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2008 MSA Schedule 2008 MSA Points Standings 2008 ISMA Point Standings All Time ISMA Point Standings The ISMA Supermodifieds home page The MSA home page |
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Jedrzejek Wins Somber Toledo Run By Lee A. Booze Toledo, Ohio…Independence, Ohio’s Tim Jedrzejek picked up his fourth win of the season Friday night in the PPG Vibrance Collection Midwest Supermodified Association series, but his mind as well as the rest of the competitors in MSA was elsewhere. Earlier in the day in the first heat race a multi-car crash in collected four cars. Second generation driver Terry Gibson hit the turn one wall very hard and was extricated from his machine. He later succumbed from his injuries. Thirteen machines were operable for the thirty lap feature event. Rookie Jim Paller and veteran Randy Burch paced the field for the start, but only two corners were turned before the caution flew. Bob Dawson bounced off the back-stretch wall collecting Dave Shullick Jr. Dawson was finished for the night, Shullick returned for the restart. On the restart Randy Burch jumped out to the lead holding the point for the first three laps before relinquishing the lead to Jack Smith. Behind Smith were Jedrzejek, who moved up from his sixth place starting spot, Shullick, Moe Lilje, Burch and Charlie Schultz. Jedrzejek powered by Smith for the lead on lap ten with Shullick and Lilje exploiting the hole opened by the new leader. Schultz would get by one lap later. The lead quartet held their positions as the laps clicked past the halfway mark. Back in the pack Smith and Tim Ice were dueling for the final top five spot. With ten laps to go in the non-stop feature event, Jedrzejek approached the lapped machines of Paller and Dave Mumaw. Shullick and Lilje closed to the back bumper of the leader but Jedrzejek chose the right lane through the lapped traffic to escape the challenge. “I was just trying to hit my marks and the lapped traffic worked out in our favor,” noted Jedrzejek. The Reed’s Salvage machine gained enough breathing room to run to the finish with a five car length win over Shullick and Lilje in the Kasper Auto Group roadsters and Schultz in the May Motorsports car. In the waning laps, Tim Ice used his vast Toledo experience to slip by Smith for fifth place. Rounding out the top ten were Randy Burch, Dave Mumaw, Jim Paller and Rob Stasick. Said Jedrzejek later, “we were told about the loss of Terry after the feature, and we want to extend our deepest sympathies from the Reed Team to his family.” MSA President Kevin Jaycox also echoed the sentiment of the entire pit area. “It’s a sad day for all of the MSA family. Terry was one of the most liked guys in the pits. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Gibson family.” PPG Vibrance Collection Midwest Supermodified Association Race #9 Toledo Speedway 7-18-08 Feature (30 Laps)…Tim Jedrzejek, Dave Shullick Jr., Moe Lilje, Charlie Schultz, Tim Ice, Jack Smith, Randy Burch, Dave Mumaw, Jim Paller, Rob Stasick, Gene Lee Gibson, Denny Fisher, Bob Dawson, Jon Henes (dns), Matt Palmer (dns). Lap Leaders: Randy Burch 1-3, Jack Smith 4-9, Tim Jedrzejek 10-30 Current Point Standings: Dave Shullick Jr.-388, Tim Jedrzejek-8, Charlie Schultz-375, Jack Smith-327, Randy Burch-323, Bob Dawson-318, Moe Lilje-316, Denny Fisher-308, Matt Palmer-244, Terry Gibson-226. |
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CHRIS PERLEY TOPS RUSS WOOD AT STAFFORD XTREME TUESDAY ISMA EVENT By Carol D Haynes Stafford Springs, CT – It's no surprise to race fans that Chris Perley won the Carquest Stafford Xtreme ISMA race Tuesday night. After all he has been winning a lot in the past couple of years. But it was a bit of a surprise to Perley. It was not by any means an easy or expected win. "I really didn't think we'd be here tonight," said Perley in victory lane. "Right from the start of the race I thought I'd be going backwards. I am really surprised." Perley, who started in his usual twelfth place on the grid, would come to battle old rival Russ Wood for the win, but had luck been kinder to Kelly Miller or Mike Lichty, Perley and Wood might have been battling for third and fourth. Lichty lost a tire while leading and Miller would blow a motor big time, leaving Wood and Perley in a déjà vu fight up front. "It was a crazy race," indicated Perley, "It reminded me of one at Seekonk where Woody and I swapped the lead back and forth and you're wondering how long your tires are going to last doing that. I want to thank Russ for coming back and putting a show on." Chris went on to say, "It was a tough race. I'd like to say sorry to the fans because it took so long tonight. With the heat and all it was a real workout. Thanks to Carquest Auto Parts for putting this night on. This place is just a blast to run. I just didn't think I had the car tonight. I remembered that a couple years ago I won here running real hard through the corners. I did that and I got up to the front. My R&R motor just ran awesome. This thing's got a lot of snot in it. My sponsors Ed Shea Concrete, Perley's, New England Motor Racing Supply, Barrett Transportation, Jack Cook Enterprises and Hardy Transportation - thanks to everyone. There are so many people who help us out and so many fans. All the little things you do for us I just really appreciate it. My crew's the best. They never give up and I try never to give up with them." Wood, who took the lead on lap 28 from the strong running Kelly Miller in the 16, was very pleased with his new Holbrook-owned car and his finish. "The guys worked until one o'clock this morning. It's a brand new car. There are a ton of people who busted their tail getting this car ready. I want to thank them all especially Brian Allegresso, Butch Valley and New England Motor Racing. It was an awesome job. We had a few new car issues but we'll work them out. It's a privilege to drive a car like this. Maybe we can run with Chris this year. I'm looking forward to it. I too would like to thank Carquest for having us." Completing the podium was the venerable Bentley Warren. The top three on the ISMA All-Time win list were also the top three at Stafford with a combined total of 137 mains between them. Bentley, grinning, said, "The car was awesome. It's fun to drive. I have to thank Vic Miller, Ed Shea and all the guys who work on these cars. And Chris Perley. He worked harder on my car today than on his. It's so much fun to drive with a bunch of guys who just want to have fun. It's really enjoyable. The car was fast and I had a ball. I like this track. I still love racing. If I didn't I wouldn't be here." A couple shaky starts of the feature saw Jamie Timmons bringing out the first yellow and a tangle between Mark Sammut, John Torrese, Jon McKennedy and Ray Graham Jr., coming on the restart. Hooks were for Sammut and Graham. Defending race champ Rob Summers brought the 97 to a halt in the infield with front wing damage but was able to restart. Kelly Miller finally grabbed the point with 19-year old Jeffrey Abold hot on his tail, followed by Wood, Romanoski and Lichty in the early going. Miller extended his lead out front as Abold, Wood and Lichty battled. Moving up into fifth by lap 11 was the 11. On lap 17, Mike Lichty drove around the 16 of Miller for the lead and a chance at that elusive first ISMA win. It was not to be once more for the young Canadian. On lap 20 he blew a tire sending him around and into the infield with no way to change the flat. Back out front it was Miller again with Abold, Wood, Perley, McKnight, Warren and Holbrook challenging. The hot, muggy night was already taking its toll as cars, including John Benson Jr., began dropping by the wayside. The new 29 with Wood at the helm, took over the front spot from Miller with another back straight pass on lap 28. Wood began to pull away and it looked like he might just pull off an "out of the box - to the win circle" feat. Lap 34 saw Jamie Timmons run off the track with the yellow flying again. Wood was stopped and checked for leaking in the interim but was deemed able to continue and he took up his lead position on the restart. It was also on the restart that both Abold and Perley grabbed second and third by driving by Miller's 16. Bentley Warren moved into to challenge the second-generation driver Abold one lap later., Miller's night came to a screeching halt on lap 37 when his motor blew. He emerged quickly from the car, obviously on fire, and was immediately attended to suffering leg burns. The fluid laid down caused Joey Payne, driving the Holbrook 41, to be collected as was Dave McKnight. Both restarted. During the red, Perley mulled over his circumstances. "During the red I already knew I had a problem with tires. I was kind of concerned with dealing with the heat. With all the stuff we have on now I can't take my helmet off because I can't put it back on by myself so I had to deal with it. I knew I had problems and I'd just have to deal with it." After the lengthy cleanup, the race resumed and went straight green to the end. Up front it was now Wood and Perley, then Perley and Wood as they swapped the lead on lap 39. Back in the pack Abold held off Warren and Holbrook, with only eleven cars remaining in the field. With five to go, Perley looked to be pulling away, but then, Wood closed up the gap. A lap car almost proved the lead changer, but time ran out. "At the end there Chris was pushing up and I was trying another groove, " said Russ. "All of a sudden I was gaining on him. I just needed a few more laps. All in all we were ecstatic with a car we didn't even