(Jennerstown, PA) On Saturday, July 15, Jennerstown Speedway Complex welcomes the “world’s fastest short track racing machines” for one night only. The exotic, open-wheel race cars known as Supermodifieds will reach breath-taking speeds, in a race sanctioned by the International SuperModified Association (ISMA). Drivers from eight states and Canada are expected to compete in the “Farmers Union Co-op 50, Powered by Milk,” (a 50-lap event, following preliminaries).
With pivoting aero wings atop these open-wheel machines, many race fans believe that Supermodifieds are most pure form of motorsports to watch, since rules are minimal. The cars utilize big block engines, which hang off of the left side frame rails of each car, to better distribute weight, for the physics challenges of high speed left turns on an oval track. The entire drivetrain of the cars is visibly exposed, along the left sides as the driver sits in the center of the machine. The result of such stunning-appearing engineering, is the highest speeds reached on Jennerstown’s pavement. These cars are so exotic that they exist in only two regions of the country. ISMA, with a series of national tour dates, provides fans a chance to see Supermodified racing in areas like Western PA.
“Supermodified teams exist in great numbers in the New England states and New York, plus a small number of teams in the Midwest,” Jennerstown Speedway promoter Mike Lysakowski explained. “Jennerstown is the perfect mid-point between the two ‘pockets’ of Supermodified racing to bring them all together – the Ohio/Michigan teams and the Northeastern teams. For decades, it was widely believed that the New England area Supermodifieds were superior. However, the last two ISMA Championship titles have been won by Ohio driver Dave Schullick, Jr,” Lysakowski pointed out.
So far in 2017, ISMA has sanctioned three events, with two winners from Massachusetts and one from Ohio.
On-track practice sessions for ISMA Supermodifieds begin at 2:30pm on Saturday, with qualifying time trials at 5:00pm. Racing begins at 6:00pm and includes Jennerstown’s five divisions of Stock Car Racing, in addition to the “Farmers Union Co-op 50 Powered By Milk” for Supermodifieds.
- Vernon Yoder on Jul 14, 2017
- Article Date: 7/14/2017