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The Top Three in the ISMA 50 at Berlin Raceway in
Michigan on 9/27: third place finisher Bob Bond,
winner Chris Perley and second place Russ Wood.

CHRIS PERLEY BEATS BUG AT BERLIN

Berlin Photo Page with Candids Here

"I thought for sure Russ would be back because we kept getting tighter and tighter," said Chris in victory lane. "I thought I was going to lose it at the end. I didn't know how close he was. I really laid low today. I tried to get a little bit of rest. I certainly don't feel good but these guys give me an awesome car so I can't give up on them at any time. I just gave it everything I had and we were lucky enough to come out on top tonight.

"Today it seemed like such a chore to just get in the car and get hooked up. After the heat I was worn out. I didn't know how I was going to make 50 laps. I guess I had enough adrenaline to get me going and keep me going. The car was tight most of the time, which made it easier for me to drive. I didn't think I would have enough for Woody. When I got by him I expected him to come back by me. I thought we had slowed up, but we held on.

"Thanks to all the fans who came out to watch. I hope it was a decent race to watch. I love coming to Berlin. It's been a great track for me. It's a blast running here. I wish we'd had a little more competition and that Johnny (Benson) had made it with his new car. But, I'll take what I got and again thanks to everybody for coming out."

Second place finisher Wood, who continues to be Perley's keenest competition, knew that nothing would keep Perley from being his challenger once in the lead.

"We had a really good car again tonight. The guys did a really good job. I was watching the scoreboard. I knew he was coming. When you see the camera flashes, you know he's there. I was getting loose, trying to hang in there. I knew Chris was going to get me. I'm happy to finish second. I'd like to thank all the fans for coming out tonight and Randy Sweet of Sweet Manufacturing for helping us out all the time and to Doc Hathaway who does a really good job on the car. We're happy with tonight's results."

Bob Bond took over the third spot late in the going from Jeff Holbrook for his best ISMA finish to date.

"It was a good run. We just took our time. The car was good getting in and we were loose getting off. It was a little tight coming off four probably like everybody was. Jeff was kind of running a tough groove. I was faster getting in and I finally squeezed underneath him there going into three. I think everybody was getting a littler slower as I got faster. I was just getting the hang of the track. This is a great crowd here tonight. I'm glad to see them all. I hope they enjoyed the show and hope they come back next year."

Early attrition shortened an already shorter than normal field, when Johnny Benson Jr. and Dave Shullick Jr. both had engine problems in their cars. But when the green flag dropped, the remaining cars showed they had come to race. Brandon Bellinger put the 02 out front at the start but things slowed on lap 3 when Doug Didero's 3 slid off the backstretch. A rash of pit stops followed while Didero was brought back onto the track.

Rob Summers took over the lead from Bellinger on lap 4 and pulled away, but moving up quickly was Russ Wood to take over on lap 8.

As Wood began to pull away from Summers, and the racing began to sort out, Mike Ordway Jr. called it a day after something caused the 41 car to handle so badly that he pulled pit side.

Yellow fell again on lap 17 when the 84 of Mike Lichty stopped out front with steam pouring from his car. An errant radiator hose was the cause and Lichty was able to make a quick repair and return. Unfortunately during the same yellow Summers pitted and repitted for good.

Out front Perley used the restart to grab off second from Jeff Holbrook as Danny Lane and Mark Sammut waited in the wings right behind.

The Wood-Perley duel was heated as the race approached and passed the halfway mark. Holbrook, Lane, Bob Bond, Larry Lehnert, Doug Didero and Mike Lichty were the next in line.

On lap 32, after many attempts at an outside pass, Perley was able to complete the maneuver, taking the lead from Wood off turn four. Behind, Bond just getting used to the new venue for him, was on the move getting by Lane after a spirited battle for the fourth place spot. Mark Sammut was also moving up the scoreboard when Doug Didero brought out his second yellow. This time Didero did not return as the field bunched for the final 9 laps.

On lap 43, Bond finally made good on his try for third putting Holbrook back a notch and one lap later Sammut took away fourth from the 35. Jeff said later, "I did not need that last caution. I was solidly in third and when that caution came out I was loose and I knew somebody would be coming. But, we had a pretty good weekend. I was hoping Russell would win. But Chris Perley is Chris Perley so I'm happy. We did good."

Perley was a lap car out front of Wood at the checkered as Bond, Sammut and Holbrook held their ground in the top five.

