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NEWS
August 18, 2007
Rowley Rocket's red glare: Chris
Perley becomes ISMA's all-time feature winner
OXFORD, Maine - Chris Perley can swap cars, start in mid-pack, wait
out a couple red flags and encounter slower traffic running two or
three lanes deep in front of him.
This year, and in most every other
season with the International Supermodified Association, it just
doesn’t matter.
Perley, the vaunted “Rowley
Rocket” from the northeastern corridor of Massachusetts, became
the all-time winner in ISMA history Saturday night, dominating the
New England Dodge Dealers Maine Classic at Oxford Plains
Speedway.
The 75-lap triumph was the ninth
victory in 12 starts this season for Perley, who also won an event
at Lee USA Speedway in New Hampshire on Friday evening.
In supporting feature action, Travis
Adams continued his assault on a second straight and third overall
Oxford Networks Late Model championship with his sixth feature
victory of the season.
Skip Tripp astonishingly ruled the
Allen’ s Coffee Flavored Brandy Strictly Stock main for the fourth
consecutive week, and Don Mooney denied champion and point leader
Jimmy Childs in an intense battle at the front of the Allen’s Mini
Stock feature.
He’s the king of wing, no matter
what he wheels
Perley surrendered the car that won
that Lee USA race to teammate Bentley Warren of Kennebunkport, but
it was hardly a handicap.
Warren wrestled the lead away from
Vern Romanoski of Strong on lap 13, but Perley pulled the Vic
Miller-owned #11 into second shortly thereafter and made his winning
pass on a lap 20 restart.
"I was out there knowing that I
had the old car and Bentley had the newer car, and you know some old
things just don't go away. I figured I was going to be out there
racing against Bentley for the win," Perley said. "I just
wanted the lead, and I figured if anybody was going to go by me I
was going to make them work for it.”
The 2003, 2004 and 2006 ISMA
champion, Perley recently passed his legendary, 66-year-old teammate
Warren for second place on the all-time winners list.
Saturday’s victory enabled Perley
to leapfrog six-time series champion Russ Wood for the top spot with
his 46th victory in a 13-year career.
“I’m just psyched. I can’t
believe that I guess we just passed the record, and to be in that
kind of company is exciting,” Perley said. “This car is awesome.
Anybody can see it. It’s just a blast to drive, and I can’t
believe I keep putting it up here in victory lane.”
Warren, who has competed in the
Indianapolis 500 and continues to run up front with the ISMA circuit
after becoming the series‘ oldest race winner last fall at Oswego,
N.Y., was never challenged for second after Justin Belfiore took
away the position but fell out of the race with engine failure at
lap 35.
"It feels pretty good to finish
behind Chris, except he doesn‘t respect his elders, you
know?" Warren said of Perley with a laugh.
Romanoski ran third until he was
snake-bitten by a mechanical problem with four laps remaining. He
was credited with 13th in the final rundown. Rob
Summers recovered from an early race
pit stop to pick up the final podium position.
“We threw everything but the
kitchen sink at the car all day,” Summers said. “The throttle
was sticking early in the race, so we sprayed it down and came back
up through the field.”
Mark Sammut was fourth, the final car
on the lead lap, with Mike Lichty fifth. Twenty-two cars started the
main event.
Of seven caution flags and two red
flags, the most serious incident occurred on Lap 1, when Dave
McKnight’s car touched wheels with another ride near the front of
the pack and hammered the front stretch retaining wall. McKnight
walked to a waiting ambulance and was later given a precautionary
checkup at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, where he was
treated and released.
The race was stopped a second time to
allow for the Belfiore clean-up and refuel the cars that already had
run an inordinate number of laps under caution. That delay was
followed by a lengthy stretch of green-flag racing until the
Romanoski breakdown four circuits from the finish.
“There was so much lapped traffic
that I nearly crashed after the race,” said Perley, alluding to a
near collision with Bob Timmons Jr. as he coasted into victory
lane.
