2013 ISMA Schedule Includes 15 Race Events at 10 Different Race Tracks; Sunset Speedway Added as New Venue
Oswego, NY (January 23, 2013) – While the northeast is locked in a bitter cold winter, it’s a great time to look toward the 2013 racing series as a warm-up. The 2013 ISMA schedule has been finalized with some exciting new additions. The ISMA winged series will compete in 15 race events at 10 different speedways in the Northeast and Canada. And, one of those Canadian visits includes a new venue, Sunset Speedway in Innisfil, Ontario, which is approximately 40 miles north of Toronto.
ISMA’s opener will be at the home of the supermodifieds, the Oswego Speedway (NY), which in 2013 will host four big events called the Steel Palace ISMA SuperSeries. Round 1 is May 4th. Rounds 2 – 4 come on June 8th, July 13th (King of Wings) and on August 31st of Classic weekend.
ISMA’s first trip to Canada is a return to Autodrome Chaudiere in Vallee Jonction, Quebec for a two-day event on June 21 and 22. Johnny Benson won the inaugural race at that fast semi-banked oval in 2011. Mike Lichty, Benson’s teammate and Rob Summers were on the podium for that 75-lapper. Both Friday and Saturday features will again be 75 laps in length.
Stafford Speedway in Connecticut will once again host the ISMA supers on Saturday, June 29 for the always popular10th ANNUAL CARQUEST SUPER SATURDAY. This race night includes the NEMA Midgets, NEMA Lites and Pro-4 Modifieds. Mike Lichty won the Stafford 50 last year on his way to the 2012 title.
On July 13 ISMA runs the Oswego Speedway King of Wings event as Round 2 of the ISMA SuperSeries at the Port City oval. Dave Gruel surprised the crowd last year by winning the KoW title in Steve Miller’s 16. Then at the end of the month, July 26 and 27, the Sandusky Speedway (OH) is the site of the annual Hy-Miler weekend with a Friday night 40-lapper and the prestigious Hy-Miler Nationals 100 on Saturday. Mike Ordway Sr. and Timmy Jedrzejek are defending champions of those two races.
August is very busy for ISMA with Lee USA (NH) Speedway hosting the annual Ollie Silva Memorial 75 on Friday Aug. 9 and then it’s on to the Waterford Speedbowl (CT) on Saturday, Aug. 10 for their traditional open-wheel event. Jon McKennedy ran an awesome race to win the Lee Silva Memorial in 2012 and Rob Summers picked up an emotional first-win with the Miller 11 team at Waterford’s 50-lapper.
August 16 and 18th takes the ISMA organization to Ontario, Canada for a 75-lap race at Delaware Speedway on Friday and a 75-lapper on Sunday at Sunset Speedway. Delaware was the site of a first-time win by second-generation driver Ryan Coniam last season and Timmy J won the next night at Delaware. This season only one event is slated for Delaware.
Sunset Speedway’s General Manager Mark Dilley was especially excited for the initial ISMA event. Dilley, who races himself in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, spoke recently of the much anticipated supermodified visit.
“I’ve seen the supers more than a few times and they are always exciting, said Dilley. “It will be a real treat for the fans – something different. Just the sound, the wings, the large tires and the cars themselves will make this a pretty exciting event. There have been so many popular Canadian supermodified drivers over the years like Warren Coniam, Dave McKnight, the Hoopers, Gary Morton, the Lichtys, Kenny Andrews, Kenny Williamson, who was a neighbor, to name just some that I have heard of.
“Sunset has seen a lot of improvements in the past five years including a 1.5 million dollar renovation that saw the track resurfaced and a 14-degree bank added. The grandstands, walkways and overall general appearance have all been upgraded Dave McKnight ran some laps here last year with Gary Morton’s car and Brad Lichty has been over to check on the safety features. He was impressed.”
Dilley who is a 30-year race veteran finds him traveling from British Columbia to Nova Scotia during the season. He will be racing Saturday night and will fly in for the Sunday ISMA show which also includes the popular Can Am midgets where Mark Sammut and others once campaigned.
“If anything the race, with its proximity to the Toronto area, should bring out many of the old fans that enjoyed supers in the past,” commented Dilley
The trip from Delaware on Friday night to Sunset Speedway will take at least 2 hours according to Mark. He also noted that there is camping (no charge, but no facilities) on the speedway grounds and that the nearby Lake Simcoe is a popular place to visit in the summer with something always going on at the height of the tourist season.
“There will be plenty to do for the fans who come in on Saturday,” said Mark. “And, there is a race garage right on the grounds which will be available to race teams on Saturday should they need to use it.”
Sunset Speedway’s 1/3 mile banked oval is located at 6918 Yonge Street in Innisfil, about 40 miles north of Toronto. Visit www.sunsetspeedway.ca for more information.
Oswego Speedway rounds out the hectic month with the Super Nationals 50 on August 31. Timmy J, who battled Mike Lichty throughout the year for the 2012 ISMA title, picked up that win, his third of the season.
The annual Star Classic is another of the most important races to add to a supermodified driver’s resume and that takes place on Sept. 9 at the Epping, NH bullring. Multi-time ISMA champion Russ Wood came home with a record-setting 7th Star Classic win in 2012.
The ISMA season’s finale traditionally takes place at Thompson Speedway’s World Series of Racing and that continues in 2013. The ISMA championship came down to the wire between Mike Lichty and Timmy Jedrzejek in 2012 but an unfortunate practice wreck on Saturday sent Timmy J home without a chance to compete. Rob Summers brought the Miller 11 to victory lane just ahead of Lou Cicconi who then had a mathematical chance at the title, but Mike Lichty prevailed to become only the second Canadian champion in ISMA’s storied history.
2013 ISMA Schedule of Events
DATE EVENT INFORMATION TRACK LOCATION LAPS RESULTS
Saturday, May 4 Oswego Speedway Oswego, N.Y. 50
Saturday, June 8 Oswego Speedway, Oswego, N.Y. 50
Friday, June 21 Autodrome Chaudiere, Vallee-Jonction, Quebec 75
Saturday, June 22 Autodrome Chaudiere, Vallee-Jonction, Quebec 75
Saturday, June 29 Stafford Speedway, Stafford Springs, Conn. 50
Saturday, July 13 King of Wings Oswego Speedway, Oswego, N.Y. 50
Friday, July 26 Hy-Miler Fast 40 Sandusky Speedway, Sandusky, Ohio 40
Saturday, July 27 Hy-Miler Nationals Sandusky Speedway, Sandusky, Ohio 100
Friday, August 9 Ollie Silva Memorial Lee USA Speedway, Lee, N.H. 75
Saturday, August 10 Waterford Speedbowl, Waterford, Conn. 50
Friday, August 16 Delaware Speedway Delaware, Ontario 75
Sunday, August 18 Sunset International Speedway, Innisfil, Ontario 75
Saturday, August 31 Classic Weekend Supernationals Oswego Speedway, Oswego, N.Y. 60
Saturday, Sept. 7 Star Classic Star Speedway, Epping, N.H. 150
Saturday, Oct. 19 World Series of Racing Thompson Int’l Speedway, Thompson, Conn. Heats
Sunday, Oct. 20 World Series of Racing Thompson Int’l Speedway, Thompson, Conn. 50
Saturday, Nov. 9 ISMA Banquet
Sources: Carol D. Haynes/ISMA PR