ISMA - History




There are currently four supermodified racing sanctioning bodies in North America. The largest and one of the longest running of the four is the Liverpool, New York based International Super Modified Association (ISMA. Founded in 1974 by multi-time Oswego Speedway champions Jim Shampine and Nolan Swift to ensure the future of supermodified racing. With the help of local businessman, Tom Heveron, they formed ISMA as a forum for owners and drivers to express their ideas and opinions. The goals were to upgrade supermodified racing with better safety conditions, more events per season to insure sufficient purses and to aid drivers and teams. The association worked with track managements in making decisions and in discussing ways of improvement. The club encouraged new drivers and owners interested other tracks in supermodified racing and helped to make the division stronger and more well known to a wider audience. Tom Heveron as President, with the help of Vice President, Jim Shampine and Secretary/Treasurer Fred Graves, led ISMA through its developmental stages. ISMA negotiated with Lancaster for a 40 lap race held on July 3, 1974 in which Todd Gibson of Richwood, OH won. The following year ISMA booked races at Fulton Speedway with a $5,000 purse and $1,000 to win. In 1976, ISMA developed a point fund with tracks contributing $500- $1,000 per race to this fund. Unlike most other point systems, ISMA awards points to the car owners as ISMA is an owners club rather than drivers. In just three seasons, ISMA had accomplished sanctioning over $96,000 in purse money and races, adding a point fund of $4,400 paid by promoters, having tow money at all of the ISMA sanctioned races, having insurance certificates from each promoter on file, and working with other promoters for more races in 1977. With races at Fulton (NY), Delaware (Ont.CAN), Star (NH), Flamboro (Ont. CAN), and Thompson (CT), Steve Gioia, Jr. became ISMA's first points Champion. ISMA continues to be at the forefront of supermodified sanctioning bodies, pioneering the franchise system, in which teams purchase a franchise at the beginning of the season. Creating a win-win situation for both the teams and promoters, each of the franchise teams are allowed to miss up to 3 shows during the race season while being guaranteed a minimum starting purse of $1,000 at each event. This system helps to ensure solid, stable car counts and a successful event for the promoter. As of 2010 ISMA generally sanctions between 13-17 shows a year including two of the prestigious supermodified Triple Crown Series at 1/4-5/8 mile paved short tracks located in 6 states and Canada. Major events on the ISMA schedule include leg one of the supermodified 'Triple Crown' the Hy-Miler Super Modified Nationals, held annually at Sandusky (Ohio) Speedway since 1978, and leg three of the Triple Crown, the All-Star Classic 200 held at All-Star Speedway in Epping, NH for over 40 years. Races are also run at other tracks across the Northeast and Midwest, with one annual race at Delaware Speedway in Ontario, Canada. ISMA looks to the tracks of the past to preserve its history as they look for new venues to move into the future. What is a supermodified race car? Click Here. Want to GO ISMA RACING? Click Here. Learn More: For more on the rich ISMA history and Supermodified racing, here are some links you may find interesting: www.jakessite.com www.retrorockets.org

There are currently four supermodified racing sanctioning bodies in North America. The largest and one of the longest running of the four is the Liverpool, New York based International Super Modified Association (ISMA.

Founded in 1974 by multi-time Oswego Speedway champions Jim Shampine and Nolan Swift to ensure the future of supermodified racing. With the help of local businessman, Tom Heveron, they formed ISMA as a forum for owners and drivers to express their ideas and opinions.

The goals were to upgrade supermodified racing with better safety conditions, more events per season to insure sufficient purses and to aid drivers and teams. The association worked with track managements in making decisions and in discussing ways of improvement.

The club encouraged new drivers and owners interested other tracks in supermodified racing and helped to make the division stronger and more well known to a wider audience. Tom Heveron as President, with the help of Vice President, Jim Shampine and Secretary/Treasurer Fred Graves, led ISMA through its developmental stages. ISMA negotiated with Lancaster for a 40 lap race held on July 3, 1974 in which Todd Gibson of Richwood, OH won. The following year ISMA booked races at Fulton Speedway with a $5,000 purse and $1,000 to win.

In 1976, ISMA developed a point fund with tracks contributing $500- $1,000 per race to this fund. Unlike most other point systems, ISMA awards points to the car owners as ISMA is an owners club rather than drivers. In just three seasons, ISMA had accomplished sanctioning over $96,000 in purse money and races, adding a point fund of $4,400 paid by promoters, having tow money at all of the ISMA sanctioned races, having insurance certificates from each promoter on file, and working with other promoters for more races in 1977. With races at Fulton (NY), Delaware (Ont.CAN), Star (NH), Flamboro (Ont. CAN), and Thompson (CT), Steve Gioia, Jr. became ISMA's first points Champion.

ISMA continues to be at the forefront of supermodified sanctioning bodies, pioneering the franchise system, in which teams purchase a franchise at the beginning of the season. Creating a win-win situation for both the teams and promoters, each of the franchise teams are allowed to miss up to 3 shows during the race season while being guaranteed a minimum starting purse of $1,000 at each event. This system helps to ensure solid, stable car counts and a successful event for the promoter.

As of 2010 ISMA generally sanctions between 13-17 shows a year including two of the prestigious supermodified Triple Crown Series at 1/4-5/8 mile paved short tracks located in 6 states and Canada. Major events on the ISMA schedule include leg one of the supermodified 'Triple Crown' the Hy-Miler Super Modified Nationals, held annually at Sandusky (Ohio) Speedway since 1978, and leg three of the Triple Crown, the All-Star Classic 200 held at All-Star Speedway in Epping, NH for over 40 years. Races are also run at other tracks across the Northeast and Midwest, with one annual race at Delaware Speedway in Ontario, Canada. ISMA looks to the tracks of the past to preserve its history as they look for new venues to move into the future.