fire until today. It was just awesome." Perley admitted, "I knew I was slowing up. I knew I had a little left. But I also knew that if I gave it my all I'd be a few laps short and he would have been there. I had to be so careful with my tires because they weren't under me. I had a lot of stagger tonight Scotty tells me. We got really lucky with the cautions." In those waning laps, Bentley Warren, much to the crowd's delight, got by Abold's 05 for a podium finish. Said the young Baldwinsville, NY driver Abold, who had also run the midget event earlier, "It was an awesome run for me It was cool racing with Russ Wood and Chris Perley ahead of you and knowing Bentley Warren was right on your tail. I was running out of fuel at the end and Bentley got by me. I think I might have had something for the top two but that's all she wrote. First I'd like to thank everyone from Quantum for coming out and everybody from Seymour Enterprises for helping out with the midget. I'm psyched. Hopefully we can build off of this. We'll be at the Sandusky Nationals and maybe we can get another good run." Jeff Holbrook, who had three cars in the top seven as a car owner, said, "Survival of the fittest tonight. The heat was hard on equipment. Everyone was overheating. My car was up to 260 under the red that time. It was tight the whole race and with the heat it just wasn't a fun night to run. But, we know Russell is going to have a good car. He got a second and I got a fifth. We'll take that. I was lucky. My car had loaded up on a restart and Joey (Payne) got by me just as the Miller car blew up and he got into it. That would have been me. That corner was just covered with fluid. Joey still got a seventh out of it." Robbie Summers, Joey Payne, Dave McKnight, Mike Ordway Jr., Bob Bond and Bobby Haynes Jr. were the last remaining cars on the track with Haynes and Bond down a lap. SUMMARY Stafford Carquest Xtreme Tuesday Heat 1: Justin Belfiore, Vern Romanoski, Kelly Miller, Mark Sammut, Bentley Warren, Mike Ordway Jr., Ray Graham Jr., Jon McKennedy, Joey Payne Heat 2: Jeffrey Abold, Chris Perley, Jeff Holbrook, Mike Lichty, Bobby Haynes Jr., Jamie Timmons, Robbie Summers, Mike Keeler, Bob Bond. Heat 3: Russ Wood, Johnny Benson Jr., Dave McKnight, Dave Trytek, Scott Martel, Frank Polimeda, Artiie Rousseau, John Torrese Dave Shullick Jr. (61) and Eric Emhoff (2), ofn after practice. Feature (50). 1. Chris Perley (11), 2. Russ Wood (29), 3. Bentley Warren (71), 4. Jeffrey Abold (05), 5. Jeff Holbrook (35), 6. Robbie Summers (97), 7. Joey Payne (41), 8. Dave McKnight (94), 9. Mike Ordway Jr. (88), 10. Bob Bond (25), 11. Bobby Haynes Jr. (44), 12. Kelly Miller (16), 13. Scott Martel (14), 14. Jamie Timmons (27), 15. Mike Keeler (56), 16. Dave Trytek (70), 17. Frank Polimeda (76), 18. Mike Lichty (84), 19. Vern Romanoski (5), 20. Artie Rousseau (616), 21. Johnny Benson Jr. (616), 22. Justin Belfiore (92), 23. John Torrese (91), 24. Mark Sammut (78), 25. Ray Graham Jr. (99), 26. Jon McKenndy (79) |
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Jedrzejek has the Angola Advantage By Lee A. Booze and Jeff Lickfelt Angola, IN…The PPG Vibrance Collection Midwest Supermodified Association stars and cars made their second visit ever to the Hoosier state and first visit to Angola Speedway Saturday night. The happiest traveler turned out to be Tim Jedrzejek after he collected his third win of the 2008 season. Eighteen cars lined up for the first ever MSA venture to the Angola oval with veteran Jon Henes and rookie Trent Stephans pacing the field. Stephans led the first go around before yielding to the more experienced Henes. The first of three cautions waved on lap four when Jack Smith and Denny Fisher touched sending Fisher off turn three. Smith survived the melee but Fisher was finished for the night. On the restart the man on the move was Jedrzejek working up from his eighth place starting spot. By lap six he tucked in behind Dave Shullick Jr, who had passed teammate Stephans for the runner up spot. As the lead trio of Henes Shullick and Jedrzejek pulled away the action was heating up behind them. Moe Lilje, Stephans, Randy Burch, fast qualifier Charlie Schultz and Tim Ice were all scrambling for spots closer to the front. Just shy of the crossed flags Jedrzejek made his move. On lap twelve he got by the 49 of Shullick and in less than a lap Timmy J put his Reed Salvage roadster on the point passing Henes. Shullick used the hole made by Jedrzejek to get the second spot. The lead group kept up the pace on a long green flag run that was finally interrupted by two quick cautions. On lap twenty three Moe Lilje, fast qualifier Charlie Schultz and Stephans were battling inside the top ten when contact was made. Schultz and Stephans took the worst of the impact. Stephans returned to the track after some hasty repairs but Schultz’s damage required and extra long stay in the pits dropping him two laps off the pace. When the green flag dropped again Jedrzejek maintained his spot at the point. Further back, Trent Stephans, fresh off a heat race win in his second ever supermodified appearance, experienced the downside of super racing. Having returned from the previous accident Stephans found himself in the turn one fence bringing out the final yellow of the event. With only five laps to finish, Jedrzejek held his line and drove to his Enerco-Mr. Heater, Steward Appliance machine to his third triumph of the season. Shullick brought the Kasper Auto Group-Cartridge Wiz roadster home second with Jon Henes driving the Uncle Al’s Pizza car home for his best finish (3rd) of the year. Moe Lilje, Randy Burch, Bob Dawson, Jack Smith, Dave Mumaw, Terry Gibson and Matt Palmer rounded out the top ten. Afterward Jedrzejek threw his praise toward the team. “We adjusted more on this car today that we did all season long. At first we were worried that it was going to be hard to pass, but Angola Speedway turned out to be a pretty racy place. I’d vote to come back here in a minute,” added the winner. Earlier in the day Stephans and Tim Ice picked up the heat race wins. The PPG Vibrance Collection Midwest Supermodified Association will be back in action on July 18 at the high banked ultra fast Toledo Speedway. For more information visit MSA on the web at www.midwestsupers.com. PPG Vibrance Collection Midwest Supermodified Association Race #8 Angola Speedway 7-5-08 TQ: Charlie Schultz 12.704 Heat 1: Tim Ice, Randy Burch, Jon Henes, Denny Fisher, Dave Shullick Jr., Bob Dawson, Jim Paller, John Rieser, Mike Haury Heat 2: Trent Stephans, Moe Lilje, Tim Jedrzejek, Charlie Schultz, Jack Smith, Dave Mumaw, Matt Palmer, Terry Gibson, Rob Stasick Feature (30 Laps-10 Car Inversion) Tim Jedrzejek, Dave Shullick Jr., Jon Henes, Moe Lilje, Randy Burch, Bob Dawson, Jack Smith, Dave Mumaw, Terry Gibson, Matt Palmer, Tim Ice, John Rieser, Trent Stephans, Charlie Schultz, Jim Paller, Denny Fisher, Rob Stasick, Mike Haury (dns). Lap Leaders: Stephans 1, Henes 2-12, Jedrzejek 13-30 Points: Dave Shullick Jr. 344, Charlie Schultz 335, Tim Jedrzejek 334, Jack Smith 289, Denny Fisher 288, Randy Burch 286, Bob Dawson 277, Moe Lilje 274, Matt Palmer 224, Terry Gibson 206 |
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JOHNNY BENSON, JR. TO DRIVE ISMA SUPERMODIFIED AT STAFFORD IN CARQUEST EXTREME TUESDAY By Scott Running, Stafford PR contributed to by Carol D Haynes, ISMA PR (Stafford Springs, CT)---Stafford Motor Speedway has announced that NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series points leader Johnny Benson, Jr. will be part of the ISMA Supermodified field for the Tuesday, July 8th CARQUEST Extreme Tuesday program. Benson is the most recent winner on the Craftsman Truck Series, winning at the Milwaukee Mile, and he currently leads Todd Bodine by 50 points in the Craftsman Truck Series points standings. Benson's visit to Stafford will be his first visit behind the wheel at the Connecticut half-mile. "I've heard lots of good things about Stafford, but I've never seen it before," said Benson. "That definitely should make it more exciting!" Benson is currently working on putting together his own ISMA Supermodified car, but for the CARQUEST Extreme Tuesday show, Benson will be piloting a car out of the Mike Lichty stable as a team car to Mike Lichty and Dave McKnight. He has his own supermodified in the works, but it is not yet completed. "I'm working on putting my own car together, but it's not quite finished yet," said Benson. "I've driven Brad [Lichty's] car about five times before, and it's a really nice thing to be able to travel to different parts of the country and see some tracks that I've never seen before." Benson's career accomplishments include winning the 1993 American Speed Association championship, the 1995 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship, and the 1996 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Rookie of the Year title. Benson has one career Nextel Cup Series victory, coming in the 2002 fall race at Rockingham. Benson nearly won the 2000 Daytona 500, losing the lead to eventual winner Dale Jarrett on lap-196 of 200. Benson is one of 17 different drivers to have won a race in the Nextel Cup Series, the Nationwide Series, and the Craftsman Truck Series. Benson currently drives the #23 Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Toyota for Bill Davis Motorsports and he leads the Craftsman Truck Series points standings with 1 win, 6 top-5, and 8 top-10 finishes in 11 starts this season. Benson's father is a former Supermodified champion and was the winner of the 1966 Classic at Oswego Speedway. Prior to his handful of runs in the Lichty