8/65/09
LOU CICCONI BEATS THE CURFEW TO TAKE ISMA WIN AT WATERFORD
By Carol D Haynes, ISMA PR
Waterford, CT – When the ISMA Waterford 50 took the track around 11:30 Saturday night, the
competitors had to think about beating each other – and the clock. A midnight curfew indicated
that any yellow past midnight would checker the race. It did just that. With the battle out front
between Mike Ordway Jr. and Lou Cicconi raging for most of the race, it could still have a different
outcome had the last 3 laps be run. Cicconi had gotten by Ordway Jr., running the Holbrook 41,
on lap 45. A yellow just into lap 48 brought the race to an end with Cicconi taking his third ISMA
event at the 3/8th’s mile Connecticut oval since the inaugural event in 2005.
Said the animated Aston, PA driver in victory lane, “Seriously I don’t think I’ve ever run 50 laps
here as fast as I could. I know little Ordway did the same. I don’t know what the track looked like
behind us but we had to be checking out. It was a really fast pace. I thought the only shot I had
was through traffic. We got lucky in terms of the way the traffic fell. Both of us hit it just right. One
time we passed the 55 or 56 and his wing blew apart. It came right into my face. It was tough. I
was tight. If Mike didn’t blister the right front I wouldn’t have passed him. My man Mikey drove a
heck of a race. Awesome job.”
Ordway Jr., who had led every lap of the race except the last three, was happy with his run. “It
was pretty good out there. I was a little tight from the beginning. We planned on it loosening up,
but it just got tighter and tighter. I think the mod rubber did that. We blistered the right front. It
started overheating at halfway. I was blowing water out. I said I’m waiting, I’m not going in. Then I
lost the brakes about lap 30. It was out of control. Then Louie showed a wheel a couple times and
we held him off. He gave me enough room. He ran me clean. So we had fun.”
Another of the young supermodified lions, Danny Lane, ran a strong race to hold off a bunch of
guns behind him to finish third. “I wish we had those three laps at the end. I think I had something
for at least the 41 and maybe the 10 if I could have gotten a run. I’m psyched. I’m happy to take a
podium finish. I figured those guys behind me were right there. I didn’t think we were setting a
pace that could really leave those guys behind. But, I thought my car was good enough to stay in
front of them. We did a lot of work to the car this week. We straightened some things out that were
wrong with it. I have to thank my aunt and uncle for letting me drive this car. It’s an unbelievable
privilege. Plus all out sponsors, Essex Seafood, Dr. Mom Says School is Cool, Northern Glass,
Reader Electric, and Pro System Brakes.”
Racing against time was probably the key element in the Wings and Wheels 50 as Eddie Witkum
Jr. and Ordway Jr. took off at the green. Ordway Jr. put the 41 out front immediately and almost
immediately, Lou Cicconi brought the Wentworth 10 into second. And, away they went.
Yellow flew on lap 7 for a wall banger by Jamie Timmons who was flatbedded off the track.
Ordway and Cicconi left the pack behind on the green as Witkum Danny Lane, Eric Lewis, Dave
McKnight, Chris Perley, Rob Summers and previous Speedbowl winner, Dave Shullick Jr. diced
for position behind. Shullick, whose 61 may have suffered some internal problems at Delaware
according to car owner Clyde Booth, exited the track at the lap 10 mark.
By lap 15 Ordway and Cicconi hit the back of the pack and heavy traffic. Ordway indicated traffic
was not a big problem for the lead duo. “We kind of caught the traffic at the right time. We were
both able to get by. I was just wicked tight.”
A series of miscues occurred just after midway. On lap 27 yellow was called for the Witkum 38
who had slid off turn four into the grass but then kept going which made the flag unnecessary.
No penalties were assessed and Witkum resumed his third place spot.
Just into lap 28, Witkum, unfortunately, came together with Jeff Abold going into turn three.
Witkum’s possible podium finish was done. Abold returned at the rear. On the restart, Brandon
Bellinger flew the yellow once more and he too was done.
