Write a commentArguably the top driver in Oswego Speedway’s 25-year Pathfinder Bank Small Block Super history had only won the Mr. Small Block crown on one occasion.
That was until Saturday night as Mike Bond sliced through the field to dominate the 35-lap, 25th annual Mr. SBS championship to capture his first title win since 2004, presented by Davis Bros. Inc.
Bond started the main event from the fifth position and battled to the lead by lap 5 to score his third win of the season and his series leading 35th career Oswego SBS triumph.
Trailing Bond at the line were Mike Bruce, Dave Cliff, Alex Hoag, and Dalton Doyle in the front five positions.
Russ Brown, Anthony Losurdo, Kreig Heroth, Jack Patrick, and Jason Simmons were the top ten.
Bond’s second Mr. Pathfinder Bank SBS title makes him only the fifth driver in the 25 year history of the division to win the Mr. SBS crown more than once joining Andy Jodway, Dan Ferlito, Russ Brown, and Dave Cliff.
Scott Shafer and Patrick started the event from the front row with Patrick gaining the early edge in the MOPAR No. 9.
A jingle early on dropped point contenders Losurdo and Camden Proud through the field to ninth and tenth, shaking up the pack, helping Bond to start making his moves through the lineup.
By the third circuit Bond had moved under Shafer for the runner-up spot and just two laps later darted under Patrick out of the fourth corner to snag the lead in the Four Sevens Motorsports No. 74.
The night’s first caution would wave on lap 6 as Shafer spun the No. 76 down the front stretch after running up front early on.
The restart would see Bond lead Patrick, Bruce, Cliff, Hoag, Heroth, Doyle, Brown, Proud, and Losurdo.
On the restart Doyle would find room underneath Heroth to ride into the seventh position with Brown following closely in the No. 13.
Another lap later Bruce would continue his charge from the seventh position, overtaking Patrick for the runner-up position on lap 7.
With several drivers making gains early, red lights would come on at lap 9 as Proud spun the No. 54 in the first turn resulting in a blocked race track which collected Andrew Schartner, Jesse Bearup, Barry Kingsley, Tyler Thompson, Cameron Black, Simmons, Cameron Rowe, and James Babcock.
Schartner, Bearup, and Babcock would be done for the night as a result of damage.
Kingsley would make one more lap under green before calling it quits in the No. 91.
With the race back underway Bond led Bruce, Patrick, Cliff, Hoag, Doyle, Brown, Heroth, Losurdo, and Simmons.
Just prior to halfway with Bond and Bruce well out front, Cliff was able to drive his way into a podium position from ninth on the grid, leaving Patrick in his wake at lap 15 as Hoag followed along in the No. 7.
As the laps ticked away it became clear that Bond was the car to beat.
Late in the going however Doyle was able to find a top five spot in the No. 01 with Losurdo driving his way back to seventh position after making a move on Patrick at lap 25.
Meanwhile it was all Bond, Bruce, and Cliff out front racing away to the podium.
Shell Shock Custom Helmet Paint Heat Race Challenge victories went to Doyle, Cliff, and Bruce.
The D&S Landscaping Hard Charger was Hoag while the Nice Price Auto Sales Up and Comer was Proud with Hoag also earning the White’s Car Care 4th Place Award.
Bond would go on to collect the Sherwood Racing Wheels Lap Leader Award, while Shafer was declared the Bacc-Off Hard Luck Award recipient.
Mr. Pathfinder Bank SBS (35-laps): 1. 74 - Mike Bond, 2. 22 - Mike Bruce, 3. 50 - Dave Cliff, 4. 7 - Alex Hoag, 5. 01 - Dalton Doyle, 6. 13 - Russ Brown, 7. 1 - Anthony Losurdo, 8. 04 - Kreig Heroth, 9. 9 - Jack Patrick, 10. 98 - Jason Simmons, 11. 77 - Cameron Rowe, 12. 54 - Camden Proud, 13. 23 - Cameron Black, 14. 90 - Greg O'Connor, 15. 93 - Tyler Thompson, 16. 14 - Alex McRae,, 17. 91 - Barry Kingsley, 18. 18 - Andrew Schartner, 19. 37 - Jesse Bearup, 20. 15 - James Babcock, 21. 76 - Scott Shafer, 22. 69 - Mark Castiglia
D&S Landscaping Hard Charger: #7 - Alex Hoag
Nice Price Auto Sales Up and Comer: #54 - Camden Proud
White's Car Care 4th Place: #7 - Alex Hoag
Sherwood Racing Wheels Lap Leader: #74 - Mike Bond
Bacc-Off Hard Luck Award: #76 - Scott Shafer
Heat #1 (10-laps): 1. 01- Dalton Doyle, 2. 7 - Alex Hoag, 3. 9 - Jack Patrick, 4. 74 - Mike Bond, 5. 18 - Andrew Schartner, 6. 37 - Jesse Bearup, 7. 14 - Alex Mcrae, 8. 93 - Tyler Thompson
Heat #2 (10-laps): 1. 50 - Dave Cliff, 2. 54 - Camden Proud, 3. 98 - Jason Simmons, 4. 13 - Russ Brown, 5. 91 - Barry Kingsley, 6. 23 - Cameron Black, 7. 99 - Dennis Rupert, 8. 69 - Mark Castiglia
Heat #3 (10-laps): 1. 22 - Mike Bruce, 2. 76 - Scott Shafer, 3. 04 - Kreig Heroth, 4. 1 - Anthony Losurdo, 5. 77 - Cameron Rowe, 6. 90 - Greg O'Connor, 7. 15 - James Babcock
