Chuck Ciprich

1978 Oswego International Classic, Chuck earns a Classic win
Jimmy Shampine the favorite to win the '78 Classic, blew an engine during qualifications and had to qualify through the heats. His closest rival that year, Chuck Ciprich, in the Ron Buckner No. 36, set a new track record of 17.919 seconds to sit on the pole. With the green flag waving, Ciprich jumped out into the lead followed by Kempton Dates and Warren Coniam. Meanwhile from his 30th starting position, Shampine was ripping up through the pack. By lap 15 he was all the way up to 16th and by the 25 lap mark had moved into the top five. After a lengthy caution followed by a restart, Shampine passed Dates and Coniam for third and second and the very next lap passed leader Ciprich. Incredibly by lap 49 Shampine had gone from 30th to first place!! For the next 100 laps or so all Shampine had to do was outlast the yellow flags. On each restart he would pull away from 2nd place Ciprich. But on a restart on lap 190, Ciprich surprised everyone by passing Shampine as the crowd roared in disbelief. Shampine quickly went back to work trying to regain the No. 1 spot but Ciprich had enough to hold him off and went on to Classic victory with Shampine having to settle for second.

1979 Oswego International Classic, Chuck makes it two in a row
Chuck Ciprich drove a real smooth consistent 200 laps to defend his Classic Championship victory in 1979 but once again it was not the favorite that won the race. 1979 was the year of 'team 8 balls' - the roadster driven by Jim Shampine and Shampine's rear engine creation driven by Warren Coniam. Shampine roared from his pole starting position to take the early lead and was soon joined by his stablemate Coniam who started in 3rd. Shampine and Coniam were lapping a slower car around lap 75 when they tangled. Shampine was knocked out of the action and Coniam also headed to the pits for a scheduled pit stop. Steve Gioia inherited the lead at this juncture and he held it until just prior to the half way point when he lost an oil filter and spun wildly down the backstretch taking second place Bentley Warren with him; This gave the lead to Gary Allbritain. Meanwhile Warren Coniam was slashing through the field and by lap 122 had made up his lap deficit. Dave Shullick came on to take the lead and he relinquished it to Chuck Cpirich on lap 156. But all eyes were on the '6ball' Coniam who was now closing in on the leaders. On lap 169 Coniam roared past Ciprich and took the lead. It looked to be another Classic fairy tale ending in the making but with 15 laps to go the oil tank on the 6 began leaking and he was black flagged into the pits. Ciprich inherited the lead and collected his second Classic trophy in as many years. Dave Shullick held on for 2nd.