Adams takes another giant leap toward
title
Gary Chiasson and Dale Verrill kept
the lead warm during the Late Model race, but Adams overtook Dale
Verrill for the advantage just before a caution flag on lap
19.
From there, he fought off a pair of
restarts with Glen Luce lurking to his outside.
"Our heat race set-up has been
the problem for us this year, and I think we've even got that
squared away," said Adams. "We took the rear end out of
this car this week -- drive shaft, transmission, everything -- and
couldn't find anything. Well, we got here today for practice and had
a horrible vibration, so we had to change the whole thing this
afternoon. I have to thank my crew for that."
Luce, who charged from 21st to eighth
without the benefit of a restart in last week's American-Canadian
Tour Time Warner Cable 150, shook off Carey Martin to secure
second.
“We had it going pretty good. I was
hoping we could get a little closer there and give Trav a run,”
Luce said. “We’ve worked hard since the 250 to get this thing
hooked up.”
The fifth and final restart of a wild
race nearly gave Luce the opportunity to repeat his impressive June
23 victory over Adams. Luce stayed door-to-door for two full turns
around the 3/8-mile oval, actually leading lap 27 before Adams used
the preferred line to reclaim the point.
Luce’s daring commitment to the
battle for the lead nearly cost him second and many more positions,
as the front bumper of Martin’s machine brushed the back of
Luce’s mount in the first turn on lap 29.
Martin wisely lifted and gave Luce
the opportunity to move inside. That allowed Luce to reduce Adams’
margin slightly, but he couldn’t sneak closer than two car lengths
at the checkers.
“I was racing kind of strong there
with Glen. We touched a couple of times, and I finally decided that
spinning out wasn’t the place to be,” Martin said. “If I would
have left my foot in it, he would have wound up probably in the dirt
pile over there in turn one. Now we can remain friends,
anyway.”
Adams dedicated the win to his
grandfather, whom he learned only minutes earlier was admitted to a
hospital earlier in the day.
“Just running for the this
championship puts enough on my plate. My parents didn’t want to
put any additional pressure on me, so they just gave me that news on
the radio after the race,” said Adams. “I hope everything is
turning out OK there.”
With two races remaining, Adams has
increased his lead over Ricky Rolfe to 37 points.
Rolfe finished seventh after becoming
involved in a multi-car spin and being forced to pit under caution
on lap 6. He was running fifth prior to the incident. Adams was in a
close proximity to the tangle and narrowly escaped without a
scratch.
Jon Brill and Don Wentworth completed
the top five in the 27-car field.
Long, strange Tripp for the Strictly
competition
Tripp's latest conquest took a little
more finesse than his previous runaways.
Although he shook off front-running
rookie Chris Burgess on lap 16, Tripp had a mirror full of Glen
Henderson over the closing circuits.
"We made an adjustment after the
heats and it tightened right up," Tripp said. "It wasn’t
a miscommunication. We figured it would work. But I was lucky to win
this one."
Tripp’s triumph tied him with
division point leader Sumner Sessions for the Hill’s RV Winner’s
Circle Challenge title at four wins. He is also very much
mathematically alive for the division championship.
Ricky Drew, Haven Richards and Bob
Hayslip lead a crew on the #12 that includes car owners R.P.M.
Racing Engines and sponsors Lemay’s Auto Body, Dan Dubois Plumbing
& Heating, Waste Management, Angelo’s Pizzeria, Affordable
Well Drilling and Rachel’s Race For Lungs.
Henderson, himself a three-time
winner since mid-June, appeared to cut Tripp’ s lead by a fraction
over the final laps while maintaining a textbook line along the
rail. Time ran out, however.
“We’ve been chasing a few things
for a couple weeks. Tonight a ball joint was loose and we tightened
it up,” Henderson said.
Rick Thompson overcame his season's
worth of rotten luck and made it to victory lane in third.
