The Top 50 Supermodified Drivers of 2007
Once again I’d like to thank Danny Kapuscinski for all the hard work and time involved in putting together his top 50 super modified drivers of 2007. It’s always interesting every year and thought it’d be cool again to not only have a permanant place for Danny’s writing, but thought that it’d be sharp for everyone to actually be able to see who these drivers are and the supermodifieds they have had their successes with the past season.
#1 Chris Perley- 990 pts. (ISMA)
Last Season: #1
For the third year in a row Chris Perley is your Top50 National Supermodified Driver of the Year! Perley and the Vic Miller team have certainly found the set up winning another 11 races on the ISMA trail, with one un-sanctioned victory at the Star Speedway in October. The 11 wins, and 14 ISMA top5 finishes helped the team to another ISMA title in 2007. In Classic events, Perley had a rough time by his standards. He won only one event, the Sandusky Classic, while he crashed out of both the Oswego and Star Classics later in the season. Unfortunately for Perley he was unable to pull down the East/West Shootout, as AJ Russel took the checkers. Perley however was graceful in victory lane as the runner-up finisher. Maybe next season someone can knock Perley off... but for now Perley is once again "King of the Supermodifieds!"
#2 Dave Shullick Jr.- 925 pts. (MSA)
Last Season: #7
Dave Shullick Jr. had a year for the record books, and would be our #1 driver for 2007 were it not for that Perley guy again! Dave ended the season with 8 feature wins, 7 of which came on the MSA series on his way to another tour Championship. The other victory was a special one coming at the Oswego Speedway in the ISMA Supernationals at Oswego Speedway. For the year Shullick had 13 top5 finishes including a career best 5th place finish in the Oswego Classic, a race his father had run so well in during previous years. The #49 Stout Racing machine also came across the line 2nd in the Sandusky Classic. For much of the season Shullick lead Perley in the Top50 standings. However, Perley picked up the title by virtue of his great run in the East/West Shootout in Concord, NC.
#3 Mike Lichty- 768 pts. (ISMA)
Last Season: #4
Lichty moved up one position in 2007 driving the Patco Transportation #84. Again, Lichty is still in search of that elusive first ISMA win, but for another yeat he picked up the MSA season finale at Sandusky in September. For the year, Lichty had the 1 victory and an amazing 11 top5 finishes for the season. In Classic events, Lichty took 4th at Sandusky, but had a disapointing run at Star. For the first time in three years, Lichty did not attempt the Oswego Classic. At season's end Lichty found himself 4th in the final ISMA standings.
#4 Charlie Schultz- 720 pts. (MSA)
Last Season: #6
Schultz was unable to pick up a win during the season, but ran very strong all year long in the May Racing #7 machine. Only the Stout Racing Team had a better season, as Schultz ended the 07 MSA campaign third in the overall standings. Charlie however ran very well in the bigger events during the season. He finished 2nd in the first MSA/Oswego Wings Challenge at Oswego, took 7th in the Sandusky Classic, another 2nd at Lorain County in August, then a 4th at Sandusky in the other MSA/Oswego Wings Challenge event. Charlie's biggest gain as far as the Top50 is concerned was his 3rd place finish in the East/West Shootout in Concord, NC.
#5 Greg Furlong- 669 pts. (OSW)
Last Season: #35
Greg Furlong returned to form at the Oswego Speedway in 2007 behind the wheel of the Furdi's Modular Homes #72 Hawk Chassis. Greg won 2 feature events during the season on his way to the Oswego Speedway Track Championship. One of those wins came on August 4th in the pretigious $10,000 to win Mr. Supermodified event. However, as we all have become accustom to, his shining moment once again came on Classic Weekend. Unlike in years past, Furlong did not time well, but again used his same relaxed pace to work his way through the field and by Joe Gosek late in the stages for his unprecedented 4th Classic win in a row and 6th overall! With the win Greg is now in a tie with Nolan Swift and Bentley Warren for most wins all-time, and you have to say he is again the odds on favorite in 2008.