car, Benson had no prior open wheel experience, but he says that he loves racing in the ISMA Supermodifed division. Last year he completed four ISMA runs, with a heat win at Berlin. He was a strong leader in the feature until the rear end gave way on the Lichty 74. Benson finished 7th the previous night at Delaware (Ont) Speedway. "It's a lot of fun racing with the ISMA guys," says Benson. "There's no mirrors and no spotters, and its good, clean racing. Each car is unique and there aren't a lot of rules for the cars compared to what I'm running in weekly now, so it's a lot of fun. I've never driven an open wheel car before this and now I've spent enough time in one of these cars to say I had to put my own car together." Joining John at Stafford will be a slew of hungry-to-race ISMA drivers, including Lou Cicconi Jr. in the Booth 61 and Jon Gambuti in the Roundy 76. Of course the legendary Bentley Warren will add to the competition as Chris Perley's teammate in the Vic Miller 71. With only a Waterford event and a rained out Toledo race in so far this season, the boys are certainly anxious to get back to racing. Stafford's July 8 event will be followed by the annual Hy-Miler Nationals at Sandusky on July 25-26. Tickets for the 5th Annual CARQUEST Extreme Tuesday are available and on sale now at the Stafford Motor Speedway box office. Tickets are priced at $30.00 for adult general admission, and children ages 6-14 are only $5.00. Children ages 5 and under are admitted free of charge when accompanied by an adult. Reserved seating is $32.00. Stafford Motor Speedway offers free parking with overnight parking available. For more information about the 5th annual CARQUEST Extreme Tuesday event, or to order tickets, contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at 860-684-2783, or visit us on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com. For more ISMA information, visit ISMAsupers.com. |
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By: Lee A. Booze and Jeff Lickfelt Sandusky, Ohio…Two weeks ago Charlie Shultz battled defending Champion Dave Shullick Jr. for the win at Sandusky Speedway. This Saturday night Schultz found Shullick and multi-time champion Tim Jedrzejek on his heels as the checkered flag fell for his second straight supermodified triumph. Rain earlier in the day didn’t dampen the spirits of sixteen supermodified drivers as they lined up for the seventh round of the PPG Vibrance Collection Series event of 2008. Veterans Denny Fisher and Jack Smith formed the front row of the field but the initial start was called back due to a Terry Gibson spin in turn four. When MSA starter Bobby Hayduk waved the green again it was Fisher who grabbed the top spot. With only an eight car inversion drawn earlier in the evening, the fastest qualifiers were hot on his heals quickly. Two time 2008 winners Charlie Schultz, Dave Shullick Jr and Tim Jedrzejek working there way to the front bring along Canadian invader Mark Sammut. The caution waved on lap six when Moe Lilje stopped due to a broken drive shaft. On the restart, Schultz catapulted around Fisher on the back stretch to grab the point. He couldn’t pull away however, as a Jim Paller spun on lap 8 brought out another caution. Another short green flag stint ensued with Shullick and Jedrzejek made their presence known before a second spin by Gibson on lap 11. Two laps after the restart saw the only serious incident of the evening occur when Denny Fisher broke a rear end spewing grease all over turn one. Tim Ice, Jim Paller and Terry Gibson all spun in the mess but all three were able to continue. The red was thrown to speed the clean up. When the green waved again, leader Schultz found himself in a familiar position. With Shullick and Jedrzejek applying constant pressure, Schultz was on the hot seat. The trio clicked off some seriously fast 14.8 second laps as the race sped non-stop to the conclusion with Schultz guiding his May Motorsports-Frank May Garage entry to victory lane. Shullick brought the Kasper Auto Group-Cartridge Wiz roadster home in second with Jedrzejek’s Reed Salvage-Enerco/Mr. Heater machine finishing third. Mark Sammut made the trip from London, Ontario pay off with a last lap pass on Randy Burch for fourth. Tim Ice, Jack Smith, Jon Henes, Bob Dawson and Jim Paller rounded out the top ten. The series will make its only stop in the Hoosier state this coming Saturday night as the PPG Vibrance Collection heads to Angola Speedway on July 5th. For more information on that and other happenings in MSA visit www.midwestsupers.com. PPG Vibrance Collection Midwest Supermodified Association June 28, 2008 Sandusky Speedway Event #7 TQ: Tim Jedrzejek 15.128 Heat 1: Dave Shullick Jr., Jack Smith, Randy Burch, Mark Sammut, Tim Ice, Jim Paller, Matt Palmer, Kyle Edwards Heat 2: Charlie Schultz, Tim Jedrzejek, Denny Fisher, Moe Lilje, Terry Gibson, Ron Henes, Bob Dawson, Dave Mumaw Feature (30 Laps, 8 Car Inversion): Charlie Schultz, Dave Shullick Jr., Tim Jedrzejek, Mark Sammut, Randy Burch, Tim Ice, Jack Smith, Jon Henes, Bob Dawson, Jim Paller, Matt Palmer, Dave Mumaw, Terry Gibson, Denny Fisher, Moe Lilje, Robbie Evans, Kyle Edwards (dns), Brandon Fisher (dns) Lap Leaders: Denny Fisher 1-6, Charlie Schultz 7-30. Current Point Standings: Charlie Schultz 305, Dave Shullick Jr. 300, Tim Jedrzejek 288, Denny Fisher 260, Jack Smith 252, Bob Dawson 249, Randy Burch 247, Moe Lilje 234, Matt Palmer 190, Terry Gibson 171 |
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McKennedy Scores WaterSnoGo Big Block Supermodified Victory By:All Star Speedway PR EPPING, NH- Jon McKennedy of Chelmsford, MA., won the first-ever WaterSnoGo Big Block Supermodified Series event at the All-Star Speedway on Saturday June 21. He passed Mike Ordway Jr. on lap 26 and built a lead to the end of the 50-lap event. “For the first 20 laps with the big fuel load the car was loose,” he stated. “But after about 20 to 25 laps it came around and it was awesome. “I want to send a special thanks to Paul and Helen Dunigan for giving me the opportunity to drive their race car. I can’t thank them enough. I’m glad to get a win for them.” Jamie Timmons took the lead at the start, with Eric Lewis in tow. Timmons opened an advantage and appeared untouchable in the early laps. McKennedy moved to third on lap eight, and Chris Perley passed Rob Summers to run fourth on lap 17, but it was Ordway becoming the next leader of the event as he passed Timmons on lap 24. Timmons, who was still not sure after the race why his car’s handling went away so fast, spun out of the second position on lap 25. During the caution, Perley spun to the infield after a steering suspension bolt broke. Perley stated, “It could have been a lot worse. We were just real lucky that it happened under caution. The steering rack moved and pulled the slip joint out and all of a sudden I couldn’t do anything.” With only eight cars in the field, track officials decided to wait a few moments for Perley to make quick repairs and return to the race. On the ensuing restart, McKenendy took the lead, and with no cautions to the end he opened a sizeable advantage on second place finisher Ordway, who’s Budnick owned car got very loose in the late stages of the race. Ordway, who has just purchased a Modified to compete at All-Star on off weekends, was able to hold off Perley to register a second place finish. Rob Summers also had handling problems and finished fourth. Eric Lewis, Artie Rousseau, Jamie Timmons and Dave Sanborn rounded out the field. In comparing the Supers to a Modified McKennedy concluded, “When the cars are working right they’re awesome to drive. There’s nothing better than a Supermodified to drive. They’re the ultimate machine for speed.” Among the missing on the track were Scott Martel, who was walking the pits and said his car wasn’t back together from a crash in the ISMA event at Waterford, and Russ Wood who was at a family function. The next WaterSnoGo Supermodified event at All-Star Speedway is scheduled for July 12. Perley concluded, “It was a fun race. We needed one more caution to give Jonathan a little run, but it was good to see him win. I’m psyched that All-Star had us back and that we could run here in our own backyard and I hope that we can bring some more cars next time. It was fun coming back here.” |
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WaterSnoGo Big Block Supermodified Series at All-Star Speedway Saturday Night By:All Star Speedway PR EPPING, NH- Mother nature forced the cancellation of the first two WaterSnoGo Big Block Supermodified Series Events in May, making this Saturday night's 50-lap special event the first of what has now become a shorter series for the popular open wheeled cars. On June 21, Chris Perley will lead a strong contingent of the winged warriors to All-Star Speedway in a quest for the $2,500 first place prize. It will not be easy for him, as drivers such as Russ Wood, Mike Ordway Jr. and Jon McKennedy will be looking for victory as well. Each race will be magnified in importance as Big Block Supermodified drivers look to become the first champion of the WaterSnoGo sponsored series. WaterSnoGo, a division of M-O-H Enterprises Inc., is an Indoor-Outdoor Theme Park spearheaded by Mark O'Hildonen, a Four-Time Wheel Standing Funny Car Drag Racing Champion. The NASCAR Modifieds will also be on the card, as they headline a full program of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series events. Louie Mechalides will be looking to solidify his lead atop the standings, but he should face stiff challenges from Jon McKennedy, Bruce Batchelder and Bobby Gahan to name a few. Not to be outdone, the Strickly Stocks will run double features, and the Super Streets, Fast Fours, Fast Eights and V-6 Modifieds are also on the card. With the ISMA Supermodified Series not having a race scheduled until July 8, a number of ISMA series regulars are expected to compete. The time is now for arguably the most popular class of cars to ever compete at All-Star Speedway to make their return to the fast quarter-mile oval. With a proven record of competitive racing, the Big Block Supermodifieds are sure to be a crowd pleaser that will leave fans wanting more by the end of the evening. A full slate of qualifying heat races will begin on June 21 at 6:00 PM, with NASCAR Feature races and the WaterSnoGo Big Block Supermodified 50 lap event to follow. For more information on the beginning of a series to remember, call (603) 679-5306 or log on to: www.all-starspeedway.com. |
