ISMA HITS THE ROAD FOR AN INTERNATIONAL DOUBLEHEADER

SEPTEMBER 26 AND 27

Oswego, NY – The ISMA contingent is on the road again for a two-day-two race stint in Canada and Michigan. First up is the Friday night, Sept. 26 North of the Border event at Delaware Speedway in Ontario, Canada. Then it’s across Michigan the next day for another 50 lapper at Berlin Raceway in Marne. This series wraps up the last two races on the 2008 schedule before the finale at Thompson, CT in October.

Delaware Speedway has a storied history of supermodifieds and some of the greats in the ranks from that division came graced the track over the years. ISMA winners over the years since 1976 include Steve Gioia Jr., Bentley Warren, Mike McLaughlin, Gary Allbritain, Chris Perley and now finally, a Canadian. Last year Dave McKnight stopped his roller coaster season on top with a win before a very partial Canadian crowd. McKnight was followed by ISMA champ Chris Perley and in third, by Ryan Litt, another Canadian favorite. To boot, Canadians prevailed in the top five with a great run by London, Ontario’s Mark Sammut for fourth and Innerkip, Ontario’s Mike Lichty in fifth. Michael Barnes, Craftsman Truck star Johnny Benson Jr., Mike Ordway Jr., Dave Trytek and Robbie Summers completed the top ten.

The Delaware event is presented by Brad Lichty’s Patco Transportation and will feature the ISMA supers and the Powerade Modifieds. ISMA team gates open at 2 pm, with Delaware team gates opening at 4:00 pm. Spectators will be admitted at 6:00 pm with racing to begin at 8:00 pm. Tickets are priced (pst and gst included) at Adults, $30; Seniors (65+), $25, Student (with Valid Student Card), $25 and Kids (12 and under) Free. Reserved seating is $45. For further information: Delaware Speedway Track & Office; Phone: (519) 652-5068; Fax: (519) 652-5069l; E-mail: info@delawarespeedway.com. The track is located just a short distance from London, Ontario at 1640 Gideon Drive, in Delaware. (N0L 1E0).

Leaving Canada, the ISMA group heads across the state of Michigan to its western shores. In Marne, Michigan, another hotbed of supermodified racing lies at Berlin Raceway. While ISMA’s official history goes back to Bentley Warren’s 1990 win, the track and the area include many exciting supermodified battles. Russ Wood has been a three-time ISMA Winner at the wide 7/16th’s mile oval, as has Chris Perley. Other solo winners include Dave Shullick Sr., Joey Payne, Randy Ritskes and Lou Cicconi. This year’s event will see the debut of second-generation supermodified pilot Johnny Benson Jr.’s new car numbered 21 after his famous father’s ride. Benson led the 2007 50-lapper in the Lichty 74 until a broken rear end finished his night early. Chris Perley went on to win over Mike Ordway JR., Dave McKnight, Mike Lichty and Michael Barnes.

The Saturday, Sept. 27 Open Wheel Extravaganza includes ISMA Supermodifieds; Auto Value Super Sprints; USAC/UMARA/WOMS Midgets. The action starts at 7:00 p.m. (tickets $20; pits $30). Buy tickets online at www.berlinraceway.com. E-mail @berlinraceway.com. The raceway is located at 2060 Berlin Fair Drive - Marne, MI 49435. Telephone: 616-726-7373.

 

6/2/08

NEW 2008 ISMA SCHEDULE CHANGES –

Jennerstown July 5 show out – Second Waterford show is in on August 16 Oswego, NY -

It was announced this afternoon by ISMA President Howie Lane that he has been informed that Jennerstown Speedway (PA) has decided to cancel the July 5 ISMA event for financial reasons. But, on the other hand, Waterford Speedbowl, the site of ISMA’s opener, has requested a second date this season. The successful May 24 event prompted Waterford management to ask for another race in 2008 and ISMA complied with a Saturday, August 16 event – the day after the Lee USA Ollie Silva Classic.

