Otto Sitterly capped a six-win season at Oswego Speedway by taking his sixth International Classic 200 on Sept. 6, tying the event's career victory record.
Sitterly won five of his six Novelis Supermodified regular-season starts in John Nicotra Racing's number seven car before the Labor Day weekend Classic, according to a release from the team. His sixth Classic win matched the totals of Nolan Swift, Bentley Warren and Greg Furlong.
The season began with a setback. An engine failed during practice for the May 30 opener and ISMA-MSS Super Challenge 50, sending the team home before Sitterly could race. Nicotra Racing then concentrated on Oswego's Novelis Supermodified program.
Five regular-season wins in six starts
Sitterly returned June 6 and won the Jim Shampine Memorial 61. The team followed that with victories in a June 20 50-lap feature and the July 4 Independence Day Spectacular 50, giving it three consecutive Novelis wins.
After a July 18 rainout and a break in Oswego's abbreviated schedule, the team skipped an Aug. 8 ISMA-MSS event. It returned Aug. 15 for the $10,000-to-win Mr. Supermodified 75, which Sitterly won for the seventh time in his career.
That left Sitterly undefeated in four Novelis feature starts entering the Aug. 22 regular-season finale, a pair of 40-lap races. His car handled poorly in the daylight opener, and he finished ninth.
The crew adjusted the No. 7 before the nightcap. Sitterly came through the field to win, closing the regular season with five victories in six Novelis starts.
“I can't believe how terrible the car was during the day,” Sitterly said after the second feature. He said the car had been sliding badly in the first race and that the team tightened its setup for the night race. With a relatively new car and a schedule dominated by night events, he said, the workable setup range was narrow.
A late pass decides the Classic
The International Classic 200, Oswego's 70th, followed on Labor Day weekend. Sitterly was fastest in Sept. 4 qualifying and started the Sept. 6 race from the pole.
He led early but fell as far back as fourth. With 11 laps remaining, he passed Dave Shullick Jr. to retake the lead and stayed in front to the finish. It was Nicotra Racing's seventh victory in the event.
The win gave the No. 7 six Oswego feature victories for 2026, despite its lost opening weekend and the limited schedule. Sitterly and Nicotra have raced together since 2008.
Sitterly said sharing the Classic record with Swift, Warren and Furlong was especially meaningful because of his ties to the drivers. He described Warren as a friend and said the Furlongs helped him when he began racing at Oswego.
Team looks toward 2027
The team said it has reduced its traveling schedule and focused on selected Oswego events. Sitterly has considered retirement in recent years, but a seventh Classic win would put him alone atop the event's career list.
Oswego Speedway management has indicated that a larger schedule could follow in 2027. Nicotra Racing said it will wait for the schedule before deciding its plans for next season.
Bills overcome sloppy five-turnover game, defeat Chargers to start season 3-0 (full coverage) Sitterly, Nicotra and the No. 7 crew are scheduled to be honored Oct. 16 at the Oswego Speedway Hall of Fame and Championship Banquet at the Oswego Elks Lodge.
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