. “I kept watching the board and I saw Anthony (Losurdo) move up there, I felt a couple bumps but I just tried to hold my line and race to the finish.”
Greg O’Connor ended in sixth position with the best result of his career in the No. 90 ahead of Camden Proud, Barry Kingsley, Kreig Heroth, and Matt Magner in the top ten.
O’Connor and Castiglia led the 24 car field to the Cam’s Pizzeria green flag with Castiglia jumping to the point in the No. 69, but before the entire field even got to the starting line a pile-up occurred out of the fourth turn.
Magner and Jason Simmons touched out of turn four, sending Simmons sideways across the pack, collecting a number of cars including Fourth of July winner Mike Bond.
Bond suffered the most damage with Dave Cliff and Dalton Doyle also coming to a stop.
Bond and Cliff would be hooked off the Speedway, done for the night, while Simmons and Doyle continued on.
Once officially under green it was Castiglia racing away to the lead, quickly earning a comfortable gap on the field.
Another caution at lap 11 slowed the field, this time for Ray Sand Jr. who tagged the turn two foam in the No. 71.
At the restart Castiglia led O’Connor, Dennis Rupert, Losurdo, Kingsley, Patrick, Doyle, Mike Bruce, Brown, and Magner.
At the restart, caution again waved as Brown came around in the third corner driving the No. 13.
It was after this restart that Losurdo turned it up in the No. 1, first moving by a slowing Rupert, then sliding by O’Connor for second on lap 15.
In little time at all, Losurdo caught Castigla at the point and looked as though he would have something for the race leader, but another yellow at lap 24 halted the teenager’s momentum.
This caution would wave for Proud, Andrew Schartner, and Bruce, who all tangled trying to avoid a lapped machine.
Bruce would be done for the night in the No. 22, as Schartner and Prould continued on.
On the race’s final restart Castiglia led Losurdo, Patrick, Doyle, O’Connor, Kingsley, Proud, Brown, Heroth, and Magner.
As the laps ticked away it was clear that it was Castiglia’s night in the No. 69, driving to the win over Losurdo and Patrick.
Brown was able to make several moves at race end, driving around O’Connor for fifth at the stripe.
Shell Shock Custom Helmet Paint Heat Race Challenge victories went to Magner, Castiglia, and Simmons.
The D&S Landscaping Hard Charger was David LaTulip driving the Simmons’ owned No. 97 with O’Connor collecting the Nice Price Auto Sales Up and Comer Award.
The White’s Car Care 4th Place finisher was Doyle.
Castiglia went away with the Sherwood Racing Wheels Lap Leader Award while Rupert took the Bacc-Off Hard Luck Award.
Pathfinder Bank SBS
Pathfinder Bank SBS Summer Championship (30-laps): 1. 69 - Mark Castiglia, 2. 1 - Anthony Losurdo, 3. 9 - Jack Patrick, 4. 01 - Dalton Doyle, 5. 13 - Russ Brown, 6. 90 - Greg O'Connor, 7. 54 - Camden Proud, 8. 91 - Barry Kingsley, 9. 04 - Kreig Heroth, 10. 87 - Matt Magner, 11. 93 - JJ Andrews, 12. 24 - AJ Bernys, 13. 97 - David LaTulip, 14. 8 - Josh Kerr, 15. 18 - Andrew Schartner, 16. 15 - James Babcock, 17. 22 - Mike Bruce, 18. 98 - Jason Simmons, 19. 99 - Dennis Rupert, 20. 71 - Ray Sands Jr, 21. 88 - Ron Pratt, 22. 14 - Alex McRae, 23. 50 - Dave Cliff, 24. 74 - Mike Bond
D&S Landscaping Hard Charger: #97 - David LaTulip
Nice Price Auto Sales Up and Comer: #90 - Greg O'Connor
White's Car Care 4th Place: #01 - Dalton Doyle
Sherwood Racing Wheels Lap Leader: #69 - Mark Castiglia
Bacc-Off Hard Luck Award: #99 - Dennis Rupert
Heat #1 (10-laps): 1. 87 - Matt Magner, 2. 99 - Dennis Rupert, 3. 90 - Greg O'Connor, 4. 04 - Kreig Heroth, 5. 24 - AJ Bernys, 6. 14 - Alex McRae, 7. 15 - James Babcock, 8. 88 - Ron Pratt DNS
Heat #2 (10-laps): 1. 69 - Mark Castiglia, 2. 1 - Anthony Losurdo, 3. 50 - Dave Cliff, 4. 01 - Dalton Doyle, 5. 13 - Russ Brown, 6. 93 - JJ Andrews, 7. 18 - Andrew Schartner, 8. 8 - Josh Kerr
Heat #3 (10-laps): 1. 98 - Jason Simmons, 2. 9 - Jack Patrick, 3. 91 - Barry Kingsley, 4. 22 - Mike Bruce, 5. 74 - Mike Bond, 6. 54 - Camden Proud, 7. 71 - Ray Sand Jr., 8. 97 - David LaTulip