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MSA and Oswego Drivers Return to Battle This Saturday By: Lee A. Booze Sandusky, Ohio…After the 2006 season MSA president and Sandusky Speedway owner Kevin Jaycox and Oswego Speedway owners Pat Furlong and Steve Gioia got together and came up with a three race program pitting the two groups of drivers against each other. The 2007 “mini series” worked so well that the triumvirate expanded the concept to six races for this season. With three of the 2008 Burke’s Home Center MSA-Oswego Wing Series completed a pattern has emerged. Drivers whose tow vehicles have Ohio license plates are fairing much better than their empire state peers at the front of the pack. Buckeyes Dave Shullick Jr. and Tim Jedrzejek have held a tight grip on the checkered flag in the MSA-Oswego Challenge events. Shullick has two wins to his credit so far in the co-sanctioned events and Jedrzejek has one victory. Close behind those is Charlie Schultz who has stood on the podium twice at Oswego. Jack Smith and Denny Fisher have also represented the Buckeye state on the podium. Only Greg Furlong, multi-time Oswego Classic winner has found himself in the top three in the early part of the six race series. Other regular competitors from the upstate New York track have shown flashes of brilliance. Bob Bond, Tim Snyder Kelly Miller, Pat Lavery, Otto Sitterly, Jason Spaulding and Shawn Muldoon have all notch top ten finishes so far. Car for car the New Yorkers have held their own and now they’d like to notch a win on someone else’s turf. Add in Ohio drivers Randy Burch, Bob Dawson, Moe Lilje, Jon Henes, Matt Palmer, Brandon Fisher and Pat Shullick and round four this Saturday night at Sandusky Speedway could be the toughest race yet. The “X” factor for night could be the traveling ISMA drivers that could swing in to try and steal the MSA loot. Last year Canadian Mike Lichty did just that winning the final MSA-Oswego event at Sandusky in September. “This series between our PPG Vibrance Collection MSA drivers and the Oswego drivers has worked better than we ever imagined,” said Sandusky and MSA front man Kevin Jaycox. “We’re expecting over thirty cars this Saturday. This weekend’s race will be as close in competition as the Hy-Miler Nationals but shorter in distance. It will give fans some hints as to who is really going to be tough for the rest of the year,” Jaycox added. Sandusky’s regular stock car divisions will also be competing during the night sponsored by Reed’s Salvage. Race time for the PPG Vibrance Collection Midwest Supermodified Association event at Sandusky is 6:30pm. The pit area opens at 1pm with practice and the main gate opening at 2pm. Qualifying is at 4:30pm. Check www.midwestsupers.com or www.sanduskyspeedway.com for more information. |
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Schultz Charges To Sandusky MSA Win By: Lee A. Booze Twenty-one big block roadsters lineup up for the forty lap feature event with Canadian Mike Lichty and Buckeye Jon Henes on the front row. The field made less than two corners before a calamity struck. The two front row starters touched sending the field scrambling for space on the narrow Sandusky back stretch. Also collected in the melee were Denny Fisher and Michael Barnes. Of the foursome, only Fisher returned to action. On the restart Bob Dawson inherited the pole and made the best of it beating Moe Lilje to turn one for the lead. One lap later Dave Mumaw spun off the top of turn three slowing the field once again. When starter Bobby Hayduk dropped the green flag, Charlie Schultz dropped the hammer on his May Motorsports roadster. He muscled his way from sixth to third in two laps and by lap three he was pushing Dawson for the lead. One lap later Schultz was clear of the field. Behind him, other drivers were jockeying for spots in the top ten. Dave Shullick Jr, Tim Jedrzejek, Randy Burch and Greg Furlong all tussled for positions early on. That scramble was brought to a halt on lap eleven for a spinning Jim Paller. Schultz stretched his lead when racing resumed with no immediate threats at hand. Meanwhile Dave Shullick Jr was making a charge to the front. At the fifteen lap mark Shullick and Dawson fought heavily for the second position. Dawson used a lot of racetrack to hold off the defending champion but three laps later Shullick was by and looking for the leader Schultz. On lap twenty one the race came to a halt again after a grinding crash on the front straightaway involving Jason Spaulding and Jack Smith. Terry Gibson was also caught up in the accident. Both Spaulding and Smith’s cars received heavy damage. After the red all eyes focused on the two leaders. With nineteen laps to work with could Shullick get by Schultz? The duo hooked up in a battle that had fans up out of their seats. Circling the track at near qualifying speeds Shullick tried every move high and low while Schultz made his car as wide as possible. With under five laps to go Shullick made a possible winning move but found the high groove lacking the grip necessary allowing Schultz to seal the victory. Dawson held on for second while Lilje and Burch battled their way to top five finishes. Rounding out the top ten were Tim Ice, Denny Fisher, Greg Furlong, Mike Ordway Jr. and Tim Jedrzejek. After doing an animated “wing dance” in victory lane Schultz said, “We knew we had a good car. The car got a little tight in the middle of the run, but after the red flag it came right back.” The winner also noted the pressure from behind. “I knew DJ was there I could hear him a couple of times. I changed my line a little bit to do some defensive driving. We ran each other clean, he’s a good clean racer.” He finished off saying, “I’m real proud of the guys, the whole team I can’t thank everybody enough who helps out on this whole deal.” Runner up Dave Shullick Jr. wasn’t disappointed. “I was real happy with the car tonight. I think we were a little faster and Charlie was using a lot of racetrack, but that’s what he’s supposed to do when he’s in the lead. Hats off to our sponsors Kasper Auto Group and to PPG Vibrance Collection for making this possible.” Third place Bob Dawson has been inching closer to win. “The car was working very well, I’m real happy with it. I have to thank Reed Salvage they give me a lot to work with. I have to thank PPG for coming on board this year with the supers..” The PPG Vibrance Collection MSA Supermodifieds will be back in action on June 28 at Sandusky Speedway. For more information visit MSA on the web at www.midwestsupers.com. PPG Vibrance Collection Midwest Supermodified Association Race #6: Sandusky Speedway 6-14-08 Heat 1: Mike Lichty, Moe Lilje, Dave Shullick Jr., Greg Furlong, Denny Fisher, Jason Spaulding, Terry Gibson Heat 2: Jon Henes, Tim Ice, Charlie Schultz, Tim Jedrzejek, Mike Ordway Jr., Bobby Haynes Jr., Vern Romanoski Heat 3: Bob Dawson, Michael Barnes, Randy Burch, Jack Smith, Bob Bond, Jim Paller, Dave Mumaw Feature (40 Laps: 12 Car Inversion) Charlie Schultz, Dave Shullick Jr., Bob Dawson, Moe Lilje, Randy Burch, Tim Ice, Denny Fisher, Greg Furlong, Mike Ordway Jr., Tim Jedrzejek, Bob Bond, Bobby Haynes Jr., Jack Smith, Jason Spaulding, Terry Gibson, Vern Romanoski, Jim Paller, Dave Mumaw, Mike Lichty, Jon Henes, Michael Barnes, Brandon Fisher (dns), Steve Gioia III (dns). |