With five heat race wins and dozens
of feature laps led, Thompson probably deserves a better fate than
his current ninth-place perch in the point standings. One serious
roll-over, a cluster of lesser crashes and mechanical maladies have
slowed his progress.
“We have had all the bad luck I
think we can get,” Thompson said. “We’re trying some new
things. I’m not really sure if it was working. I just think luck
was with us tonight.”
After talk of motor problems in
practice and a sluggish eighth-place run in the heat, Sessions made
his customary charge toward the front and fought off Larry Emerson
for fourth.
Sessions trimmed Tommy Tompkins'
miniscule division point lead to four markers with only two races
remaining.
More Mini madness, and another Mooney
win
Just another fun and contentious
night for the Minis.
Don Mooney and Jimmy Childs have had
their share of discussions in victory lane this season, some
featuring handshakes and others an exchange of words and shoulder
shrugs. Both track champions have used their talent and years of
four-cylinder experience to try to hold the other at bay.
This time it was Mooney charging into
the top spot from the pole and leading every lap with Childs lurking
closely at his back bumper.
Childs took exception to the way
Mooney attempted to protect his advantage. Mooney wasn’t sure
Childs needed to use so much fender to make his point. It led to
another animated exchange that left trackside announcer Butch
Lenberg feeling like he was standing in a pro wrestling locker
room.
“I’ve had a lot of fun all my
time in this racing in this division, but I’m so glad I’m
getting out of it,” Childs said. “I can’t stand people who
come out of the corner in the first groove but the second and third
groove in the middle of the (straightaway). Where am I supposed to
go. I don’t understand. Where am I supposed to go,
Donnie?”
Mooney, for his part, was happy to
run a full feature after being sidelined in a crash during last
week‘s qualifier.
“The car wasn’t handling too
good. It got smashed up last week. Ralph Felker bent it back. It’s
not perfect, but at least it’s up here,” said the two-time
division champion. “Maybe we can work on it and it will leave some
of these cars instead of having them beat on you. But Jimmy ran me
pretty clean, for the most part.”
Childs took another step toward his
second straight championship and hinted at next year's plans by
making his Late Model debut later in the evening, steering clear of
the many incidents to finish 19th.
Bill Thibeault, Kevin Bishop and
Ashley Marshall completed the top five.
Barring a disastrous run this week,
Childs will clinch the Mini Stock title with a week to spare for the
second straight season. He leads top rookie “Wild ” Bill Irving
by 108 points.
OPS wraps up its Acceleration Series
campaign with championship night this Wednesday, August 22 at 6:30
p.m. Championship Series competition returns Saturday at 6:30 with a
12-race card that includes an appearance by the New England Super
Cup Series.
NEW ENGLAND DODGE DEALERS ISMA MAINE CLASSIC (75 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (12) #11 Chris Perley, Rowley, Mass., 75
2. (8) #71 Bentley Warren, Kennebunkport, 75
3. (5) #97 Rob Summers, Vernon, Conn., 75
4. (14) #78 Mark Sammut, London, Ontario, 75
5. (11) #84 Mike Lichty, Innerkip, Ontario, 74
6. (13) #10 Mike Ordway Jr., Fremont, N.H., 74
7. (9) #88 Scott Martel, Bradford, Mass., 74
8. (17) #14 Jon Gambuti, Point Pleasant, N.J., 74
9. (3) #40 David Trytek, Baldwinsville, N.Y., 74
10. (19) #13 R.D. Timmons, Windham, 74
11. (18) #24 Dave Sanborn, Tilton, N.H., 73
12. (21) #92 Larry Lehnert, New London, Ontario, 73
13. (2) #5 Vern Romanoski, Strong, 72
14. (20) #60 Randy Wimert, Falmouth, 70
15. (16) #31 Bobby Timmons, Windham, 70
16. (4) #27 Jamie Timmons, North Andover, Mass., 67
17. (10) #8 Justin Belfiore, Ipswich, Mass., 35
18. (1) #56 Mike Keeler, Danbury, Conn., 24
19. (22) #38 Billy Buyck, Londonderry, N.H. 24
20. (17) #02 Brandon Bollinger, Fulton. N.H., 6
21. (6) #94 Dave McKnight, Brampton, Ontario, 1
22. (7) #35 Jeff Holbrook, Oswego, N.Y
Lap leaders: Romanowski 1-13, Warren 14-20, Perley 21-75.
