DACONO, Colo. – Madera, California’s Kyle Vanderpool and the Don Penix race team invaded Colorado this past weekend and stole an Englewood Racing Association supermodified triumph from series regulars in the season’s final race. Vanderpool became the first non-regular to win an ERA main in several seasons, and he did it by passing the best the historic supermodified series has to offer – 2011 champion Harold Evans – on the final turn of a competitive 30-lap championship night main event at Colorado National Speedway.

Vanderpool, a 23-year-old 360 supermodified veteran in his first season racing a 410-powered super, started eighth in the 12-car main, directly behind Evans. An opening lap accident involving Chris Sheil and Joe Priselac halted the heavily anticipated race as quickly as it began. Officials cleared Sheil’s and Priselac’s racecars off the track under a red-flag condition. Priselac’s No. 51 was badly damaged.

Once the race resumed, Johnny Pickard jumped into the lead while Evans and Vanderpool began picking cars off and moving toward the front of the field.

A second red flag waved on lap 19 for Ricky Otts, an ageless Texas supermodified veteran wheeling the freshly repaired Harry Stone No. 40. A suspension part apparently failed on the Stone-owned mount, sending Otts hard into the third turn wall. Otts was OK but the car badly damaged, a sad sight for the ERA community after Stone recently repaired the car from last year’s devastating accident in the 2010 season closer.

A major shakeup at the front of the field occurred during the race’s second stoppage, when officials notified Pickard that he’d be negated two positions for jumping the initial restart. The race-long leader would restart his red No. 02 in the third position.

Pickard’s misfortune handed the lead to Evans, and the cagey veteran took control of the race with Vanderpool hot on his heels. The pair raced hard throughout the last 10 laps, giving Denver-area fans a thrill in what was one of the best supermodified races at the track in recent memory.

Vanderpool worked on Evans, pulling underneath the Castor Racing No. 3 several times but not able to complete the pass. The final lap saw Evans lead Vanderpool into turn three, when Vanderpool gave the multi-time ERA champ’s rear bumper a nudge, sending H.J. slightly up the track. Vanderpool pulled low, made the pass and went on to the big victory in his first visit to the CNS three-eighths-mile oval.

Vanderpool pulled into victory lane while Evans pulled along side the California driver’s No. 31, offering some comments to the young racer before heading pitside. Vanderpool offered his thoughts in a phone interview Monday afternoon.

Read the rest of this entry »

Chris Perley gives the thumbs up and waves the checkered flag for his 5th overall World Series Win at Thompson Speedway as he exits the Vic Miller 11 car (Miller clinched the 2011 team owner Championship for 2011).- Photo By Jim Feeney

Thompson, CT – It wasn’t a tremendous surprise to anyone when Chris Perley pulled the Vic Miller 11 into victory lane on Sunday at Thompson Speedway. After all he’d been there eight times before. His first World Series ISMA 50 win came on Oct. 15, 2000 and he’s only been out of the winner’s circle at that Connecticut oval three times since. He only took seven laps to move into the frontrunner spot from his 11th place starting position. His complete domination of the supermodified portion of the famous Thompson World Series is undeniable, as the record books show, but Perley himself can’t quite explain why.

He shook his head in victory lane and admitted, “I don’t think the domination here has a lot to do with me. Every time we unload here I just can’t believe it. I just sit in the car and drive it. The car seems to love it here. I don’t know what to say really. We don’t break down. The crew gives me an awesome car.  Thompson has been just great to come to every year. I kind of wish we came here more often but I wouldn’t want to take anything away from what we have right now. I don’t want to wear it out. It’s just incredible. Happy to see the weather came out great this weekend and all the fans who all came out to see us. I’m happy my family made it too. It’s just that I have a great car, great sponsors, great motors for a great track and it’s a great day.  Congratulations to my car owner Vic Miller on his seventh ISMA car owner title. It was great to race for him when I could this year and it’s been great every year. You just can’t beat all of this.”

