Jon Henes captures Kilkare, 2nd this year!

By Todd Ridgeway

A first time visit to a new playground turned fun for Jon Henes as he became the first repeat winner on the tour in 2010. Henes took his No. 36 family owned Supermodified to the front, battled all challengers, and hung on to get his second seasons victory on the 2010 Midwest Supermodified Association (MSA) campaign. Those challengers drove hard and fast lap after lap gunning for the determined veteran leader. It was the first time the MSA had ever visited Kil Kare Speedway in Xenia Ohio and 15 cars would take the green flag for the 30 lap feature race. 

Randy Burch and Henes would bring the 15 car field to the drop of the green for the start only to see the caution fly before the first lap could be completed when Bobby Dawson spun in turn one scattering the field. In the confusion fast qualifier Charlie Schultz had some contact which caused front end damage ending his night before one lap could be scored. Realigned and in formation the field would once again take the start only to see another yellow flag before the first lap was in the books. This time it was a whole may lay of cars spinning on the back stretch ending with Matt Palmer against the outside wall ending his night. The third time was a charm as the field raced through the first lap with Henes getting to the point. Henes tried to stretch the lead out setting a blistering pace but the Stout team cars of Trent Stephens and Liquid Lou Cicconi would have nothing to do with it. Cicconi and Stephens both where coming fast from their eighth and tenth starting positions and by lap 15 were bearing down on the Henes 36. Tim Ice was also on the move swinging through cars and coming to the front in his May Motorsports No. 77 entree. At lap 20 Stephens would spin and a yellow flag was displayed. Coming to the restart with just ten laps to go it was Henes, Cicconi, and Ice. When the green dropped Cicconi instantly went to the inside and blasted past Henes under the flag stand to nab the lead for the first time. As fate would have it the yellow would once again be displayed as the new leader developed problems. Getting a push back to the pit area Cicconi’s night came to an end with a broken race car after leading just one lap. Giving the lead back to Henes the field would move into the final laps as Ice would now go to work. Ice would go the outside and challenge for a couple laps pushing his red racer a nose in front. However, Henes maintained the preferred line and was able to muscle the lead away from Ice as the two made contact and raced very close. At the checkered flag it was Henes over Ice, with Stephens coming from the tail to regain a third place finish followed by Gene Lee Gibson fourth and Denny Fisher rounding out the top five. Dawson was sixth, Rich Reid seventh, Cicconi settled for eighth, Brandon Fisher ninth, and Burch rounded out the top ten. The race was slowed by five cautions and heat winners included Schultz and Denny Fisher. Schultz set fast time with a lap of 11.136.

“We showed up here and never been here before,” stated Henes. “It’s a neat little track, and I knew the first time I got on it I’d like it. I couldn’t figure it out but, I knew once I did figure it out I would be ok. It was just getting seat time and finding a groove I was comfortable in. We really didn’t adjust the car all day. I told the guys earlier today I am not going fast enough to adjust the car, I can’t tell you what it is doing. We are not going fast enough to make it push or make it loose. We just thought we might hang around get a top five out of it and have a decent point’s night, put a little money in our pocket. It couldn’t have turned out any better. We got as much money in our whole car as ninety percent of these guys have in their engine. We put one tire on all day; the old tires just seemed to work out good. We didn’t want to spend a bunch of money and the right rear worked out good,” concluded the race winner.

Runner up Ice raced hard but for the second race in a row he came up just a little short. “I just missed all that stuff on those couple starts and just couldn’t get going very good,” noted Ice. “Once I got going the car was really good. I got to the outside of Henes for the lead two or three times and down the backstretch with just two or three laps to go his car quit and just hesitated, I hit him bending up my wing. Then I got tight in the front, I got up beside him all the way down the backstretch and he got up into me in the corner, I just couldn’t clear him. But, good job for everybody, it was great, we had a good car all day,” finished Ice.

