Sandusky Speedway - Friday, July 27, 2007

Sandusky, OH - Chris Perley continued his unbelievable performance on the ISMA-Wirtgen super series circuit Friday night at Sandusky. And, Perley continues to shake his head in disbelief. He once again set fast time and after starting 12th in a strong field of winged supers he worked his way quickly to the front. A challenge of his seemingly omnipresent rival Dave McKnight came once again as McKnight took the lead of the 40-lapper on lap 21 with Perley behind him. On lap 30, the 11 slung outside by the 94 off the fourth corner of the Sandusky half-mile, to take the lead from the Canadian - once again.

Standing in victory lane for the second consecutive year at Sandusky's Hy-Miler prelim moments later Perley exclaimed, “This is crazy,” said the Rowley Rocket. “This was an intense, intense forty lapper. I got there and I couldn't get there. On the restarts I was slower and couldn't get going. I caught Dave and then I couldn't do anything. I couldn't get to the outside. I thought I'd used it all up and then my car starting coming in. I just kept it out there - heating up the tires. Then all of a sudden I had a shot. I bounced off his right rear once down in three and four. Luckily it didn't hurt either one of us. I made it stick. It's phenomenal. I'd even take a second over a first if I can't have a first. We'll just see what tomorrow brings.”

McKnight, who had taken over the lead after his teammate Mike Lichty lost the lead to a spin on lap 21, was once again standing in second next to Perley on the podium. “Always the bridesmaid it seems this year… always the same car,” said the Brampton, Ontario driver. “The wreck at the beginning of the year set us back, but we're real close. We'll work on it some more and maybe we'll have something for Chris. Again, it was a great job for Chris and hats off to the team. Everybody there did a great job and my guys did a great job too. We're real happy.”

Finishing third after a great move in traffic in the waning laps was Dave Shullick Jr. He had passed under both Nokie Fornoro and Lou Cicconi - no easy task- to take the spot. He had passed his dad, filling in for the injured Randy Burch, earlier in the race, also in traffic. Said the Shullick Jr., “We know how traffic goes here. All three of us were about pretty much the same. I just tried to bide my time. They were being pretty aggressive and Nokie got pushed up there and I tried to take advantage of it. I just tried to capitalize on restarts. I got my father on one. Other than that it was a pretty clean race. Dad did pretty good. He got loose a couple times and was able to save it. He had never driven that car and he'll be back tomorrow to see if he can do even better. Perley is a tough nut to crack but we'll go home and keep working on it. We'll come back tomorrow and hopefully we can one better him.”

Despite threatening rain, things progressed nicely at the Friday Hy-Miler prelim. With 41 supers in the pits and after time trials, four heats and two consis, the 26-car field was filled. Lou Cicconi and Mike Lichty were out front at the green with Lichty taking the front spot from the git go only to see the yellow fly for Gene Gibson who had brushed the wall and exited the race.

Lichty, who narrowly lost both legs of the Sandusky tradition last year, took off again in the lead on the restart. He was lapping cars by the eleventh circuit as Dave McKnight and Lou Cicconi battled for second.

When the yellow flew again on lap 13, Robbie Summers, the most recent ISMA winner at Stafford, was off the track in turn one. A brush with Doug Didero was the possible cause. The yellow fell again due to a jumble on this restart between Joe Grunda, Ray Graham, Jr. and Larry Lehnert.

The race resumed with Lichty holding a lengthy lead as McKnight, Cicconi, Nokie Fornoro and now Perley, in the top five. Sitting a tick back were Dave Shullick Sr. and Shullick Jr., Mark Sammut and Jeff Holbrook.

By lap 19, the Perley had put the Vic Miller 11 into third in a scenario oft repeated in the past year and a half. On lap 21, leader Lichty was the cause of the final race yellow, as he got up in the loose stuff between three and four. He was able to restart, but his lead was gone.

Dave McKnight was now the new leader but that left Perley in second right behind. Cicconi and Fornoro had the “Shoes” right behind as Sammut, Holbrook, Didero, Timmy Jedrzejek and Moe Lilje were still locked in battle behind.

For the next seven laps, Perley tried to maneuver around McKnight, but Dave, bent on getting that elusive win, held him off.

