OSWEGO, N.Y. -- Team SWN article/photos -- Opening day of the 67th Budweiser International Classic Weekend at the famed Oswego Speedway saw plenty of excitement and lots of fast cars from five different divisions on the track.  

Michael Barnes set fast time for the second straight year in big block supermodified time trials. Jesse Bearup pulled a shocker with his top qualifying run in the SBS supermodified division. Daniel Casioli won his second straight Compact Classic and Garrett Zacharias made it five straight Oswego wins with his victory in the Dave London Memorial Super Stock Classic to close the evening. 

Barnes' lap wasn't quite fast enough to break the track record he set last year, but it was more than enough to put him on the pole for Sunday's $20,000 to win 200-lap classic.  He and his Syrell Racing team have won the race before, and they no doubt could pull it off again. 

To do it, though, he'll have to best a field of over 30 supermodifieds, the biggest field seen at the track in several years.  

There will be a second round of qualifying on Sunday to lock in spots 21-30 for the 200.  Full time trial results for round one are below in the photo gallery.

Hear Michael's post-qualifying interview...



Bearup's 18.436 qualifying lap in the SBS time trials was just .005 off the track record, but it was good enough to knock SBS legend Mike Bond off the top of the speed chart.  Bond qualified second, and both will be heavy favorites in Sunday's 60-lap SBS Classic.  

It is unlikely either will start up front, however, as there is always some sort of invert that takes place after qualifying in order to put the fastest cars a little further back in the field.  

Full SBS time trial results are below in the photo gallery.  

Once qualifying for those two divisions had ended (the 350 supermodifieds practiced, but will time trial on Sunday morning for their Sunday afternoon race), the pits and grandstands were cleared in quick time, so the super stocks and compact cars could be brought in for their portion of the Friday program. 

Strong turnouts in both divisions produced some fantastic racing both in qualifying events and the two features.  No time trials for these two classes.  It was race it out all night and it was fun to watch! 

Friday Night's Action...

Defending Compact Classic champ Dan Casioli started his title defense with a win in heat one. Corey Copeland copped the second heat event, and 14-year-old Pennsylvania upstart racer Micah Adams took the win in heat three with one of the sharpest machines in the field.  Tony Pettinelli finished first in the fourth and final heat event for the division. 

The super stocks then ran off their heat events, with wins going to Chris Riendau, Garrett Zacharias, Andy Cryan, Lee Sharpsteen and Jacob Christman.

Eric Black (compact) and Charlie Sharpsteen (Shirley Zacharias Shootout super stock) claimed Last Chance Qualifier victories, and then it was time for some feature racing!  The Compact Classic would roll off first.  

Casioli had to work hard for his win as Russ Bulger, who ended up second, raced him hard in and out of slower traffic the entire race and got alongside him several times.  The compacts always put on a great show at Oswego, one of the largest tracks they run all year (it is for the super stocks as well).  

In the end, Casioli became a two-time defending champion and will have a year to savor that accomplishment.  Bulger finished second with Adams, Dave Millibrand, and Copeland rounding out the top five. 

The super stocks took to the "Fast 5/8-mile" for the the nightcap. The all-star lineup for the 50-lap main made for some exciting racing. Jacob Gustafson, who was fast all night with his yellow No. 09, took off out front and stayed there for much of the race.  Zacharias, who was going for his fifth straight Oswego victory, tried everything he knew how to get by him, but "Gusty" kept the rising young racer at bay until a caution flag came out.  

That changed everything.  

"My car launched so well on restarts," Zacharias said after the race. "Until that yellow, I'd been just trying to keep pressure on, waiting for a mistake.  But once the caution came out, that was my opportunity." 

Zacharias put his No. 71 out front on the restart and never looked back.  Gustafson chased him all the way to the checkered flag, but couldn't find a way to repass him.  At the finish it was Zacharias over Gustafson by not much more than a car length.  

We'll update this article with finishes from both races as soon as they become official and we have them available to us.

On tap Saturday for day two of the weekend is "Modified Madness", with the GTR Sportsman Modifieds and NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour sharing the bill in what promises to be another gorgeous afternoon and evening of racing.

Sunday, the weekend wraps up with a tripleheader of supermodified action, as the SBS supers, the 350 supers and the big block supermodifieds will all run their classic events.    

Stay tuned to Steering Wheel Nation for coverage throughout and after the weekend on Facebook and Instagram (search and follow @TheWheelNation), brought to you by Nicotra Racing and J&S Paving. 

Hear Garrett Zacharias's "winnerview"...