SANDUSKY, Ohio — Otto Sitterly and John Nicotra Racing added another milestone to their illustrious supermodified racing careers Saturday night at Sandusky Speedway.
Sitterly drove to his first Hy-Miler Nationals 100 victory.
Sitterly started pole alongside Ohio’s Dave Shullick Jr. and jumped out to a quick lead and would go on to lead every lap in a clean race that would see only two cautions. A random pill draw set the starting lineup after a pair of heat races for 17 cars in attendance.
Otto Sitterly crosses the double checkers for his first Hy-Miler Nationals
Shullick and third-place starter Mark Sammut settled into P2 and P3 early until Sammut began applying pressure on Shullick for the runner-up position about 30 laps into the race. The Canadian would make the pass on the Osetek Racing driver for second as the leaders began negotiating lap traffic.
Sammut then went to work on Sitterly, who had enough to hold the lead until the first yellow flag waved on lap 56 for Mike Ordway Jr., who brought his Clyde Booth Racing No. 61 to a stop on the frontstretch.
Series points leader Trent Stephens took the opportunity to pit and would rejoin the race before the restart.
Sitterly moved away from Sammut on the double-file restart to open up a solid advantage as the second half of the race began to play out.
Meanwhile, Friday night Fast 40 winner Mike Lichty had moved up to fourth from his eighth-place starting spot as he began to pressure Shullick for third.
A second caution waved on lap 74 for Stephens slowing in turn four.
Twelve supers remained on track as Sitterly jumped out to another lead on the restart over Sammut, Shullick, Lichty and Johnny Benson Jr.
Shullick and Lichty proceeded to race side by side for several laps for third with Lichty gaining the spot momentarily.
Shullick held the outside line and cleared Lichty for third a few laps later, while Abold made it past Benson on the outside for fifth.
These would prove to be the final passes of the contest in the top five.
Sitterly continued his flawless race out front as he worked through traffic throughout the last 20 laps. The nine-time Oswego Speedway supermodified champion went on to the impressive victory, the first Hy-Miler Nationals triumph of his career.
Sammut would settle for second after likely having the fastest car early in the race.
Shullick was third, Lichty fourth and defending race winner Abold rounded out the top five.
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