Cautions: 7 (laps 6, 12, 15, 20, 25, 25. 71)
Red flags: 2 (laps 1, 35)
OXFORD NETWORKS LATE MODEL (40 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (11) #03 Travis Adams, Canton, 40
2. (15) #7 Glen Luce, Strong, 40
3. (13) #18 Carey Martin, Denmark, 40
4. (8) #77 Jon Brill, Bridgton, 40
5. (14) #63 Don Wentworth, Otisfield, 40
6. (3) #56 Dale Verrill, Paris, 40
7. (9) #51 Ricky Rolfe, Albany Township, 40
8. (2) #69 Dave MacDonald, New Gloucester, 40
9. (18) #57 Doug Coombs, Livermore, 40
10. (4) #85 Travis Stearns, Gray, 40
11. (10) #94 Shawn Martin, Turner, 40
12. (17) #36 Ron Charpentier Jr., Wales, 40
13. (27) #96 Mark Childs Sr., Mechanic Falls, 40
14. (19) #08 Shane Green, South Paris, 40
15. (22) #44 Neil Martin, Freeport, 40
16. (5) #26 Corey Morgan, Lewiston, 39
17. (25) #4 Earl Tripp, Standish, 38
18. (6) #0 Scott Hodgdon, Minot, 36
19. (20) #01 Jimmy Childs, Leeds, 34
20. (26) #1 Gerald Parlin, South Paris, 31
21. (23) #3 B.J. Chapman, Bridgton, 29
22. (12) #2 Zach Emerson, Sabattus, 26
23. (21) #40 Rick Valentine, Greene, 23
24. (24) #6 Tommy Ricker, Poland, 19
25. (1) #70 Gary Chiasson, Peru, 15
DQ (16) #5 Leon Heckbert, Wilton
DQ (7) #04 T.J. Watson, Harpswell
Lap leaders: Chiasson 1-10, Verrill 11-18, Adams 19-26, Luce
27, Adams 28-40.
Cautions: 5 (laps 6, 19, 21, 24, 26)
Time of race: 30 minutes, 49.752 seconds
Margin of victory: 0.379 seconds
Fast lap: Glen Luce, 16.278 seconds
ALLEN'S COFFEE FLAVORED BRANDY STRICTLY STOCK (30 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (7) #12 Skip Tripp, Sabattus, 30
2. (6) #57 Glen Henderson, Sabattus, 30
3. (3) #07 Rick Thompson, Naples, 30
4. (13) #0 Sumner Sessions, Norway, 30
5. (9) #24 Larry Emerson, Durham, 30
6. (14) #113 Tommy Tompkins, Dixfield, 30
7. (12) #63 Matt Williams, Brownfield, 30
8. (15) #97 Jeff Moon, Gray, 30
9. (10) #42 Kim Tripp, Oxford, 30
10. (8) #23 Zach Emerson, Sabattus, 30
11. (16) #16 Bob Hayslip, Lisbon, 30
12. (1) #13 Chris Burgess, Lewiston, 30
13. (11) #56 Mike Short, Auburn, 30
14. (5) #82 Ben Krauter, Raymond, 29
15. (4) #11 Todd Hall, Auburn, 29
16. (18) #6 Matt Moore, Harrison, 24
17. (2) #91 Danny Smart, Buxton, 19
18. (17) #53 Dick Damon, Livermore, 13
Lap leaders: Burgess 1-15, S. Tripp 16-30.