#6 Mike Ordway Jr.- 545 pts. (ISMA)
Last Season: N/A
It could be argued that Mike Ordway Jr. had the best rookie season for a supermodified driver EVER. The 2007 ISMA Rookie of the Year, and 2007 Top50 National Rookie of the Year picked up 1 win and 7 top5's in his first year behind the wheel of the Wentworth #10 on the ISMA trail. To top it off, the young driver also qualified for the Oswego Classic in his first attempt at an un-winged supermodified.
#7 Mark Sammut- 499 pts. (ISMA)
Last Season: #15
Sammut had a tremendous year behind the wheel of his #78 machine in 2007. Mark was one of the top competitors on the circuit to not pick up a feature win. With eight top5 finishes, only Mike Lichty had more (9) without a win. Sammut took an impressive 3rd place finish in the final standings, and is still in search of that elusive first win.
#8 Dave McKnight- 494 pts. (ISMA)
Last Season: #5
McKnight came home 5th in the season long ISMA point battle with seven top5 finishes, and one win coming at the Delaware Speedway on September 28th. Driving the Lichty Racing #94, McKnight took 5th in the Sandusky Classic in July.
#9 Troy Regier- 485 pts. (WSSRL)
Last Season: #10
Once again Troy Regier moves up in the Top50 standings, reaching single digits for the first time. Regier took 4 wins on the west coast this season, finishing 4th in the overall WSSRL standings as he missed the final 2 events of the season. One of those wins came at Madera in the Harvest Classic in September.
#10 Michael Barnes- 471 pts. (OSW)
Last Season: N/A
"The Hustler" grabbed two feature victories this season at the Oswego Speedway on his way to second in the season long point battle. 2007 marked his first full season behind the wheel of the Lighthouse Lanes, Double-Deuce Racing #22. With wins on June 16 and June 30, Barnes turned in a very successful campaign coupled with a fine 2nd place finish in the Jim Shampine Memorial behind Randy Ritskes. Towards seasons end, Barnes also ran the #22 Hawk Chassis at select winged races and had a 6th at Delaware and a 5th at Berlin in late September. Unfortunately, a great run at Thompson was cut short by a crash, and of course we all know what happened at Concord in November. For next season, Barnes has departed the Double-Deuce team and will move on to Clyde Booth Racing behind the wheel of the #61, competing with the ISMA gang.
#11 Dale Lamborn- 452pts. (WSSRL)
Last Season: N/A
Lamborn finished up the 2007 Western States Super Season 3rd in the standings, but visited victory lane more than the two drivers ahead of him. Lamborn hit pay-dirt on two seperate occasions with a win in the second Diamond Cup Twin at Meridian, as well as a triumph at the season finale at Meridian. Dale ended the year with four top5 finishes, and nearly had another at the East/West Shootout as he came across the line in the 6th position after setting the second fastest time in time trials.
#12 Moe Lilje- 446pts. (MSA)
Last Season: #14
Driving the Stout Racing #19, Lilje ended the 2007 MSA campaign as the runner-up to teammate Dave Shullick Jr. Lilje was one of only three drivers to win on the MSA Tour in '07, and that victory came at the Lorain County Speedway on May 19. With nine top5 finishes during the season, Lilje was one of the top winged competitors during the year. The #19 finished 6th in the Sandusky Classic with all of the ISMA guys in attendance, and took 3rd at Lorain County in August. During the MSA/OSW Wings Challenge, Lilje cracked the top10 on each occasion.
#13 Otto Sitterly- 435pts. (OSW)
Last Season: #11
The 2006 Oswego Speedway track champion joined forces with John Nicotra in 2007 piloting the blue #6 machine. Sitterly finished 5th in the final standings, driving for his brand new team and won 2 heat races during the season. It took some time for the team to gel, but they certainly had some fast nights at the Speedway. Otto took 2nd on June 16, 3rd on June 30, and 3rd again in the coveted Mr. Supermodified event in August. Most importantly the team hit the set up for the 51st International Classic, as Sitterly stayed out of trouble all day long and found himself in the runner-up poiition at the end of the day behind Greg Furlong. By the end of the year Sitterly had five top5 finishes to his credit, and certainly a respectable season for this brand new team.