On lap 29, Perley tried McKnight but the door was shut. On lap 30, Chris put the 11 outside McKnight off the fourth turn and made it stick this time. He was on his way to win number five on the season. Dave was able to get close in traffic in the last laps, but never close enough to pass. Working every lap behind, Dave Shullick Jr. was able to pass not only his legendary father but also Nokie Fornoro and Lou Cicconi to take the third spot. Cicconi and Fornoro settle into the top five.

Cicconi, who had just a couple races on his new 75, was content with fourth. “Everything was good tonight. We've made a lot of progress on the car. I really enjoy working with Timmy, Eddie and Matt. I'm looking forward to tomorrow's race.”

Fornoro applauded Perley's prowess once again. “Hopefully everyone had a good, safe night and it seemed like everyone did. Once again congratulations to Vic and Chris on their win. Hopefully we can have something for them tomorrow. It was great that there was a great crowd tonight. Thanks to the Soule racing team for a great job and all the sponsors for supporting us.”

Dave Shullick Sr., jumped aboard the Burch 52 and showed he hadn't lost much after a four-year hiatus. Even getting passed by his son, didn't faze the driver in his fourth decade of supermodified running. “The car felt really good tonight. It didn't go away. To be honest I was a little conservative. We wanted to save it and make some changes for tomorrow. I physically felt very good. I had a cramp in my leg and my side earlier, but it all went away. I was really disappointed when the white flag came out because I was just starting to get my groove on. I didn't want to see it end. Earlier I wasn't sure I could do this. It's been four years since I was racing a lot. I did one race a few years ago, but I felt very comfortable in the car.”

Mark Sammut, Timmy Jedrzejek, Moe Lilje and Jeff Holbrook rounded out the top ten.

SUMMARY - ISMA-Wirtgen Super Series Event #7

Time Trials: Chris Perley 14.876, followed by Dave Shullick Jr., Rob Summers, Jeff Holbrook, Moe Lilje, Jack Smith, Mark Sammut, Doug Didero, Ray Graham Jr., Nokie Fornoro, Dave McKnight, Dave Shullick Sr. (top 12)

Heat 1: Doug Didero, Gene Gibson, Dave Shullick Sr., Rob Summers, Bob Magner, Larry Lehnert, Michael Barnes, John Torrese, Terry Gibson, Steve Shellenberger

Heat 2: Dave McKnight, Mark Sammut, Dave Shullick Jr., Mike Ordway Jr., Timmy Jedrzejek, Charlie Schultz, Dave Trytek, Vern Romanoski, Jeff Banyas, Dave Mumaw (dns)

Heat 3: Chris Perley, Nokie Fornoro, Mike Lichty, Jack Smith, Bob Dawson, Pat Lavery, Rich Reid, Kelly Miller, Dave Sanborn, Matt Palmer

Heat 4: Moe Lilje, Lou Cicconi, Jeff Holbrook, Ray Graham Jr., Justin Belfiore, Joe Grunda, Brandon Bellinger, Eric Lewis, Bob Haynes Jr.

Consi 1: Bob Magner, Bob Dawson, Larry Lehnert, Pat Lavery, Rich Reid, Michael Barnes, John Torrese, Dave Sanborn, Terry Gibson, Matt Palmer, Kelly Miller

Consi 2: Timmy Jedrzejek, Justin Belfiore, Charlie Schultz, Joe Grunda, Dave Trytek, Bobby Haynes Jr., Brandon Bellinger, Vern Romanoski, Steve Shellenberger, Eric Lewis, Jeff Banyas

4 qualify from each. Added - Bellinger ISMA option & Banyas Promoters option

Hy-Miler 40: 1. Chris Perley (11), 2. Dave McKnight (94), 3. Dave Shullick Jr. (49), 4. Lou Cicconi (75), 5. Nokie Fornoro (32), 6. Dave Shullick Sr. (52),
7. Mark Sammut (78), 8. Tom Jedrzejek (82), 9. Moe Lilje (19),
10. Jeff Holbrook (35), 11. Jack Smith (09), 12. Mike Ordway Jr. (10),
13. Charlie Schultz (7), 14. Mike Lichty (84), 15. Bobby Dawson (28),
16. Bobby Magner (40), 17. Jeff Banyas (18), 18. Brandon Bellinger (02),
19. Pat Lavery (98), 20. Doug Didero (61), 21 Justin Belfiore (8),
22. Rob Summers (97), 23. Ray Graham Jr. (99), 24. Larry Lehnert (92),
25. Joe Grunda (1), 26. Gene Lee Gibson (0).

