Three Double Headers Highlight 2009 ISMA Season
Oswego, NY – With the details of the Berlin Raceway doubleheader put to bed recently, the 2009 International Supermodified Association is now ready to begin its 36th racing season. While there are many negatives to speak of throughout the land, ISMA is ready to provide a season of winged excitement to fans throughout the northeast, Midwest and into Canada. With increasing concerns about rising costs and dismal economies, ISMA president Howie Lane worked hard to plan a schedule to help keep the costs down. With three doubleheaders, beginning in July with Sandusky, then to Delaware in August and finally at Berlin in September, it is hoped that that goal has been achieved. With 16 feature events on tap, six of them will be at three venues.
The Berlin doubleheader on September 25 and 26 will follow a schedule similar to Delaware (Ont) Speedways on August 7 and 8 with 30 lappers on Friday night and 50 lap mains on Saturday. The traditional Sandusky Hy-Miler weekend on July 24-25 features a 40-lap and 100-lap format.
A recently released announcement from Berlin Raceway management indicates that this will be a huge weekend for Michigan fans.
“Friday night September 25 will see Dirt Late Model teams from around the country to try their hand on the asphalt of Berlin. The Integra 50, a $3,000-to-win event is expected to bring in some of the best dirt talent and this will be the first time Dirt Late Models will race at the Marne speed-plant.
“Also on the schedule of events for Friday is an added night for the International SuperModified Association, who already scheduled to compete on Saturday. With the help of ISMA officials and president Howie Lane, Berlin Raceway was able to bring in this unique East Coast based group for another 30-lap feature.
“We are really happy to be able to put this package together and make another great weekend of racing out at Berlin. Getting the Dirt Late Models on the track to see just how fast they can go will be something that nobody should miss. Add ISMA to that and it’s truly going to be a fantastic show, at a great ticket price,” stated Mike Blackmer.
“Saturday night, September 26 is night number two for ISMA and they will be joined by the Auto Value Bumper to Bumper Super Sprint cars, and triple sanctioned Midgets including USAC, WOMS, and UMARA.”
Chris Perley and the Vic Miller team are defending champions for the third straight year and they certainly will be looking forward to the 16-race slate, which begins at Waterford Speedbowl on Saturday, May 23 where Perley won his first of seven tough features in 2008.
Moving on to June, ISMA will make its annual trek to the Midwest with a Toledo 50 on Friday, June 12 and a single visit to Berlin on Saturday, June 13. Last season Toledo was a solo trip to Ohio and was unfortunately cancelled due to rain.
July finds another emerging tradition with ISMA’s Tuesday night event at Stafford Motor Speedway’s Xtreme Tuesday where Perley copped a win in 2008 and then it’s back to Cayuga Speedway in Ontario, Canada the following Sunday, July 12. This event was also not on the books in 2008.
Finally, the big Sandusky Hy-Miler weekend wraps up July on Friday and Saturday, the 24th and 25th. Charlie Schultz came home the victor in his May Motorsports ride on Friday night last season, for his first career ISMA win. The 31st annual Hy-Miler 100 went to Perley for the third straight consecutive year – a feat only accomplished by two other greats – Bentley Warren and Russ Wood.
Another twin bill begins August and it’s back to Canada on the 7th and 8th for this one where Delaware hosts the ISMA group for two days. Dave McKnight won the lone show there last season and he’ll surely be looking to repeat or sweep the double show.
Back into the U.S., the very next weekend will find the winged speedsters in New England at Lee USA and Waterford Speedbowl. Two different winners added their names to the record books at this two-day affair last season with Dave Shullick Jr. taking the rain-plagued Ollie Silva Memorial 75. “Liquid” Lou Cicconi, climbing aboard the Rick Wentworth 10, had a victory in his first outing in that ride in 2008. This trip marks the end of August competition.
September is another active month with a trip to the Oswego Speedway Super Nationals as part of their annual Budweiser Classic weekend on Sept. 4. Chris Perley was again a victor at the Port City speedplant in 2008 where he claimed his very first-ISMA win for the Vic Miller team just fourteen years ago. The third leg of what has always been known as the Triple Crown of Supermodified racing, the All-Star Classic 100, will take place two weeks from Oswego’s Classic on Sept. 19. This year will find the 100-lapper once again a green-flag event. Perley is the defending champ here too.
The Berlin double show as aforementioned ends September’s competition with only the grand finale at Thompson International Speedway’s World Series of Racing the lone event in October on the 17th and 18th. Qualifying for the Sunday 50-lapper takes place on Saturday, as is tradition.
The annual awards banquet moves back to the second week in November the 14th, at Turning Stone Casino.
Sources: Carol D. Haynes/ISMA PR