The clock was really ticking now as Ordway and Cicconi resumed their battled out front. Danny
Lane now held third as Dave McKnight, Robbie Summers, Ordway Sr., Lewis, Ben Seitz and Chris
Perley were all hot on his tail.
Ordway Sr., driving the Vic Miler 71, slowed suddenly on lap 31 but was able to make it into the
infield without a race stop. Robbie Summers followed Ordway’s move one lap later and in he went.
With one eye on the clock and one on the counter, only ten laps remained as midnight
approached. As long as the race stayed green, it could continue past the bewitching hour.
Ordway Jr., with a blistered tire, could no longer hold off Cicconi, however. As the duo prepared
to sandwich Dave Sanborn, Ordway Jr. lost his race-long lead to “Liquid” Lou.
On lap 48, Justin Belfiore’s 98 sat up in between 1 and 2. The yellow flew and then the checkered
flew with 47 the last complete lap scored. Trailing the top three of Cicconi, Ordway Jr. and Lane,
were Dave McKnight and Russ Wood. Wood had actually been making a pass for fourth at the
time, but to no avail.
Said Wood of his race, “We started 17th. We stunk all day. The guys worked on car and it was
really pretty good in the feature. I was right there. I had just taken fourth by passing Dave
McKnight when they threw the yellow and then the checkered. The leaders were there. I think we
had a shot at them. My car was good most of this weekend. We’ve got to be happy with it.”
McKnight, who wasn’t sure which top five he got until the score sheet was passed, indicated, “It
was a good night for us. We struggle at this racetrack. My hats off to Brad, Reg, Mickey,
everybody involved today with Patco. To come home and finally finish a race here means a big
confidence builder for us. We’re going to build on this and go to the next race. I think we’re
getting back on track. We had a good solid run. We were in the hunt there. It could have went
either way if we had finished the race. Anyway, great run. Really happy with the finish. Hats off to
Louie, He did a good job to win tonight. We’ll see what happens when we get to Oswego for the
wing show.”
Ben Seitz, Mike Lichty, Chris Perley, Eric Lewis and Jeff Locke, finished up the top ten.
Notes… Lee winner Mark Sammut blew an engine in the first heat and the crew had it changed for
the feature for Sammut to keep a hold on his second place point standing.
Summary ISMA event #11
Waterford Speedbowl, Aug. 15, 2009
Heat 1: Eddie Witkum Jr., Eric Lewis, Jamie Timmons, Jeff Holbrook, Artie Rousseau, Jerry
Dinnen, Dave Sanborn, Mark Sammut, Mike Lichty
Heat 2: Justin Belfiore, Dave McKnight Jr., Danny Lane, Chris Perley, Ben Seitz, Russ Wood, Jeff
Locke, Mike Keeler, Vern Romanoski (overheating)
Heat 3: Mike Ordway Jr., Lou Cicconi, Rob Summers, Dave Shullick Jr., Mike Ordway Sr., Jeff
Abold, Brandon Bellinger, Bobby Haynes Jr.
ISMA Wings and Wheels 50: 1. Lou Cicconi (10), 2. Mike Ordway Jr. (41), 3. Danny Lane (9), 4.
Dave McKnight Jr. (94), 5. Russ Wood (29), 6. Ben Seitz (88), 7. Mike Lichty (84), 8. Chris Perley
(11), 9. Eric Lewis (28), 10. Jeff Locke (37), 11. Jeff Holbrook (35), 12. Jeff Abold (05), 13. Mark
Sammut (78), 14. Justin Belfiore (98), 15. Bobby Haynes Jr. (44), 16. Dave Sanborn (24), 17. Artie
Rousseau (616), 18. Mike Keeler (55), 19. Rob Summers (97), 20. Mike Ordway Sr. (71), 21. Eddie
Witkum Jr. (38), 22. Brandon Bellinger (02), 23. Vern Romanoski (5), 24. Jerry Dinnen (56), 25. Dave
Shullick Jr. (61), 26. Jamie Timmons (27)
LOU CICCONI BEATS THE CURFEW TO TAKE ISMA WIN AT WATERFORD
By Carol D Haynes, ISMA PR
Waterford, CT – When the ISMA Waterford 50 took the track around 11:30 Saturday night, the
competitors had to think about beating each other – and the clock. A midnight curfew indicated
that any yellow past midnight would checker the race. It did just that. With the battle out front
between Mike Ordway Jr. and Lou Cicconi raging for most of the race, it could still have a different
outcome had the last 3 laps be run. Cicconi had gotten by Ordway Jr., running the Holbrook 41,
on lap 45. A yellow just into lap 48 brought the race to an end with Cicconi taking his third ISMA
event at the 3/8th’s mile Connecticut oval since the inaugural event in 2005.