Oswego, NY - It's time again for the first of supermodified racing's prestigious, extra distance races. In its 30th year, the Sandusky Speedway Hy-Miler Nationals is among the most respected races and is a coveted addition to a driver's resume. The event has become a three-day extravaganza at the Ohio speedway with a Fan Appreciation night on July 26 and ends with the Hy-Miler 100 on Saturday, July 27. It's a must see event!

The Hy-Miler Nationals win list over the past 29 years contains some of supermodified's best. It's always been a challenge to win the race that gathers in the best of the best from all over the northeast, Midwest and Canada. The first event of what has been dubbed the Triple Crown of Supermodified racing, leads into the second two legs, the 51st Oswego International Classic 200 Sept. 2 and the 42nd Star (now All-Star) Speedway Classic 200 on Sept. 8. Many of tried to win all three which includes two winged events and one non-winged, only four drivers in the history of the three races have been able to win all three. That exclusive list includes Bentley Warren, Joe Gosek, Doug Heveron and Mike Ordway.

The Hy-Miler, which has been sponsored by that company since the race's inception, began in 1978 with Dave Shullick Sr. the first winner. Dave would go on to win four more Hy-Milers and still holds the top number in the win column. Bentley Warren started a three-consecutive win streak in 1984, which was broken by Gene Lee Gibson in 1987 who had two in a row. Indy 500 veteran Joe Gosek won the first of his three Hy-Milers in 1989, adding one in 1991 and one in 2002. Russ Wood started his own win streak in 1995 with what would be three in a row. Russ added his fourth title in 2003. Pat Abold was a multiple winner with his first in 1992 and second in 2005. A driver never stops trying to win this supermodified event!

While the early years of the running of the Hy-Miler were dominated by Sandusky “regulars” the last Ohio driver to win was Dave Shullick Sr. in 1999. 2000 saw the race rained out for the one and only time, with the next five winners being Dave McKnight, Jr., Joe Gosek, Wood, Mike Ordway, Abold and Chris Perley, ISMA regulars. McKnight, incidentally, is the only Canadian Hy-Miler winner.

While most of the former Hy-Miler winners have retired, there are still some that are going strong like current point leader Chris Perley, McKnight and Joe Gosek. Mike Ordway Sr., whose son Mike Jr. has already added a win to his short supermodified career, and Russ Wood, would most likely jump aboard a potent super if offered. But, then there is a host of up and comers looking for a first-time victory and at the Hy-Miler Nationals, - anything can and most likely will, happen. Dave Shullick Jr is just one who comes to mind. He'd love to follow in his famous father's footsteps. Moe Lilje, Shullick's teammate, is another as is Charlie Schultz, Jon Henes, Randy Burch, Bob Dawson, Jack Smith and any of the other MSA regulars. There is a plethora of young and old guns who still would like to wear the Hy-Miler crown!

If you go, remember Campsites must be pre-paid, register at office. No coolers in the grandstands. The rain date for Saturday July 28th is Sunday July 29th.

A complete schedule for the 3-Day show according to www.sanduskyspeedway.com for the 30th Hy-Miler Supermodified Nationals:

Thursday July 26th - Fan Appreciation Night
$1.00 General Admission. $1 Beer and Coke products. (No supers), Pit gate 3:30, Hot laps/Main Gate 4:30, Time trials 6:00, Racing 7:30.

Friday July 27th - Hy-Miler Prelim. Supermodifieds - 40-lap feature, E-mods - 25-lap feature. Pit gate 2:00, Hot laps/Main Gate 4:00, Time trials 6:30, Racing 7:30
Admission: Adults $20, Kids 6-12 $5.00, Kids 5 & under free, Pit: $25

Saturday July 28th - Hy-Miler Nationals - Supermodifieds - 100- lap feature, WSOA & Buckeye Sprints - 25-lap feature. Pit gate 10:00, Hot laps/Main Gate 1:00, Time trials 4:00, Racing 6:30. Admission: Adults $25, Kids 6-12 $7.00, Kids 5 & under free, Pit: $30 *DJ in the bar after the races both nights*

Comments or Questions: isma@ISMAsupers.com