#14 Stephen Gioia III- 416pts. (OSW)
Last Season: #46
Gioia had a breakout season in 2007 in more ways than one. At Oswego the second year driver finished 10th in the final standings, despite missing one race during the season while visiting Italy. The #9 was twice named Up and Comer early in the season with 4th and 3rd place finishes to open the year. The 3rd came in the prestigous Shampine Memorial behind Randy Ritskes and Mike Barnes. Gioia was also as consistent as he could be with four top5 finishes, including a tremendous 4th place finish in his second International Classic 200. Stephen also took advantage of the MSA/OSW Wings Challenge to get used to running supers with the high downforce wings. In his first attempt at the Oswego Speedway Gioia lead several feature laps before slipping to 3rd in the late going. The team ended the season with five top5 finishes with three of those coming in high point events for the 2007 Top50 season.
#15 Justin Belfiore- 363pts. (ISMA)
Last Season: #12
Belfiore may have only finished 15th in the overall ISMA standings for 2007, but the #8 team had a highlight in the Fall that they will never forget. The New England pilot raced his way to the Star Classic title, the first of his career. It was to be Belfiore's third career ISMA win to date. Justin concluded the season with three top5 finishes on the season, including a 4th place finish in the un-sanctioned winged race at Star Speedway in October.
#16 Martin McKeefery- 361pts. (WSSRL)
Last Season: #19
Last season's National Rookie of the Year stepped up in a big way in 2007 by becoming the '07 ASA Western States Supermodified Champion for the west coast. Martin had just 3 top5 finishes on the year but finished in the top10 in every WSSRL event throughout the season. His best run of the season came in the season finale at Meridian as he came home in the 3rd position, but he also had a fine 5th place run in the Harvest Classic in September. The team made the trek to Concord for the East/West Shootout, but unfortunately they were the first car to drop out of the feature event.
#17 AJ Russell- 357 pts. (WSSRL)
Last Season: #30
Even though he ranks as #17 on this year's list, AJ Russell holds the distinct right to call himself the #1 Supermodified driver in the country for 2007 based on his tremendous performance at the East/West Shootout in Concord, NC. Russell did not run many super events in 2007 as he was focused more on his Indy Pro Series career. However, he came to Concord prepared to knock off one of the best in the business, Chris Perley. Things didn't start out great. AJ timed poorly and finished 4th in his heat, missing the handicap for the feature event. He had to start deep in the field along with Perley. Russell had the set-up for feature time, blasting by everyone in his path, including the Miller owned #11, and sped to victory $3,800 richer. The Clovis, CA pilot exclaimed in victory lane, "Everybody said Perley can't be beat but guess what, he just got beat." Everyone is already looking forward to the possible re-match in 2008.
#18 Rob Summers- 333pts. (ISMA)
Last Season: #27
Summers once again drove for the Lane Racing Team in 2007, but this time as the #1 driver piloting the familiar #97 machine. Summers opened the season with a 4th place run at Waterford in May, then backed it up with a great Ohio weekend. Rob took 5th at Toldeo, then 2nd to Mike Ordway Jr. at the M-40 Speedway. The team ran into some trouble at the Jennerstown Twins, before hitting pay-dirt at the Stafford Speedway on July 10th. Summers took his first career supermodified feature win, and picked up a guaranteed starting spot for the East/West Shootout, where he would finish 25th. Summers ended the season with 1 win and 6 top5 finishes for the year ending the season 6th in the series standings. Were it not for his Classic runs, Summers would have been much higher on the list. The #97 finished 27th at Sandusky, 14th at Star, and was qualified in great position at Oswego but the car would not fire for the green flag.
