is up next for Round 8 of 21, and it’s a genuine first for the ICL 358 National Tour. While the division hasn’t turned a lap here yet, Oswego isn’t unfamiliar territory for the league as a whole. Across both the pavement and the dirt-configured versions, several ICL regulars have logged meaningful laps in other cars—and some have built serious rĂ©sumĂ©s. That backstory, layered onto a tight early-season points fight and a 13-point race maximum (12 to win plus 1 for qualifying fast time), sets the table for a compelling debut.

Start with the headline: Brayden E Carter is Oswego’s most decorated ICL driver, of his success coming in Dirt Late Model competition. He leads the building’s honor roll with 6 starts, 4 wins (67%), 5 top-5s, and 6 top-10s—plus a strong history of leading laps (81 led; 50%) and nabbing fast laps (69; 43%). That kind of conversion rate matters on a track that can race narrow on pavement and change by the minute on dirt. Right behind him on the experience board is Colton Zimmer, who’s 2-for-5 in wins here (40%) with 4 top-5s and 5 top-10s—quietly one of the steadiest Oswego performers in the league’s history. Aidan Strawberry brings 6 prior starts at the facility and a win of his own, with 5 top-5s and 100% top-10 finishing consistency that screams “high floor.”

There are also Oswego aces with perfect records from other divisions: Jacob Denney (2 starts, 2 poles, 2 wins—100% across the board) and JD Myers (1 start, 1 pole, 1 win). Sprinkle in one-and-done winners like Brandon Bolton, Casey Wynn, and Vincent Gueci (each 1 win from a single or limited set of starts), and the venue clearly rewards sharp qualifiers who can convert cleanly. Beyond the outright winners list, Brandon Holtmeier’s 7 starts with 6 top-5s show how valuable mistake-free, track-position-minded driving can be at Oswego; it’s not just raw speed—execution over the run matters.

Form from the current season adds another layer. Recent weeks produced three different winners—Brenden McGlothlin (Fairbury), Dylan Blackburn (Kokomo), and Tyler Ducharme (Cedar Lake)—while points leader Aidan Strawberry kept stacking top-finishes. JT Ferry’s late-race surge to a win two rounds ago vaulted him into the title conversation, and Seth Gregory’s constant presence near the front continues to pay. Kinser Lightner has hovered just outside the very top while showing race-winning pace, and Brayden E Carter carries those Oswego credentials even if his last outing required a rally from early adversity. With 14 rounds still to run and a 13-point nightly ceiling, a single big night—especially if it includes qualifying fast time—can chop a double-digit deficit in one swing.

What to watch at Oswego? Qualifying and track-position. The stats say poles turn into trophies here more often than at most stops, and drivers with prior Oswego familiarity—on either surface—tend to manage pace windows and closing stints better than first-timers. That should put Carter, Zimmer, and Strawberry right in the early conversation. Keep an eye on Ferry and Gregory, both trending, and on Ducharme, who arrives as the most recent feature winner. If Lightner cashes a front-row start, his Oswego top-10 consistency suggests he’ll be in the frame deep into the run.

Finally, the points story. Strawberry’s cushion is real but not safe. A fast-time point plus a podium for Ferry or Gregory can cut the margin quickly—especially if the leader misses the bonus. With so many rounds left, “damage limitation” nights are just as crucial as home runs. Oswego’s mixed-configuration history rewards discipline; the driver who pairs a sharp time-trial lap with clean, tempo-controlled race craft will likely be the one writing new 358 Modified history on the Port City oval.

Top 10 in Points (after Round 7)

  1. Aidan Strawberry — 66

  2. JT Ferry — 48

  3. Seth Gregory — 44

  4. Kinser Lightner — 38

  5. Brayden E Carter — 32

  6. Tyler Ducharme — 21

  7. Dylan Blackburn — 19

  8. Johnnie Tucker — 14

  9. Brenden McGlothlin — 13

  10. Tyler Mckim — 12

You can race with ICL for free, following along with race day info in our discord here: https://discord.gg/vQmsdwxvTf