Supermodified Scorecard

All-Star Speedway 6-21 Race Report

Epping, NH The ground-pounding Big Block Supermodifieds made their
triumphant return to All-Star Speedway on Saturday night, with the
running of the first round of the 2008 Water SnoGo Big Block Super
Series.

Jamie Timmons jumped out to the lead when the Big Blocks took the
green, and he set the pace for the first half of the race with Mike
Ordway, Jr. hot on his heels in the Bruce Budnick entry. Jon
McKennedy was quickly working his way to the front in the Dunigan
racing entry, taking over third on lap seven.

Ordway took over the point at halfway, as Timmons’ night went downhill
with a spin coming off turn four. McKennedy was alongside Ordway for
the restart, but he didn’t stay there for long. He outgunned Ordway
to take over the lead, and pulled away to score a convincing win.

Ordway held on to a loose car in the late going and picked up a strong
second place finish, with crowd favorite Chris Perley coming back from
mid-race problems to finish third. Rob Summers piloted the Howie Lane
entry to fourth, with Eric Lewis rounding out the top five.

All-Star Speedway set for busy night

EPPING — Poor weather forced the cancellation of the first two WaterSnoGo Big Block Supermodified Series events in May, making this Saturday night's 50-lap special at All-Star Speedway event the first of what has now become a shorter series for the popular open-wheeled cars.

On Saturday, Chris Perley will lead a strong contingent to All-Star Speedway in a quest for the $2,500 first-place prize. Joining him, among others, will be Russ Wood, Mike Ordway Jr. and Jon McKennedy.

Each race will be magnified in importance as Big Block Supermodified drivers look to become the first champion of the WaterSnoGo-sponsored series.

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 McKennedy, Bruce Batchelder and Bobby Gahan to name a few.

Not to be outdone, the Strictly 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.

A full slate of qualifying heat races will begin on Saturday at 6 p.m., with NASCAR feature races and the WaterSnoGo Big Block Supermodified 50-lap event to follow.

For more information call 679-5306 or visit www.all-starspeedway.com.

S&S Motorsports driver finds way back to Winner's Circle

By Rhonda Costa-Landers
Appeal Staff Writer

MADERA, CALIF. — The Carson City supermodifed racing team of S&S Motorsports overcame handling difficulties on the setup of their racecar to win not only their heat race and post fast time in qualifying, but take the checkered flag in the Supermodified Racing Association’s 50-lap main event at Madera Speedway in Madera, Calif. on Saturday.

With several cars taken out of contention earlier in the evening, there were only 10 cars to begin the main event. A full invert was used to determine the lineup, relegating Troy Regier to the rear of the field as fast qualifier.

On the pole was Donnie Large of Milpitas, Calif., with Lance Tatro of Madera on the front row with him. Nevada teams were positioned in the fifth, eighth and 10th starting positions — Kenny White of Fresno, driving for C&M Motorsports of Reno; Regier, of Dinuba, Calif., and Whitey Janssen of Dayton, respectively. Janssen chose to start at the rear of the field.
The beginning of the race was slowed for the solo spin of No. 21 of David Prickett. On the restart, Tatro was the lead car with Bryan Warf hot on his nerf bar for one lap until overtaken by Jeff Russell of Boise, Idaho, who began to take decisive charge of the race with White close behind.

By Lap 10, Russell made his pass on Warf for the lead with Regier slicing through the field into the second position after making an inside pass on Warf.

On Lap 23, bolts in the rear end of Warf’s car broke, relegating him to the infield, and White spinning in Turn 4. On the restart, it was Russell with the lead, Regier second and Bobby Dalton of San Martin, Calif. in the third position.
Two laps later, Regier made his move on the inside of Russell for the lead. Russell fought back taking the high side, then Regier made his move to control the lead two laps later but with Russell was directly behind him.

Regier began to pull away from Russell when on Lap 36, Russell’s car broke a radius rod coming out of Turn 2, sending him into the wall on the back stretch with a shower of sparks and a heavy hit in the wall of Turn 3. Russell was OK, albeit with a slight limp from a hit to his right knee. On the restart, Regier was in the lead with Dalton in second and White third.
Dalton tried to make a charge on Regier but again, Regier pulled way from the field, taking the checkered flag with a one-third lap lead over Dalton in second, and White a half-lap down in third, the only cars on the lead lap.