Cautions: None
Time of race: 9 minutes, 24.750 seconds
Margin of victory: 1.028 seconds
Fast lap: Skip Tripp, 18.498 seconds
ALLEN'S COFFEE FLAVORED BRANDY MINI STOCK (30 laps)
1. (1) #80 Don Mooney, New Gloucester, 30
2. (4) #10 Jimmy Childs, Leeds, 30
3. (2) #8 Bill Thibeault, Oxford, 30
4. (6) #08 Kevin Bishop, South Paris, 30
5. (8) #77 Ashley Marshall, Jay, 30
6. (9) #74 Bill Irving, New Gloucester, 30
7. (11) #19 Shane Kaherl, Jay, 30
8. (7) #65 David Mooney, Wales, 30
9. (12) #9 Bob Guptill, Mechanic Falls, 30
10. (10) #29 Greg Watkins, Bridgton, 30
11. (3) #35 Dale Brackett, Oxford, 29
12. (15) #66 John Cary, Cumberland, 28
13. (17) #7 Randy Kimball, Mechanic Falls, 28
14. (14) #48 Wayne Titus, Lisbon, 27
15. (13) #55 Darick Barker, Jay, 24
16. (5) #90 Dale Durgin, Norway, 17
17. (16) #12 Bill Childs Sr., Leeds, 1
DNS #07 Al Roberti, South Paris
Lap leaders: Don Mooney 1-30.
Cautions: None
Time of race: 9 minutes, 18.165 seconds
Margin of victory: 0.120 seconds
Fast lap: Jimmy Childs, 18.219 seconds
HEAT RESULTS
ISMA #1
1. Justin Belfiore
2. Vern Romanowski
3. Rob Summers
4. Jeff Holbrook
5. Mike Ordway Jr.
6. Bobby Timmons
7. R.D. Timmons
8. Billy Buyck
ISMA #2
1. David Trytek
2. Jamie Timmons
3. Dave McKnight
4. Bentley Warren
5. Mark Sammut
6. Jon Gambuti
7. Randy Wimert
ISMA #3
1. Chris Perley
2. Mike Keeler
3. Mike Lichty
4. Scott Martel
5. Brandon Bollinger
6. Dave Sanborn
7. Larry Lehnert
LATE MODEL #1
1. Gary Chiasson
2. Dave MacDonald
3. Dale Verrill
4. Travis Stearns
5. Corey Morgan
6. Jimmy Childs
7. Rick Valentine
8. Neil Martin
9. B.J. Chapman
10. Gerald Parlin
11. Earl Tripp
12. Scott Hodgdon
13. Mark Childs Sr.
DQ Tommy Ricker
LATE MODEL #2
1. Jon Brill
2. Ricky Rolfe
3. Shawn Martin
4. Travis Adams
5. Zach Emerson
6. Carey Martin
7. Don Wentworth
8. Ron Charpentier Jr.
9. Glen Luce
10. Doug Coombs
11. Shane Green
DQ T.J. Watson
DQ Leon Heckbert
STRICTLY #1
1. Chris Burgess
2. Jeff Moon
3. Danny Smart
4. Rick Thompson
5. Bob Hayslip
6. Dick Damon
7. Matt Moore
8. Todd Hall
9. Ben Krauter
STRICTLY #2
1. Glen Henderson
2. Skip Tripp
3. Zach Emerson
4. Larry Emerson
5. Kim Tripp
6. Mike Short
7. Matt Williams
8. Sumner Sessions
9. Tommy Tompkins
MINI #1
1. Don Mooney
2. Bill Thibeault
3. Dale Brackett
4. Bill Childs Sr.
5. John Cary
6. Wayne Titus
7. Randy Kimball
8. Dale Durgin
MINI #2
1. Jimmy Childs
2. David Mooney
3. Kevin Bishop
4. Bill Irving
5. Ashley Marshall
6. Shane Kaherl
7. Greg Watkins
8. Darick Barker
9. Bob Guptill
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Oxford Networks
Late Model
Allen's Coffee Flavored Brandy
Strictly and Mini Stock
Photos by
(207) 645-4571
Photos by Trudy Marshall from
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