LICHTY-MCKNIGHT SUPERMODIFIED TEAM WOULD LIKE TO CARRY LUCAS OIL/ISMA TROPHY BACK TO CANADA IN 2003

Oswego, NY - Dave McKnight and Brad Lichty were two very proud Canadians standing at the ISMA banquet in 2001 accepting the honors being bestowed on the championship team. They were on top of the supermodified racing world. They had brought Canada their first ISMA championship. 2002, however, brought back the harsh reality of the hackneyed term "that's racing." After an unprecedented six feature wins and numerous top tens in 2001, the closest defending ISMA champion Dave McKnight could get in 2002 was a second. The PATCO Race Team plans on raising the ante once again in 2003.

Dave McKnight, of Brampton, Ontario, will be back behind the wheel of the potent number 94 supermodified and Dave will also carry the Lucas Oil banner into the fray. Lucas Oil Products, which has also joined ISMA as the title sponsor, has chosen to back the 94 as well. Team owner Brad Lichty of Innerkip, Ontario, will once again pilot the number 84 into the supermodified wars.

McKnight and Lichty finished third and seventh in the 2002 ISMA points respectively and really did not have, by any means, a bad year. McKnight had twelve top-tens with his highest finish coming at Oxford Plains, Maine. Lichty also had a second place finish at Sandusky with an eleven count in the top ten bracket. Pennsylvanian Nick Fornoro contributed to that total when he ran the 84 to a third place at the Oswego Super Nationals, subbing for Lichty.

Said Lichty recently from his PATCO Transportation business in Ayr, Canada; "Our main goal for this season is to get the trophy back across the border. Last year going without a feature win was a bit of a disappointment to say the least after such a great 2001 season. We hope that will change this year."

The Lichty stable actually houses three supermodifieds, but it's McKnight and Lichty who are the main men right now. Brad continued, "We've made subtle changes to our equipment over the winter. We've made a lot of spare parts also. We shouldn't have to be thrashing around during the season looking for parts. We should have the luxury of just pulling the spares off the shelf if all goes well."

The third car in the Lichty garage has also been made race-ready, but it has been Brad's sixteen-year old son Mike, who has done the bull work on this one. "That car was just a decrepit soldier until recently," laughed Brad, "And, now it probably is the most race-ready. My youngest son Mike took it all apart, rebuilt the axle and has it all back together. We could fire it this weekend if we had to."

The question, therefore, to be asked now, is whether Mike will become a third man on the team. "Mike ran a 5-race indoor midget series in Indiana this past winter under the Lucas Oil sponsorship. He finished fifth out of many entrants in the final point standings, He certainly has aspirations to race." said Brad. "It's possible that he will make his debut at an ISMA show in 2003, but when and where is yet to be determined."

"One thing that is for certain this season," concluded Lichty, " Is that Dave McKnight is anxious to get back to the top. He's excited about the new sponsorship and would like very much to give Lucas Oil a championship in yet another racing division. Winning the ISMA title could bring some further recognition internationally for an already established key player in big league motorsports."

Look for the McKnight and Lichty team as they begin pursuit of their goal at the Lucas Oil/ISMA season opener at Star Speedway (NH) on Saturday, May 3rd, which is followed by a show at Seekonk (MA) that Sunday, May 3. For further information on ISMA's 2003 schedule, log onto ismasupers.com or write to ISMA, PO Box 2753, Liverpool, NY 13089 for a full color schedule card.

Kart Klash II
presented by Wirtgen

Dec. 14th indoor kart competition at F1 Boston
with ISMA and NEMA members and friends.

Full Photo Page, Results and Story HERE
More Action Pix Posted on Tues, 12/17

With winter weather coming unseasonably early, the Kart Klash II presented by Wirtgen was just what the doctor ordered. ISMA Supermodified Owner/Driver J. Scott Martel teamed with NEMA Midget competitor Bobby Seymour to host a day of indoor go-kart racing at F1 Boston in Braintree, MA. After an action-packed afternoon on the road course of Track #1 a star-studded team of young lions found themselves with winner's trophies.

ISMA competitor Justin Belfoire, Joseph Doucette, Buck Viera, Billy Evans, Busch North competitor Eddie MacDonald, former Pro Stock ace Eric Hudson, NEMA young gun Tim Bertrand, three-time American RaceTruck Northeast Champion, Shawn Parker, and Quarter Midget Association Race Director Steve Frissora worked together to run consistent laps to take down the win.   Eight of the team's 10 drivers recorded laps in the 19-second bracket during the feature event. 

LUCAS OIL ANNOUNCED AS TITLE SPONSOR FOR 2003

ISMA president Chuck Handley, ISMA 2002 Car Owner of the Year Paul Dunigan,
ISMA 2002 Driver of the Year and ISMA vice-president Howie Lane.
Dunigan won an unprecedented 7th ISMA title while Wood picked up his sixth.

A huge announcement was made regarding ISMA¹s new title sponsor for 2003. Lucas Oil, major backer of many racing organizations nationally, has agreed to sponsor the traveling supermodified group next season. Vicki Rabozzi, Judy McKnight, Kathy Martel and Barb Soule present the new banners to the elated group.