Sammut said of his top five, "Our car was off all day. We were so loose right from the time we got here. We kept tightening it but we still didn't get it tight enough for the feature. But there it was the best it had been all day. I just ran around and drove my own car. I didn't have anything for the 11 or 29. But I think we were pretty much as good as everybody else. Maybe in another few laps we might have gotten the 25 but maybe not. It's one thing to catch them and another thing to go by. Considering how bad the day started out and how it ended, I'm more than happy to finish fourth."

Larry Lehnert, Danny Lane, Dave Trytek, Brandon Bellinger and Doug Didero rounded out the top ten.

Summary Berlin Raceway - ISMA 50 - Sept. 27, 2008

Heat 1: Dave Trytek, Danny Lane, Mike Lichty, Dave McKnight, Chris Perley, Jeff Holbrook, Bobby Bond, Larry Lehnert

Heat 2: Rob Summers, Mike Ordway Jr., Russ Wood, Mark Sammut, Brandon Bellinger, Doug Didero, Mike Ordway Sr.

DNS: Johnny Benson Jr. (21), Dave Shullick Jr. (61)

ISMA 50: 1. Chris Perley (11), 2. Russ Wood (29), 3. Bobby Bond (25),
4. Mark Sammut (78), 5. Jeff Holrbook (35), 6. Larry Lehnert (92),
7. Danny Lane (5), 8. Dave Trytek (70), 9. Brandon Bellinger (02),
10. Doug Didero (3), 11. Mike Lichty (84), 12. Dave McKnight (94),
13. Mike Ordway Sr. (74), 14. Rob Summers (97), 15. Mike Ordway Jr. (41).
 

Standing on top of the Delaware Speedway podium is winner
Dave McKnight. To the left is second place finisher Russ Wood
and to the right is third place Chris Perley.

DAVE MCKNIGHT REPEATS
ISMA WIN AT DELAWARE

Deleware Photo Page with Candids Here

"We got a little bit of a break. We started decent tonight," said the Brampton, Ontario driver. "We got out front and we gave it everything we had. I knew Chris and the others would be coming but we definitely had a stronger car tonight. We've been struggling all year and we just haven't had the car to get the job done. Tonight we did."

Being before a large Canadian crowd didn't hurt his effort by any means and he acknowledged the fact. "After being the last person to win this race and trying for a back to back, I think I pushed the envelope a little to make me try a little harder. We didn't have to pass much tonight and once we got out front we had a clean raceway most of the way. It made it a lot easier. I'm sure Chris and Russell had to get through the pack. But, hey that's racing. Tomorrow will be a lot tougher so we'll try to capitalize on this run and make it better. Hats off to the whole team, Patco Transportation, and to Forrest and Forest our engine builder who got our good motor back in a hurry. Thanks also to everybody involved in the race tonight."

Fighting his way to a second place in his first ever appearance at the Canadian half mile was Russ Wood in the Jeff Holbrook-owned 29 and it was his car owner that gave him the greatest competition.

"I was happy with the car. We were coming on strong and it was handling good. I think I was reeling in Dave. I had a heck of a battle with Jeff (Holbrook). That was some wicked racing with my car owner. He wasn't giving me an inch. I really wish it had been a 75 lapper. For my first time here, I had fun. I'm happy with the second."

Chris Perley, starting in mid-pack, had to wrangle his way up through some tough traffic for his third place finish.

"Twelfth to third… I'm happy with that. This is a crazy place to race. Everything is so tight. There's just no room. Every pass you make you just hold your breath and hopefully the guy you're passing doesn't move and you don't move. And nobody touches. You just try to keep it clean. Everybody I came up through to pass was a battle. There wasn't anybody I passed that was easy. But, the car held together and I'm surprised I came out with a top three. I actually think I needed a late race caution because it looked like we were really gaining on them – at the end. But, by then they were so far ahead I couldn't do anything."

Twenty-one supers were gridded for the PATCO-sponsored 50 with Bobby Haynes Jr. calling it an early day after blowing a motor. Polesitter Jeff Holbrook did the honor of taking the point from the drop of the green. A quick yellow flew on lap 6 when Doug Didero looking to be out of shape but saved it.

Back underway it was Holbrook, McKnight, Dave Trytek, Bob Magner and Russ Wood being chased by a pack of hungry supers. Trytek brought out the next yellow when he brushed hard on the front straight and had to pit for a tire. He rejoined the field at the tail.

Out front Holbrook, McKnight, Magner, Wood and now Ordway Jr. were top five with Dave Shullick Jr., Mike Lichty, Mark Sammut, Robbie Summers and Perley were the next five up. Moving through the field from 15th was Doug Didero, who had arrived late and had had little track time albeit for his 10-lap heat run.

