Rowley Rocket's red glare: Chris Perley
becomes ISMA's all-time feature winner
OXFORD, Maine – Chris Perley of Rowley, Mass., became the all-time winner in International Supermodified Association 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.
Perley surrendered the car that won that race to teammate Bentley Warren of Kennebunkport. No matter. Warren wrestled the lead away from Vern Romanowski of Strong on lap 13, but Perley pulled 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, but you know, some old things don't go away," Perley said. "I just wanted the lead, and I figued if anybody was going to go by me I was going to make them work for it."
Warren, who has competed in the Indianapolis 500 and continues to run up front with the ISMA circuit into his late 60s, was never challenged for second.
"He doesn't respect his elders very well," Warren said with a laugh.
Romanowski 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. Mark Sammut was fourth, the final car on the lead lap, with Mike Lichty fifth.
Twenty-two cars started the main event.
In supporting weekly feature action, Oxford Networks Late Model point leader and defending champion Travis Adams scored his sixth victory of the season.
Skip Tripp extended his Allen's Coffee Flavored Brandy Strictly Stock winning streak to a sensational four races in a row, while Don Mooney held off Jimmy Childs for his third Allen's Mini Stock triumph of the season.