9/4/2024
Oswego Speedway
Shaun Gosselin Grabs First SBS Win in 33rd Annual Bud Light SBS Classic 60
OSWEGO, NY (September 1, 2024) - Supermodified veteran Shaun Gosselin made history by winning his first ever SBS feature in the 33rd annual Bud Light SBS Classic 60, driving the No. 29 G.O. Racing machine for Andrew O'Connor. Gosselin, who previously captured back-to-back Supermodified feature wins in 2013, had been called to drive the No. 29 in the Classic each of the last two seasons. This year, after winning the Burger Masonry and JP Jewelers Fastest Qualifier Awards, earning $200 each, Gosselin dominated the SBS Classic from halfway on.
The field was brought to the green by the JP Jewelers front row, featuring Brad Haynes and Tony DeStevens. However, DeStevens' Classic was short-lived, as he suffered mechanical failure on the original start, dropping out immediately. On the same start, DJ Shuman and Drew Pascuzzi came together, with Shuman sustaining heavy right-front damage, forcing him out of the race as well.
On the restart, former Classic champion Cameron Rowe moved up to Haynes' outside, but Haynes maintained the lead as Rowe, Greg O'Connor, and Noah Ratcliff fell in line behind him. Haynes could only hold the lead for seven laps before O'Connor took over, with Ratcliff making moves as well, first getting under Rowe for third and then passing Haynes for second between turns three and four. Haynes' day ended prematurely on lap 9 due to mechanical issues, making him the second front-row starter to bow out early.
By lap 10, the top five had reshuffled to O'Connor leading, followed by Ratcliff, Gosselin, who had moved up from sixth to third, Alex Hoag in fourth from tenth, and Dan Kapuscinski in fifth from twelfth. After stalking Ratcliff in lapped traffic, Gosselin made his move, passing the former SBS champion for second on lap 19. Two laps later, Kapuscinski was on the charge, diving underneath Hoag and Ratcliff to secure fourth and third, respectively. Shortly thereafter, Ratcliff's No. 73 began to falter, dropping out of the top five as the new running order became O'Connor, Gosselin, Kapuscinski, Hoag, and Rowe, with the G.O. Racing cars leading the way.
The next caution came on lap 26 when Pascuzzi's No. 72 slowed with issues, and Ratcliff's day also came to an end as he pitted under yellow. On the next choose restart, O'Connor was the polesitter, but Gosselin stole the lead in the high road with 26 laps complete. The order at the halfway mark was now Gosselin, O'Connor, Kapuscinski, Hoag, Rowe, Matt Magner, Ryan Gunther, AJ Larkin, Matt Matteson, and Tessa Crawford.
Rowe, who had started fourth, initially got off to a slow start but came alive as the race progressed. He passed track champion Hoag for fourth on lap 36. Then, on lap 45, Kapuscinski got into the back of O'Connor, spinning the No. 90 out of second. Kapuscinski was penalized for the contact, and the new running order with 15 laps to go was Gosselin, Rowe, Hoag, Magner, and Larkin in the top five, with Gunther now up to sixth. Unfortunately, Gunther spun on the ensuing restart, bringing out the race’s final caution.
With the field restacked, Gosselin brought them back to green and was able to cruise from there, pulling away from Rowe by a full straightaway enroute to the win. With five laps remaining, Magner made a late charge, climbing from eleventh to a podium position, passing Hoag for third. Meanwhile, Kapuscinski recovered from his penalty, charging back through the field to claim fourth from Hoag in the closing laps.
Out in front, it was all Fox Lake, IL's Shaun Gosselin as he captured the win over Rowe, Magner, Kapuscinski, and Hoag in the top five. Larkin, Carter Gates, Crawford, Darrick Hilton, and Matteson rounded out the top 10.
In victory lane, Gosselin shared, "This is unbelievable. I have always dreamed of winning a race on Classic Weekend, and it’s a dream come true. I’m extremely blessed to be here. I was really struggling on what to do on the restart when Greg was in front. I figured if I started on the outside of him, one of us would get to turn 1 first and be in the lead, so I just put the hammer down and drove as hard as I could every single lap, and here we are. I’d like to thank AO Auto Supply, Munski Automotive, PFG Design, Dana Lawncare, and Ultimate QM, and I just can’t say enough about the O’Connor family and this team. They gave me a really good car and have made it easy. Ever since we brought this thing out, I don’t think we’ve had to touch it one more time. I’m extremely blessed to be able to drive it and be surrounded by all of these people. Classic Weekend brings a lot of memories of people who aren’t here anymore as well, and this one is for all of them too."
RESULTS
Budweiser Classic Weekend 68
Super Sunday
33rd Annual Bud Light SBS Classic 60
Sunday, September 1, 2024
Oswego Speedway
Oswego, NY
33rd Annual Bud Light SBS Classic (60-laps): 1. 29 SHAUN GOSSELIN, 2. 77 Cameron Rowe, 3. 31 Matt Magner, 4. 23 Dan Kapuscinski, 5. 41 Alex Hoag, 6. 35 AJ Larkin, 7. 55 Carter Gates, 8. 20 Tessa Crawford, 9. 66 Darrick Hilton, 10. 47 ® Matt Matteson, 11. 88 Brad Haynes, 12. 22 Ryan Gunther, 13. 90 Greg O’Connor, 14. 73 Noah Ratcliff, 15. 04 Robbie Wirth, 16. 72 Drew Pascuzzi, 17. 27 Steven Bradshaw, 18. 15 James Babcock, 19. 10 Mike Fowler, 20. 24 Tony DeStevens, 21. 62 DJ Shuman, 22. 87 ® Cameron Rowe Jr.
Time Trials: 1. 29 Shaun Gosselin - 18.792, 2. 73 Noah Ratcliff - 18.795, 3. 90 Greg O’Connor - 18.900, 4. 77 Cameron Rowe - 18.831, 5. 24 Tony DeStevens - 18.884, 6. 88 Brad Haynes - 18.919, 7. 62 DJ Shuman - 18.924, 8. 72 Drew Pascuzzi - 19.040, 9. 04 Robbie Wirth - 19.066, 10. 41 Alex Hoag - 19.078, 11. 31 Matt Magner - 19.116, 12. 23 Dan Kapuscinski - 19.240, 13. 35 AJ Larkin - 19.280, 14. 55 Carter Gates - 19.313, 15. 20 Tessa Crawford - 19.389, 16. 22 Ryan Gunther - 19.544, 17. 47 ® Matt Matteson - 19.620, 18. 27 Steven Bradshaw - 19.737, 19. 87 ® Cameron Rowe Jr. - 19.954, 20. 67 Ken Pierce - 27.847 DNS 10 Mike Fowler 15 James Babcock,
Burger Masonry Fast Time ($200): #29 Shaun Gosselin
Burger Masonry Second Fast Time ($100): #73 Noah Ratcliff
Premiere Landscaping Fastest Rookie Qualifier ($100): #47 Matt Matteson
JP Jewelers Pole ($200): #88 Brad Haynes
JP Jewelers Outside Pole ($100): #24 Tony DeStevens
4th Place Starter In Memory of Tony White ($54): #90 Greg O’Connor
Rookie of the Race In Memory of Mike Kapuscinski ($175): #47 Matt Matteson
4th Place Finisher in Memory of Tony White ($104): #23 Dan Kapuscinski
Submitted By: OSWEGO ADMIN
