OSWEGO, N.Y. (June 13, 2011) – Otto Sitterly wheeled his Nicotra Racing-owned G&I Homes No. 7 supermodified to victory Saturday night at Oswego Speedway, picking up his first win of the season and first in over a year at the five-eighths-mile oval.

Starting sixth, Otto moved into second by the lap 15 mark. With pole-sitter Dan Connors Jr. ahead, Otto looked to be a shoe in for not only his first podium finish of the three-week-old season, but first trip to victory lane, as well.

However, veteran Dave McKnight altered plans when he drove his No. 08 around Otto on an early-race restart. McKnight soon took the lead from Connors, leaving Sitterly to battle the 17-year-old Oswego driver for second.

Otto made it past Connors before halfway and followed McKnight through lap traffic before making an inside pass on the Canadian on lap 41 of the 50-lap main.

A caution on lap 45 left opening night winner Randy Ritskes, who had just moved past McKnight, on Otto’s tail.

But Sitterly proved too strong for Ritskes and the rest of the best supermodified field (27 cars) the speedway had seen since 2005. Otto stretched his lead over the last few laps and took a convincing win.

“I sort of dreaded the lap traffic until I saw Dave trying to get to the outside,” Otto said, reflecting on his race. “I saw (Dave) slip bad one time on the outside and I was easily able to gain. That’s when I decided to tuck down to the bottom and a hole opened up; it was really probably luck as much as anything.

“The last couple laps I felt like it was mine to give away. I just did what I had to do and tried not to slip. The guys behind me have a lot of experience, so I drove it fast but didn’t over-drive. The car was pretty quick.”

After the win, Otto took a moment to thank the people making his run at a fourth Oswego championship in a row possible.

“I want to thank John Nicotra, G&I Homes, all the crew guys. There’s a lot that goes into a deal like this – for everyone here. We have a lot of great sponsors and I have to thank my wife, too, who’s beside me all the time. Even if she may be yelling at me three-quarters of the time, she’s with me!”

About Nicotra Racing

Nicotra Racing is owned by longtime supermodified fan John Nicotra, a Central New York native who makes his living as a produce broker in Homestead, Fla. The team, led by top driver and mechanic Otto Sitterly, debuted in 2007 and since has won three Oswego supermodified championships and eight Oswego features, including the 2009 International Classic. Nicotra Racing operates out of Sitterly’s shop in Canajoharie, N.Y.

Nicotra Racing is sponsored by G&I Homes Inc., 5 Brothers Produce, S&L Beans, Florida Vegetable, Flavor First Produce, V.L. Walker Co, Georgia Crate & Basket, Rite-Pak Produce, Quality First Produce, Magnolia Packing, Beaver River Distribution, N&N Corporation, Burnac Produce Limited and Provincial Fruit Co.

For more information, visit NicotraRacing.com. To contact Nicotra Racing, call John Nicotra at 305-345-2437 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Press written by New Concept Race Media. For more information, visit www.newconceptracemedia.com or contact Keith Shampine at 909-918-6276 / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

- Photo by Mike "Pinner" Johnson