2008 ISMA Banquet

2008 Results

ISMA Banquet - November 22nd, 2008

Jim Feeney Photos

2008 ISMA Champions - owner Vic Miller and driver Chris Perley.

	Gino DiFilippo (L), of Shadow’s Candles, presented a $500 check to the 21st place finisher in 2008 ISMA Points. The lucky recipient was Brandon Bellinger. Accepting for Brandon was his father Eddie Bellinger.
	11th through 20th in 2008 ISMA Owner’s points pose with Howe Lane and Jerry Kritzman.
	The top ten in 2008 ISMA Owner’s points receive plaques and checks from Howie Lane and Jerry Kritzman.
	2008 ISMA Car Owner of the Year is Vic Miller and Driver of the Year is Chris Perley.
	Some of the sponsors of the 2008 Driver’s point fund pose here with Kathy Harrington, founder of the point fund. From left are, Kerry Perley of Perley’s Marina, Russ Conway, Kathy and Bob Gangwer of Suprs.net.
	Top 20 in 2008 ISMA Driver’s Point Fund poses with Kathy Harrington.
	Scott LeClair was voted Mechanic of the Year. Here he accepts a jacket from Dennis and Sue Heppell.
	Bob Bond was named the Randy Witkum Memorial Rookie of the Year, for 2008. Presenting the award was Sheri Witkum-Battle.
	Delores Murphy (center) presents the ISMA Support Award for the 2008 season to Dennis and Sue Heppell.
	Vern Romanoski (L) presents Jeff Holbrook with a plaque for being voted Most Improved Driver.
	The Gater Racing News Most Popular Driver went to Vern Romanoski for the second year in a row. Presenting is Gater columnist and ISMA PR Carol Haynes.
	Chris Perley received the 2008 ISMA Achievement award. Presenting was Chris’ car owner Vic Miller.
	The 2008 Crew of the Year Award went to team Holbrook. Larry Lehnert, far left, presented the award.
	The AJ Michaels Memorial Award went to Mike Lichty, who couldn’t make the banquet. Bobby Haynes Jr presents the plaque to Mike’s father Brad Lichty (L).
	The Jim Soule Dedication Award went to Eddie Bellinger. Jack Murphy (L) presented the award.
	The Jim Shampine Memorial Award was presented to Vic Miller (center) by last year’s Shampine award winners, Bud and Barb Skinner.

26th ANNUAL ISMA AWARDS BANQUET
HONORS ACHIEVERS OF 2008

Vernon, NY – In the beautiful setting of the Shenandoah Club house at Turning Stone Casino, members of ISMA gathered Nov. 22 to honor the achievers of the 2008 season. The cozy banquet room fireplace took the chill off an unusually cold and snowy November evening as drivers, owners, crews, family and friends came together for the final time in 2008.

For the third straight year the Vic Miller –Chris Perley team took top honors on the point list with seven wins out of the 11-race event season. It was the team's fifth championship run since 2003. Perley and Miller both spoke briefly as they accepted 2008 ISMA Driver and Car Owner of the year awards. Perley thanked his owner, crew and sponsors for their support once more. He also said kidding, "I didn't do it all myself this year" bringing up an old speech phrase. He admitted that the competition was getting tougher and tougher and although the team won a majority of the time, it was not easy. Vic Miller also mentioned that whatever next year brings, that he looks forward to having fun.

In addition to the aforementioned awards, Scott LeClair, one of the behind the scenes men on the Miller-Perley team, was honored with ISMA Mechanic of the Year award.
Chris Perley, after three very successful and winning years in a row, claimed the ISMA Achievement award. Vic Miller was awarded the prestigious Jim Shampine Memorial award. Miller, who raced in the 60s and 70s against Shampine, was especially proud of being in the same echelon as the legendary innovator and one of ISMA's founders.

The top 20 in owner points received checks from the $50,000 point fund with the 21st finisher, Brandon Bellinger, picking up $500 courtesy of new sponsor Gino DiFilippo, owner of Shadow's Candle Co. The top ISMA drivers were also awarded checks from the driver's point fund initiated by Kathy Harrington two years ago. The sponsors for this separate point fund are Perley's Marina, Inkspot, Luther's Way Out Grafix, SUPRS.net, Russ Conway and Coastal181.com

Mexico's Bob Bond claimed the 2008 ISMA Randy Witkum Memorial Rookie of the Year award, finishing eighth in the final point standings in his first winged season of competition. Ed Shea Concrete Products sponsors this award, which was presented this year by Sheri Witkum Battle.

Jeff Holbrook, car owner and driver, was honored with the ISMA Most Improved Driver award while his entire 4-car team crew was presented the 2008 ISMA Race Threads Crew of the Year award.

The ISMA Support award went to Dennis and Sue Heppel. Dennis serves as one of ISMA's pit stewards while his wife Sue helps operate the ISMA Novelty Trailer, two important positions in the organization. The duo also sponsors the Mechanic of the Year award, which includes an embroidered jacket and a $500 check.

The annual Gater Racing News Most Popular Driver award, as voted on by the fans, went to Vern Romanoski for the second straight year. A check, trophy and free subscription were presented to Vern courtesy of the Gater.

An award which is being retired this year, the A.J. Michaels award, was presented to Mike Lichty, who like Michaels, has been very close to that first ISMA feature win, but has yet to achieve his goal. Michaels was killed in an opening day accident at Oswego Speedway in 1990.

The Jim Soule Dedication award went to Eddie Bellinger Jr., who has helped his son Brandon become a third generation supermodified driver, still following the do-it-yourself ideals of Soule. Bellinger Jr. also serves on the ISMA Board of Directors.

By luck of the draw, Jeff Holbrook claimed the new helmet given each year by Seymour Enterprises while Bob Haynes Sr. took home the new radiator from BS&B Radiators, owned by Canadian Wade Litt.

Earlier in the day ISMA's Board of Directors met to begin finalizing the 2009 schedule, which appears at www.ismasupers.com. While still somewhat tentative the confirmed list finds an auspicious 16-track slate with a possibility of an additional June doubleheader at All-Star and Thompson, with those two dates still in the works. Oswego Speedway's Sept. 4 event shows a Twin 30's format making 19 potential feature runs.

ISMA president Howie Lane laid to rest speculation surrounding some of the traditional events by saying that he and Sandusky Speedway owner Kevin Jaycox had signed a 3-year contract renewal of ISMA's Hy-Miler show at that Ohio speedway and that the Oswego Classic weekend event contract had already arrived, eliminating the confusion from this season. The 2009 schedule, with the 18-show schedule, counting the additional All-Star and Thompson June events, will find the ISMA organization vying for $735,000 in purse money. Several other agenda items including a revamping of the point system for 2009 and some minor rule changes which will be available as an addendum sheet for the already in print ISMA Rulebook.

The ISMA officers of Howie Lane, Jerry Kritzman, Kathy Harrington and Delores Murphy remain for 2009. Board members Brian Allegresso, Mark Sammut and Vern Romanoski were recently elected for new 3-year terms, joining Ed Bellinger Jr., Jack Murphy, Dan Soule, Brad Lichty, Vic Miller and Jeff Holbrook, who are serving out two and one year terms respectively.

MC and ISMA announcer closed out the ceremonies and handed the mic over to Rock a Rolla, the night's DJ and the dancing began!

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