9/22/09 Classic Race Is Ready to Roll October 10, 2009
By Russ Conway
Epping, N.H. – New England’s Longest Running Traditional Oval-Track Racing Event, The
“Classic” for Supermodifieds, is ready to get the green flag on Saturday afternoon, October 10th,
here at All-Star Speedway.
The 44th Annual “Classic” has already drawn a long list of top stars and cars from the
International Supermodified Association (ISMA). This year’s 24-car starting field is facing a 100-
Lap Main Event with fans being treated to green-flag racing only, meaning caution-flag laps will
not count in this special all out championship clash.
Leading the long list of entries is Legendary Bentley Warren, a record six-time Classic Race
Winner (1976,’84,’89,’90,’93,’94) who will be behind the wheel of a Vic Miller-prepared Winged
Supermodified from Plaistow, NH. Warren, a three-time Indy 500 driver, is widely recognized as
one of the most amazing drivers in motorsports history.
An inductee in four auto racing Halls of Fame, Warren is still highly competitive in the 850-
horsepower Supermods as his remarkable 54-season career continues. Warren has placed ninth
and second in his two ISMA Feature Races in 2009.
Five-time ISMA Champion Chris Perley, of Rowley, MA, will be Warren’s teammate in the Miller No.
11 Super. Perley is a three-time past Classic Champion (1996, 2005, 2008) but is facing a stiff
challenge as the defending winner.
Russ Wood, a five-time Classic Winner (1997,’99,’02,’03,’04) is back chasing his place in a bid for
an all-time record-tying sixth victory, Wood, of Pelham, NH, will drive one of two Jeff Holbrook-
Brian Allegresso team cars.
Two-time Classic Champ Lou Cicconi, of Philadelphia, will drive a Winged Supermod for Rich
Wentworth, a long-time veteran from Haverhill MA.
Justin Belfiore, the 2007 “Classic” Champ form Ipswich, Ma, has a beautiful Winged Supermod
ready to roll which he raced to top finishers earlier this year in California and Nevada.
Former two-time Classic Winner Joe Gosek (1995-2001) and 1998 Champ, Mike Ordway, Sr. also
are in the hunt.
Canada also has a strong shot at taking the Classic title with at least four strong cars headed to
the Classic from North of the Border.
Veteran Dave McKnight, a multiple-time champion from Brampton, Ontario, is a confirmed entry
along with Mike Lichty, a bright up-and coming star from Innerkip, Ontario.
Mark Sammut is making the long haul from London, Ontario. Summit won the 75-Lap Ollie Silva
Memorial Supermod Event in August in his last New England appearance with a spectacular late
race charge at Lee USA Speedway.
Craig Rayvals, of Brockville, Ontario, has entered a Supermod to be driven by Jeff Abold, a 21
year-old proven star from Auburn, NY, Abold won the Louis Seymour Memorial Main Event this
August.
Four-time Northeast Midget Racing Association, Ben Seitz is another Classic entry. Seitz will be
behind the wheel of the Bruce Budnick Winged No. 88 from Plaistow, NH.
Ohio’s Dave Shullick is another champion in this year’s strong field. A three-time ISMA winner in
two seasons, “The Shoe” will be in Clyde Booth’s low-slung special design No. 61 from
Mooresville, N.C.
Practice sessions for this Classic will be held both Friday night, Oct. 9, and Saturday, Oct. 10,
between 10:00 A.M. and Noon.
The Pit Area will open on Saturday, October 10, at 9:00 A.M. Main Grandstand and General
Admission, Box Offices will open at 1:00 P.M. A 50-Lap Modified Race starts at 3:00 P.M.
Supermodified qualifying is at 4:00 P.M. with the 100-Lap “Classic” starting at 5:00 P.M. A full
program of racing follows the Supermod action.
This year’s Classic is being sponsored by the Cigar Association of New Hampshire.
“The Classic” Champions
Year Champion Laps Car No.
1 - 1966 Bob Cloutier Tri-Winners 84
Don MacLaren 3 Segments F5
Eddie West 75, 50, 25 Laps 61Jr.
2 - 1967 Bud Crotty 150 77
3 - 1968 Don MacLaren 150 F5
4 - 1969 Ollie Silva 200 0
5 - 1970 Ollie Silva 150 0
6 - 1971 Ollie Silva 150 0
7 - 1972 Jim Landry 150 38
8 - 1973 Eddie West 150 61Jr.
9 - 1974 Ollie Silva 150 0
10 - 1975 Eddie West 150 61Jr.
11 - 1976 Bentley Warren 150 77X
12 - 1977 Howie Brown 150 77
13 - 1978 Dave Thomas 150 1
14 - 1979 Jim Shampine 150 8-Ball
15 - 1980 Jim Shampine 150 8-Ball
16 - 1981 Dick Batchelder 150 33
17 - 1982 Doug Heveron 150 7
18 - 1983 Doug Heveron 200 1
19 - 1984 Bentley Warren 150 5
20 - 1985 Paul Richardson 150 7
21 - 1986 Paul Richardson 200 7
22 - 1987 Gene Lee Gibson 200 0
23 - 1988 Dick Batchelder 200 77
24 - 1989 Bentley Warren 200 61
25 - 1990 Bentley Warren 200 61
26 - 1991 Dave Simard 200 77
27 - 1992 Dave Simard 200 77
28 - 1993 Bentley Warren 200 29
29 - 1994 Bentley Warren 200 29
30 - 1995 Joe Gosek 200 00
31 - 1996 Chris Perley 200 11
32 - 1997 Russ Wood 200 29
33 - 1998 Mike Ordway, Sr. 200 26
34 - 1999 Russ Wood 200 29
35 - 2000 Lou Cicconi 200 75
36 - 2001 Joe Gosek 150 00
37 - 2002 Russ Wood 200 29
38 - 2003 Russ Wood 200 29
39 - 2004 Russ Wood 200 29
40 - 2005 Chris Perley 200 29
41 - 2006 Lou Cicconi 200 75
42 - 2007 Justin Belfiore 148 8
43 - 2008 Chris Perley 100 11
44 - 2009