Perley aces New England Dodge Dealers Maine Classic; Skip Tripp's Strictly Stock streak hits fantastic four
OXFORD, Maine – Chris Perley can swap cars, start in mid-pack, wait out a couple red flags and encounter slower traffic running two or three lanes deep in front of him. This year, and in most every other season with the International Supermodified Association, it just doesn’t matter.
Perley, the vaunted “Rowley Rocket” from the northeastern corridor of Massachusetts, became the all-time winner in ISMA history Saturday night, dominating the New England Dodge Dealers Maine Classic at Oxford Plains Speedway.
The 75-lap triumph was the ninth victory in 12 starts this season for Perley, who also won an event at Lee USA Speedway in New Hampshire on Friday evening.
In supporting feature action, Travis Adams continued his assault on a second straight and third overall Oxford Networks Late Model championship with his sixth feature victory of the season. Skip Tripp astonishingly ruled the Allen’s Coffee Flavored Brandy Strictly Stock main for the fourth consecutive week, and Don Mooney denied champion and point leader Jimmy Childs in an intense battle at the front of the Allen’s Mini Stock feature.
He’s the king of wing, no matter what he wheels
Perley surrendered the car that won that Lee USA race to teammate Bentley Warren of Kennebunkport, but it was hardly a handicap.
Warren wrestled the lead away from Vern Romanoski of Strong on lap 13, but Perley pulled the Vic Miller-owned #11 into second shortly thereafter and made his winning pass on a lap 20 restart.
"I was out there knowing that I had the old car and Bentley had the newer car, and you know some old things just don't go away. I figured I was going to be out there racing against Bentley for the win," Perley said. "I just wanted the lead, and I figured if anybody was going to go by me I was going to make them work for it.”
The 2003, 2004 and 2006 ISMA champion, Perley recently passed his legendary, 66-year-old teammate Warren for second place on the all-time winners list. Saturday’s victory enabled Perley to leapfrog six-time series champion Russ Wood for the top spot with his 46th victory in a 13-year career.
“I’m just psyched. I can’t believe that I guess we just passed the record, and to be in that kind of company is exciting,” Perley said. “This car is awesome. Anybody can see it. It’s just a blast to drive, and I can’t believe I keep putting it up here in victory lane.”
Warren, who has competed in the Indianapolis 500 and continues to run up front with the ISMA circuit after becoming the series‘ oldest race winner last fall at Oswego, N.Y., was never challenged for second after Justin Belfiore took away the position but fell out of the race with engine failure at lap 35.
"It feels pretty good to finish behind Chris, except he doesn‘t respect his elders, you know?" Warren said of Perley with a laugh.
Romanoski ran third until he was snake-bitten by a mechanical problem with four laps remaining. He was credited with 13th in the final rundown.
Rob Summers recovered from an early race pit stop to pick up the final podium position.
“We threw everything but the kitchen sink at the car all day,” Summers said. “The throttle was sticking early in the race, so we sprayed it down and came back up through the field.”
Mark Sammut was fourth, the final car on the lead lap, with Mike Lichty fifth.
Twenty-two cars started the main event. Of seven caution flags and two red flags, the most serious incident occurred on Lap 1, when Dave McKnight’s car touched wheels with another ride near the front of the pack and hammered the front stretch retaining wall. McKnight walked to a waiting ambulance and was later given a precautionary checkup at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston.
The race was stopped a second time to allow for the Belfiore clean-up and refuel the cars that already had run an inordinate number of laps under caution. That delay was followed by a lengthy stretch of green-flag racing until the Romanoski breakdown four circuits from the finish.
“There was so much lapped traffic that I nearly crashed after the race,” said Perley, alluding to a near collision with Bob Timmons Jr. as he coasted into victory lane.
Adams takes another giant leap toward title
Gary Chiasson and Dale Verrill kept the lead warm during the Late Model race, but Adams overtook Dale Verrill for the advantage just before a caution flag on lap 19.
From there, he fought off a pair of restarts with Glen Luce lurking to his outside.
"Our heat race set-up has been the problem for us this year, and I think we've even got that squared away," said Adams. "We took the rear end out of this car this week — drive shaft, transmission, everything — and couldn't find anything. Well, we got here today for practice and had a horrible vibration, so we had to change the whole thing this afternoon. I have to thank my crew for that."