On lap 15, Dave McKnight moved by Holbrook for the lead leaving Jeff to contend with his teammate Russ Wood for second.

The race slowed on lap 21 for Dave Shullick Jr. who had come to a stop just before turn one after fighting his way into the top five. His night was done.

On this restart, McKnight fled the pack while Wood and Holbrook went at it for second. Bob Magner was fighting off Chris Perley who had just fought by Mike Ordway Jr. Mike Lichty, Didero and Sammut. Rob Summers fought with Johnny Benson Jr. and so on down the line. The wheel-to-wheel, spark-flying racing was everywhere on the track as the race went green from there on in.

Wood finally shook off the pesky Holbrook around lap 39 with Perley moving by the 35 with less than ten to go. Magner held off Ordway Jr. as Didero continued his forward motion until time ran out.

McKnight crossed the line a safe distance from Wood while Perley tried to move in on Russell to the end. Holbrook settled in for fourth just ahead of Bob Magner, a former Team Holbrook driver.

Holbrook commented after the exciting race, "The car was tight the whole race. It was nice finishing up in fourth. I had no clue that was Russell trying to get by me or else I would have let him go. And, to just nose out my old teammate Bobby (Magner) at the end was fun. It was good clean racing. It was a good night for our whole team. We had three cars in the top eight. It was fun."

And, Magner agreed. "I'm pretty psyched. This is only our third winged show with a brand new car this year. To be able to come out and run with these guys is as fast as it gets. I'm real happy. I almost got Jeff there at the line for fourth but we'll take fifth. This is my first ISMA show where there's no passing flag so these guys don't know who is there and they are racing hard. You just have to deal with everybody. If I hadn't sat back for a lap or two I think I could have gotten Jeff on the outside earlier. It is what it is. We have a complete car and a top five … I'm psyched."

Doug Didero's run to the front ended just shy of fifth with Summers, Ordway Jr., Johnny Benson Jr. and Mark Sammut following closely in the top ten.

Summary Delaware Speedway - ISMA 50 - Sept. 26, 2008

Heat 1: Dave Trytek, Bob Magner, Robbie Summers, Mike Lichty, Michael Barnes, Larry Lehnert, Denny Fisher, Bobby Haynes Jr. (dns blown motor)

Heat 2: Dave McKnight, Russ Wood, Mark Sammut, Chris Perley, Brandon Bellinger, Danny Lane, Ryan Litt

Heat 3: Mike Ordway Jr., Johnny Benson, Dave Shullick Jr., Jeff Holbrook, Doug Didero, Dave McCullough, Bob Bond

ISMA 50: 1. Dave McKnight Jr. (94), 2. Russ Wood (29), 3. Chris Perley (11),
4. Jeff Holbrook (35), 5. Bobby Magner (22), 6. Doug Didero (3),
7., Rob Summers (97), 8. Mike Ordway Jr. (41), 9. Johnny Benson Jr. (74),
10. Mark Sammut (78), 11. Mike Lichty (84), 12. Bobby Bond (25),
13. Dave Trytek (70), 14. Brandon Bellinger (02), 15. Ryan Litt (07),
16. Larry Lehnert (92), 17. Dan Lane (9), 18. Dave Shullick Jr. (61),
19. Michael Barnes (70M), 20. Denny Fisher (81), 21. Dave McCullough (03).

All-Star Classic top three, second Jonathon McKennedy,
winner Chris Perley and third place finisher Lou Cicconi.

STRONG ALL-STAR CLASSIC FIELD
MAKES FOR EXCITING RUN
- CHRIS PERLEY WINS HIS THIRD

Epping, NH – The new 100-lap green flag format for the 43^rd annual All-Star Classic may have resulted in one of the most exciting races in recent times here Saturday night. After a shaky start, the century grind developed into an awesome –almost indescribable battle between Chris Perley and Jon McKennedy for the win. For almost 60 laps they fought tooth and nail out front. In the end Perley took home the trophy but it was the road to fruition that led to the prize that brought the most gratification.  

All-Star Classic Photo Page & Lap Board Here

"I'll tell you what," said Perley after the duel. "I've had a lot of races and running with Jon like that was just a blast."

Perley, starting 11^th after handicap of the top 12 time trialers, worked his way past second place Craftsman Truck star Johnny Benson Jr. on lap 39 to begin his pursuit of leader from the start, McKennedy.