Rounding out the field were: David Tuey of Bakersfield, Calif., Tatro, Large, Russell, Prickett, Janssen and Warf.
“The car was tight. Tight, tight, tight,” Regier said. “We made some changes and it was better, then I had a vibration again.”
Changes on the car included gears and angle of the pinion, which in comparison to the driveline, helped get rid of the vibration.
“The change did help for a while, but Troy said it came back later in the race,” said Steve Shaw, co-owner of the No. 98 with Tom Silsby. “That has me concerned.”
White summed up his first experience in the No. 96 supermodified.
“The car was not as good as we thought it could be,” White said. “I was not in a comfort zone with the car. But I got my first lesson tonight and we’ll come back and do our best the next race.”
Jansen pulled to the infield on Lap 23 after slowing coming out of Turn 4.
“The motor just quit on me,” Janssen said. “It went putt, putt, putt and she was done.”

The first heat was won by Regier, with White taking second and Tuey third. Two cars were heavily damaged during the heat and out for the night. They were Kenny Kinchen in the No. 5 from Clovis, Calif., and Jim Birges of Fresno in the No. 89. The car of Larry Hinz had complications on the start of the race and was also out for the night.

Russell won the second heat with Warf taking second and Tatro third. The cars of Dalton and Lance Jackson got together in Turn 3 on the start of the race. Lance was out for the night.
Regier also won the trophy dash over Birges, White and Dalton. Regier broke a panhard bar in the May 10 race at Madera and was a did-not-finish.

The SMRA is next scheduled to race July 4 at Magic Valley Speedway in Twin Falls, Idaho, then July 5 at Rocky Mountain Raceways in West Valley, Utah on July 5.
For information on S&S Motorsports, visit www.ssmotorsportsracing.com or www.smraracing.com for series information on the SMRA.

Troy Regier Sweeps Super Saturday Event at Madera

by Gerald Laurie

The moon was not full over Central California Saturday evening, but the happenings at Madera Speedway made one wonder if maybe it should have been. It was not a good night for West Coast Supermodified Racing. The current economy and $5.00 per gallon diesel fuel costs kept several long tow teams home and late discovery of mechanical gremlins during preparation kept others in the barn as well. Several on track incidents damaged an additional five cars before the evening was over.

This was the third of six Super Saturday Events scheduled for Madera Speedway in 2008. These events feature the Supermodified Racing Association winged roadsters and Madera Speedway’s 360 Supermodifieds in combined events. Although competing in combined events, the two classes are scored separately for points and a Madera Speedway Championship will be decided at the end of the season.

An incident during practice with Jim Birges was a harbinger of things to come. Coming off turn two low on the track, the 89 car suddenly just turned right. Birges corrected and locked the car down, just managing to keep it off the wall. It would happen again later with quite different results.

The first competitive event of the show was qualifying. The 360 Supers took to the track first and David Tuey was quickest at 13.676 seconds. Rounding out the top five were Lance Tatro at 13.684, Kenny Kinchen at 13.691, Donnie Large at 13.885 and Lance Jackson at 14.059.

The SMRA cars were the next to challenge the clocks and Troy Regier turned a lap of 12.342 seconds on the 1/3 mile banking. Close behind were Jeff Russell at 12.464, Jim Birges at 12.667, Bobby Dalton at 12.684, and Kenny White at 12.694.

Trophy Dashes were the first multi car events of the evenings. The 360 Supermodified Dash featured Donnie Large and Kenny Kinchen on the front row followed by Lance Tatro and David Tuey. At the green, Large and Kinchen went side by side with Kinchen easing out front at the line. Tuey was third with Tatro in the back. Kinchen finally cleared large on lap two and Tuey began a challenge for second place. David took second on lap four coming of turn two and the finish showed Kinchen as the winner over Tuey, Large, and Tatro.

The SMRA Dash had Jim Birges on the pole with Troy Regier on the outside. The second row consisted of Kenny White and Bobby Dalton. Again, the leaders went side by side into turn one with Regier pulling a half car length advantage down the back stretch. Regier cleanly took the lead coming off turn four and that was the race. Regier won over Birges, White, and Dalton.