Said the animated Aston, PA driver in victory lane, “Seriously I don’t think I’ve ever run 50 laps
here as fast as I could. I know little Ordway did the same. I don’t know what the track looked like
behind us but we had to be checking out. It was a really fast pace. I thought the only shot I had
was through traffic. We got lucky in terms of the way the traffic fell. Both of us hit it just right. One
time we passed the 55 or 56 and his wing blew apart. It came right into my face. It was tough. I
was tight. If Mike didn’t blister the right front I wouldn’t have passed him. My man Mikey drove a
heck of a race. Awesome job.”
Ordway Jr., who had led every lap of the race except the last three, was happy with his run. “It
was pretty good out there. I was a little tight from the beginning. We planned on it loosening up,
but it just got tighter and tighter. I think the mod rubber did that. We blistered the right front. It
started overheating at halfway. I was blowing water out. I said I’m waiting, I’m not going in. Then I
lost the brakes about lap 30. It was out of control. Then Louie showed a wheel a couple times and
we held him off. He gave me enough room. He ran me clean. So we had fun.”
Another of the young supermodified lions, Danny Lane, ran a strong race to hold off a bunch of
guns behind him to finish third. “I wish we had those three laps at the end. I think I had something
for at least the 41 and maybe the 10 if I could have gotten a run. I’m psyched. I’m happy to take a
podium finish. I figured those guys behind me were right there. I didn’t think we were setting a
pace that could really leave those guys behind. But, I thought my car was good enough to stay in
front of them. We did a lot of work to the car this week. We straightened some things out that were
wrong with it. I have to thank my aunt and uncle for letting me drive this car. It’s an unbelievable
privilege. Plus all out sponsors, Essex Seafood, Dr. Mom Says School is Cool, Northern Glass,
Reader Electric, and Pro System Brakes.”
Racing against time was probably the key element in the Wings and Wheels 50 as Eddie Witkum
Jr. and Ordway Jr. took off at the green. Ordway Jr. put the 41 out front immediately and almost
immediately, Lou Cicconi brought the Wentworth 10 into second. And, away they went.
Yellow flew on lap 7 for a wall banger by Jamie Timmons who was flatbedded off the track.
Ordway and Cicconi left the pack behind on the green as Witkum Danny Lane, Eric Lewis, Dave
McKnight, Chris Perley, Rob Summers and previous Speedbowl winner, Dave Shullick Jr. diced
for position behind. Shullick, whose 61 may have suffered some internal problems at Delaware
according to car owner Clyde Booth, exited the track at the lap 10 mark.
By lap 15 Ordway and Cicconi hit the back of the pack and heavy traffic. Ordway indicated traffic
was not a big problem for the lead duo. “We kind of caught the traffic at the right time. We were
both able to get by. I was just wicked tight.”
A series of miscues occurred just after midway. On lap 27 yellow was called for the Witkum 38
who had slid off turn four into the grass but then kept going which made the flag unnecessary.
No penalties were assessed and Witkum resumed his third place spot.
Just into lap 28, Witkum, unfortunately, came together with Jeff Abold going into turn three.
Witkum’s possible podium finish was done. Abold returned at the rear. On the restart, Brandon
Bellinger flew the yellow once more and he too was done.
