I ventured up to South Bend last night to see the supermodifieds in their only appearance in Indiana this year. After a 25 year absence, the ground pounding machines of the Midwest Supermodified Series invaded the South Bend Motor Speedway. I wasn't quite sure what to expect since I hadn't been to the speedway before. My thought was that a quarter mile bullring might be a little to tight for the supers to shine.

After the heat races were run, I was kind of concerned that with all of the cars on the track, the feature might be a wreckfest. Boy was I ever wrong. The 40 lapper was interrupted only once and that was for a car that had pulled into the infield and had a fire under the cowling. When the green light came back on, racing was fast and furious with the field again bunched back up.

"Liquid" Lou Cicconi put on a masterful performance in coming from the 8th starting position to take the victory. He was able to work lapped traffic in holding off Trent Stephens who finished second and defending MSA champion "Charging" Charlie Schultz who started in the 10th position. Brandon Fisher and Dave Shullick Jr. rounded out the top 5.

Just a reminder that the MSA will again join up with the Auto Value Super Sprints this coming Friday night in what is billed as the "Fastest Short Track Show in the World" at the Toledo Speedway. These two series always put on a great show on the big 1/2 mile track.

They do two full programs with qualifying, heats, and features. The qualifying alone is exciting to see which series can produce the fastest times. Toledo is a great place to watch the supers especially since it is very smooth and offers great racing action. If you ever want to see the supers run, I would highly recommend this event.

South Bend will be running Non-Wing Sprint Cars on July 30th and August 13th!
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Mike, thanks for your recap of last nights action. I cann't wait for July 9th when MSA invades Oswego for the King of Wings race on Old Timers Weekend at "The Steel Palace". I have been hoping since the May 7th ISMA race at Oswego was postponed, that ISMA & MSA would co-sanction this race but no word of that happening at this time. Old Timers Weekend at Oswego is a great chance to reunite with friends you use to spend every weekend with all summer long and now rarely see. An of course see some of best supermodified racing there is.

Patti

was impressed with the facility myself. will go back for the wing sprints in aug. racey and fast. faster than anderson for sure.

Patti,

The MSA is a fairly new sanctioning body for the supermodifieds. They put on a very good show plus they bring some new folks into the mix that ISMA doesn't.

I wish I could attend the July 9th event but I will be busy with sprint week here in Indiana. Oswego is on my bucket list as a must see. Enjoy the weekend renewing times of old with friends and most of all enjoy the supers. I will try to post some results next weekend from Toledo.

How many Supers where at S.B.M.S on Saturday?
Also does anyone have any pictures from the event?
Wanted to go but gas is still kind of high.

Not sure of any pictures, just some through the fence, walking around the pits stuff is all I have seen on Facebook

Official Finish Midwest Supermodified Association presented by Town Money Saver 40 at South Bend Motor Speedway 6.11.11
Number/Driver/Hometown/Owner
1. #49 Lou Cicconi; Aston, PA-Stout Racing
2. #19 Trent Stephens; Ravenna, OH-Stout Racing
3. #7 Charlie Schultz; Lorain, OH-May Motorsports
4. #12 Brandon Fisher; Amherst, OH-Denny Fisher
5. #8 Dave Shullick, Jr.; North Ridgeville, OH-Reed Salvage
6. #9 Talon Stephens; Ravenna, OH-Stout Racing
7. #28 Bobby Dawson; Amherst, OH-Reed Salvage
8. #66 Chris deRitis; Philadelphia, PA-deRitis Racing
9. #55 Rich Reid; New London, OH-Rich Reid
10. #36 Jon Henes; Lagrange, OH-Ron Henes
11. #77 Tim Ice; Seville, OH-May Motorsports
12. #21 Matt Palmer; North Olmstead, OH-Wayne Palmer
13. #14 A.J. Lesiecki; Lagrange, OH-Jonathan Lesiecki
14. #09 Jack Smith;Sandusky, OH-Jack Smith
15. #64 Jim Paller; South Amherst, OH-Wayne Paller

Toledo usually has a better car count, and is so fast. If you have never been to a Supermodified race, I would have to say it should be on your racing bucket list!

Mike would appreciate any updates you can give from Toledo, hope you have a good time. While Oswego would be a long haul for you it is well worth the trip. The new owners are determined to get the racing in and move the action along in a timely fashion. This past weekend when just about every other race track in N. Y. state canceled Oswego ran a completed show. Of course there was about a two hour delay, an hour for rain and another hour to dry the track but it remined me of the days when the Caurso's owned the track an would wait out the rain not cancel at 8:00 A. M. on race day. Everyone on the board is talking about car count, the super car count at Oswego is the best it has been in years. Six of the small block super drivers have moved up to the supers this year, a nine car consolation race was run on Saturday night that was the first there has been a need to run a consi in years.

Mike, while I have seen MSA run a number of times it will probably always be my personal belief that when either group comes to Oswego they should co-sancation the races, That way you would get super drivers from the total ranks of the sport competeing for the win or title in the case of the "The King of Wings" race. Since MSA was formed the ranks seem divided to me with MSA being supported mostly by Mid-West teams and ISMA by the East Coast - Central New York teams and while I realize that todays economy plays a big part in where a race team runs I admit I am old school when it comes to wanting to see the best talent from each area compete against each other for a title like "The King of Wings".

Patti

Patti,

I agree with you. Toledo used to be an ISMA race and many of the MSA boys would come and run with them. Last year ISMA couldn't find another track willing/able?? to join up with Toledo and make it a doubleheader weekend. ISMA decided to pull out rather than have only one race in the midwest that weekend. Another factor in a struggling economy.

ISMA still sanctions and particates in the HyMiler at Sandusky in late July. I hope that they can continue this as this is one of the crown jewels of supermodified racing. We will plan on making Oswego in the not to distant future. I will count on your expertise in planning that trip.

We will try to post updates from Toledo. RacinBabe will be along and she is much better at getting the final rundown than I am.

In regards to pictures from South Bend, Chris Seelman will have hers loaded to her SmugMug site soon. She has 150 of the 500 she shot already up. You can check them out at http://kittykittyenterprises.smugmug.com keep checking back as she is uploading in the evenings after her physical therapy appointments for her knee replacement surgeries.