Heat races were combined events and the first eight lapper lined up with Larry Hinz and David Prickett in row one followed by Kenny Kinchen, David Tuey, Kenny White, Jim Birges and Troy Regier. On the start, Hinz and Prickett banged wheels and then Hinz slid up and made wall contact ending his evening with right side suspension damage. . This moved Kinchen to the pole for the restart. At the green, White and Regier charged to the inside and the first lap was led by White over Regier, Kinchen, Birges and Prickett. Birges cut inside Kinchen coming off of two on lap two and then the car suddenly turned right into the backstretch wall leaving Kinchen no place to go. The incident was identical to Birges’s hot laps incident except at a higher speed and with more tragic results. Neither driver was injured, but two more cars were eliminated for the remainder of the event. During the red flag, Prickett headed to the pits. With just three cars remaining for the restart, White led lap two before Regier made a pass on the high side to lead the rest of the show. Regier won over White and Tuey.

Heat race number two featured Lance Jackson, Donnie Large, Lance Tatro, Brian Warf, Bobby Dalton, Jeff Russell, and Whitey Janssen. Large and Warf charged around the outside of Jackson in turns one and two with Warf turning under Large to lead at the line over Russell, Large, Jackson and Tatro. On lap two Tatro passed Jackson and then Dalton and Janssen both went inside of Jackson. There was contact between White and Dalton as the cars entered turn three. Dalton then contacted Jackson sending Jackson into the wall. Another car eliminated from the show. Dalton had suspension damage and headed to the pits. On the restart, Warf held the lead over Russell, Large, Tatro, and Janssen. Tatro took third on lap four and Russell took the lead on lap five. Janssen got around Large for fourth at the checkers. Russell won over Warf, Tatro, Janssen, and Large.

The remaining ten cars lined up for the fifty lap feature with Donnie Large and Lance Tatro on the row one. Their pursuers were David Tuey, Brian Warf, Kenny White, Bobby Dalton, Jeff Russell, and Troy Regier. Behind the invert were Whitey Janssen and David Prickett. Tatro and Warf charged around the outside on lap one with Tatro leading over Warf, Large, Dalton and White. Warf took the lead on lap two with Dalton charging all the way to second followed by White, Russell, and Tatro. Regier took fifth on lap four. Russell took second from Dalton on lap six and Regier displaced White to take fourth a lap later.

Jeff Russell took the lead on lap ten making the order Russell, Warf, Dalton, Regier, and White. Regier took third on the eleventh circuit and second a lap later. Dalton passed Warf on lap fourteen. Warf headed for the pits on lap seventeen with rear axle problems. At the lap twenty juncture, Russell led over Regier, Dalton, White, and Janssen. Janssen then hit the pits with a bad engine vibration at lap twenty-three moving Tuey up to fifth place. Prickett retired on lap twenty five. Regier started to challenge Russell and they ran some very dicey laps before Regier prevailed just past the half way mark. At thirty laps, Regier began pulling away from Russell who had a good lead over Dalton and White. Tuey was a lap down in fifth place. The yellow and then red flags flew on lap thirty seven when Jeff Russell went straight in to the turn three wall. Either the right front tire failed or they had a radius rod break sending the car into hard contact. The race resumed with Regier, Dalton, and White on the lead lap with Tuey, Tatro, and Large two or more laps down. The race finished without addition incident. Regier took the checkers over Dalton, White, Tuey, Tatro and Large. The final three finishers were all 360 cars.

There was a controversy during the feature when the flagman black flagged Dalton without direction from the SMRA Race Director. With the race director being in radio contact with the drivers, Dalton was not told to heed the flag and pull off and the flag was rescinded. Several teams were upset that the flag was ignored, but the Race Director stood by his ruling. This was just one more incident to top off a not so pretty evening. Oh, did I mention that it was 103 degrees in the pits all afternoon before the Sun mercifully sank in the West. From the keyboard in the dining room, I am a very tired and footsore Racing Widow’s Husband.