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TIMMY J TAKES THE LOW ROAD TO VICTORY AT BURKE’S MSA-OSWEGO WING SERIES SHOW AT OSWEGO SATURDAY NIGHT By Carol Haynes Oswego, NY – A couple of years ago Independence, Ohio’s Timmy Jedrzejek was about to write off his racing career after a bad accident at Sandusky Speedway. But the write-off never materialized. On May 31, Timmy pulled into MSA PPG Vibrance victory lane at the track which had almost precipitated his racing demise. Saturday night, he raced from his 12th starting spot at Oswego’s MSA-Oswego Wing Series 40 to claim his second win in a week in the Reed’s Salvage number 8. The two wins meant a lot more than a checkered flag and a trophy. It meant he was back - confidently running the supermodifieds he once thought he might never race again. “It’s funny, a couple years ago I almost accepted I wasn’t going to race supermodifieds again,” said Jedrzejek. “Then I met Craig Reed and we started talking about running a couple races last year. A couple races turned into this. My family and this team are one big family. Our little son Kasey is at the track with us each week and he obviously enjoys it. He comes to the shop and works with us all night. I can’t say enough about everybody who have helped make this come together.” At Oswego Timmy J, as he’s known, rode the inside rail to pass by leader Charlie Schultz on lap 27. He’d found a groove and stuck with it. “The first five laps or so we were awful loose and I thought it was going to be a long night. I found a groove right around the bottom rail and that’s where my car ran the best. We kept plugging away, coming up through traffic. I got into the top five after that first caution and then up to third. After the lap 25 caution we moved up and got the lead. This is really exciting. These Reed Salvage guys just keep working each night trying to get this car ready for me. I just want to thank the whole Reed Salvage crew and also PPG Vibrance Collection for their sponsorship.” Schultz, who finished in fifth at Spencer Friday night, one spot ahead of Jedrzejek, found himself one spot behind at Oswego. He said from the podium, “We struggled last night and came here and still weren’t any better. We went out and found a bad tire and when we changed it we had a totally different car. I needed the race to go green for the rest of the way so I didn’t have anybody on my back tail. The car started getting a little tight. Timmy ran a good race. He had a little bit better car under him than I did. I just want to thank Dave and Lori May, Frank May Garage, Hempel International Transportation, Burke’s, Cintas, PPG Vibrance and Oswego Speedway for putting this whole thing together. Also thanks to my mom and dad who couldn’t be here this weekend and to everybody who comes out to watch us.” Polesitter and initial leader Jack Smith was able to hold his lead until fellow Ohioan Schultz used the restart of a lap 18 yellow to take the point from the Sandusky driver. After Timmy J got by Smith, Jack kept his third place spot until the finish. “We struggled at little at first,” said Jack. “We made a few adjustments. The car turned out the best it’s been. It was pretty tight for a couple laps but it was a good solid car. It’s been a while. These tracks are a little bit easier than Lorain or Sandusky to figure out. I haven’t needed to make any drastic changes for these races. I’m happy with third.” Jedrzejek, who shattered the Oswego track record on May 4, came back to take fast time again in June, but only he and Dave Shullick Jr. cracked the 15 second bracket this time. After three qualifying heats won by Bobby Magner, Tim Snyder and Jerry Curran, it looked like the Oswego boys might be tough this night. Smith and Snyder were on the front row at the drop of the green with Smith claiming lead honors. Moving up quickly from tenth was Charlie Schultz and by lap 10 he was second to Smith. Snyder, Jerry Curran and Bob Magner ran closely behind for a few laps until the 09 and 7 pulled away. Things slowed on lap 18 when a yellow flew as Bob Magner spun in turn two. He restarted at the rear. Schultz used the restart to sling the 7 alongside of Smith on the green, taking the lead in turn one. Schultz made himself scarce out front as Smith soon found Timmy Jedrzejek crouched to pounce behind his second place running car. Tim Snyder, held off Randy Burch, Dave Shullick Jr., Denny Fisher, Greg Furlong, Bobby Bond and Kelly Miller as the race flew by. On lap 25, the 70 driven by AJ Russell slowed suddenly, flying the yellow as he limped into the pits. This was the opportunity Jedrzejek needed and he used it. By the second turn, the yellow 8 had driven under Smith. One lap later he drove under Schultz. For the next 12 laps the race belonged to Jedrzejek while Schultz and Smith ran second and third separated by a lot of track between each. In back of the top three, Snyder, Burch, Shullick, Fisher, Furlong and Bond were by no means done racing for position. With five to go, Shullick had moved by Snyder for fourth while it was now Burch, Bond, Fisher, Furlong and Miller behind. With four to go, Bond got Burch for fifth, leaving Snyder, Burch and Fisher still battling to the finish as Furlong and Miller chased them for the last two of the top ten spots. Said the previous night’s winner Shullick, “We were loose from the get go and we got fourth. It’s been a good weekend. Anytime you can get, a win and a fourth in the same weekend makes it a good one. We were able to pick a groove toward the end and just stay there to move up and pick up a couple of positions at the end.” Bond was once again a fifth place car. “We seem to be stuck on fifth. We lost a couple spots early when they went three wide on me and I got knocked back. The car was a little loose and then it got tight and I got in the groove. It was running better. I thank the crew. They have been working their butts off the past two weeks. I’d like to thank the sponsors too. They’ve been great to me. We just will keep trying to do a little better.” SUMMARY Fast time: Jedrzejek 15.952 Heat 1: Bob Magner,,Charlie Schultz, Greg Furlong, Jack Smith, Keith Gilliam, Terry Gibson, Jeff Abold, AJ Russell Heat 2: Tim Snyder, Bob Bond, Dave Shullick Jr., Randy Burch, Denny Fisher, Otto Sitterly, Bob Dawson, Matt Palmer (dns),Joe Gosek (dns) Heat 3: Jerry Curran, Kelly Miller, Timmy J, Jason Spaulding, Pat Lavery, Moe Lilje, Mike Casey, Brandon Fisher, Lou LeVea (dns) (99 Payne wreck in warm-ups; Gioia motor, Eric Lewis 28 driveline) MSA-OSWEGO WING 40 Event #3 1. Timmy Jedrzejek (8), 2. Charlie Schultz (7), 3. Jack Smith (09), 4. Dave Shullick Jr. (49), 5. Bob Bond (25), 6. Tim Snyder (0), 7. Randy Burch (52), 8. Denny Fisher (81), 9. Greg Furlong (72), 10. Kelly Miller (16), 11. Moe Lilje (19), 12. Jason Spaulding (23), 13. Keith Gilliam (87), 14. Pat Lavery (2), 15. Bobby Dawson (28), 16. AJ Russell (70), 17. Jeff Abold (05), 18. Terry Gibson (00), 19. Bob Magner (22), 20. Lou LeVea (03), 21. Jerry Curran (24), 22. Brandon Fisher (12), 23. Otto Sitterly (79), 24. Mike Casey (47). |
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DAVE SHULLICK JR SPUTTERS TO A SPENCER BURKE’S MSA-OSWEGO WIN By Carol Haynes Williamson, NY – The last time a winged supermodified turned a wheel at Spencer Speedway near Rochester, NY, Dave Shullick Jr. probably wasn’t old enough to get in the pits. That didn’t give him a disadvantage as he quickly figured out how to win the Burke’s MSA-Oswego wing series checkered on Friday night. He kept the car tight despite some second thoughts. Luck also played a role as the second-generation driver ran out of fuel near race end, lost the lead to the only other race leader Denny Fisher, then regained it on the last lap to end up with the win. It was Shullick’s first-ever win at the Spencer flat half mile and his second of the PPG Vibrance Collection MSA season. Said Shullick in victory lane, “It was a good race. We had a really, really good car but we were lucky to finish. We ran out of fuel toward the end and I had to limp across the line. Then we had a rock take out the front nose wing and take out the radiator. But, Lady Luck was with us today. We set the car up for the long run. We knew people were going to get loose here towards the end. I told the guys when we got here today, ‘please, whatever you do, don’t let me talk myself out of tightening this car up for the feature.’ And they didn’t let me.” Polesitter Denny Fisher almost pulled off the win after leading the first 27 laps, relinquishing the lead to Shullick and then grabbing it back as Shullick slowed suddenly. But Shullick sucked up the last of the fumes in the Stout 49 to get back by the loose-running Fisher who settled for second. “I started on the pole and that made it a lot easier for me,” said Fisher. “As I didn’t hit that much traffic. Around lap 22 we started getting really loose and DJ started coming at me. I just couldn’t hold him off. He finally got me underneath. Then I just tried to follow him and there at the end I saw that he had run out of fuel. I went by him so damn fast in the corner but my car was so loose, I couldn’t control it. DJ caught that and he got me back. It was a good race for us.” Greg Furlong ran in the top three for almost the entire distance and that’s where he finished. “: It was a good run tonight. We were looser than I would like to be. Shullick, bar none, had the fastest car. He did a pretty good job. I thought we had an obvious top three car. It was just loose. I couldn’t get off the corner like we could in the heat race We were running a little warm with a night like tonight. We finished in one piece. I’ll take it.” Twenty-four cars took the green with Fisher and Tim Snyder on the front row by luck of the draw. No time trials were run because of lack of a working transponder loop. Fisher powered to the front but yellow flew almost immediately as back in the pack Otto Sitterly had a brush with Bobby Dawson sending Dawson’s 28 out of the event after one circuit. Fisher pulled the Tetzlaff-owned 81 away from second place man Tim Snyder but lap 8 saw another slowdown to regroup the field. The flag fell for the 47 of North Carolina’s AJ Russell who just need to be turned around and restarted. Once again Fisher powered away while Snyder eventually lost second to Furlong. Also charging past the Zero Hero was Shullick, while Snyder now contended with Bob Bond and Charlie Schultz. The top trio of Fisher, Furlong and Shullick began to pull away as the race passed the halfway mark, but yellow slowed things on lap 23 again for the May 31 Sandusky winner, Timmy Jedrzejek who also was able to restart at the tail. Out front Fisher was holding his own ahead of Shullick and Furlong as Schultz, Snyder, Bond and Moe Lilje ran a couple car lengths behind. On lap 27 Shullick closed in and was all over the 81 of Fisher and finally diving underneath for the lead on lap 28. With ten to go it was still anybody’s ballgame but a rash of yellows delayed the fight to the finish. First Jason Spaulding glanced off the