Michael Coffey Jr. is set to tackle Oswego Speedway in his DIRTcar Sportsman for the first time.
“I came the last two years helping Andrew Buff and Adam McAuliffe,” Coffey said. “Obviously both of them finished in the top five last year so I can learn a lot from watching them. Their notebook is top secret, but Andrew helped with the set up so hopefully we can have a nicely tuned car out there. … “The track is different than what it looks like when you get out there. It’s exciting to get out there and try to turn some fast laps.”
D.J. Forbes makes his first NAPA Super DIRT Week start in a 358 Modified.
“We ran last year in the Sportsman Modified but we didn’t make the show,” Forbes said. “We run weekly at Fulton Speedway. We struggled at the beginning of the year just trying to get the car figured out, but we were able to pick up a couple top 10s. … We just want to make the show. We’re going to run the satellites shows at Brewerton and Weedsport.”
Another inaugural Oswego racer is Dylan Swinehart.
“It’s my first time racing at Oswego,” Swinehart said. “I’ve been here the last two years just coming to watch and checking out what guys have.”
- A handful of DIRTcar Pro Stocks went through early tech on Tuesday, including Travis Welch. They’re definitely excited to get additional track time with Heat Races during the Friday Night Lights events.
“You gotta be on your ballgame, nut and bolt everything,” Welch said. “I think set up is crucial here. Gearing is huge. Keeping your nose clean is the biggest thing and try to work my way through. … We are stronger when we run a Heat Race. Last year we qualified 15th. We’re happy because we get more track time regardless.”
Ben Bushaw is another first time 358 Modified racer at Oswego, hoping to build on DIRTcar Sportsman success from the past two seasons.
“We’ve been here the last two years, but in a Sportsman,” Bushaw said. “Last year we came here and qualified fourth fastest out of 90 cars, but we were two pounds light on the scales. I’m pretty excited about this year in the 358. This car seems to like big tracks so we’ll see what happens. We went to Orange County this year and ran really well down there. Hopefully we get in the show and run pretty good.”
- Justin Haers is no stranger to NAPA Super DIRT Week, but this year he’ll have a new ride in the DIRTcar 358 Modified division.
“We’ve got a brand new 358, with Jake Marine from Delaware owning the car,” Haers said. “Hopefully we’ll have a good run with that.”
Haers is still confident with his Big Block Modified, too.
“We’re very prepared. We’ve definitely done that right,” Haers said. “I’m feeling pretty good. We’ve had a pretty good car the last quarter of the year. Obviously, the Big Block car that we ran probably half the year with, I’m pretty confident. There’s lots of race cars here and lots of different circumstances to play out.”