June 14, 2008Madera SpeedwaySupermodified Racing AssociationQulifications: 1. 98 Troy Regier, 12.342; 2. 85 Jeff Russell, 12.464; 3. 89 Jim Birges, 12.667; 4. 36 Bobby Dalton, 12.684; 5. 96 Kenny White, 12.694; 6. 91 Brian Warf, 12.771; 7. 6* David Tuey, 13.676; 8. 72* Lance Tatro, 13.684; 9. 5* Kenny Kinchen, 13.691; 10. 26* Donnie Large, 13.885; 11. 21 David Prickett, 13.984; 12. 18* Lance Jackson, 14.059; 13. 4* Larry Hinz, 14.400; 14. 50 Whitey Janssen, N/T. 360 Trophy Dash: 1. Kinchen; 2. Tuey; 3. Large; 4. Tatro.SMRA Trophy Dash: 1. Regier; 2. Birges; 3. White; 4. DaltonHeat 1: 1. Regier; 2. White; 3. Tuey;; 4. Kinchen; 5. Birges; 6. Prickett; 7. Hinz.Heat 2: 1. Russell; 2. Warf; 3. Tatro; 4. Janssen; 5. Large; 6. Jackson; 7. Dalton.Feature: 1. Regier; 2. Dalton; 3. White; 4. Tuey; 5. Tatro; 6. Large; 7. Russell; 8. Prickett; 9. Janssen; 10. Warf.

Schultz Charges To Sandusky MSA Win

By Lee A. Booze

Sandusky , Ohio …In the first five events of the 2008 PPG Vibrance Collection Midwest Supermodified Association season, Dave Shullick and Tim Jedrzejek gather two wins apiece to Charlie Schultz’s one. Schultz, the current points leader in the series evened the score by blasting his way to the front early and holding on at the end to notch his second win of the year in the supermodified series.

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).

Local supermodified drivers return to Madera

By Rhonda Costa-Landers
Appeal Staff Writer

Local racers, too, are feeling the pinch of a tight economy, with Dale Lamborn of Carson City and DNA Racing teammates Amy Barnes and Eric Silsby of Minden not able to make today's Supermodified Racing Association feature event at Madera Speedway in Madera, Calif.
Locals who will be competing are S&S Motorsports of Carson City with driver Troy Regier of Dinuba, Calif., C&M Motorsports of Reno with new driver Kenny White of Fresno, Calif., and Janssen Motorsports of Dayton, driver is Whitey Janssen of Dayton.
White takes over the driving duties in the No. 96 C&M Motorsports supermodified race car after co-owners Mike Burtz and Courtney Lewis released Ernie Coppo Jr. of Fresno. Coppo drove the car the first two races of the SMRA season at Madera.
White, 22, has been driving a 360 cubic-inch supermodified over the past few years at Madera Speedway. C&M co-owner Courtney Lewis said White is eager to move to the ranks of the 410 cubic-inch supers.
“I talked with Kenny a little while ago and didn’t make any promises (to him),” Lewis said. “I called him back and we talked some more, and I made the driver change.”
“It just wasn’t working out (with Ernie),” Lewis said.
“We (Lewis and Burtz) were introduced to Kenny by Troy Regier. Kenny said he’s always wanted to drive a super.
“We’ll have his dad and one other guy helping us out. I hope he’s a good match for us.”
The S&S Motorsports team has made repairs to the No. 98 car after the front panhard bar broke during the May 10 race at Madera.
Co-owner Tom Silsby has replaced the front panhard bar and redesigned and replaced the rear panhard bar on the racecar. Minor damage was also done to a body panel and an oil line fitting.
“We’re ready to get out there and race again,” said Steve Shaw, co-owner with Silsby.
Janssen finished 10th in last month’s race and has said he gains experience from each outing. Janssen is in his second full season in a supermodified.
For information on S&S Motorsports, visit www.ssmotorsportsracing.com, and on the SMRA visit www.smraracing.com.
Full results of Saturday’s race will be in Monday’s Nevada Appeal.

Contact Rhonda Costa-Landers at rcosta-landers@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1223.

Will Track Record Fall at Fastest Short Track Show in World on Friday?

Johnny Benson Enters ISMA Portion of Event.

From Toledo Speedway:

TOLEDO, OH (6-10-08): Toledo Speedway's track surface is one of the finest in the nation; ultra-smooth, consistently fast and with plenty of grip. Lap times for every type of race car that has competed on the ½ mile paved oval so far in 2008 has a common element-FAST! And with the fastest race cars on the planet making the trip to Toledo this Friday for the "Fastest Short Track Show in the World", chances are the incredible 1 lap track record may be rewritten.