Luce, who charged from 21st to eighth without the benefit of a restart in last week's American-Canadian Tour Time Warner Cable 150, shook off Carey Martin to secure second.
“We had it going pretty good. I was hoping we could get a little closer there and give Trav a run,” Luce said. “We’ve worked hard since the 250 to get this thing hooked up.”
The fifth and final restart of a wild race nearly gave Luce the opportunity to repeat his impressive June 23 victory over Adams. Luce stayed door-to-door for two full turns around the 3/8-mile oval, actually leading lap 27 before Adams used the preferred line to reclaim the point.
Luce’s daring commitment to the battle for the lead nearly cost him second and many more positions, as the front bumper of Martin’s machine brushed the back of Luce’s mount in the first turn on lap 29. Martin wisely lifted and gave Luce the opportunity to move inside.
That allowed Luce to reduce Adams’ margin slightly, but he couldn’t sneak closer than two car lengths at the checkers.
“I was racing kind of strong there with Glen. We touched a couple of times, and I finally decided that spinning out wasn’t the place to be,” Martin said. “If I would have left my foot in it, he would have wound up probably in the dirt pile over there in turn one. Now we can remain friends, anyway.”
Adams dedicated the win to his grandfather, whom he learned only minutes earlier was admitted to a hospital earlier in the day.
“Just running for the this championship puts enough on my plate. My parents didn’t want to put any additional pressure on me, so they just gave me that news on the radio after the race,” said Adams. “I hope everything is turning out OK there.”
With two races remaining, Adams has increased his lead over Ricky Rolfe to 37 points.
Rolfe finished seventh after becoming involved in a multi-car spin and being forced to pit under caution on lap 6. He was running fifth prior to the incident. Adams was in a close proximity to the tangle and narrowly escaped without a scratch.
Jon Brill and Don Wentworth completed the top five in the 27-car field.
Long, strange Tripp for the Strictly competition
Tripp's latest conquest took a little more finesse than his previous runaways.
Although he shook off front-running rookie Chris Burgess on lap 16, Tripp had a mirror full of Glen Henderson over the closing circuits.
"We made an adjustment after the heats and it tightened right up," Tripp said. "It wasn’t a miscommunication. We figured it would work. But I was lucky to win this one."
Tripp’s triumph tied him with division point leader Sumner Sessions for the Hill’s RV Winner’s Circle Challenge title at four wins. He is also very much mathematically alive for the division championship.
Ricky Drew, Haven Richards and Bob Hayslip lead a crew on the #12 that includes car owners R.P.M. Racing Engines and sponsors Lemay’s Auto Body, Dan Dubois Plumbing & Heating, Waste Management, Angelo’s Pizzeria, Affordable Well Drilling and Rachel’s Race For Lungs.
Henderson, himself a three-time winner since mid-June, appeared to cut Tripp’s lead by a fraction over the final laps while maintaining a textbook line along the rail. Time ran out, however.
“We’ve been chasing a few things for a couple weeks. Tonight a ball joint was loose and we tightened it up,” Henderson said.
Rick Thompson overcame his season's worth of rotten luck and made it to victory lane in third.
With five heat race wins and dozens of feature laps led, Thompson probably deserves a better fate than his current ninth-place perch in the point standings. One serious roll-over, a cluster of lesser crashes and mechanical maladies have slowed his progress.
“We have had all the bad luck I think we can get,” Thompson said. “We’re trying some new things. I’m not really sure if it was working. I just think luck was with us tonight.”
After talk of motor problems in practice and a sluggish eighth-place run in the heat, Sessions made his customary charge toward the front and fought off Larry Emerson for fourth. Sessions trimmed Tommy Tompkins' miniscule division point lead to four markers with only two races remaining.
More Mini madness, and another Mooney
Just another fun and contentious night for the Minis.
Don Mooney and Jimmy Childs have had their share of discussions in victory lane this season, some featuring handshakes and others an exchange of words and shoulder shrugs.