The clock was really ticking now as Ordway and Cicconi resumed their battled out front. Danny
Lane now held third as Dave McKnight, Robbie Summers, Ordway Sr., Lewis, Ben Seitz and Chris
Perley were all hot on his tail.
Ordway Sr., driving the Vic Miler 71, slowed suddenly on lap 31 but was able to make it into the
infield without a race stop. Robbie Summers followed Ordway’s move one lap later and in he went.
With one eye on the clock and one on the counter, only ten laps remained as midnight
approached. As long as the race stayed green, it could continue past the bewitching hour.
Ordway Jr., with a blistered tire, could no longer hold off Cicconi, however. As the duo prepared
to sandwich Dave Sanborn, Ordway Jr. lost his race-long lead to “Liquid” Lou.
On lap 48, Justin Belfiore’s 98 sat up in between 1 and 2. The yellow flew and then the checkered
flew with 47 the last complete lap scored. Trailing the top three of Cicconi, Ordway Jr. and Lane,
were Dave McKnight and Russ Wood. Wood had actually been making a pass for fourth at the
time, but to no avail.
Said Wood of his race, “We started 17th. We stunk all day. The guys worked on car and it was
really pretty good in the feature. I was right there. I had just taken fourth by passing Dave
McKnight when they threw the yellow and then the checkered. The leaders were there. I think we
had a shot at them. My car was good most of this weekend. We’ve got to be happy with it.”
McKnight, who wasn’t sure which top five he got until the score sheet was passed, indicated, “It
was a good night for us. We struggle at this racetrack. My hats off to Brad, Reg, Mickey,
everybody involved today with Patco. To come home and finally finish a race here means a big
confidence builder for us. We’re going to build on this and go to the next race. I think we’re
getting back on track. We had a good solid run. We were in the hunt there. It could have went
either way if we had finished the race. Anyway, great run. Really happy with the finish. Hats off to
Louie, He did a good job to win tonight. We’ll see what happens when we get to Oswego for the
wing show.”
Ben Seitz, Mike Lichty, Chris Perley, Eric Lewis and Jeff Locke, finished up the top ten.
Notes… Lee winner Mark Sammut blew an engine in the first heat and the crew had it changed for
the feature for Sammut to keep a hold on his second place point standing.
Summary ISMA event #11
Waterford Speedbowl, Aug. 15, 2009
Heat 1: Eddie Witkum Jr., Eric Lewis, Jamie Timmons, Jeff Holbrook, Artie Rousseau, Jerry
Dinnen, Dave Sanborn, Mark Sammut, Mike Lichty
Heat 2: Justin Belfiore, Dave McKnight Jr., Danny Lane, Chris Perley, Ben Seitz, Russ Wood, Jeff
Locke, Mike Keeler, Vern Romanoski (overheating)
Heat 3: Mike Ordway Jr., Lou Cicconi, Rob Summers, Dave Shullick Jr., Mike Ordway Sr., Jeff
Abold, Brandon Bellinger, Bobby Haynes Jr.
ISMA Wings and Wheels 50: 1. Lou Cicconi (10), 2. Mike Ordway Jr. (41), 3. Danny Lane (9), 4.
Dave McKnight Jr. (94), 5. Russ Wood (29), 6. Ben Seitz (88), 7. Mike Lichty (84), 8. Chris Perley
(11), 9. Eric Lewis (28), 10. Jeff Locke (37), 11. Jeff Holbrook (35), 12. Jeff Abold (05), 13. Mark
Sammut (78), 14. Justin Belfiore (98), 15. Bobby Haynes Jr. (44), 16. Dave Sanborn (24), 17. Artie
Rousseau (616), 18. Mike Keeler (55), 19. Rob Summers (97), 20. Mike Ordway Sr. (71), 21. Eddie
Witkum Jr. (38), 22. Brandon Bellinger (02), 23. Vern Romanoski (5), 24. Jerry Dinnen (56), 25. Dave
Shullick Jr. (61), 26. Jamie Timmons (27)
