Thompson International Speedway
- Sunday, October 14th, 2007 |
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Jim Feeney Photos |
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2007 ISMA champion
Chris Perley topped off his season with a fifth win in the
World Series of Racing at Thompson Sunday. It was his 11th victory
of 2007 breaking last year’s record-setting total. |
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PERLEY TOPS LAST
YEAR'S WIN TOTAL WITH A VICTORY AT THE WORLD SERIES |
Thompson, CT - Chris Perley
put a cap on another phenomenal race season by adding the ISMA
portion of the Thompson World series to his feature win list on
Sunday. His eleventh win of the year topped his record-breaking
ten win total of 2006. It also upped his All-Time ISMA wins to
50. While he had already claimed his fourth ISMA-Wirtgen
championship, the victory was satisfying nonetheless. His main
competition was once again Dave McKnight and for a while it
seemed like Canadians were everywhere near the front fighting
for the win. But, at the end, it was the Rowley Rocket carrying
the checkered flag around the Connecticut oval.
“ It was tough out there,” said Chris in victory lane. “I knew
Dave and Mike were going to be my toughest competitors because
of the way they both were running yesterday in the heats. For a
while I didn't have much for Dave. I was just trying to keep in
touch with him. He'd get through the lap traffic and he'd get
some distance on me. So I just tried to stay with him. He ended
up getting a little tight. I was a little loose. Then my car
kind of came around toward the end. I didn't know if I could
stick on the outside but I thought if I could show him a wheel I
might be able to hold him down. That was the only shot I had.
“What a race. This is just awesome. I want to thank everybody
for coming out and watching us here today. I hope we put on a
good show. My R& R engine really came to life today. And thanks
Ed Shea, what a benefit he's been to our team. All my sponsors
are important. I just can't say enough about my crew and my car
owner. To win another championship this year is unbelievable.
It's been one heck of a season. I'm just really proud to be part
of this team. I have to say a special thanks to my family for
putting up with me while I do this. My wife and kids, my dad at
work - all of my family- they are the ones that give me the
opportunity. I couldn't do it without them.”
Dave McKnight caught up to his teammate and race leader Mike
Lichty just before halfway of the 50-lapper, taking over the
lead with a move on the front straight. But, McKnight, in an
oft-repeated scene this season, lost the point to Perley just
thirteen laps shy of the finish. The Brampton, Ontario driver
has become resigned to finishing second to the champ. “Hats off
to the whole team. Hats off to Paul and Glenn of Fourth and
Fourth Racing. They built us a great motor this year. What can I
say? Chris has been dominant all season. Here I am second again.
This is getting old. Hey what can you do? He's raised the bar.
But, we're getting close. We just have to tune up a little bit
more and then we'll see what happens next year.”
Another Canadian followed McKnight to the finish. Mark Sammut
capped off a great season also with a third place in the race
and a possible third place in points after the tallies are in.
“I've got to hand it to Chris Perley and Vic. They are the class
of the field. Dave and Mike were definitely faster than we were
today. We were decent all day, all weekend really. But we ran
our own race and at the end of the day we were happy to finish
third. I think we may have ended up third in points and if we
did that would jack up a good year.”
Joe Petro and Ohioan Gene Lee Gibson, in his first Thompson
appearance since 1995, led the way to green. Petro grabbed the
lead for one lap before Mike Lichty stormed past in three to
take over, trying one more time to get that elusive first ISMA
win. Petro stayed in second until young Michael Barnes took over
on lap 7.
Caution flew for Vern Romanoski one lap later with pitstops
being made by Lou Cicconi and Bentley Warren, driving the
LaPrade 68. Romanoski and Warren restarted at the tail while
Cicconi was out of the action.
Three laps after the restart, Dave McKnight moved past Petro for
third and began pursuit of Lichty and Barnes while Perley moved
into fifth.
Jamie Timmons brought out the next yellow with a broken wing
strut. John Payne and Jeff Holbrook pulled in here with Holbrook
ending his day.
McKnight, a master of restarts, used this one to take over
second with Barnes, a relative newcomer to the winged scene,
left to try his best to hold back Perley. On lap 16 he lost the
battle as the 11 moved into third.
