Rob Summers Looking for Second ISMA Supermodified Win at Stafford Behind the Wheel of Vic Miller #11
Stafford Springs, CT — Rob Summers returns to Stafford this Saturday for the CARQUEST Super Saturday program hoping to pick up his second career ISMA Supermodified victory. Summers won the 2007 edition of CARQUEST Super Saturday driving for Howie Lane, but this year’s ISMA feature event will see Summers behind the wheel of the potent Vic Miller owned #11 that was previously driven by Chris Perley. The Miller/Perley combination has won 5 times at Stafford and Summers is hoping to continue the #11 car’s winning ways.
“I’m feeling very confident because I know I’m in a car that is very capable,” said Summers. “Hopefully we’ll have a little luck on our side and we’ll see what happens. The one win I have at Stafford is probably one of the most gratifying wins that I have because we beat Chris Perley. Winning this race would be huge, but the team is expecting to do well, it’s a team that has done it many times, so it’s up to me to get it there. Vic and his crew have been doing this for a long time; any time they go to the track they have a pretty good car.”
With no plans to race this season, Summers got a surprise call from Miller asking him if he would be interested in driving his car for the 2012 season.
“I didn’t really expect to race this year,” said Summers. “I’ve been concentrating on the business and I was coming home from a motorcycle ride and I got a call, it was totally out of the blue. With commitments to his business and family, Chris [Perley] decided to step away I guess and Vic [Miller] gave me a call. This has ended up being the chance of a lifetime. I’ve driven for Bob Garbarino and a lot of good people, but Vic Miller’s team is probably the best I’ve ever driven for. They’ve accomplished a lot, and to be able to drive a car like that is big for me.”
For Summers and the Miller team, the 2012 season got off to a bit of a mixed bag in the season opening event at Waterford. There were plenty of positives to take away from the race as Summers won his heat race and ran as high as second in the feature, but a crash while lapping another car left him with a 13th place finish.
“We started last in our heat and won the heat, and then we started 12th in the feature and we were up to second with 2 laps to go before we got tangled up with a lapped car,” said Summers. “Up until that point, we had a heck of a race going, the car was great. I was real happy with the whole team, Vic Miller and Ed Shea, they have a heck of an operation. We were happy, we started in the back and we worked our way up to second, it was a good night until two laps to go.”
In order for Summers to take home a second Stafford victory, he will have to contend with a strong field of ISMA competitors, including Cicconi, who won the first race of the 2012 season.
“There’s going to be a lot of good people, Mike Lichty will be good, Lou Cicconi is going to be good, there’s a lot of good cars, there’s really no slouches, it’s going to be tough,” said Summers. “I think the key will be to get a decent starting spot with the handicap and just stay out of trouble. With ISMA, there’s no spotters, no mirrors, and there isn’t a passing flag, so when you’re coming up on a lapped car, it’s like you’re racing with them like you would be racing for the win. It’s not like the [Whelen Modified] Tour where they give the guy the blue flag and they pull down to the bottom for you. You just have to make your moves at the right time so you don’t get into trouble.”
Joining the ISMA Super Modifieds for the 9th Annual CARQUEST Super Saturday will be the NEMA Midgets, Pro-4 Modifieds, and the Senior Outlaw Wild Thing Karts. Tickets for CARQUEST Super Saturday are on sale now at the Speedway Box Office and are priced at $33.00 for adult general admission tickets, $5.00 for children ages 6-14, and children ages 5 and under are admitted free of charge when accompanied by an adult. Reserved seating is priced at $35.00 for all ages. All ticket prices include 10% CT Admission Tax. As always, Stafford Motor Speedway offers free parking with overnight parking available.
For more information, or to order tickets to the 9th Annual CARQUEST Super Saturday event, contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at 860-684-2783 or visit us on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com .
Sources:Scott Running/Stafford Motor Speedway PR