05/29/2023
Now that I have had a chance to sit down and relax for a few minutes and process everything.
I can say Saturday racing was great at Oswego Speedway, as I was super excited about Tyler Thompson putting purple 45 in victory lane for feature win.
What I’m really excited and happy for is the knowledge and work ethic of Michael Barbera and the rest of the team. In the last four months, I have watched these guys strip the car down to the chassis, send stuff out to get painted, watch them replace every nut and bolt, they went from top to bottom, left to right, front to back of this car. There wasn’t a spot on the car that wasn’t touched by at least one of the crew. These guys work excellent together. I have seen them work in shop together and enjoy each other having fun but being serious with their work and getting stuff done. I’ve seen them work as a team at track on the car, plus coming together as a group and helping others with their cars. I’ve learned each guy has a special part of what they do best plus they step up and do just about everything.
Micheal Barbera- Leader and knowledge and taking everyone information and putting it together and making it work/ keeping me informed and answering all my questions.
Devin Cory- being Mikes right hand person always being ready for Mikes next move
Shane Barbur- with being in on numbers knowing knowledge on fuel and engine work.
Brian Sobus- being Mike’s go to guy for car handling questions, and great Engine guy and a prankster.
Carl- Running to get parts and being helping hand.
Dustin- being Mike’s left hand man always stepping in to give extra hand to get job completed.
Bert Pitcher- then there’s Bert the one that gives you lasting impression. Bert polishes every part of car making sure everything is clean and he’s the jack guy. Also learning Bert is the buffer guy they send to talk to people when they’re busy at work and they can’t be interrupted. Bert steps in and gives block and talks to people for hours in, lol. Great guy always looking for fun. Will be the guy wearing purple croc’s in the future.
There are couple other guys that I just met Saturday night, and I’m learning their parts of team. I already can tell they’re great people as Mike wouldn’t have them there if they weren’t. I am happy for the win but what I’m real happy for is the win these guys have accomplished. Not only have they done this with the new 45 car but they have done this with two other cars that Mike owned. In my book these guy’s doing what they did with the car and putting it in victory lane on opening day shows they are the true winners.
Can’t forget David O'connor. David is a young, talented young man who has a lot of knowledge on race cars. You give him a car with a driver and he can take drivers information and make changes to car to make it go where the driver needs it to. David is part of the Jason Simmons Racing crew. I have watched David grow up from very young age and can tell you this guy has come from a family with mechanical skills that everyone wished they had, he has taken this knowledge he has learned over the years and put to good use and has become a very talented young man.
These guys are the best. And I can’t thank them enough.
Also big thank you to our sponsors.
CME Electrical Supply
Top Quality Construction
Raby's Ace
Top Fabricators
Premium Construction
Colosse Cheese
D&S Landscaping
Hardcore Fit.
Bosco’s
The Village Tavern
Old 54 Barbecue Sauce
Bellavia’s Excavating