Both track champions have used their talent and years of four-cylinder experience to try to hold the other at bay. This time it was Mooney charging into the top spot from the pole and leading every lap with Childs lurking closely at his back bumper.
Childs took exception to the way Mooney attempted to protect his advantage. Mooney wasn’t sure Childs needed to use so much fender to make his point.
It led to another animated exchange that left trackside announcer Butch Lenberg feeling like he was standing in a pro wrestling locker room.
“I’ve had a lot of fun all my time in this racing in this division, but I’m so glad I’m getting out of it,” Childs said. “I can’t stand people who come out of the corner in the first groove but the second and third groove in the middle of the (straightaway). Where am I supposed to go. I don’t understand. Where am I supposed to go, Donnie?”
Mooney, for his part, was happy to run a full feature after being sidelined in a crash during last week‘s qualifier.
“The car wasn’t handling too good. It got smashed up last week. Ralph Felker bent it back. It’s not perfect, but at least it’s up here,” said the two-time division champion. “Maybe we can work on it and it will leave some of these cars instead of having them beat on you. But Jimmy ran me pretty clean, for the most part.”
Childs took another step toward his second straight championship and hinted at next year's plans by making his Late Model debut later in the evening, steering clear of the many incidents to finish 19th.
Bill Thibeault, Kevin Bishop and Ashley Marshall completed the top five.
Barring a disastrous run this week, Childs will clinch the Mini Stock title with a week to spare for the second straight season. He leads top rookie “Wild” Bill Irving by 108 points.
OPS wraps up its Acceleration Series campaign with championship night this Wednesday, August 22 at 6:30 p.m. Championship Series competition returns Saturday at 6:30 with a 12-race card that includes an appearance by the New England Super Cup Series.
NEW ENGLAND DODGE DEALERS ISMA MAINE CLASSIC (75 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (12) #11 Chris Perley, Rowley, Mass., 75
2. (8) #71 Bentley Warren, Kennebunkport, 75
3. (5) #97 Rob Summers, Vernon, Conn., 75
4. (14) #78 Mark Sammut, London, Ontario, 75
5. (11) #84 Mike Lichty, Innerkip, Ontario, 74
6. (13) #10 Mike Ordway Jr., Fremont, N.H., 74
7. (9) #88 Scott Martel, Bradford, Mass., 74
8. (17) #14 Jon Gambuti, Point Pleasant, N.J., 74
9. (3) #40 David Trytek, Baldwinsville, N.Y., 74
10. (19) #13 R.D. Timmons, Windham, 74
11. (18) #24 Dave Sanborn, Tilton, N.H., 73
12. (21) #92 Larry Lehnert, New London, Ontario, 73
13. (2) #5 Vern Romanowski, Strong, 72
14. (20) #60 Randy Wimert, Falmouth, 70
15. (16) #31 Bobby Timmons, Windham, 70
16. (4) #27 Jamie Timmons, North Andover, Mass., 67
17. (10) #8 Justin Belfiore, Ipswich, Mass., 35
18. (1) #56 Mike Keeler, Danbury, Conn., 24
19. (22) #38 Billy Buyck, Londonderry, N.H. 24
20. (17) #02 Brandon Bollinger, Fulton. N.H., 6
21. (6) #94 Dave McKnight, Brampton, Ontario, 1
22. (7) #35 Jeff Holbrook, Oswego, N.Y
Lap leaders: Romanowski 1-13, Warren 14-20, Perley 21-75.