Chris described the ensuing laps. "We were right wheel to wheel a bunch of times and he kept holding out and coming out with the lead. I knew I could catch up with him again but I didn't know if I could ever be able to catch him and get by him because we were tight. Staying on the inside of him and not hitting him and him not hitting me, he pinched my car down and I just couldn't quite clear him. That just made it a blast. I had just a good time. I'd race with him any day."

The wing king as he has been dubbed talked of his third prestigious Classic as his most "different".

"The first one we led all 200. The second one we lapped the field and this one we just came out ahead. I guess this one was the most fun because it was a hard race and I didn't know whether I'd get it. Of course my crew gave me an awesome car tonight. They didn't give up. My family and friends sat in the stands throughout this whole thing, watching and dealing with kids and everything. I couldn't do it without my family, friends, sponsors and everyone. I had a blast running with Jon. I just can't say enough about him. He's going to get one and I thought it was going to be tonight. The race played in my favor a little bit. I think perseverance paid off."

McKennedy, who divides his time between modifieds and supers affirmed Perley's perspective of the race." It was an awesome race. We had a problem with the car in the first half of the race and once the fuel burned off we got tight. On the long runs it would come back in. But Chris has been phenomenal the last year… he's been on fire. Congratulations to Chris and the whole Vic Miller team. They work hard and they deserve it. I'm happy with second".

Another Classic story to tell was that of Lou Cicconi's run in the Wentworth 10, his second run in that machine, the first of which produced a win at Waterford. Cicconi started ninth, had a run through the pits on lap 4 and never skipped a beat back up to third.

Lou told it this way. "When one of the car spun out on lap 4 I hit the back of the 28 car and the left front shock was broken off. It was stuck in the tire. I was trying to get someone to take it off but I couldn't get anyone's attention. So I just kept running and got back up to third. I think the green flag laps helped the race. The cautions really hinder the race if anything. It might have cost me tonight. I didn't really pit. I just took a long cut. A third for my second time in this car is awesome. This car is like driving a Cadillac.  It's such a good car. Anybody could drive this."

Time trials and two consolations and some provisionals put 26 cars on the starting grid on the small New Hampshire bullring for Classic number. McKennedy and Dave McKnight held the front row as the green dropped with McKennedy taking the point. Laps 4 to 8 saw a series of cautions, as the pack seemed to be jumbling on every restart. Jeff Holbrook, Cicconi, Jeff Abold, Eddie Witkum Jr., Joe Gosek, Dave Shullick Jr. and Bob Bond were all among the affected. Some made out okay, some did not. But not counting cautions may have been beneficial.

Said Perley later in regard to the green-flag format, "I guess it must have played a part in it. We must have gone close to 200 laps total. I think it gives everybody a chance to get back in it. Louie was able to go in the pits and come back up to third He had a great run. I think it kept everybody in the game. I think cautions counting on a little track like this hurts the race. I think tonight the green flag laps helped out everybody."

After the lap 8 restart, McKennedy, McKnight, Johnny Benson and Mike Lichty were able to establish a top five with Mike Ordway Jr., Perley, Russ Wood, Eric Lewis and Bobby Haynes the next five. Moving up quickly was Lou Cicconi after his "long cut" through the pits.

Benson, fresh off a second place at NHIS in his truck, moved into second on lap 12 while Robbie Summers, a mod competitor at that track, left the field.

Lap 14 saw a slowdown once again as Dave Shullick Jr. slowed his 61 on the backstretch. Joe Gosek returned to the fray at this juncture after being affected by an earlier yellow.

McKennedy was not shaking Benson as the next eight circuits went green, but yellow came for Joe Gosek on lap 23, which was his demise. Also calling ofn was Shullick while McKnight pitted and returned to the tail.

The race now settled into a green flag mode with McKennedy, Benson, Lichty, Perley, Wood, Ordway Jr., Haynes, Cicconi, Dave Trytek and Mark Sammut were the new top ten with Perley and Cicconi the movers.

Lap 27 saw Perley taking Lichty in turn one and heading for Benson. Yellow once again bunched the still strong field on lap 35 for Tim Adams who had an errant nose wing on his 76. It flew off on the slowdown, fixing the problem.

Under green again, Benson would soon fall to Perley's pursuit of McKennedy and Johnny dropped back to third to contend with Lichty, Wood, Ordway Jr. and Cicconi.

Perley was able to stick the 11 right on McKennedy's bumper and the chase began as traffic approached. But, another couple yellows on lap 46 slowed the event affecting Witkum and Holbrook. Both continued.

It was McKennedy and Perley up front and Benson in third a couple car lengths behind. Cicconi and Wood were challenging Lichty for fourth. As the clocked ticked to 50 Wood took fourth, then third on lap 53 as Benson and Cicconi stuck right with the 29.