Having an exciting run to finish second was Raymond, NH’s Jeff Locke who got to lead one lap before the 11 stormed by. Locke had some strong challenges, especially toward the end of the 50-lapper from Timmy Jedrzejek, but he held onto the runner-up spot. He said after the race, “This was awesome. I have to thank Richard (Witkum). The car was really good. I didn’t have a whole lot for Chris. I could stay with him but that was about it. Congratulations to him and the whole team. They obviously have this place figured out. I’m really happy to come home second. I have to thank my father and my family for sticking with me. This is a great finish to a pretty crummy year for us. I’m very happy.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Johnny Benson, Jr. wins the ISMA Supermodified “Racing Against Cancer 100″ @ Seekonk Speedway [MA] 10.02.11 (RG Design Photo: Robert Gill)

by Carol Haynes

Seekonk, MA – Last year Johnny Benson Jr. of NASCAR truck fame, came to Seekonk Speedway for the first time to compete in the ISMA 100. He left Seekonk with his career-first ISMA victory after an exciting battle with Chris Perley to the end of the 1^st annual Racing Against Cancer 100. Benson duplicated his feat Sunday at the Cement Palace with a few different adversaries, but an equally awesome run. Benson was able to present the $2500 ISMA check once again to the Racing Against Cancer effort and he also participated in the Cancer Team Walk on Saturday for one fulfilling weekend.

The former NASCAR Camping World truck champ started 7^thin the field of 26 potent supermodifieds and had to work by Eddie Witkum Jr, swap the top spot with 7-time ISMA champ Russ Wood and then spend over half the race fending off the torrid advances of Louie Cicconi in his newly-purchased Vic Miller machine, a car which Cicconi had taken to two wins in 2011 while subbing for Chris Perley. Benson was finally able to clear some heavy traffic with less than five to go, leaving second place finisher Russ Wood a couple car lengths behind at the checkers.

Read the rest of this entry »

Trent Stephens and the Stout Racing Crew Celebrate. (Richard Lesiecki Photo)

By Bob Stascak

09.24.11-Sandusky, OH…The ACME Racing team with driver, Trent Stephens, wrapped up a season of highs and lows that came to a conclusion with a jubilant celebration this weekend at Sandusky Speedway.  Stephens and his experienced team swept the night by setting fast time, winning the heat and taking the checkers in the 30 lap feature race.

Stephens, who led the points chase nearly the entire season, was then able to seal his first Midwest Supermodified Association Championship just by starting the feature race, and took the ACME Racing Team to their fifth MSA title in the 11 year history of the sanction.

While the night may have seemed easy for the Ravenna, OH racer that won his first supermodified championship, that was not the case for some of the other 17 drivers that were in attendance.  On the warm up lap before the white flag was displayed for the feature, the field was brought to a halt when Dave McKnight encountered engine trouble then veered into the back straight wall. Others that were involved in the melee were Denny Fisher, Jon Henes and Matt Palmer. The supermodifieds were then pushed back into the pit area to allow the drivers that were involved to make repairs while the Street Stock feature was called up.

Read the rest of this entry »

Pictured is Kyle Vanderpool in the Penix Racing 410 SuperModifed , Winner of the Madera Harvest Classic on Sept 17th. 2011

Madera Speedway Press

The Supermodifieds were the final Open Wheel Class to challenge the clocks for time trials with Kyle Vanderpool(3) setting fast time at 12.686 seconds. Jim Birges(32) at 12.887 and Dave Bostrom(98) at 13.152 rounded out the top three. Dan Vanderpool and Kenny Kinchen did not take times due to practice incidents involving brake problems (Vanderpool) and a suspension failure and wall contact (Kinchen).

The Supermodified Eight lap heat race was scheduled to go with Kyle Vanderpool on the Pole, flanked by Jim Birges and followed by Dave Bostrom, Andy Ferris, Carl Johnson in his limited 360 Super, and Dan Vanderpool. Vanderpool’s brake problems had not been completely resolved and the result was wall contact in turn three during tire warming hot laps. Before the green flag, Bostrum opted to start in the rear as this was his first head to head Supermodified competition in nearly forty years. Birges got a great start at the drop of the green and led lap one over Vanderpool, Ferris, Johnson and Bostrum. Bostrum slowly worked out the passing lines and moved around Johnson on lap four and then took third when Ferris spun on lap six for a yellow/checkered finish. Birges took the heat over Vanderpool, Bostrum, Johnson, and Ferris.

The Supermodified feature lined up the remaining five cars for a thirty lap gallop through time. Bets in the tower ranged from 6 minutes and forty seconds to seven minutes and thirty seconds for the time the race would take if it went nonstop. The lineup had Kyle Vanderpool and Jim Birges on row one followed by Carl Johnson, Andy Ferris, and Dave Bostrom. This time Vanderpool got the good start and led over Birges, Johnson, Ferris and Bostrum. Lap three saw both Ferris and Bostrum pass Johnson. And then Bostrum took third on lap ten. Order was Vanderpool, Birges, Bostrum, Ferris, and Johnson. Over the next twenty laps, the distance between Vanderpool and Birges accordianed  back and forth, with Birges never able to mount a serious challenge for the lead. With these two lapping the entire field and Ferris heading to the pits on lap 26, the real excitement was how quickly they would finish. When it was over, Vanderpool had completed the thirty lapper in six minutes, 39.821 seconds. That made my guess of 6:40 look pretty good. Finish was Vanderpool, Birges, Bostrom, Johnson, and Ferris.