Cautions: 7 (laps 6, 12, 15, 20, 25, 25. 71)
Red flags: 2 (laps 1, 35)
OXFORD NETWORKS LATE MODEL (40 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (11) #03 Travis Adams, Canton, 40
2. (15) #7 Glen Luce, Strong, 40
3. (13) #18 Carey Martin, Denmark, 40
4. (8) #77 Jon Brill, Bridgton, 40
5. (14) #63 Don Wentworth, Otisfield, 40
6. (3) #56 Dale Verrill, Paris, 40
7. (9) #51 Ricky Rolfe, Albany Township, 40
8. (2) #69 Dave MacDonald, New Gloucester, 40
9. (18) #57 Doug Coombs, Livermore, 40
10. (4) #85 Travis Stearns, Gray, 40
11. (10) #94 Shawn Martin, Turner, 40
12. (17) #36 Ron Charpentier Jr., Wales, 40
13. (27) #96 Mark Childs Sr., Mechanic Falls, 40
14. (19) #08 Shane Green, South Paris, 40
15. (22) #44 Neil Martin, Freeport, 40
16. (5) #26 Corey Morgan, Lewiston, 39
17. (25) #4 Earl Tripp, Standish, 38
18. (6) #0 Scott Hodgdon, Minot, 36
19. (20) #01 Jimmy Childs, Leeds, 34
20. (26) #1 Gerald Parlin, South Paris, 31
21. (23) #3 B.J. Chapman, Bridgton, 29
22. (12) #2 Zach Emerson, Sabattus, 26
23. (21) #40 Rick Valentine, Greene, 23
24. (24) #6 Tommy Ricker, Poland, 19
25. (1) #70 Gary Chiasson, Peru, 15
DQ (16) #5 Leon Heckbert, Wilton
DQ (7) #04 T.J. Watson, Harpswell
Lap leaders: Chiasson 1-10, Verrill 11-18, Adams 19-26, Luce 27, Adams 28-40.
Cautions: 5 (laps 6, 19, 21, 24, 26)
Time of race: 30 minutes, 49.752 seconds
Margin of victory: 0.379 seconds
Fast lap: Glen Luce, 16.278 seconds
ALLEN'S COFFEE FLAVORED BRANDY STRICTLY STOCK (30 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (7) #12 Skip Tripp, Sabattus, 30
2. (6) #57 Glen Henderson, Sabattus, 30
3. (3) #07 Rick Thompson, Naples, 30
4. (13) #0 Sumner Sessions, Norway, 30
5. (9) #24 Larry Emerson, Durham, 30
6. (14) #113 Tommy Tompkins, Dixfield, 30
7. (12) #63 Matt Williams, Brownfield, 30
8. (15) #97 Jeff Moon, Gray, 30
9. (10) #42 Kim Tripp, Oxford, 30
10. (8) #23 Zach Emerson, Sabattus, 30
11. (16) #16 Bob Hayslip, Lisbon, 30
12. (1) #13 Chris Burgess, Lewiston, 30
13. (11) #56 Mike Short, Auburn, 30
14. (5) #82 Ben Krauter, Raymond, 29
15. (4) #11 Todd Hall, Auburn, 29
16. (18) #6 Matt Moore, Harrison, 24
17. (2) #91 Danny Smart, Buxton, 19
18. (17) #53 Dick Damon, Livermore, 13
Lap leaders: Burgess 1-15, S. Tripp 16-30.
Cautions: None
Time of race: 9 minutes, 24.750 seconds
Margin of victory: 1.028 seconds
Fast lap: Skip Tripp, 18.498 seconds
ALLEN'S COFFEE FLAVORED BRANDY MINI STOCK (30 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (1) #80 Don Mooney, New Gloucester, 30
2. (4) #10 Jimmy Childs, Leeds, 30
3. (2) #8 Bill Thibeault, Oxford, 30
4. (6) #08 Kevin Bishop, South Paris, 30
5. (8) #77 Ashley Marshall, Jay, 30
6. (9) #74 Bill Irving, New Gloucester, 30
7. (11) #19 Shane Kaherl, Jay, 30
8. (7) #65 David Mooney, Wales, 30
9. (12) #9 Bob Guptill, Mechanic Falls, 30
10. (10) #29 Greg Watkins, Bridgton, 30
11. (3) #35 Dale Brackett, Oxford, 29
12. (15) #66 John Cary, Cumberland, 28
13. (17) #7 Randy Kimball, Mechanic Falls, 28
14. (14) #48 Wayne Titus, Lisbon, 27
15. (13) #55 Darick Barker, Jay, 24
16. (5) #90 Dale Durgin, Norway, 17
17. (16) #12 Bill Childs Sr., Leeds, 1
DNS #07 Al Roberti, South Paris
Lap leaders: Don Mooney 1-30.
Cautions: None
Time of race: 9 minutes, 18.165 seconds
Margin of victory: 0.120 seconds
Fast lap: Jimmy Childs, 18.219 seconds