wall in turn four restarting at the tail. Then on lap 32, Moe Lilje and Kelly Miller tangled while fighting for a top ten spot. Lilje restarted while Miller went off on the hook. Keith Gilliam was caught up in the fracas and drove himself into the pits. Back underway, Shullick was the main man putting some distance on his 49 and the 81 of Fisher and the 72 of Furlong. Charlie Schultz tried a slip-sliding move around Bob Bond for fourth but it didn’t stick. Lap 34 saw the final two yellows fall. First Tim Snyder drove the 0 off the third turn and almost had it back on in four but not quite needing a push to get restarted. On this restart, Lilje was off in four but he too, was able to restart.. Under this yellow Randy Burch’s 52 slowed and pulled pitside out of fuel and out of ninth place. With just five laps to go, Shullick pulled away once again but with two laps to go, it was obvious he was choking from lack of fuel and slowing. Fisher seized the opportunity and grabbed the lead in turn one. But Shullick eked out the last drops of fuel to get back by to lead the final lap. Fisher, Furlong, Bond and Schultz maintained their top five spots. Bond claimed his third top five in as many winged races to date, commented afterward, “The car is running good. We’ve got to get it a little bit better yet. It was loose in the feature but it looked like pretty much everyone else did too. The car was overheating really badly pretty much the whole race. I was going kind of easy there into the middle of the race. Then we had all those cautions there and it wasn’t too bad, but it sure was hot inside the car.” Schultz, who has one PPG Vibrance Collection-MSA win to his credit in the young season admitted the fifth place was not an easy one. “It was a hard fought fifth. We probably second guessed ourselves after the heat race. We made some changes before the feature and it just didn’t work. We went in the wrong direction really bad. It was really loose from the drop of the green. I was just hanging on. I thought I might get a top three, but I got crossed up passing Furlong there coming off two. I saved it but then Bond got back around me. Hey, it’s in one piece and we can take it to Oswego tomorrow and see what happens.” Timmy Jedrzejek, Pat Lavery, Jack Smith, Jason Spaulding and Otto Sitterly finished up the top ten. SUMMARY Burke’s MSA-Oswego wing series Event #2: Heat 1: Bob Bond, Charlie Schultz, Moe Lilje, Stephen Gioia, Jason Spaulding, Timmy Jedrzejek, Bob Dawson, Terry Gibson Heat 2: Greg Furlong, Joey Payne, Tim Snyder, Jack Smith, Lou LeVea, Otto Sitterly, Matt Palmer, Brandon Fisher Heat 3: Denny Fisher, Pat Lavery, Joey Payne, Randy Burch, Kelly Miller, Keith Gilliam, AJ Russell, Bob Bogwicz Feature (40): 1. Dave Shullick Jr. (49), 2. Denny Fisher (81), 3. Greg Furlong (72), 4. Bobby Bond (25), 5. Charlie Schultz (7), 6. Timmy Jedrzejek (8), 7. Pat Lavery (2), 8. Jack Smith (09), 9. Jason Spaulding (23), 10. Otto Sitterly (79), 11. Tim Snyder (0), 12. Keith Gilliam (87), 13. Randy Burch (52), 14. Moe Lilje (19), 15. Kelly Miller (16), 16. Matt Palmer (21), 17. Joey Payne (99), 18. AJ Russell (47), 19. Lou LeVea (03), 20. Brandon Fisher (12), 21. Stephen Gioia (9), 22. Bobby Dawson (28), 23. Terry Gibson (00), 24. Bob Bogwicz (08). |
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NEW 2008 ISMA SCHEDULE CHANGES – Jennerstown July 5 show out – Second Waterford show is in on August 16. By Carol Haynes Oswego, NY - 6/2/08– 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.” Keep track of all the ISMA news at www.ismasupers.com |
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Jedrzejek Returns To Victory Lane at Sandusky By: Lee A. Booze Sandusky, Ohio (5-31-08)… “We’re Back!” Those were the first words out of Tim Jedrzejek’s mouth as he jumped from his Reed’s Salvage-Enerco Mr. Heater roadster at Sandusky Speedway Saturday night. After all it was this track that nearly derailed his career after a violent crash over two years ago. In his first full season back since that accident, Jedrzejek has been close to finding his racing groove. Jedrzejek led the final twenty-one laps of the PPG Vibrance Collection Midwest Supermodified Association event at Sandusky showing the competition that he is indeed back and ready to contend for the MSA title. Twenty potent big-block offset roadsters lined up for the main event on a beautiful night for racing in Northern Ohio. On the start, pole sitter Bob Dawson and second places starter Denny Fisher rubbed wheels heading into the first corner, neither wanting to give way. Fisher fought around Dawson on that first lap to secure the top spot. Further back in the pack, Tim Jedrzejek was working his way up from the eighth starting spot. Using the high groove to perfection the Independence, Ohio driver worked his way to fourth by lap three. Close on his heals were Dave Shullick Jr and Charlie Schultz. Battling to stay in the top ten were Dawson, Pat Shullick and Randy Burch. Jedrzejek sliced his way to the front climbing to second on lap eight, getting around Dawson. Fisher meanwhile had checked out with a fifteen car-length lead. Unfortunately for the veteran that lead was erased on lap nine when Rob Stasick slowed on the back stretch in a shower of sparks bringing out the lone caution of the event. A quick removal soon found the field back up to speed. Jedrzejek made quick work of Fisher and pulled away from the pack. Fisher found himself in a dogfight with Dave Shullick Jr, Dawson and Schultz. Jedrzejek continued to pick his way through lapped traffic, showing nothing was lost in his long layoff from supermodified racing. Meanwhile, Fisher held off the charges from Shullick and Schultz. Extending his lead as the laps wound down Jedrzejek cruised to the straight-a-way win. The action behind him wasn’t over until the very end, however. With one lap to go, Schultz made a bid on the outside in traffic catching Shullick for third place but falling just short of Fisher at the line. Dawson held on for fifth. Moe Lilje, Pat Shullick, Randy Burch Tim Ice and Jack Smith rounded out the top ten, all on the lead lap. Said the winner in victory lane, “I’ve been out for three years. Now we’ve got a good package as a team with a good car and an unbelievable group of guys behind me. These guys wanted to win just as much as I did. I just wanted to know what it felt like to get back to victory lane. Tonight the stars were aligned for us.” Denny Fisher came home second, his best finish with new car owner Todd Tetzloff. “I asked Todd why he picked me to drive his car, and he said I was one of the ‘veterans’. I was real happy to come home second with him here tonight down from Canada.” Charlie Schultz was equally happy about his top three spot. “It’s another good podium finish for the May Motorsports team. We had motor trouble earlier today and broke out of our time in the heat, got penalized for jumping the restart, it was heckuva night. I came up just a little short tonight.” The PPG Vibrance Collection Midwest Supermodified Association will see double duty next weekend in the Empire State. Friday night will find the series tackling Spencer Speedway in Williamson, New York for the first time. Saturday will mark the second appearance of the series as the famed Oswego Speedway. For more information visit MSA on the web at www.midwestsupers.com. PPG Vibrance Collection Midwest Supermodified Association Race #3 Sandusky Speedway 5-31-08 Feature (30 Laps-8 Car Inversion) Tim Jedrzejek, Denny Fisher, Charlie Schultz, Dave Shullick Jr., Bob Dawson, Moe Lilje, Pat Shullick, Randy Burch, Tim Ice, Jack Smith, Jon Henes, Kyle Edwards, Jim Paller, Matt Palmer, Dave Mumaw, Terry Gibson, Brandon Fisher, Robb Stasick, Robbie Evans, Sean Sauer |
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MSA Supers Return to Battle at Sandusky This Saturday By: Lee A. Booze Sandusky, Ohio…The PPG Vibrance Collection Midwest Supermodified Association is off to a good start in 2008 and the competition is tougher than ever. This Saturday night the Series will return to the track it has called home since 2001, Sandusky Speedway. Since the Series was conceived that year the winged warriors have competed at the lakefront half-mile oval twenty six times. Three time defending MSA champ Dave Shullick Jr. driving the ACME Racing Kasper Auto Group roadster has won nine of those checkered flags. Second on the Sandusky MSA win list is Tim Jedrzejek. Timmy J is aboard the Reed Salvage machine in 2008 and as shown that his skills are as good as ever after a few years layoff from racing fulltime. Jedrzejek has six wins at Sandusky. Charlie Schultz picked up the win the May Motorsports entry two weeks ago at Lorain County Speedway in South Amherst, Ohio and is looking to add to his three Sandusky MSA wins. Pat Shullick and Canada’s Mike Lichty have two wins at Sandusky while Jack Smith, Randy Burch, Denny Fisher and Canadian Dave McKnight have one win each at the track. For MSA President Kevin Jaycox the Sandusky visit is extra special…he also owns the track. “It’s a great chance to showcase both the cars and the facility. The fans have responded well to this event on our schedule.” The May 31 race is billed as the “Openwheel Shootout”, featuring the MSA Supers, Buckeye Super Sprints and openwheel modifieds. “This is an openwheel race fan’s dream. It’s like the traditional days of racing here at Sandusky,” added the owner. So far in this season a few storylines have developed. First, while Dave Shullick Jr. may still be one of the tougher competitors at the track, the competition is catching up. With the return of Jedrzejek and resurgence of Schultz, the top of the mountain is getting crowded. With a whole host of drivers not used to getting shut out of victory lane, expect the racing at the front of the pack to getting even more combative this weekend. Second, passing has become the norm at MSA events. Pavement racing has been roundly criticized in fan forums for being follow-the-leader, but MSA is disproving that myth. Most recently Charlie Schultz put away sixteen cars to march to the front for the win. Last season’s champ Shullick averaged a tenth place starting spot for his wins in MSA competition. Third, MSA has moved into a new arena with major sponsorship from PPG. Supporting their Vibrance Collection of paint products, MSA has indicated that the Vibarnce’s coolest colors are now associated with short track racing’s coolest cars. This Saturday’s event at Sandusky will start at 6:30pm. The gates will open at 2pm with qualifying starting at 4:30pm. For more information visit www.midwestsupers.com or www.sanduskyspeedway.com. |