DACONO, Colo. – Harold “H.J.” Evans wheeled his Castor Racing No. 3 to his fourth Englewood Racing Association supermodified main event win of the season Saturday night at Colorado National Speedway. Evans made the winning pass on Chris Sheil on lap 17 of the 25-lap main to score the victory.

Larry Lapoint and Brian Pacheco started on the row for the 12-car feature, the best ERA field since the May 21 opener which started 14 west coast-style supers. Pacheco got a good start from the outside row, jumped out to the point and led the opening circuits before Lapoint moved past while working lap three.

Lapoint, making his first ERA appearance of the season, proceeded to run strong out front and lead until lap 10, when Sheil muscled his Mountain States Toyota No. 33 past the veteran racer to take the lead.

Sheil, attempting to capture his first ERA feature win, raced out front while Evans moved past Lapoint and into second from his seventh-place starting position. It took the defending ERA champion only five laps to move past Sheil and take the lead. Evans held the top spot to the finish, pulling out to a commanding 4.4-second lead before the checkers waved.

Sheil fended off challenges from Evans’ teammate Richie Castor to hold on to second. The strong run marked Sheil’s third runner-up finish in a row as the former midget champion continues to improve behind the wheel of an ultra-powerful supermodified.

Castor took third, while Lapoint faded to fourth. Previous race winner Johnny Pickard couldn’t make it two in a row and finished fifth after starting deep in the 12-car field.

Evans set the race’s fast lap at an impressive 14.284 around CNS’s three-eighths-mile oval. Six of the 12 starters – Evans, Sheil, Castor, Lapoint, Pickard and Joe Gallegos – laid down laps under the 15-second bracket in the feature in what was one of the best ERA fields, competition wise, in recent memory.

Evans’ win should clinch the Colorado driver’s second ERA championship in a row. He now has a commanding lead over Castor, who is one of only three drivers, along with Evans and Pickard, to win this season.

One race remains on the 2011 ERA schedule. The supermodified season will close Saturday, October 15 with another 25-lapper at Colorado National.

Read the rest of this entry »

Joe Gosek (Todd Ridgeway Photo)

Todd Ridgeway
Area Auto Racing News
September 18, 2011

Veteran Supermodified shoe Joe Gosek made the 400 mile tow and seven hour drive pay off as he sailed to the front of the MSA/Oswego Non Wing Challenge 50 lap feature race at Sandusky (OH) Speedway, after spinning at the mid point of the event, and hung on winning in convincing style. This was the second time Gosek has won the MSA annual event as he also took the checkers in 2009. Gosek was one of three drivers that broke the Sandusky track record in qualifying for non wing supermodifieds and started seventh in the 50 lap main event. With just 15 laps to go Gosek made the late race pass on the outside going into turn one of then leader Tim Ice to secure the victory.

Brandon Fisher and, the most recent winner on the MSA trail, Trent Stephens would bring the field to the drop of the green to get the marathon going. A restart would be ordered as the cars fell out of position well before the starting point. The second attempt was the charm as Stephens got a big start and rocketed into turn one sweeping down to the inside and easily coming off turn two with the lead as Fisher dropped in second and the rest of the field scattered in battles for position. However, Stephens lead was short lived as at the ten lap point Oswego invader Michael Barnes wrestled his way to the inside and got by Stephens to take over the lead. Meanwhile the May Motorsports teammates of Tim Ice and Charlie Schultz moved into third and fourth as fast qualifier D J Shullick Jr. rounded out the top five. The first caution would fly when Shullick Jr.’s mount came to a stop on track. A quick push back to the pit area and the field was realigned going back under the green flag. Just a short time later Gosek would loop his car in a spin in turn two while racing Schultz for the fourth position and was relegated to the tail for the insuring restart. As the action at mid pack was heating up the front two had checked out but was battling as well. With just 18 laps to go they would make contact as Stephens would bounce off the wall and Barnes would sail off turn three. This brought out a red flag as the track crew had work to do, both front runner Barnes and Stephens where done for the night and on the hook. Now with 18 laps to go suddenly last years winner Ice found himself in the top position with his teammate breathing down his headers. Moe Lilje was now scored in third and Gosek had recovered to move back into the fourth slot, clearly the fastest car on the track. Once the race went green it took just one lap for Gosek to dispose of Lilje, and the very next he went right on by Schultz. Ice was not as easy but once he caught up to the leader it did not take long. The only thing that prolonged the lead change was an untimely yellow flag just after Gosek took the point. Putting the field back to the way they where running at the last completed lap before the yellow the green would fly. And just like that Gosek went to the top and bingo, right to the front sweeping past Ice and laying down a fire trail to the checkers as he was clearly the class of the field. Ice, Schultz, Lilje, and Fisher rounded out the top five.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Dave Buchanan

