Ryan Litt Finishes Fourth in Classic; Sunset ISMA Winner Jeff Locke Finishes Sixth; Next Up is Last Leg of the Big Long Distance Races the Star Classic 150 Sept. 7

By admin September 3, 2013 ISMA, Oswego, Star
Oswego, NY — After the ISMA Super Nationals were in the books on Saturday evening at Oswego, a few of the ISMA or winged drivers, turned their attention to trying for a spot and a good finish in the famed Oswego Speedway Classic 200. While gone are the days when it was easy to fling the wing off a super and head onto the track at Classic time, there are still a few drivers who make the attempt at qualifying, albeit not necessarily in their usual winged rides. There were more than a couple names in the finish Sunday who were familiar to followers of the the ISMA trail including winner Bob Bond who has competed as a wing man on and off for years.

One of the best stories came when Canadian Ryan Litt brought out the Lair 88 a couple weeks ago at Delaware on its maiden voyage of 2013. He finished 8th at Delaware and had mechanicals at Sunset. The team packed up the car for Oswego, but chose not to run the winged race and concentrate first on the Classic. Ryan finished a fine fourth, earned Fastest Canadian honors in time trials and picked up the Butler Built Rookie of the Race at day’s end. While Litt is not an ISMA regular he does try and compete when he can.

Finishing a couple spots behind Litt was Jeff Locke who had come out of Sunset with a victory. He finished 13th in the Super Nationals and then pulled out the “Oswego” car for the Classic the next day. Jeff would end up with a sixth place and he was very happy with that considering some the hotshoes who didn’t finish at all.

Said Jeff after the race, “Starting out Thursday, we backed into the foam. We worked all night to build the rear wing at Joe Hawksbys … thanks to Joe and the guys in their shop for helping with that. To come home and finish 6th from that… I’ll take it definitely. It’s a big race for me and my family. We’ve come here for years. The history and the prestige that comes with it is pretty amazing. I have to thank Brian Allegresso, Jerry Martel, Doc Hathaway and my father Ken. It was a good solid run for us and we had a lot of fun racing here. Randy Ritskes has also helped me out a lot. It’s a lot of fun to have around and he’s been a great mentor for me. Thanks also to Locke Crane Services, Glenn Shanks Oil, Shawmut Equipment and Direct Coatings.”

Timmy Jedrzejek, driver of the Soule Racing 32 on the ISMA trail, drove his “other” ride, the Mike Murphy 60, to a 13th place in the Classic managing to stay on the track despite the attrition that befell others.

Hy-Miler winner Dave Shullick Jr. was aboard the Nicotra-owned 2 and was running in 6th just past midway and getting ready to make some moves forward, when the steering went on him and he finished in 19th.

Super Nationals winner Mike Lichty jumped from his winning 84 into a new ride for Classic, the Syrell 08. He time trialed into the field but was involved in a lap 33 incident which left him hooked into the pit with a 30th place finish.

Dave McKnight, whose car owner Gary Morton announced his final retirement on Saturday, slipped into the Morton 70 which he drives with the wing when he can and qualified the car.  Dave started 25th but also experienced an early exit around lap 23.

The last leg of what used to be called the Triple Crown of Supermodified Racing (Hy-Miler, Oswego Classic and Star Classic), the Star Classic 150 takes place on Sat. Sept. 7 at the Epping, NH oval.  After that ISMA event, there is only one more event on the ISMA schedule, the Thompson World Series 50 on Oct. 19-20.  The ISMA Awards Banquet takes place on Nov. 9 at Turning Stone and reduced rate tickets for that occasion are now on sale.

Sources: Carol D. Haynes/ISMA PR