“The new management at Jennerstown was just not ready to take on our show,” said Lane this morning. “With the economy getting worse by the day, it is understandable that he was extremely nervous about this year. ISMA should be back on the docket in 2009 if all goes well.”

On the plus side, securing the August 16 Waterford show will give those teams traveling the farthest a chance at a two-race weekend. ISMA will be paired that Saturday with the popular True Value Modifieds for an open wheel event. “Adding Waterford was great,” said Lane in conclusion. “We are trying our best to keep the costs down for the competitors and everyone else. The one-day trip to Jennerstown on July 5 was a tough one with Stafford coming up so quickly on July 8.”

The second show at Waterford was not a complete surprise as hints of it happening floated around the Connecticut oval before the ISMA teams departed on May 24. According to Media Coordinator Dave Dykes, “It was a pleasure to host ISMA at the Speedbowl again. It was a great night of racing and we’ll work on getting the group back down here for a later date this season.”

5-25-08

PERLEY REPEATS ISMA at WATERFORD SHOW; SETS RECORD LAP

Waterford, CT – Chris Perley had won the Waterford ISMA 50 last season after two previous dnfs. It wasn't really a surprise that he pulled off a repeat win after the season he had last year. But, he put a little icing on the cake this year by turning the fastest lap (12.489) ever seen at this Connecticut three-eighth's mile bullring since it opened in 1951. And, it came on lap 44 of the feature to boot. Perley definitely is picking right up from his past two record seasons. Perley and the Vic Miller crew are entering a third season of wondering when it's all going to end - if it's going to end.

"I don't know what this year is going to give us. To start off the year this way with the car as good as it is .. it's unbelievable. I can't ask for any more. The crew worked so hard over the winter. To be able to unload and just pull this off is great. As for that pass of Jeff Holbrook for the lead, I didn't think I was going to get it. I kept on creeping up and creeping up. He was using a lot of track. I worked everywhere and couldn't find a way by and when I did make it by I didn't think I was going to stick. I can't thank my sponsors and motor builder enough. Tonight was just a FUN race. I thought it might be a more exciting race if I'd got the lead on the last lap but I have to take what I can and get away. I think someone's after me."

Second place finisher, Holbrook, who had led from lap 20 until Perley got by, said of his podium finish, "The car is awesome. Robbie wiggled there and gave me a chance at second and I took it. I knew Chris would be along any time but second to Chris Perley is awesome anytime. This is great."

Robbie Summers, who also had a strong lead at first commented in victory lane, "I've got to thank Howie Lane and the whole crew. We had a good car but we had an engine problem. I don't know if it was ignition or fuel. It started skipping around lap 15, but we were able to finish third. I'll take it.

Twenty-two ISMA cars were slated to start the 50-lapper but before the green the 61 of Michael Barnes sat in the infield unable to start. Car owner Clyde Booth said later that he felt the spool was spun on the axle. "It's actually a rear end problem which we can fix."

At the green, former SK Waterford champion-turned-super driver, Robbie Summers took off in the lead from the outside front row. Jeff Holbrook, Dave Sanborn and Jamie Timmons tucked in behind.

Only three laps in the yellow flew for a nasty hit as the 22 of Eric Emhoff bounced off the wall pretty much destroying his car. The 92 of Larry Lehnert also was stopped in two and he would not restart.

Summers was off again on the green and he and Holbrook began pulling away from the pack of Timmons, Mike Lichty, Mike Ordway Jr., Perley, Sanborn and Dave McKnight.

Perley patiently made his way up through. He described his race to the lead, "I didn't know what we had for the first couple laps. I passed a couple people because I got lucky. I was riding around and I got loose a couple of times. The tires started heating up and the thing started sticking. Then I knew I had a decent enough car if I could get lucky enough to get through all the traffic. I had a couple deals where I had to take my time. The walls come off pretty quick here and if someone is not paying attention you can get in trouble. I got under a couple going into the corners and I backed out of it because I didn't want to wreck anybody."

But during most of the first half of the race, the eyes were up front on Summers and Holbrook. On lap 20, with a slower car facing the lead duo, Jeff Holbrook made a low move and took over the lead. Summers car was apparently slowing here as Perley moved by for second.