September 10, 2011, Smithton, PA…It was a historical night for Trent Stephens of Ravenna, Ohio as he captured the Midwest Supermodified Association Piney Lasky Memorial 50 at the Motordrome Speedway.  It was the first ever Supermodified race contested at the fast ½-mile oval in Smithton, PA.

Stephens began the day etching his name in the record book during time trials as he set quick time with a lap of 15.332 seconds in the fastest lap ever run in Motordrome history. For the 50-lap feature the 22-year-old pilot of the ACME Racing #49 had a challenge ahead of him as he started 10^th in the 13-car field.

Mike McVetta and Denny Fisher led the field to the initial green flag.  McVetta was a last-second replacement driver for the Paller Racing #64.  He was originally slated to maintain his points lead in the Buckeye Super Sprints at Sandusky Speedway but that event rained out.

Read the rest of this entry »

Epping, NH – A huge throng of fans turned out to watch the rebirth of the traditional Star Classic and they weren’t disappointed. It was a classic race!  And, it was a perfect day for Russ Wood at Star Speedway Saturday. He led all 150 green flag laps, collecting the lion’s share of the over $10,000 in lap money and bonuses, plus the $5,000 winner’s share of the purse. It had not been a great year for the Holbrook-Wood team until then, with a blown motor almost keeping Wood out of a race he’d won five times over the years. Then a borrowed motor from fellow competitor Howie Lane, made it all happen. Wood, by virtue of time trials and handicapping, sat on the pole and he took full advantage of the position. Taking off with first his teammate Rob Summers, then five-time Classic winner Chris Perley challenging the entire distance, Wood was able to stay out front through traffic and cautions. It was a very big boost to what has been a declining season of late.

Russ, amidst a huge throng of well-wishers, said in victory lane. “I want to thank Howie Lane for our borrowed motor. Without that we wouldn’t be here. Thanks to Jeff Holbrook and the entire crew for working so hard, my parents and wife and kids – everyone whose supported us this year. We’ve had an up and down year. This makes it all worthwhile.”

With a lot of lap money and a halfway bonus of $1,000 to give incentive, Russ mapped out his strategy. “I was kind of thinking lap money at the beginning. I knew Chris would be coming. I figured he’d blow right by me. But, my car was really not bad. We borrowed a motor from Howie and it was good on power. I can’t believe that we held off Chris. I knew when he got close. I saw the flashes from the cameras. I was just saying, ‘let me pull this off and help us make up for some of the year’. This is awesome, beating Chris and Jonathon. They were fast. Just beating them was something. And, to tie Bentley with six Classic wins is pretty special. It’s not a bad position to be in to be tied with him. I love racing here and I love this race. Thanks for everyone who came out to watch.”

The driver behind Wood for 100 of the 150 lap grind was Chris Perley, who also went into the race with five previous wins of the prestigious event and who was the opponent Russ feared the most. Perley was happy finishing second in a race he deemed as fun.

Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Classic Winner: Otto Sitterly (Mike “Pinner” Johnson Photo)

OSWEGO, N.Y. – In 2009, following a smooth, consistent run to the Oswego Speedway track championship, Otto Sitterly won his first Budweiser International Classic 200 in convincing fashion.

On Sunday, after an emotionally draining, seesaw season that boasted as many lows as it did highs, Sitterly claimed his second Classic crown in dramatic fashion.

Behind the wheel of the newest of John Nicotra Racing’s three equally pristine Hawk Jr supermodifieds, Sitterly rallied late in the 55th running of the most prestigious supermodified race, passing teammate-for-a-day Mike Lichty in turn three of the final lap to capture the $15,000 winner’s share.

Read the rest of this entry »