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PERLEY REPEATS AT ISMA WATERFORD SHOW; SETS RECORD LAP By Carol Haynes 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). |
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Schultz Charges to the front in Lorain County MSA Feature By: Lee A. Booze South Amherst, Ohio…There’s a myth that circulates around short track racing that there is just not a lot of passing at pavement tracks. Charlie Schultz put that old wives’ tail to bed in one night. The Lorain, Ohio driver drove the Frank May Garage, Design Engineering Incorporated #7 from seventeenth on the grid to capture the PPG Vibrance Collection Midwest Supermodified Association 30 lap feature event Saturday night May 17. Nineteen supermodifieds signed in, waited out a rain shower, skipped qualifying and got right to the racing at Lorain County Speedway. Supermodified “rookie” and Super Late Model Legend Tim Ice and Supermodified Veteran Pat Shullick led the field to green for the thirty lap spin on the 3/8 mile oval. Ice proved adaptable to the open wheel cars, jumping to the early lead. Behind him the action was heavy. Dave Shullick Jr and Tim Jedrzejek renewed their battle from the MSA opener at Oswego with some daring moves up from the fifth row. Charlie Schultz was also a man on the move after starting seventeenth getting six cars in the first two laps. The racing got too close on lap six as Shullick, Jedrzejek and Jeff Banyas all bunched up sending Shullick off the top of turn three. Shullick pitted for a left rear tire and Jedrzejek also stopped to remove a front wing. Banyas later went pit side with mechanical woes. Up front it was all “Iceman” as the leader held off Shullick and the rest of the field. By lap seven, Schultz made his way into the top five. His chance came on lap eleven when the field tightened up for a Jack Smith spin. On the restart Schultz climbed to third. After another restart on lap twelve for a Moe Lilje spin Schultz moved into the runner up spot behind his May Motorsports teammate. Tim Ice’s Cinderella story turned into a pumpkin on lap 18 when he spun coming off turn two, handing the lead to Schultz. The Lorain, Ohio youngster then cruised to a ten car length victory over Pat Shullick and Bob Dawson. Dave Shullick Jr climbed back to fourth and Randy Burch closed out the top five. “”From the drop of the green the car was just awesome,” said the winner in victory lane. “I could put it in the second groove and just go. It was great.” Schultz also commented on his teammate’s misfortune. “I felt real bad for Tim when I caught up to him. He just caught that bump coming off turn two. I think it just surprised him a little.” The happy winner then added, “This is really a continuation of last season. We were coming on strong at the end of last season. We had a lot of top three finishes. We’re picking up right where we left off. We tried some things tonight in the feature. We didn’t get any laps in the heat after breaking a spindle. We have to thank Jack Smith, he loaned up one to get in the show.” Pat Shullick was his cool usual self after a second place run. “We didn’t do too bad. I come out to race for my dad (George Shullick). That’s the only reason I still do it. I still enjoy coming to the track with him.” Bob Dawson was very happy with a podium finish. “We broke the rear end in the heat and worked all night changing it. It seems we go real well on nights when we have to thrash on the car.” The PPG Vibrance Collection Midwest Supermodified Association will be back in action May 31 at Sandusky Speedway. For more information visit www.midwestsupers.com. PPG Vibrance Collection MSA Series Race 2: Lorain County Speedway May 17, 2008 Heat 1: Dave Shullick Jr., Pat Shullick, Moe Lilje, Bob Dawson, Jeff Banyas, Jon Henes, Rob Stasick, Mike Haury, Brandon Fisher (dns) Heat 2: Tim Jedrzejek, Denny Fisher, Jack Smith, Randy Burch, Tim Ice, Jim Paller, Terry Gibson, Dave Mumaw, Charlie Schultz Feature (30 Laps: Top 10 redraw): Charlie Schultz, Pat Shullick, Bob Dawson, Dave Shullick Jr., Randy Burch, Tim Jedrzejek, Moe Lilje, Jon Henes, Tim Ice, Jack Smith, Matt Palmer, Jim Paller, Terry Gibson, Mike Haury, Denny Fisher, Jeff Banyas, Dave Mumaw, Rob Stasick. Lap Leaders: Ice 1-18, Schultz 19-30 For more information about this and other MSA events visit the series’ website at www.midwestsupers.com. You can visit Lorain’s website at www.lorainspeedway.com. |
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MSA To Hit Lorain County Speedway This Saturday Night By: Lee A. Booze Fans looking for action packed night of open wheel racing this weekend need to look no further than Lorain County Speedway. The South Amherst, Ohio oval will play host to seventeenth visit by the PPG Vibrance Collection Midwest Supermodified Association since the series started in 2001. Over the past seven seasons “The County” has been one of the series’ most competitive tracks. Ten different drivers have notched wins at the 3/8th mile oval, with Indepdence, Ohio’s Tim Jedrzejek leading the way with four victories. Last year belonged to ACME Racing with teammates Moe Lilje and Dave Shullick Jr. sweeping the two MSA visits to the Lorain. Previous winners expected to compete at Lorain include Denny Fisher, who picked up his first career win here in 2001. Jack Smith won at Lorain in 2004. Both drivers are coming off good finishes at the MSA opener at Oswego Speedway two weeks ago. Jedrzejek is also back in competition in MSA, now teamed up with owner Craig Reed. Timmy J finished a close second to defending champ and Oswego winner Dave Shullick Jr. Other MSA drivers are hoping Lorain County can be more kind to them in 2008. Jon Henes from nearby LaGrange, Ohio has been a consistent runner at Lorain over the years. Bob Dawson lives only blocks from the track and would love to visit Lorain’s victory lane for the first time. Add in tough competitors like Lorain’s Charlie Schultz, Randy Burch and youngsters like Jeff Banyas, Brandon Fisher and Matt Palmer, it has the makings of a great evening of traditional supermodified racing. “Our opener coupled with Oswego Speedway was a great success,” noted MSA President Kevin Jaycox. “We’re expecting a full field to turn out for the Ohio opener for supermodified racing.” The gates will open at LCS this Saturday at 2:30pm with practice beginning at 3pm. Dave Shullick Jr. currently owns the track record at Lorain with a 12.320 clocking. At the opener Tim Jedrzejek set a new track record at Oswego indicating that the cars are fast this year. Time Trials for the supers will begin at 5pm. The first green flag drops at Lorain at 7pm this Saturday night. Adult general admission will be $15 with kids 6-12 priced at $5. Kids 5 and under are free. Pit passes will be $25. For more information about this and other MSA events visit the series’ website at www.midwestsupers.com. You can visit Lorain’s website at www.lorainspeedway.com. |
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WaterSnoGo SPONSORS BIG BLOCK SUPERMODIFIEDS AT ALL-STAR SPEEDWAY By All Star Speedway PR EPPING, NH- The Big Block Supermodifieds were once a staple of weekly short track racing in the state of New Hampshire. In recent years they have had few races in the Granite State, despite the fact that they have been drawing capacity crowds to each event. By popular demand, the fastest short track cars in America will return to All-Star Speedway in Epping for a seven race series in 2008, starting with an event on May 3rd. The return of the Supermodifieds was largely made possible by the efforts of track owner Bobby MacArthur, aided by a sponsorship deal from WaterSnoGo, a division of M-O-H Enterprises Inc. MacArthur stated, "I think this is a good way of bringing back racing to the way it used to be in New England. We are looking forward to our involvement with WaterSnoGo and Laticrete for the present and future of All-Star Speedway." WaterSnoGo has agreed to sponsor the entire seven race series, titled the 'WaterSnoGo Big Block Super Series'. Each event will consist of qualifying heat races and a 50-lap Feature paying $2,500 to the winner, and $300 to start. In addition to that, WaterSnoGo, along with Hoosier Tire East has graciously agreed to sponsor a point fund for the new series. Many of the elite teams have expressed their plans to compete at All-Star Speedway. Names such as Chris Perley, Russ Wood, Jon McKennedy, Joe Petro and Mike Ordway Jr. are among the expected entries. In fact, with the first WaterSnoGo event taking place on May 3, a number of ISMA regulars are expected to compete. WaterSnoGo is an Indoor-Outdoor Theme Park