#19 Jack Smith- 320pts. (MSA)
Last Season: #24
Smith took 6th in the overall MSA Championship standings in 2007 driving the #09. The team got the year started off right with a 2nd place finish at the Sandusky Speedway on May 5th. Smith would end the year with three top5 finishes for the season including a 5th place run in the season finale MSA/Oswego Wings Challenge at the Sandusky Speedway.
#20 Randy Ritskes- 314pts. (OSW)
Last Season: N/A
Perhaps the most interesting story of the early supermodified season was Randy Ritskes flying around the Oswego Speedway oval in Craig Rayvals back-up #95 supermodified. In the past few seasons fans/drivers/owners have began to see the old style supers as a thing of the past, but Ritskes put that to bed in the Muldoon built #95. Randy came out on opening day and flew past Greg Furlong, in a Hawk, and took the feature lead on a restart and looked to be on his way to victory. Unfortunately for Randy, Joe Gosek made a daring last lap pass in his Extreme Chassis #00 to take the win. Ritskes however had staked his claim, "the old cars CAN win!" The very next race, in the prestigious Shampine Memorial, Ritkses could prove his claim by beating Mike Barnes to the line in the Hawk Chassis #22. To some Ritskes had pulled the unthinkable, and he was now in the drivers seat for the Oswego Speedway Championship even though he hadn't originally planned on running the whole season. As it turned out Randy would not run the whole season even though he had command of the point standings. The next three races he ran he finished 4th, 10th, and 5th before vacating the #95. Ritskes would also compete a few times during the year with a wing, but it was his runs at the Oswego Speedway that turned people's heads around the supermodified community.
#21 Kirk Wartman- 311pts. (WSSRL)
Last Season: #40
Wartman had four top5 finishes in 2007, helping him to 2nd in the WSSRL standings. Two of those runs were back-to-back 4th place runs in the Diamond Cup Twins at Meridian Speedway. Apparently, Meridian is a special place for Wartman as he again had a top5 at the facility in the season finale finishing 2nd to Dale Lamborn.
#22 Jim Birges- 310pts. (WSSRL)
Last Season: #43
Birges finished 6th in the WSSRL season standings with five top5 finishes on the season. His best run of the year came in the Harvest Classic in September as he finished in the runner-up spot to Troy Regier. Previously, Birges had one other 2nd place finish at the Wenatchee Super Oval in the WSSRL's 6th event of the year. The Birges team also made the trip to Concord where they finished 18th.
#23 Amy Barnes- 310pts. (WSSRL)
Last Season: N/A
Amy Barnes becomes the first female to make the top50 in the three years of the countdown. Barnes had an impressive 4 top5 finishes in just 6 races during the season. Two of those impressive runs came in the Diamond Cup Twins where she finished 2nd to Jeff Russell, and 5th behind Dale Lamborn, Troy Regier, Jim Birges, and Kirk Wartman. She then kept her string going with a 4th place finish in the Harvest Classic in September. At season's end Barnes finished 9th in the WSSRL rundown, but would have likely been higher had she not missed the first and last events of the season.
#24 Ray Graham- 307pts. (ISMA)
Last Season: #18
Ray Graham realized a dream in 2007 by capturing his first supermodified feature event after coming so close on many occasions. That win came in Mansfield, OH in August ahead of Mike Lichty, Dave Trytek, and Ohio standouts Bobby Dawson and Moe Lilje. The rest of the season for Graham was rather hit and miss behind the wheel of the Hawk Chassis #90 and #99. In September he ran to a 6th place finish at Berlin, and had a tremendous run in the International Classic at Oswego. The Iowa pilot passed Doug Didero for the lead, lost it, then gained it back before running out of fuel late in the going. Graham ended the season with three total top5 finishes, including one at the non-winged Oswego Speedway in June.
