Auto racing sanctioning body
The
International Supermodified Association (ISMA)
is a sanctioning body of
short track
auto racing
in the United States. It is the largest sanctioning body of
supermodified
racing, an
open wheel
discipline popular in
Upstate New York
.
History
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2006 ISMA SuperModified
The ISMA was founded in 1974 by multi-time
Oswego Speedway
champions
Jim Shampine
and Nolan Swift. With the help of a local businessman, Tom Heveron, they formed ISMA as a forum for owners and drivers to express ideas and opinions that some they felt that they were not allowed to under the management of Oswego Speedway and ensure the discipline's future.
The goals were to upgrade supermodified racing with better safety conditions, more events per season to insure sufficient purses and to aid drivers with their race related problems. The association worked with track managements in making decisions and in discussing ways of improvement. The club encouraged new drivers and owners interested other tracks in supermodified racing and helped to make the division stronger and more well known to a wider audience.
Tom Heveron served as the sanctioning body's president and led ISMA through its developmental stages, with the help of Vice President Jim Shampine and Secretary/Treasurer Fred Graves. ISMA negotiated with Lancaster for a 40 lap race held on July 3, 1974, which Todd Gibson of Richwood, Ohio won. The following year, ISMA booked races at Fulton Speedway with a $5,000 purse and $1,000 to win.
Starting in 1976, ISMA developed a point fund with tracks contributing $500? $1,000 per race to this fund. Unlike most other point systems, ISMA awards points to the car owners as ISMA is an owners club rather than drivers. Joining the Heveron, Shampine and Graves team, Shirley Letcher took over the responsibility for the point system. In just three seasons, ISMA had accomplished sanctioning over $96,000 in purse money and races, adding a point fund of $4,400 paid by promoters, having tow money at all of the ISMA sanctioned races, having insurance certificates from each promoter on file, and working with other promoters for more races in 1977. Steve Gioia, Jr. became ISMA's first points Champion.
[1]
Current
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ISMA continues to be at the forefront of supermodified sanctioning bodies, pioneering the franchise system, in which teams purchase a franchise at the beginning of the season. Creating a win-win situation for both the teams and promoters, each of the 19 franchise teams are allowed to miss up to 3 shows during the race season while being guaranteed a minimum starting purse of $1,000 at each event. This system helps to ensure solid, stable car counts and a successful event for the promoter.
ISMA generally sanctions between 13?17 shows a year including two of the prestigious supermodified Triple Crown Series at 1/4-5/8 mile paved short tracks located in 6 states and Canada.
Champions
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2013 ISMA cars at l'Autodrome Chaudiere in Canada
Season
|
Driver
|
1976
|
Steve Gioia Jr.
|
1977
|
Jim Shampine
|
1978
|
Steve Gioia Jr.
|
1979
|
Doug Heveron
|
1980
|
Doug Heveron
|
1981
|
Doug Heveron
|
1982
|
Doug Heveron
|
1983
|
Den Wheeler
|
1984
|
Bentley Warren
|
1985
|
Steve Gioia Jr.
|
1986
|
Steve Gioia Jr.
|
1987
|
Joe Gosek
|
1988
|
Bentley Warren
|
1989
|
Bentley Warren
|
1990
|
Bentley Warren
|
1991
|
Russ Wood
|
1992
|
Pat Abold
|
1993
|
Pat Abold
|
1994
|
Russ Wood
|
1995
|
Mike Ordway Sr.
|
1996
|
Russ Wood
|
1997
|
Russ Wood
|
1998
|
Mike Ordway Sr.
|
1999
|
Russ Wood
|
2000
|
Joe Gosek
|
2001
|
Dave McKnight Jr.
|
2002
|
Russ Wood
|
2003
|
Chris Perley
|
2004
|
Chris Perley
|
2005
|
Pat Abold
|
2006
|
Chris Perley
|
2007
|
Chris Perley
|
2008
|
Chris Perley
|
2009
|
Chris Perley
|
2010
|
Russ Wood
|
2011
|
Russ Wood
|
2012
|
Mike Lichty
|
2013
|
Lou Cicconi Jr.
|
2014
|
Ben Seitz
|
2015
|
Dave Shullick Jr.
[2]
|
2016
|
Dave Shullick Jr.
[3]
|
2017
|
Jonathan McKennedy
|
Competitors notable outside of ISMA:
- Bentley Warren
- 37
IndyCar Series
starts including the
1971
and
1975 Indianapolis 500
- Doug Heveron
- 96 professional
NASCAR
starts, 1
IndyCar Series
start, attempted
1983 Indianapolis 500
- Joe Gosek
- Started the
1996 Indianapolis 500
- Davey Hamilton
- 56
IndyCar Series
starts including 14
Indianapolis 500
starts; with a best finish of 4th
- Doug Didero
- 3 professional
NASCAR
starts, 6
IndyCar Series
starts, attempted
2000 Indianapolis 500
- Mike McLaughlin
- 318 professional
NASCAR
starts with 6 wins, 1988
Winston Modified Tour
Champion
- Johnny Benson Jr.
- 503 professional
NASCAR
starts with 18 wins,
1995 Busch Series
Champion,
2008 Craftsman Truck Series
Champion, 1993
ASA National Tour
Champion
- Bobby Santos III
- 7 professional
NASCAR
starts, 2010
NASCAR
Whelen Modified Tour
champion
- Ted Christopher
- 29 professional
NASCAR
starts, 48
NASCAR
Modified wins, 2008
Whelen Modified Tour
Champion, 2x
24 Hours of Daytona
starts
References
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