On lap 27 Holbrook finally could not hold off the formidable 11. Perley who had been looking for a way around the 35, made a spectacular move as the crowd gasped. "Jeff was running a good groove, right in the middle," said Perley. " I couldn't get enough on the bottom and I didn't think I was going to get enough on the top. I needed to show him a wheel to try to hold him in his lane. I went around on the outside. I mean it was high outside. I didn't think the car was going to stick. I knew I had to show a wheel and go. It stuck and I just got on it. I didn't want to hang around and maybe get pinched into the wall."

Perley once again took command out front as Holbrook stayed second. Summers, Timmons and Lichty ran top five.

On lap 37 all hell broke loose behind Perley and Holbrook who had the cushion of a couple lap cars separating them from the rest. Mike Lichty's 84 was coming into turn 3 when an oil line broke spewing fluid on his tires and sending him around in front of Jamie Timmons, Scott Martel and Mike Ordway Jr. Red flew and the crash scene was not pretty. All the cars received some heavy damage. Mike Ordway Jr. was taken to a local hospital after he complained of a bad headache and some other pains. He was reported to be fine, albeit sore, after the check over.

On the lap 37 restart, yellow flew again when third place runner Summers brushed with slower car of Bobby Haynes Jr. and the two got out of shape. Just behind Russ Wood was facing the scene in the Holbrook 29. "They got sideways in front," said Wood. "I had to lock them up to miss his motor and ended up in infield. I came back in the line back further. I think I might have third."

It was smooth sailing from here on in for Perley and the remaining cars. Perley crossed under the checkered well ahead of Holbrook who was holding off Summers, Ray Graham Jr. and Bobby Bond who grabbed the spot from McKnight in the waning laps, for the top five.

Ray Graham Jr., whose beautiful 99 emerged from the hauler for its initial run earlier in the day, said later. "This is the first time the car has been on the track this year. It's in one piece! We were tight all night but we stayed consistently tight so I think we know what we need to do and move on to Toledo and try and make it a little faster, Any time you can get a top five racing against these guys you take it."

Bond, who has taken to the ISMA trail this season commented with a smile, "We're happy on our first time here to come away with fifth. We did gain a couple spots after the accident toward the end there. We are just trying to hang in there and get a little experience and stay in once piece. I'd like to thank my crew - they work their butts off and to all my sponsors. I think we're going to like this. It's going to be fun."

Dave McKnight Jr., Vern Romanoski, Russ Wood, Dave Sanborn and Mark Sammut finished top ten.

ISMA's next series run is at Toledo Speedway on Friday, June 13.

Summary ISMA Event #1 Waterford Speedbowl, May 24, 2008

Heat 1: Mike Lichty, Ray Graham Jr., Bobby Bond, Dave Sanborn, Russ Wood, Michael Barnes, Dave Iosue (91)

Heat 2: Robbie Summers, Jeff Holbrook, Dave McKnight, Scott Martel, Larry Lehnert, Bobby Haynes Jr., Eric Emhoff

Heat 3: Dave Trytek, Chris Perley, Jamie Timmons, Mike Ordway Jr., Vern Romanoski, Mark Sammut, Artie Russeau

Waterford-ISMA 50: 1. Chris Perley (11), 2. Jeff Holbrook (35), 3. Robbie Summers (97), 4. Ray Graham Jr., (99), 5. Bobby Bond (25), 6. Dave McKnight Jr. (94), 7. Vern Romanoski (5), 8. Russ Wood (29), 9. Dave Sanborn (24), 10. Mark Sammut (78), 11. Bobby Haynes Jr. (44), 12. Mike Lichty (84), 13. Jamie Timmons (27), 14. Mike Ordway Jr. (88), 15. Scott Martel (14), 16. Dave Trytek (70), 17. Artie Rousseau (616), 18. Dave Iosue (91), 19. Larry Lehnert (92), 20. Eric Emhoff (22), 21. Michael Barnes (61).