With 40 to go, McKennedy and Perley slid into high gear as they went high and low through the field, sparks flying. Perley would dive low only to encounter an obstacle. McKennedy came out on top of the squeeze plays time and time again.

On lap 71, while the 79 and 11 played cat and mouse with a lap car of Bob Bond, Cicconi got by Wood for third.

Lap 78 gave everyone a chance to breath when yellow fell for the 28 of Eric Lewis. McKennedy and Perley had just come side by side up on Vern Romanoski. Vern got bounced a bit up the track and Perley took the lead by a foot and that's the way they crossed the line when Lewis flew the flag. In a secondary event, Bobby Haynes Jr. stopped out back with a fire on his 44. Hot oil spewed on his feet and he jumped from the car. Red was called while Haynes was attended to. Refueling was allowed.

The race now went green for the next 21 laps with Perley the new leader. McKennedy dropped back a bit as the track was clear in front of "the Rocket" out front. Cicconi gave Jon the competition now for second while Wood and Lichty stayed top five just ahead of Benson, Ordway Jr., Santos, Martel and Sammut.

But, the memorable race wasn't over quite yet. A couple side-by-side lap cars held up Perley with ten to go. McKennedy made another attempt to get back his lead in those waning laps but green finally fell for Perley with one lap car in between his 11 and the 79. Cicconi had a magnificent run for third with Wood and Lichty the top five.

Multi-time Classic winner Wood said, "It wasn't a bad night. We had a good car during the day. I thought we'd have a little better race setup. We were too tight. We fought for fourth, which wasn't too bad. The guys up front – Jon and Chris put on a good show. I thought we were gaining on them in the last part of the race. We had a fourth place car and we finished fourth."

Lichty, who set fast time of the day with an 11.222, was happy to finish after some recent dnfs.  "The run was better than the last four races we've run. The car stayed in once piece. It was kind of a tough night for us. Getting quick time was good, but we just missed it a bit tonight. I don't know what went wrong. We were just so, so tight. We couldn't make any headway on Johnny or anybody else in front of us. At the end I got by Johnny there. Congratulations to Chris and everybody else that ran up front. The race was good although the start was a bit slow getting going. I'd just like to thank my father and everybody else at PATCO Transportation and Stage Door and the whole crew for helping us out this weekend."

Benson, Ordway Jr., Santos, Martel and Sammut completed the top ten.

SUMMARY 43^rd annual All-Star ISMA Classic 100
 

Time trials (top 16 locked in, top 12 handicapped money won): Lichty, Cicconi, Perley, Ordway Jr., Santos, McKennedy, Wood, Shullick Jr., Gosek, Benson, Lewis, McKnight, Haynes Jr., Trytek, Sammut, Holbrook.
 

Consi 1 (3 qual): Vern Romanoski, Rob Summers, Tim Adams, Ed Witkum Jr., Dan Lane, Otto Sitterly, Craig Rayvals, Brandon Bellinger, Justin Belfiore (dns)
 

Consi 2: Jamie Timmons, Jeff Abold, Scott Martel, Bob Bond, tbd, Artie Rousseau, Dave Sanborn, Tony Ricci, Eric Emhoff (dns)

 CLASSIC 100
1. Chris Perley (11), 2. Jon McKennedy (79), 3. Lou Cicconi Jr. (10),
4. Russ Wood (29), 5. Mike Lichty (84), 6. Johnny Benson Jr. (74),
7. Mike Ordway Jr. (41), 8. Bobby Santos III (32), 9. Scott Martel (14),
10. Mark Sammut (78), 11. Dave McKnight Jr. (94), 12. Bobby Bond (25),
13. Vern Romanoski (5), 14. Dave Trytek (70), 15. Jeff Holbrook (35),
16. Eric Lewis (28), 17. Eddie Witkum Jr. (88), 18. Bobby Haynes Jr. (44),
19. Jamie Timmons (27), 20. Tim Adams (76), 21. Dan Lane (9),
22. Dave Shullick Jr. (61), 23. Artie Rousseau (616), 24. Joe Gosek (00),
25. Rob Summers (97), 26. Jeff Abold (05).

Benson Finishes Sixth In A Supermodified
on Saturday With No Practice  
By Kevin Rice 

  Series reigning champion Chris Perley won the 43^rd Annual All-Star ISMA Classic, taking the lead for good on lap 78, following some breathtaking three-wide moves around lapped traffic racing for the lead on the quarter-mile oval.