Toledo Speedway - June 15, 2007

Toledo Winner - Chris Perley



Top 3 from Toledo - 2nd, Dave McKnight;
winner Chris Perley; and 3rd, Mark Sammut.

Oswego, NY - ISMA heads west for its traditional trip to Toledo Speedway on Friday night June 15 and this year the second leg of their travels takes them back to M40 Speedway which sits in the heart of what once was the hotbed of supermodified racing.

At Toledo Speedway it has been confirmed that that NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Johnny Benson Jr. will be at the wheel of an ISMA Super Modified for the All American Coach Fastest Short Track Show in the World Friday evening, June 15 at Toledo Speedway. Toledo Speedway is located on Benore Rd, just west of I-75 in Toledo. Track phone is 419-727-1100 or go to arcaracing.com. Last year's winner at Toledo was Nokie Fornoro and this track has been a bit of a nemesis for 2006 ISMA champion Chris Perley, who has been fast at this Ohio oval, has not managed to finish the feature the past couple years. He's out to win here after breaking his bad luck streak at Waterford in May.

M40 is up next on Saturday June 16 and this oval lies in the area which many call the birthplace of supermodified racing which began back in the 50's and early 60's. Here are a few history excerpts from the M40 website.

“After World War II, Stock Car racing became very popular. With the resumption of new car construction, many cars from the 30's were in junkyards throughout the country. The only ovals were horseracing tracks at the County Fairground. In short time, stock car racing was taking over the ovals. Several farmers, seeking a better source of income, converted their crop fields for racetracks. Down in Indiana, Joe Hamsher was one of the first to do just that. Other tracks included Bob Kitzmiller's track {Kalamazoo, which opened in 1950, the same year as Mottville Speedway}, South Bend, Elkhart Speedway, Osceola, Goshen Fairgrounds, Millburg, Sister Lakes, Hastings, Marne, with countless others. In fact, Hartford Speedway was the old Van Buren Fairgrounds and they ran Horses as well.

“As crowds increased, the payoff increased, and the drivers and mechanics were looking for ways to make the car a little faster. Now it was getting a bit more serious. They started cutting off extra weight, souping up the engines, trimming off fenders, learning about stagger with tires, and trying stuff that may not have worked as planned. These cars were called Modifieds. They ran for extra money as the more experienced drivers raced this class, and they found the money to pay for their efforts.

“Into the middle 50's these cars had the frame trimmed down for only the driver to fit inside, and little if any body panels, the motors with several modifications. The gas tank was placed behind the driver. A driver out of Saginaw, Johnny Roberts, came to Berlin with a car that was unlike the others. A single-seat upright "modified". The announcer called it a "Super Modified" as she was very quick, and won many races. Shortly after, many cars were junked, as all the top drivers designed the new stage Super Modified. Running on dirt and asphalt, the competition was reaching a very high level. Some of the stars back then were Jimmy Nelson, Bud Meyering, Mort Anderson, Gail Cobb, and Gordy Vanderlaan. These cars were now fuel injected, no clutch or transmission to save weight, and running wider tires.

“Out in Oswego, New York, the old Modifieds were still the top class. The track would hold a prestigious race every Labor Day weekend called the Oswego Classic. Very, very good money was paid, but it only for Modifieds. In 1961, Harry Caruso opened the rules to allow any type car race as long as it was open wheeled. The prize money was better than any race held in Michigan and Indiana. Two Michigan teams called Oswego and asked if their car was legal. To their surprise, Harry Caruso was quite eager to see what these Michigan cars could do at his track. The Behnke Trucking team with Art Bennett, and the Mace Thomas team with driver Gordon Johncock drove the 12-hour haul to New York. What they saw was basically Modifieds running against their Supers. The two Michigan cars cleaned house, timing over 2 seconds faster than the next Modified. In the race, Johncock blew the motor, and Little Art Bennett, took the easy win.

“Harry Caruso was so impressed with these cars, that he started running them the following season. Michigan drivers dominated Oswego for the coming years with Dave Paul winning the classic in 62, with Art Bennett taking the point title. Other Michigan stars running at Oswego were Nellie Ward, Nolan Johncock, Eldon Schrader, Bob Paul, Jim Gresley, Wayne Landon, Johnny Benson, Sr., and Johnny Logan. Others racing in Michigan primarily were Buddy Stewart, Bill Beard, Nick Rowe, the Mid engine car of John Davis, Bill Heeney, Larry Gathman, Jim Eberstein, Jackie Lindout, Bill McClure, Jerry Peloquin, Jack Conley, and Jimmy Murphy. The supers were racing for purses for $300 in Michigan, were as Oswego was paying $500 to win. This was why there was so much interest in heading to New York.

“The Supers were getting expensive as Berlin dropped them in favor of the Super Stocks in 1968. The Supers continued at Jackson Motor Speedway until it's closing a couple years later. Several drivers were retiring, plus not many younger drivers were getting into the Supers As Stock Cars were gaining popularity the supers fell out of favor as the rules for the stock cars were not yet as regulated. Several tracks closed or did away with the supers.

“Marv Carman started Tri-Sac in 1972. It ran Supers and Sprints together with drivers such as Duane Spangler, Roger Bible, Jack Calabrase, Curt Kelley, Duane Knoll, Bill Davis, Danny Johnson, Harold Reynolds, Butch Fedewa, Tommy Marks, Jackie Lindout, Sammy Sessions, Galen Short, Bill Heeney, Wayne Landon, Marv Carman, Jerry Carman, Bob Seelman, Johnny Logan, Ron Koehler, Jeff Bloom, Fred Seltenright, Dean Best, and Ozzie. Their home track was Kalamazoo, but they also raced specials at Owosso, Berlin, and Hartford.

“Kalamazoo had Open Wheel Spectaculars starting in 1983, with several to follow. Kazoo even had Supers on Sunday afternoons in July and August 1983. From that point, the only Super Mod shows in this area were the ISMA supers on the Michigan Tour or going to Lorain or Sandusky in Ohio. What used to be Kalamazoo, M-40, and Berlin for the weekend is now down to one event as Toledo has the Supers on Friday. The one thing about the Supers is that they started here, and we can say that they are coming home one more time. Be sure to come out June 16th, M-40 Speedway for the Dion Parrish Memorial. Dion had a love for the Supers. He built one, but unfortunately lost his life in a practice crash in Michigan.”

Dave Simard and Louie Cicconi won the only two ISMA races at M40 to date.

Call 1-269-244-5321 or go to m40speedway.com for further information on the return of the supers to M40.

Comments or Questions: isma@ISMAsupers.com