#25 Craig Rayvals- 303pts. (OSW)
Last Season: #45
Rayvals unveiled his new Hawk Chassis in 2007, and promptly drove himself to his highest top50 ranking in the three years of the countdown (#31,#45). The #94 and then #95 Stingray team competed in all 11 races at Oswego, as well as the Thompson World Series, and both legs of the MSA/Oswego Wings Challenge. At Oswego, Rayvals started the season with a 5th place finish in the Shampine Memorial, a race he has won in the past. After that Rayvals struggled somewhat before bouncing back in August with a nice 4th place run in the Mr. Supermodified event. At season's end Rayvals found himself 6th in the final Oswego standings.
#26 Dave Trytek- 294pts. (ISMA)
Last Season: #23
Trytek again piloted the Holbrook Racing #70 in 2007, and ran exclusively with the ISMA tour during the year. After 14 events, Trytek found himself 13th in the overall standings for the season. Dave had nice runs at Stafford in July with a 5th place finish, as well as Mansfield in August as he came across the line in 3rd behind Ray Graham and Mike Lichty. The end of the year would be the #70's strong point, as Trytek finished 8th in the Star Classic, 9th at Delaware, 7th at Berlin, and 10th at Thompson.
#27 Rich Reid- 284pts. (MSA)
Last Season: #31
Reid had an up and down season in the #55, but was helped greatly in the top50 standings by a tremendous run in the East/West Shootout. After winning a qualifying heat race, Reid lead much of the event before eventually slipping to a fine 5th place finish. Reid settled for 5th behind 4 of the best drivers supermodified racing has to offer in three different series. With the MSA, Reid finished a disappointing 15th in the final rundown in the Gillingham machine with a season best 4th place finish at Toledo in August. The team competed with ISMA as well, running 6 events through the year.
#28 Doug Didero- 275pts.
Last Season: N/A
Doug Didero moved to the potent Booth Racing #61 in 2007, and found himself all over the map during the year. Didero ran 4 races at the Oswego Speedway, picking up a feature win in dominating fashion on July 21st. The team set fast time for the Oswego Classic, and was again in contention for the win until the car faltered down the back straight ending Didero and Booth's chances at a second Classic win a piece. The team also competed in 5 ISMA races, with a top finish of 3rd in the Sandusky Classic, and a 4th at the Thompson World Series in October. The #61 was also a front runner in the East/West Shootout before more mechanical woes dropped the team to a 22nd place finish.
#29 Joe Gosek- 274pts. (OSW)
Last Season: #49
'Double 0' Joe Gosek returned to that form in 2007 driving the Extreme Chassis #00 at Oswego. Gosek started quick winning Oswego's opening day event in a barn burner over Randy Ritskes and Greg Furlong. From that point on, Gosek would add 3 more feature wins bringing his total to 4 on the season. Unfortunately, engine trouble kept Joe from one event, and several poor finishes in high point events kept Joe lower on the list than he likely should have been. An indication of this was the International Classis which saw Joe running away in the late stages before once again having fuel problems handing the lead over to Greg Furlong. Gosek ended the Oswego season 4th in the standings, and finished 19th in the East/West Shootout.
#30 Ernie Coppo- 273pts. (WSSRL)
Last Season: N/A
Coppo ran 8 events on the west coast this season, finishing 8th in the overall WSSRL standings for 2007. Ernie ran to a 4th place finish in the season opener at Madera Speedway, then backed it up with two top10's in the Diamond Cup Twins. The team also made the trek east to Concord, NC and finished 15th in the main after being added into the field as a promoter's option.