“I had a real fast car, I know that,” said Stephens. “I started in the back and got all the way up to third battling my teammate on the outside for second and then just lost it. I think I just got the rear tires to hot and it just spun on me. So, I came back up through and I just lost the right rear. I was just driving it too hard for to long. Tim and Jon where going at it, I seen them up there hit each other a couple times. All in all a good night it’s all in one piece,” finished third place Stephens.

 Charlie Schultz & May Motorsports celebrate their 2nd feature win at Lorain (Todd Ridgeway photo)

By Todd Ridgeway

There is only one thing to do when you are leading a late season tight point’s battle, dominate the competition. With only a six point margin in Midwest Supermodified Association (MSA) points between himself and the fourth points position it became clear that points leader ‘Charging’ Charlie Schultz came into Lorain (OH) County Speedway on a mission. Schultz blistered the Lorain pavement in qualifying with a fast timed lap of 12.393, and then coasted through his heat race setting himself up for the 30 lap feature run from the inverted 12th starting spot. It may have taken 15 laps for Schultz to get on the point, but once there the MSA Ace set sail in his Advanced Auto Parts May Motorsports trademark red No. 7 and was never contested easily securing his second victory of 2010 leaving the field in the trail of his burnt methanol.

 Young Brandon Fisher and two time 2010 winner Jon Henes brought the field down for the start of the 30 lap event with 12 other open wheel, fire breathing winged Supermodifieds in tow. Fisher immediately shot to the point on the start but just after the first lap was completed a caution would fly when a handful of cars got bottled up in turn one and got turned around. On the restart, as the field filed through turns one and two, Trent Stephens and Tim Ice, both top four points contenders, would make contact setting up a very scary moment. Ice snapped around turned to face on coming traffic and Stephens would drive right up the nose of Ice making heavy contact with the roll cage and shearing the wing off of the bright red machine. Both cars sustained damage and Ice was done for the evening, however, Stephens was able to get back to the pits and get some repairs to rejoin the field at the tail. When the green was redisplayed Fisher would once again set sail from the point with Henes and Jim Paller in tow. Laps started clicking off at a fast pace as Fisher started stretching out his lead. From the back both Schultz and ‘Liquid’ Lou Cicconi, the other top four points contender, where coming fast. At races mid point Schultz had gotten to Fisher trying the outside on two different occasions until finally he was able to dive under the youngster going into turn one and came off turn two down the backstretch completing the pass for the lead. By the time the field got back to the flag stand it was clear, if Schultz does not break they will never catch him. He never broke, bobbled, or any thing else as the horses of his Malcuit engine sailed to the win taking the trademark double checkered flag from flagerman Chris Maji. Getting his best career MSA finish Fisher nailed second and Henes hung onto third in a hard fought battle with Cicconi who secured fourth as Denny Fisher rounded out the top five. 

Between getting the first win of the year at the first race and then this one, a lot has happened for Schultz, it has not been easy. “We had a pretty good car,” said Schultz. “When we unloaded we where pretty decent. I had a pretty race able car in the heat race, but I knew I just needed a little something extra if I was going to win tonight. So, we talked about it, and made one little change there late just before lining up for the feature. This has just been one of those years. Thankfully with the way the points are this year with the fast times and the heat races it rewards guys that really go after it every time they are on the race track. This was a very good point’s night for us tonight, we will take it and go on to the next one,” finished the happy winner and point’s leader.

 Two time 2010 winner Henes came away with third and was happy as well. “We kind of struggled a little bit. I blew a motor last weekend and we finally just got it in and got here at 5:30 today. They gave us just a couple of practice laps to kind of shake it down but we where pretty bad. In qualifying we just got a mediocre lap, but got a good starting spot and that is what it came down to today. We didn’t have the greatest car, we had a good car, the guys work hard and we thrashed on this car. You can’t be upset with a third place finish after going through what we went through to get here,” finished Henes.