Banquet Photo Page with 21 Shots

Syracuse, NY ­ An elegant gathering Saturday evening, Nov. 16th, concluded ISMA¹s 28th year as a supermodified sanctioning body. The Wyndham Hotel in Syracuse was once again the scene of the award presentations for the International SuperModified Association, which concluded a very successful year in 2002. The ISMA champion car owner, Paul Dunigan and driver Russ Wood, were the recipients of the huge championship trophy and each was presented a smaller trophy and a jacket indicated their history-making accumulative titles garnered this season.

While Paul Dunigan and Russ Wood were honored on their seventh and sixth ISMA championships respectively, it was the Vic-Miller ­ Chris Perley team who took away many of the season-ending laurels. The Perley and Miller number 11 team finished second in ISMA-Hoosier point standings and were honored with numerous awards as voted upon by the ISMA membership.

Vic Miller was voted ISMA Mechanic of the Year, the first such award for the Massachusetts car owner. The entire team was voted the Race Threads (Ohio) Crew of the Year award, with each member of the crew received embroidered hats and shirts. In turn Perley, known as the ³Rowley Rocket², was presented the A.J.Michaels Memorial Award for the second straight year and he was also voted the Fan¹s Choice Most Popular Driver, sponsored by Gater Racing News, for the second consecutive year.

The Regional top three in points were each presented with checks as ISMA, for the first time in 2002, kept separate points at the races in each of three regions with the top point getters in each receiving awards. Paul Dunigan¹s 29 team took honors in the Empire and Midwest Regions while relative newcomer to ISMA, Greg Furlong, took the New England Region. Former Oswego champion Furlong was also honored with the ISMA Achievement
award as he copped two feature wins in his first full year of ISMA competition.

The battle for the ISMA Rookie of the Year was between Eric Shirey of Ohio and Jon Gambuti of New Jersey with second-generation driver Shirey winning the award named after the late Randy Witkum and sponsored by Shea New England Concrete.

The ISMA Most Improved Driver award went to Ken Bell, who despite a horrendous Oswego Classic crash, still brought the Soule Racing team a top 20 finish and its first feature win.

Former ISMA president and current board member Jack Murphy took home the ISMA Support and the prestigious Jim Shampine Memorial plaque. Murphy, who was a friend of compatriot of Shampine¹s, indicated that this award meant a great deal to him on the 20th anniversary of the ISMA co-founder¹s and supermodified legend¹s death.

Dan Soule and Soule Racing were presented the Jim Soule Dedication award, an honor named after his late father and one of ISMA¹s staunchest supporters. Dan¹s mom, Ruth Koch, who serves as ISMA secretary and wife Barb made the presentation.

Two ISMA Appreciation awards went to a pair of behind-the-scenes or lenses, if you will, recipients. The first presentation was made to ISMA photographer Jim Feeney for his almost twenty years of following the ISMA tour and bringing their story to the fans in an excellent array of photos. Another unheralded worker for many years, ISMA scorer Lorraine Kisselstein, was also honored for her dedication and expertise on getting a tough job done well.

Brad Lichty was given the Seymour Enterprises award in a drawing from the top ten drivers in the points. Seymour Enterprises, each year, presents a helmet as the prize.

Capping off the night was the announcement of a new title sponsor for ISMA In 2003. After months of negotiations, Lucas Oil has agreed to provide a hefty monetary sponsorship to the organization, which travels from Maine to Michigan and into Canada, for six months out of the season. LUCAS OIL PRODUCTS is a worldwide leader in the production of a premium line of lubricating oils, greases and problem solving additives for racing and for general use. Based in Corona, Calif., Lucas Oil Products is one of the fastest growing additive lines in the consumer automotive industry featuring a premium line of oils, greases and problem solving additives. Through innovative product research and development, along with aggressive marketing programs, Lucas Oil Products has established itself as the top selling additive line in the American truck stop industry. They are major sponsors of racing including NASCAR Craftsman trucks, NHRA, Hooters Pro Cup, IHBA and much more. The announcement of Lucas Oil backing ISMA was greeted with much enthusiasm, pride and appreciation . ISMA is also purported to be in negotiations for a return Florida Series during Speed Weeks in February in St. Augustine. Further schedule announcements will be forthcoming, but whatever happens, the 2003 season for ISMA looks as bright as ever!

On a bittersweet note, Bob Gangwer of Goshen, IN, read a gracious letter of thanks to ISMA from the widow of Dion Parrish, a Michigan supermodified pilot who lost his life testing a new car at Kalamazoo in the early fall. Parrish ran with ISMA when the tour traveled to the Mid-west region and was anxiously anticipating the 2003 season with a new super.

A round of applause was given to the banquet committee with Vicki Rabozzi as chair and to the hard-working 50-50 girls who once again assisted in providing the drivers extra point fund money by selling tickets at most ISMA venues throughout the season. The voice of ISMA, Artie Rousseau provided the cutting-edge commentary as M.C. and Brian Oddo provided the music to cap off the ceremonies.