The annual event features the winged, ground-pounding ISMA Super Modifieds and the big-winged, ultra fast AVSS Super Sprints. Each group stages their own race card on this night, and Toledo Speedway was the first track to bring these 2 groups together on the same race card. The evening is sponsored by All American Coach of Sylvania, OH, Super Fitness of Toledo and Hemelgarn Racing. A racer's reunion for former open-wheel drivers is also part of the evening's festivities. Several classic race cars will also be on display behind the grandstands this Friday night.
The 1 lap mark was set by Cameron Dodson in Dick Myers AVSS Super Sprint at an unreal, on-the-gas the entire lap of 12:902, set on June 16 of 2006, a mark that still stands going into the 2008 event. The ISMA mark is held by defending ISMA champ Chris Perley at 13:116, which he set last June.

ISMA's program calls for no qualifying for a large majority of their events, but the group agreed to the 2 lap qualifying when this event was created by Toledo track management. So now it's a battle of pride and bragging rights for an entire year! In 2007, Perley's mark was the fastest lap of the night, giving the ISMA boys the upper hand until this year's edition of the race will give the AVSS teams another shot to regain the status of being the fastest race car in the world!

The qualifying session has become an exciting tradition, filled with excitement and anticipation. Track announcer Gary Lindahl, who has witnessed hundreds of racing events in his career, still get chills when it's time to run against the clocks for this event. "This is perhaps the most exciting qualifying event in the country at a short track, year in and year out," noted the veteran race-by-race commentator. "The absolute speed and power of both of these types of cars is unreal and when they fly by you and don't lift off the throttle going into the corner, well.....that says it all."

Former NASCAR Nationwide Series and current Craftsman Truck Series driver Johnny Benson has entered for the ISMA Super Modified portion of the night. Benson, a native of Grand Rapids, MI has competed at Toledo prior in a Super and is expected to challenge Perley and the rest of the ISMA regulars this Friday. The AVSS group is led by 2007 champ Jason Blonde and local favorite Jimmy McCune, a Toledo resident.

The front gates open at 3 p.m. Practice begins at that time, while the much-anticipated time trial session is set for 5 p.m. Race time is 7:30 p.m. Reserved seating tickets are now on sale by calling the track at 419-727-1100. Toledo Speedway is located on Benore Road at the I-75/Alexis Road exit on the Michigan-Ohio border.

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.

ISMA RENEWS SPEED MATCH at TOLEDO on JUNE 13TH

Oswego, NY – For the eighth straight year in a row, ISMA will travel to Toledo Speedway for its annual show at the high-banked half mile – this time on Friday, June 13th. And, once again this season the winged supermodifieds will continue their speed match with the open wheelers of the Auto Value Sprint group. Time trials between the two groups have become a playful grudge match between the two groups and the fans love it!

For more than a few years, Chris Perley clocked some torrid times only to have the sprinters pull out the big guns and tick off some faster times. Last year, however, it was Perley’s year as he set a new track record of 13.116, which held after the dust from the Auto Value sprints had settled. Perley also, almost unbelievably, picked up his first-career Toledo win after years of being fast but not finishing.

ISMA made a trek to Toledo in 1995 prior to the take over of the track by the new ownership with Bentley Warren taking the 50-lapper that Friday in early June. Five years elapsed before ISMA was back on the Toledo schedule and it was “Liquid” Lou Cicconi in victory lane in 2001 for the first ISMA race there in the new millennium. Lou’s victory came in a 75-lapper and Dave McKnight, Joe Gosek, Perley and Timmy Jedrzejek trailed him. Ironically, it was Perley and Dave Shullick Jr. sharing the supermodified fast time of 13.60 that day. Shullick’s day went downhill from there, however, when his 38 blew a motor and he got into his dad’s 33 only to have a scary crash in his heat.