#31 Bob Bond- 260pts. (OSW)
Last Season: #34
Bond started out 2007 in his trusty #25 Page Chassis that was very much proven at the tough Oswego oval. However, that car was crashed Memorial Day Weekend causing Bond to miss 2 races before debuting his brand-new, and absolutely beautiful, Extreme Chassis in June. It took a couple weeks for Bond to get hooked up with his new independent front end super, but once he did he was one of the fastest cars at the track each and every week. Beginning on July 21st Bond had 4 consecutive top4 finishes including a daring 2nd place finish in the Mr. Super $10,000 to win event behind Greg Furlong. Other than opening day at Oswego, this was likely the best race of the season. Bob would also travel to the Thompson World Series in October with a wing. He proved that the Extreme Chassis is also competitive with a wing, finishing 2nd inthe consolation and running to a 12th place finish in the main. 2008 is still foggy for Bond as the independent front end super has been banned at Oswego Speedway.
#32 Jeff Holbrook- 258pts. (ISMA)
Last Season: N/A
Holbrook ran 15 events in 2007 with the ISMA tour, while also fielding two other cars for Bob Magner and Dave Trytek. Holbrook ended his season 8th in the ISMA standings behind the wheel of the #35. The teams highlight of the season came at the All-Star Speedway in the 150-lap Classic event, as Holbrook followed Justin Belfiore across the line in the runner-up position. Jeff also had a nice 4th place run at the M40 Speedway in June. While the team mostly focused on supermodified racing, Holbrook also fielded a DIRT Modified at Syracuse for Jason Barney in the Rite Aid 200. Barney timed 8th fastest and finished 9th overall winning $3,200.
#33 Pat Lavery- 254pts. (OSW)
Last Season: #22
Pat Lavery gained a ton of experience driving the Strong Racing owned "Plum Crazy" #99 in 2007 as he raced at Oswego, with the MSA, and ISMA during the year. At Oswego, Lavery again continued his consistent driving style coming home 7th in the overall standings. When looking deeper, the front 6 finishers were all piloting new style mounts. Lavery was the first driving an older style car with updates. Pat took 7th in the Shampine Memorial, along with two other top5 finishes during the year. Running with the MSA Lavery finished 7th at Oswego with a strong contingent of cars in June. Perhaps one of the bigger highlights of the year was travelling to Sandusky for Hy-Miler Classic Weekend for the first time and qualifying for both legs of the event. In 2008, the Lavery-Strong team will go seperate ways with Joey Payne taking over the driving chores of the #99. At first the word was that Lavery would move to the Lighthouse Lanes team as a #2 driver to Mike Barnes. Now it may very well be that Barnes has left the team, possibly moving Lavery up to the #1 slot. I guess we will have to wait and see!
#34 Vern Romanoski- 253pts. (ISMA)
Last Season: N/A
For the first time Romanoski, and his #5 supermodified, made it into the top50 standings. Vern finished the ISMA season with a very respectable 9th place finish in the overall tour standings. Romanoski competed in 16 events throughout the season, including the un-sanctioned All-Star Speedway event in October where he finished in the 6th position. The #5 also ran very well at Star in the 150-lap Classic coming home in 7th in front of Holbrook teammates Dave Trytek and Bob Magner.
#35 Jon Henes- 252pts. (MSA)
Last Season: #21
The MSA regular once again finds himself in the top50 standings for the 3rd consecutive season. Henes competed in 11 events during the year, 9 of which came on the MSA tour. Jon finished the MSA season 4th in the overall standings just one point behind Charlie Schultz in the May Motorsports machine. Henes, and his home-owned #36, finished 2nd at the Dixie Speedway in Michigan in May and ended the season with four top5 finishes in the series.
#36 Bob Reis- 251pts. (OSW)
Last Season: N/A
Reis made the successful transition from Modifieds to Supermodifieds in 2007 at the Oswego Speedway. Reis competed at Oswego in his #4 machine, formerly owned by Vern LaFave, and also Jeff West who originally built the independent front end mount. Reis started things out right in his rookie campaign with a 6th place finish in the Shampine Memorial in May. Bob always seemed to run good in the bigger races as he again had a top10 run finishing 7th in the Mr. Super event in August and then ended the non-wing season with a tremendous 6th place finish in his first career International Classic. Reis ended the year 14th in the Oswego Standings, and lost the Rookie of the Year title to Jason Spaulding after missing 2 races during the season.