The top four began to dive in and out of heavy traffic as Mark
Sammut stayed in touch in fifth. Barnes began to drift back as
22 clicked on the counter leaving Lichty, McKnight and Perley to
battle alone. McKnight came away with the lead on lap 24 leaving
Lichty to now fend off Perley. Barnes, Sammut, Doug Didero and
Gibson were still in healthy pursuit.
Perley moved into second one lap later and the race between the
94 and 11 was on again. In and out of traffic the duo darted
while Barnes moved back into third, as Lichty appeared to be
slowing while his teammate seemed to be getting faster out
front.
Barnes' great run ended in the wall between three and four when
something may have broken in the Double Deuce Racing 22, putting
him on his side against the cement. While the track was being
cleared Joe Petro called it a night at the same time.
The restart of this lap failed when Lichty stopped between one
and two with a flat tire. He got in and made the change and
restarted at the rear.
Again the restart did not make muster as Bobby Haynes Jr. pulled
off the track with flames and fluid spewing from the 44. He too
was done for the day. Joey Payne, trying to help keep the
Lehnert 92 in the top ten in points, made a last pit.
When the green finally fell, it was Perley and McKnight fighting
tooth and nail for the lead, almost brushing at one point until
Perley came out on top to lead lap 37 and the rest of the way
home to victory. The win was Chris' fifth in the 34-years of
World Series supermodified action. McKnight was unchallenged for
second while Sammut had taken over Lichty's third spot earlier.
Doug Didero moved into fourth with Lichty charging back up for
fifth. The battle for sixth between Mike Ordway Jr., Justin
Belfiore and Scott Martel was won by Ordway. Belfiore, Martel,
Otto Sitterly and Dave Trytek finished up the top ten.
SUMMARY
- Thompson World Series
Qualifying -
Saturday, Oct. 13
Heat 1: Dave McKnight, Gene Lee
Gibson, Joey Payne, Jeff Holbrook, Lou Cicconi, Bobby Haynes
Jr., Scott Martel, Bobby Bond, Craig Rayvals, Randy Wimert
Heat 2: Chris Perley, Joe Petro,
Mark Sammut, Doug Didero, Mike Ordway Jr.,
Dave Trytek, Johnny Payne, Eric Lewis, Bob Timmons Sr., Bentley
Warren
Heat 3: Mike Lichty, Michael
Barnes, Justin Belfiore, Jamie Timmons,
Brandon Bellinger, Bobby Magner, Vern Romanoski, Otto Sitterly,
Bob Timmons Jr., Mike Keeler, Jeff Abold
Consi: Otto Sitterly, Bobby Bond,
Eric Lewis, Craig Rayvals, Bob Timmons Sr.,
Bentley Warren, Bob Timmons Jr., Randy Wimert, Mike Keeler, Jeff
Abold.
Rob Summers (blown motor in practice dns). Eric Emhoff
(mechanical dns)
ISMA-WIRTGEN
World Series 50 - Sunday, Oct. 14
1. Chris Perley (11), 2. Dave McKnight (94), 3. Mark Sammut
(78),
4. Doug Didero (61), 5. Mike Lichty (84), 6. Mike Ordway Jr.
(10),
7. Justin Belfiore (8), 8. Scott Martel (88), 9. Otto Sitterly
(6),
10. Dave Trytek (70), 11. Brandon Bellinger (02), 12. Bobby Bond
(25),
13. Bentley Warren (68), 14. Vern Romanoski (5), 15. Joey Payne
Jr. (92),
16. Michael Barnes (22), 17. Bobby Haynes Jr, (44), 18. Joe
Petro (33),
19. Bobby Magner (40), 20. Gene Lee Gibson (0), 21. Eric Lewis
(28),
22. Johnny Payne (67), 23. Jamie Timmons (27), 24. Jeff Holbrook
(35),
25. Lou Cicconi (75), 26. Bob Timmons Sr. (13), 27. Craig
Rayvals (95),
28. Rob Summers (97) dns. |
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Comments or Questions:
isma@ISMAsupers.com |
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