Franchise spearheaded by Mark O Hildonen, a Four-Time Wheel Standing Funny Car Drag Racing Champion. Hildonen is currently on a national exhibition tour that will make frequent stops at All-Star Speedway for these big events. Current development plans are to open 10 to 14 facilities over the next four to eight years. Among those will be a new location in the Central New England area. These facilities will include a 262-foot high, 1,200 foot long indoor snow mountain with ski slopes and a snowboarding park. There will be multiple indoor/outdoor water activities, sporting events and performance area, along with retail space and accommodations. Each of these newly developed sites will cover 52 acres of land. Hildonen plans to be at the May 3 event at All-Star with his exhibit, which will include his Wheel Standing Funny Car, Dancing WS Go Go Girls, promotional material and merchandising. Hildonen, better known in the drag racing world as 'Mad Man Marko' has been involved in drag racing his entire life. He competed in drag cars for sixteen years, so it was only natural for him to bring auto racing into his new venture, the WaterSnoGo Franchise. His new involvement with the Big Block Supermodifieds is an extension of his passion for auto racing. "Racing has always been in my blood," he enthusiastically stated when asked how he became involved with this new seven race series. Hildonen has also reached an agreement recently to be a title sponsor of the four race series and point fund for the newly named, 'WaterSnoGo All-Star Modified Showdown Series" as well, further increasing his involvement with the sport he loves. This is in addition to the involvement of Laticrete International as a major race sponsor of the May 10 Modified Thunder 150. The Big Block Supermodifieds return to All-Star Speedway in 2008, with support from WaterSnoGo, is expected to bring fans some of the best racing that any track will offer this season. With the popularity of the Supermodifieds, and the proven record of good racing at the Epping facility, All-Star Speedway will once again be the track leading the way with some of the best weekly short track racing in the country in 2008. For more information log onto www.All-StarSpeedway.com, or www.WaterSnoGo.com, and look for Mad Man Marko's touring transporter that will be on display at these and other special events across the country. 2008 Complete Series Scheduled Dates: May 3, May 31, June 21, July 12, Sept 13, Oct. 4, Oct. 25 |
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ISMA PREPARES FOR 35th SEASON OPENER AT WATERFORD By Carol Haynes Oswego, NY - In 1974 supermodified legends Jim Shampine and Nolan Swift, along with businessman Tom Heveron, laid the foundation for the International SuperModified Association (ISMA). In 1976, with the fundamentals of the club in place, a point fund system for the traveling group was begun as was its history. As the 35th season begins, the founding fathers can look down with pride at what has been accomplished throughout the years. The veterans and rookies competing in 2008 carry the ideals instituted and nurtured into the fourth decade of ISMA racing as new challenges face them on the horizon. The ISMA May 24th opener takes place at Waterford Speedbowl for the third year in a row. Last year, after two years of really bad luck at the inaugural event, Chris Perley began his record-breaking season with win number one to be followed by ten more feature victories down the line. With a total of 22 cumulative wins over the 2006 and 2007 ISMA seasons, Perley and the Vic Miller team established themselves as standard bearers for the division. Their dominance has been unprecedented in winged supermodified racing. In a recent national magazine interview Perley had some comments on his achievements and what he looks for in 2008 as he enters his 14th year with Vic Miller and crew. "We just have a really good car and I guess you shouldn't say you lucked into the setup, but you do. We made small adjustments over the past 13 years that we've been together and ended up with what we have now. It's just incredible. Every driver dreams of getting an opportunity like this. I'm lucky to be here with this team and lucky we all stayed together. We all hate each other the same, so it's a great group!' Perley said with a laugh. As to a third straight driver championship run in 2008 which would put him in a tie with Bentley Warren (1988-90) and one behind Doug Heveron (1979-82), Chris said honestly, "We don't ever go for a championship or the points. Vic hates the points. If Vic had his way we'd skip a race to not have the point championship – to not have that pressure. I still think we have a lot of luck running with us. There have been a couple races that have fell into our hands. And, then there has been a couple that have fell out of our hands too. You hope that you can race long enough for the luck to change again. It's been an incredible ride. You ride the wave as long as you can because you don't know when it's going to kick you off!" From Waterford, ISMA moves into June with a Friday the 13th show at Toledo Speedway in Ohio where in 2007 Perley and the Vic Miller team moved on to their second straight win. July finds a four-feature event slate with races at Jennerstown (July 7), Stafford Motor Speedway (July 10), and Sandusky's traditional Hy-Miler weekend (July 27 and 28). Last season the Twin 30's at Jennerstown added two more wins to the Rowley Rocket's total while Robbie Summers promptly broke that string with a first-time win at Stafford in the Lane Racing 97. Perley bounced right back with two wins at Sandusky. August hosts three ISMA events with races at Mansfield on the 9th, Lee USA on the 15th and Oswego Super Nationals as part of Classic weekend on Friday, August 29th. Ray Graham grabbed his career first at Mansfield last season while Perley took home the second of a doubleheader. This year finds just one feature – go at that Ohio oval. Lee USA was again a Perley benefit in 2007, but at the Oswego Super Nationals Perley was again halted when a late race tangle sent him out of the lead and Dave Shullick Jr. into victory lane. All-Star Speedway gets their traditional Classic underway on Sept. 6 with Delaware (Ont) Speedway on Sept. 26 and Berlin Raceway (MI) on Sept. 27. The defending champion at All-Star will be local runner Justin Belfiore and Canadian Dave McKnight defends his crown at Delaware. But, it was Perley back in the saddle at Berlin for number ten as his season wound down. Thompson Speedway is the traditional point closer for ISMA and this season is no different with the point finale coming on Oct. 18-19, 2008. Win number 11 came for the Vic Miller – Perley team at the World Series in 2007, easily copping their second straight ISMA championship title. Concord Speedway in North Carolina closes out the ISMA supermodified season. While not a sanctioned event, the great field of supers that gathered in 2007 to some great racing should make the fans mark this date as one not to miss. November 22 finds the ISMA clan gathering at the Turning Stone Casino once again to honor the season's achievers and to close out the 35th season. Check www.ismasupers.com for updated information as the season opener approaches. |
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Oswego Super Nationals Added to ISMA Schedule; tentative Cayuga race will not be held on Classic Sunday By Carol Haynes Oswego, NY – After hours of spirited negotiations by ISMA, MSA and Oswego Speedway over the past few months and particularly after meetings at the early March Gater Racing News Motorsports Expo in Syracuse, an accord was reached in regard to the 2008 Budweiser Classic weekend Friday winged event. On March 14 ISMA president Howie Lane indicated that agreements had been made for the traditional and historic Oswego Speedway Classic weekend, which would include ISMA, MSA and Oswego winged cars. In a brief statement Lane said that the Budweiser-Burke's Winged Super Nationals would now be a co-sanctioned ISMA and MSA event on Friday, August 29. The $35,000 purse should once again bring in the best of the best of supermodified racing to the 15th running of the Super Nationals 50 as part of the week-long events. It was also announced that to show further solidarity among the three groups, the Cayuga Speedway ISMA race tentatively included in the 2008 ISMA schedule would NOT go on as planned. It was decided for all those involved – racers and fans alike – that this race would not be held on the same day as Budweiser Int'l Classic 200. "ISMA felt that in the best interest of supermodified racing that Sunday should be left for the 52nd running of the Classic. The cancellation of Cayuga will allow those racing at the winged Super Nationals on Friday night to be able to stay and compete on Sunday without their wings to vie for the prestigious supermodified title of Classic champion if they so chose. Guys like Perley, Lichty, Ordway Jr. and more should have the opportunity to try and win the Classic. It's still the most important race on any super driver's resume." Howie continued, "The new owners of Cayuga were very willing to help out with this. As new kids on the block they didn't want to hurt the Oswego Classic in any way and decided it was in the best interest of all not to run that Sunday. In addition, we're going to be bringing our Lane Racing show car down to Oswego early to help promote the weekend at the mall or area businesses." This announcement pretty much finalizes ISMA's 2008 season and new schedule cards will reflect these changes. |
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