OSWEGO, N.Y. – Michael Muldoon scored the pole for the milestone 60th annual Budweiser International Classic on Friday evening at Oswego Speedway, leading a stout field of 37 Novelis Supermodifieds that took time during Central New York Chevy Dealers Qualifying Night.
Muldoon was the third-to-last car to take time, but blistered the five-eighths mile oval with a lap of 16.082 seconds (139.908 mph) to take the his first-career Classic pole ahead of Sunday’s 200-lap main event in his No. 15 mount.
The third-generation driver from Baldwinsville, N.Y. made history within his family as well, as the pole-winning effort was the first Classic pole for any member of the Muldoon family.
His father Mike Sr. and grandfather Jim never topped Fast Friday in their Oswego careers, though Mike Sr. won the Classic in 1995.
Alongside Muldoon for Sunday’s crown jewel event will be the No. 12 of Pat Lavery, who posted a time of 16.189 seconds (138.983 mph) to garner the outside pole.
The effort is Lavery’s fourth front row start for the Classic in the last seven years, following pole-winning efforts in 2010, 2012 and 2013.
This year’s track champion, ‘The Hustler’ Michael Barnes, timed in third-quick ahead of ISMA winged supermodified regular Dave Shullick Jr. and former IndyCar star Davey Hamilton Sr.
Keith Shampine, Tim Jedzrejek, four-time Classic champion Otto Sitterly, Jeff Abold and Joe Gosek completed the top 10.
20 qualifiers in total from Friday’s time trial session were locked into the field, with other notables securing their starting spots including Dave Danzer (11th), Davey Hamilton Jr. (14th), NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour regular Ron Silk (15th) and defending Classic champion Bob Bond (17th).
Kody Graham was the final car to lock into the show in 20th.
Those on the outside looking in include former NWMT champion Bobby Santos III (22nd), multi-time ISMA champion Chris Perley (23rd), Dave McKnight (24th) and Joey Payne (28th), who finished on the podium in last year’s Classic.
Three cars – Brian Sobus, Ray Graham and Mike Lichty – did not take time in qualifying.
Sobus and Lichty had separate incidents with the outside wall during Friday afternoon’s open practice, while Graham had an apparent mechanical issue that prevented his car from taking time in qualifying.
Novelis Supermodified teams will have a day off to recharge before Sunday’s Budweiser International Classic program, which kicks off with second-round time trials at 11:30 a.m., followed by a pair of Semi-Finals at noon ahead of the 60th annual Budweiser International Classic 200.
For more information on Budweiser International Classic weekend, visit www.oswegospeedway.com.
