ISMA supermodifieds to invade Jennerstown

JENNERSTOWN, PA (May 9, 2005) … The International Super Modified Association (ISMA), which features the fastest short-track racing cars in the world, will be returning to Jennerstown Speedway on Saturday evening, June 18.

“Awesome is the only word I can use to describe the ISMA cars,” said track general manager Larry Mattingly. “Supermodifieds are the ultimate race car…they look like they’re going 200 miles-per-hour standing still.

“They have the speed and quickness of an Indy Car, but there is nothing ‘follow the leader’ about them,” he said. “It’s not uncommon to see a pack of supers racing three and four abreast, darting in and out of traffic and changing lanes in the middle of the turns.”

The winged supermodified is a pure bred racing machine, featuring a hand built tubular chassis. Weighing only 1850 pounds, the cars are powered by 800 horsepower, fuel injected 470 cubic inch engines, which hang off the left side of the frame for better handling capabilities.

The cars also feature aerodynamic aluminum bodies and wings. The wings utilized by the cars also add to the mystique. The back of the air foils are connected to air shocks which automatically permits the wing to rotate into a horizontal position on the straights generating less drag and more speed. The wing shifts to a more vertical position in the turns giving the cars rear wheels more down force and increased cornering speed.

Leading the ISMA field into Jennerstown will be two-time defending series champion Chris Perley. The Rowley, Mass. driver is the current holder of the Jennerstown track record, and has won twice at the Somerset County paved half mile oval during his career. Perley was victorious in last years 50-lap attraction, despite the fact that he blistered a tire earlier in the evening.

“Everyone had trouble with tires last year,” Perley said. “We needed a harder compound, because the track has so much grip. We were blistering tires in less than five-laps.

“With four laps to go in the feature the car started to vibrate pretty bad. We tried not to go too hard most of the way, but the last 10-laps I went as hard as I could,” he said. “I didn’t know how good I would be at the end. When I got the sign that someone was closing, I pulled away.”

Perley is quick to admit that Jennerstown ranks among his favorite tracks on the circuit. “The place is awesome,” he added. “It’s smooth, and there is so much room to race there… I just love the track.

Joining the supermodifieds on the race card will be a six-division NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series program, which will participate in a ‘feature-event only’ format.

Advance adult tickets are currently on sale for $15.00, with special pricing for seniors, students and children. Kids age six and under are free. Go to: www.jennerstown.com, or call the speedway office at 814 629-6677 for more information.

Spectator gates will open at 2:00, with the first race set to commence at 6:30 PM. 

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