#37 Bobby Dawson- 249pts. (MSA)
Last Season: #26
Dawson competed in 9 events on the MSA trail in 2007, finishing the year 5th in the final standings. Bobby had a couple of top5 finishes along the way, and also tacked on a 6th place finish at Lorain County in August. In November, Dawson travelled to NC for the East/West Shootout and finished 27th. With ISMA, Dawson had a very respectable 4th place finish at Mansfield in August.
#38 Jeff Russell- 248pts. (WSSRL)
Last Season: #17
Russell picked up one win during the season coming at the Meridian Speedway in race #1 of the prestigous Diamond Cup. Jeff also scored two more top5 finishes at Rocky Mountain Speedway, and then again at the Meridian Speedway to conclude the WSSRL campaign. At the end of the year Russell found himself 5th in the final WSSRL point run down.
#39 Bobby Dalton- 247pts. (WSSRL)
Last Season: N/A
Dalton was a competitor with the WSSRL in 2007, competing in 4 events plus two SMRA shows as well as the East/West Shootout. Dalton scored a top10 at Madera in September, along with a 4th place at Douglas County Oregon in October. Bobby raced on to a 28th place finish at the East/West Shootout. Dalton's season was highlighted with back-to-back top10's in the Diamond Cup at Meridian Speedway. Those finishes placed Bobby in 3rd for the overall Diamond Cup point standings, which were valuable points in the top50 standings.
#40 Harry Stone- 244pts. (ERA)
Last Season: N/A
Stone was one of the top runners with the Englewood Racing Association in 2007. Harry picked up his lone win of the season on September 1st at the Colorado National Speedway, after finishing in the top5 in two of the other ERA events. At the end of the season Stone joined a number of his fellow west coast counterparts in travelling to the East/West Shootout in Concord, NC. Stone qualified to the main event through his heat race which included top notch East coast shoes Timmy J, Charlie Shultz, Dave McKnight, Chris Perley, and Joey Payne. At the end of the evening Stone found himself in the 24th position.
#41 Tim Jedrzejek- 238pts. (MSA)
Last Season: N/A
Timmy J made a return to supermodified racing in '07 behind the wheel of the Reed's Salvage #8. In Jedrzejek's initial return at the Oswego Speedway in June he sped to a 5th place finish showing he in no way had lost his step. Jedrzejek ran so well he decided to continue his return, competing in 6 more races during the year. With the MSA, Timmy J had a season best 2nd place finish behind Dave Shullick Jr at Dixie Motor Speedway in Michigan in July. With ISMA, Jedrzejek finished 8th in the Sandusky Classic and 23rd in the East/West Shootout after winning a qualifying heat race.
#42 Scott Martel- 238pts. (ISMA)
Last Season: #13
Scott Martel again found himself behind the wheel of the Budnick #88 in '07... but for only 7 races during the year. The limited schedule forced Martel to his lowest positioning in the top50 to date, but again Martel and team posted some top finishes along the way. Scott finished 8th in the ISMA opener, 6th in the Ollie Silva Memorial at Lee in August, and then 7th the following night at Oxford. He then took 8th at Thompson in October and 9th at Concord in the East/West shootout in his own car #14.
#43 Tim Snyder- 234pts. (OSW)
Last Season: #38
After missing much of last season at Oswego due to a leg ailment, Snyder returned to the 'Steel Palace' for a full assault in 2007. Always a threat for the Championship, Snyder started all 11 races at the Speedway and got right down to business with a 4th place finish in the Shampine Memorial in May. Snyder ended the season with three top5 finishes, including a season best 2nd place finish on July 7th. The Snyder Racing team ended the year in the top3 in the Championship standings yet again behind two tough competitors in Mike Barnes and Greg Furlong.