Russ Wood mastered the half-mile for the next two years taking 50-lap mains in 2002 and 2003 with Perley once again setting a new track record in 2002, but still not gaining a win. In 2003, Pat Abold was back in action after a short hiatus from racing, and he never skipped a beat. By Toledo he was in victory lane in the Dunigan 26. Dave McKnight was the main man in the event as Abold pursued. But on lap 42, McKnight’s motor failed him and the race now was Abold’s to lose. Mike Ordway Sr., Johnny Payne, Timmy Jedrzejek, and Mike Lichty rounded out the top five that year. Chris Perley had his only dnf of the year when he came together with Nokie Fornoro in the first half of the race, with both wrecking hard into the wall.

In 2005, Abold was back in victory lane for his second straight with Ordway back in second. Lou Cicconi, Perley and Russ Wood were in the top five as Perley had once again set a fast time with a 13.266 mark. In 2006, Perley did NOT set fast time, only second fast as Ray Graham Jr. earned the honors this year with a 13.519 mark. Once again Perley had his night fall apart in the feature when while in the lead he tangled with some lap cars in front of him, breaking a radius rod and ending once again without a checkered.

2007 was definitely the year of the “Rowley Rocket” at Toledo as he finally put it all together taking both the new track record and the win after seven years of trying. And, he even beat the Auto Value sprint times.

This season, a fan, Gene Steele has added a little incentive to the time trials putting $100 from his own pocket for the second quick time trialer and adding $100 to the check of the last feature finisher. Steele, from Pemberville, Ohio, says he “is just an avid fan who loves supermodified racing”.

Sandusky Speedway hosts a Burke’s MSA-Oswego wing series event on Saturday, June 14 giving fans and competitors a double dose of speed for their money
(and gas). Log onto www.sanduskyspeedway.com or www.oswegospeedway.com
for more info on that event.

Toledo Speedway is located within the city limits of the city of Toledo at 5639 Benore Road. Grandstands open at 4 pm with time trials at 5:30. Go to www.arcaracing.com and click on the Toledo Speedway icon for further information.

Supermodified Racing Association Returns to Madera Speedway for Third Super Sat

by Gerald Laurie

The Winged Roadsters of the Supermodifed Racing Association return to Central California’s Madera Speedway on June 14, 2008 for the third of six “Super Saturday” events scheduled at the track for 2008. The Super Saturday shows feature the SMRA Supermodifieds in combined races with Madera Speedway’s own 360 Supermodified Class.

The first two SMRA events featured wins by perennial champion Troy Regier and multi-time winner Jeff Russell. Russell currently leads the point battle for the year end championship, but Regier is determined to regain the lead after a rare mechanical failure at the Vukovich Classic in May. Russell is equally determined to build on his Vuky win and take the championship away from Regier. 2007 champ Martin McKeeferey is looking to upset both of the veterans.

Youngsters Bobby Dalton and Brian Warf are both on the edge of a first win and determined it will come in this race. The pair of early 20’s racers have been qualifying well and running in the top five consistently. Just a little luck will push one or both of them to wins in the near future.

After missing the first race of season when his race car was stolen from his shop, Fresnan Jim Birges borrowed a car from Ron Burger that has been sitting for three years and qualified well at the Vuky and won the Trophy Dash. Jim lost grip on one of the tires during the main event and was relegated to the rear of the lead lap at the Vuky. With the series changing to a different compound for the rest of the season, Jim is sure that he can make the borrowed car very competitive for the June 14 show. Jim is looking for his first win in two years at this event.

Popular Madera 360 Supermodified competitor Kenny White has won several 360 events over the last three years and was the leading 360 competitor at the two earlier Madera Super Saturday shows. Kenny will move from his familiar number 1 360 car to the C&M Motorsports number 8 SMRA car for the remainder of the year. The car has been a proven winner in past years and White’s smooth but aggressive style may be just what is needed to return this team to the winner’s circle. Rumor has it that chassis wizard Louie Gennuso will join White at C&M for a major assault on the series.

So join us Madera Speedway next Saturday Evening for another Super Saturday Event. This will be Hoosier Tire Night presented by Madera Auto Center. Joining the SMRA on the ticket will be the Bay Cities Racing Association Mighty Midgets, the Western Late Models, and the Legends of the Pacific for a sizzling summer night of racing excitement.

The Madera Speedway is located at the Cleveland Avenue Exit of Freeway 99 in Madera, California, at the Madera District Fairgrounds.