Write a commentIt took seven races, but Oswego Speedway’s Pathfinder Bank Small Block Super division finally saw its first two-time winner of 2016 as Mike Bond powered to Turning Stone Resort Casino Victory Lane in Saturday night’s 30-lapper presented by Holiday Inn Express and Suites of Oswego and Helena Chemical Company.
Driving the Four Sevens Motorsports No. 74, Bond started from outside of the third row and quickly positioned himself in the runner-up spot behind early leader Barry Kingsley.
Eventually Bond found the low lane on lap 6 to steal the lead from Kingsley and never looked back on his way to his second win of the season and 34th career SBS triumph at Oswego.
Bond drove away to a 3.6-second margin of victory over fellow 2016 feature winner Dalton Doyle, Camden Proud, another winner in Mike Bruce, and Anthony Losurdo.
“It was a pretty good race,” said Bond. “Once we got out front the car was working good. We’ve had some rough luck a few times, but hopefully this makes up for it. I really want to thank Mike DeCare, we put a lot of hours in this car this week, he was in the garage with me every night. Thanks to Chip Wood too and Ronzo from Millennium Music. I have to thank Denise (Merrill) for sticking with me and of course my wife (Debbie) she puts up with a lot of nights being in the house by herself while I’m in the garage.”
Series point leader Dave Cliff finished in the sixth position ahead of championship rival Jack Patrick, Kreig Heroth, southern Super Late Model driver Lucas Jones, and Ohio Modified wheelman Tyler Shullick.
Cameron Rowe and Kingsley led the Pathfinder Bank SBS field to the Cam’s Pizzeria green flag on Saturday, but before the field could reach the Pole Position Raceway starting line, Rowe lost the handle on the No. 77, spinning away from the pack to the low side of the track. Rowe was able to gather the car up without incident, but the yellow flew, with the No. 77 going to the tail of the starting order.
On the next start it was Kingsley jumping to the point in the Team Tapout No. 91 with Mark Castiglia and Bond quickly jumping into line.
After leading the series championship early in the season, a rough few weeks slid Bond back to seventh in the standings heading into the night, and with that in mind Bond was on the wheel to get to the front and recharge his championship drive.
By lap 3 Bond had slid by Castiglia for the runner-up spot and just three laps later found the room he needed to snag the lead from Kingsley, quickly jumping out to a healthy lead in the No. 74.
After heat race action, which saw Bond battle with Doyle throughout, the feature appeared to be the same scenario.
With Bond moving through the field, Doyle kept his No. 01 machine in tow, making an impressive drive in the third turn on lap 8 moving by several cars to drive to the second position behind Bond.
Following Doyle on the charge would be another championship hopeful, in Camden Proud. Driving the No. 54, Proud won his qualifying heat earlier in the night and was now in a fight for the top three spots.
With Bond, Doyle, and Proud on the move, championship leader Cliff did not want to be left out of the action in the Barbeau No. 50.
Starting deep in the field, Cliff found the top ten early on, but a third of the way through the event he began to make his mark.
In consecutive laps Cliff disposed of Heroth and Jesse Bearup to move into the seventh position, with his sights now set on yet another top five run chasing Bruce and Losurdo.
For several laps Bruce, Losurdo, and Cliff were locked in a bumper to bumper battle, eventually all sliding to the low side of the Kingsley No. 91.
But unfortunately for Kingsley, the No. 91 would take a hard ride into the first turn foam on lap 18, marking the second consecutive week the Kingsley ride would need to be hooked off of the Speedway. Kingsley was ok after the impact, but the same could not be said for his Hedger chassis.
With 12 laps remaining Bond led Doyle, Proud, Bruce, Losurdo, Cliff, Heroth, Bearup, Patrick, and Jones in the top ten positions.
With green lights back on, Bond continued his charge in the front with Patrick making a move on Heroth to take the seventh position.
Meanwhile, Bearup faded outside of the top ten with Jones able to move up another spot in the Hedger No. 16 and Shullick following in the No. 67.
But, out front it was all Bond moving away to his second victory of the season.
Doyle, who came into the night eighth in the standings, hoped to have something for Bond in the feature go.
“I was thinking after the heat that me and him (Bond) starting next to each other in the feature was going to be a pretty good race,” said Doyle. “He just beat me up to the front and I had absolutely nothing for him. We were just a bit off on speed, but he was hooked up and gone. Congratulations to Mike and his team.”
Proud, still searching for his first career victory had a solid point night in the No. 54.
“I couldn’t ask for a better race car,” said Proud. “Both of those guys were fast. The car seems to break up a bit on restarts so I couldn’t really get up behind Dalton there at the end, but another podium feels awesome. It’s a good point night for us.”
Shell Shock Custom Helmet Paint Heat Race Challenge victories went to Bruce, Proud, and Bond.
The D&S Landscaping Hard Charger was the No. 50 of Cliff.
The Nice Price Auto Sales Up and Comer was Proud with Bruce earning the White’s Car Care 4th Place award.
Bond would go on to collect the Sherwood Racing Wheels Lap Leader Award, while Castiglia was declared the Bacc-Off Hard Luck Award recipient.
Pathfinder Bank SBS
Pathfinder Bank SBS (30-laps): 1. 74 - Mike Bond, 2. 01 - Dalton Doyle, 3. 54 - Camden Proud, 4. 22 - Mike Bruce, 5. 1 - Anthony Losurdo, 6. 50 - Dave Cliff, 7. 9 - Jack Patrick, 8. 04 - Kreig Heroth, 9. 16 - Lucas Jones, 10. 67 - Tyler Shullick, 11. 37 - Jesse Bearup, 12. 77 - Cameron Rowe, 13. 76 - Scott Shafer, 14. 15 - James Babcock, 15. 2 - Rob Pullen, 16. 90 - Greg O'Connor, 17. 91 - Barry Kingsley, 18. 23 - Cameron Black, 19. 69 - Mark Castiglia
D&S Landscaping Hard Charger: #50 - Dave Cliff
Nice Price Auto Sales Up and Comer: #54 - Camden Proud
White's Car Care 4th Place: #22 - Mike Bruce
Sherwood Racing Wheels Lap Leader: #74 - Mike Bond
Bacc-Off Hard Luck Award: #69 - Mark Castiglia
Heat #1 (10-laps): 1. 22 - Mike Bruce, 2. 1 - Anthony Losurdo, 3. 9 - Jack Patrick, 4. 77 - Cameron Rowe, 5. 16 - Lucas Jones, 6. 15 - James Babcock, 7. 90 - Greg O'Connor
Heat #2 (10-laps): 1. 54 - Camden Proud, 2. 69 - Mark castiglia, 3. 04 - Kreig Heroth, 4. 2 - Rob Pullen, 5. 50 - Dave Cliff, 6. 67 - Tyler Shullick
Heat #3 (10-laps): 1. 74 - Mike Bond, 2. 01 - Dalton Doyle, 3. 37 - Jesse Bearup, 4. 91 - Barry Kingsley, 5. 76 - Scott shafer, 6. 23 - Cameron Black
