All-Star Classic and Thompson World Series will Wind Down 2009 ISMA Season in Next Two Weeks
Two of the most famous and prestigious New England Supermodified races are coming up in these next two weekends of October. First the 44th annual ISMA Classic 100 at All-Star Speedway is up on the slate. The Classic, this year sponsored by the C.A.N.H. and called the Cigar 100, will take to the track early on Saturday afternoon, October 10. And the next weekend, the granddaddy of racing events, takes place October 16-18 at the Thompson Speedway in Connecticut. ISMA wraps up the season with a 50-lapper on Sunday.
Last season Chris Perley took home his third All-Star Classic of his career. The 43rd Classic marked the first all green flag 100-lap Classic to be held at the New Hampshire bullring. This new format resulted in one of the most exciting races in recent times at the event. After a shaky start, the century grind developed into an awesome –almost indescribable battle between Chris Perley and Jon McKennedy for the win. For almost 60 laps they fought tooth and nail out front. In the end Perley took home the trophy but it was the road to fruition that led to the prize that brought the most gratification.
“I’ll tell you what,” said Perley after the duel. “I’ve had a lot of races and running with Jon like that was just a blast.” At the finish, McKennedy would settle for second with two former Classic winners, Lou Cicconi Jr. and Russ Wood hounding the 79 all the way. Mike Lichty claimed 5th. Perley will assuredly be back to defend his title this year with supermodified legend Bentley Warren once again his teammate. Warren tops the all-time All-Star Classic win list with six (1976,’84,’89,’90,’93,’94). Warren, a three-time Indy 500 driver, is widely recognized as one of the most amazing drivers in motorsports history and he’ll be certain to show his talents once again Saturday.
With all other Midwest and east coast supermodified events now complete, the All-Star field should be a strong one with many possible surprise entrants joining Perley and Warren, the Patco team, the Holbrook team, Lou Cicconi, Joe Gosek, Justin Belfiore, Ben Seitz, Mark Sammut, Jeff Abold, Dave Shullick Jr. and others who have already indicated their attendance.
There is a practice at All-Star, which takes place on Friday for all divisions. On Saturday things get started at 9am when the pits open. A VIP party is slated for noon with the box office and practice starting at 2 pm. ISMA qualifying is scheduled for 4 pm with the Classic getting flagged off at 5 pm. General admission is $30 that includes both days. For more information log onto www.all-starspeedway.com. Rain date is Sunday, October 11.
The Best Western – Seabrook has been booked as the ISMA hotel for the Star Speedway event. Rooms are available at $86.40 a night for the 9th and 10th. Please call 603-474-3078 and ask for the ISMA group when making reservations.
Then it’s on to the Thompson International Speedway for the event that culminates the season and the points chase. Chris Perley, for the fourth year in a row looks to have a healthy lead in the ISMA chase with almost 200 markers standing between the Vic Miller team and second place Mark Sammut going into All-Star. Still, many position behind first and second are up for grabs with close battles between the likes of the 41 owned by Jeff Holbrook and driven by either Mike Ordway Jr. or Bob Magner who both have accumulated points in that card, Mike Lichty, Russ Wood, Holbrook himself, Ben Seitz and so on down the line. Seitz also battles Danny Lane for rookie of the year honors. Seitz is a multi-time NEMA champion but is in his first full season with the ISMA supermodified group. All these guys and many more will be on hand for the last race of the season.
A great race ensued during the 2008 World Series ISMA 50 with Perley taking his fifth win in six years of the ISMA World series race and his sixth win overall in that storied race’s history. Trailing him was his teammate, driving the Vic Miller 71, and 4-time World Series victor himself, Bentley Warren. Perley’s main competition came from Dave Shullick Jr. who led, then ran second to the 11 until, with less than ten laps to go, spun off turn four. Lou Cicconi was able to stay in second for one circuit until Warren took over. Cicconi lost that third spot to Mark Sammut, who stole third from Cicconi, in the Wentworth 10, at race end. Rob Summers drove the Lane Racing 97 to a fifth place.
There should be no less of an exciting race in this year’s World Series which includes 14 divisions of race cars running over three days. It’s always a great conclusion to the race year before winter sets in. Friday’s practice at Thompson does not include the supers but plenty of racing is on tap for those making it to the Connecticut 5/8ths oval. Saturday ISMA heats take place after the Whelen Modified Tour takes their time trials. The Sunday schedule finds ISMA fifth up in the all-feature day, which begins promptly at noon. For more information on the World Series, log onto www.thompsonspeedway.com.
Sources: ISMA PR