ISMA Prepares for 35th Season Opener at Waterford
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.
Sources: Carol D Haynes/ISMA PR