#44 Rich Castor- 225pts. (ERA)
Last Season: #48
Castor was once again one of the top ERA Supermodified competitors in 2007. Rich did not win a feature event, but finished in the top5 in all of the ERA events in '07. The Bennett, CO native also ran in one WSSRL event, as well as the East-West Shootout where he came home with a 30th place finish.
#45 Nokie Fonoro- 219pts. (ISMA)
Last Season: #2
Fonoro started out the season as in year's passed driving the Soule Racing #32 Supermodified. In typical fashion, Fonoro came out of the blocks ultra competitive finishing 2nd to Chris Perley in the ISMA season opener at Waterford in May. Unfortunately, an expired engine spoiled Fonoro's chances in the series second and third events in Ohio in mid June. The team bounced back though in the Jennerstown Twins with 5th and 6th place finishes. As the Sandusky Classic passed in July, so did the Soule-Fonoro team. The notable duo parted ways just 8 races into the season. Soule would return once during the year with Lou Cicconi behind the wheel at Oswego. Fonoro however would only compete in 6 races during the year.
#46 Rick Veenstra- 208pts. (WSSRL)
Last Season: #42
Rick Veenstra finished 7th in the overall WSSRL point standings in 2007. Veenstra finished in the top5 on four occassions throughout the season, including a 3rd in the first leg of the Diamond Cup at Meridian. Rick would continue his luck at Meridian with a 4th place finish in the series finale.
#47 Bobby Magner- 208pts. (ISMA)
Last Season: #16
Magner was once again behind the wheel of the Holbrook Racing #40 in 2007, but didn't muster up the same season he had a year ago. Bobby ended the season 7th in the ISMA standings, with a season best 2nd place finish in a Twin event at Jennerstown in July. The #40 ended the year with two top5 finishes, along with a 9th in the Star Classic. Magner also ran one event at the Oswego Speedway in the LaPrade built #01, normally piloted by Doug Heveron.
#48 Bobby Haynes- 208pts. (ISMA)
Last Season: N/A
Haynes ran the majority of his schedule on the ISMA trail, but his season highlight came in the Oswego Classic on Labor Day Weekend. Qualifying through the consi, Haynes started deep in the field and ran the distance with a good head on his shoulders in the #44. At the end of the 200-lap grind, Haynes found himself in the 7th position in his first start in the International Classic. The following weekend Haynes once again put the wing on and traveled to Epping for the All-Star Classic. Bobby ended the night in the 10th position, becoming the only driver to finish with back-to-back top10's in these Classic events for 2007. Haynes ended the year 16th in the ISMA Championship standings. As seen on Pinner's page, the Haynes Team will have a brand new Extreme Chassis at their disposal in 2008.
#49 Keith Shampine- 199pts. (OSW)
Last Season: #50
Shampine once again squeeked into the top50 for the third straight season, and 2nd straight in his own #85. The Shampine Racing team put up a top effort at Oswego each and every week, but couldn't seem to catch a break. Keith lead the opening laps of the MSA/Oswego challenge before the #85 swapped ends off of turn 2. His best finish of the season came in the popular $10,000 to win event, as the #85 rolled across the line in the 5th position. The nephew of the great Jimmy Shampine finished 2007 7th in the final Oswego run down.
#50 Joey Payne- 180pts. (ISMA)
Last Season: N/A
The 'Jersey Jet' only ran a handful of races in 2007, but once again made the best of every start he attempted. Payne ran 4 events in 4 different racecars, again proving his diverse ability behind the wheel. Driving the Cicconi #75, Payne ran to a fine 2nd place finish in the Oswego Supernationals behind Dave Shullick Jr. Joey also ran at Thompson, in the Lehnert 92, and at Concord in the Sauder 46. Once again, Payne qualified for the un-winged Oswego Classic this time driving the Graham Racing 29.
And these are the 10 drivers that just missed the cut in 2007.
Joe Petro, Eric Silsby, Harold Evans, Joe Priselac, John Torrese, Lou Cicconi, Gene Lee Gibson, Dave Shullick Sr., Bentley Warren, Jason Spaulding.