 Second generation driver Brandon Fisher was all smiles in post race tech. “From the start I was not sure what to expect from the car, we made some big adjustments before the start to try and get the car to handle. Everything just clicked; from the drop of the green the car was just flawless. Charlie just has that little extra on us; I was giving it everything she had. I could here someone back there and then he was right next to me. The guys in shop do a tremendous job; they put a lot of hours in on this car making sure everything is maintained very well. That gives me confidence. It’s been falling together for us this year. This is a great start with momentum going into the next race. We are just going to keep chipping away until I get that win,” finished a very happy runner up Fisher.       

 ”Chargin” Charlie pays tribute to his fans (Todd Ridgeway photo)

Randy Burch, Jack Smith, Stephens, Paller, and third generation Rookie driver Zach Gibson completed the top ten. The 30 lap main event was slowed by just four caution flags. The two heat race winners included Ice and Henes. With just three races left on the 2010 schedule it is coming down to nail biting time, and although Schultz sets in the lead seat it is far from over and still anyone’s game to win. Stay tuned and hang on.

Top 3 - Stephens(middle), Jedrzejek(right), Schultz(left) photo by Todd Ridgeway

 

Midwest Supermodified Association (MSA) scorer and statistician Jeff Lickfelt will now log winner number five in as many races as the MSA series continues to roll through the 2010 season making its third stop of the year at Sandusky (OH) Speedway last Saturday night. Sophomore driver Trent Stephens put the hammer down on his Steve Stout owned No. 19 driving to the front from the sixth starting spot in a field of 19 fire breathing Supermodifieds to nab his first checkered flag of 2010. When the chips where down and a late race caution flag flew, with just two laps to go, Stephens was able to master the Sandusky pavement holding off a charging, determined Timmy (J) Jedrzejek.

 With a 30 lap feature race on tap 15 of the 19 MSA cars in the Sandusky pit area would qualify under the 15.700 mark. At the end of qualifying Timmy J would have the official fast time of 14.797. At feature time Jim Paller and Charlie Schultz would lead the thundering field to the green flag only to see a red flag fly before the completion of the first lap when four cars would tangle up on the front stretch. Once racing resumed, and a complete restart, Schultz would blast to the lead in convincing style setting the early pace. There would be four more cautions before things would settle down. At lap 11 the red was displayed once again when Rookie third generation MSA driver Zach Gibson drilled the front stretch wall toss the car wildly until it finally came to rest on its right side in front of the main grandstand. Thankfully and luckily, Gibson was not injured. Once racing resumed Stephens was able to start stretching the lead he had taken from Schultz, in the laps before the red flag, setting a torrid pace. However, Timmy J had his Hawk car in gear and was coming fast. Catching the leader and passing the leader would be two different things as Timmy J bore down. What appeared to be a break came with just two laps to go as the caution flag flew when Canadian shoe Mark Sammut spun in turn one. With the field closed up and the finish in sight it looked to be a shoot out to the end. As the green dropped Timmy J got the run he was looking for getting to the outside of the young leader but coming off turn two he was unable to complete the pass and Stephens jetted to the point by two car lengths when the checkers flew. Following Stephens and Timmy J across the line were Schultz, Jon Henes, and the other Stout team driver Lou Cicconi rounding out the top five. 

“Everyone is tough,” said the race winner. “There’s four or five cars that can win easily every week and then every once in a while someone else will hit a set up and be really fast. I would say there are eight cars that can win every week. The car was great, I have to thank my crew, and they worked for two weeks straight all day and all night to fix the car. I don’t think I ever really touched anyone all night. I was trying outside and it wasn’t working. As soon as I took the low line the car hooked up and I went, so that got me to the front,” finished Stephens.

“We qualified good and thought we had a good car,” noted runner up Timmy J. “The track seemed a little grease, and it’s hot and humid. In the feature I just started picking my spots and worked my way up there getting to second and Trent was out there a ways. I was gaining but it was not going to be enough, I got a big smile when that caution came out. We drove down into turn one I was on the outside thinking this was my best shot. We got a little close coming off turn two and I guess I gave up before he did. So, we’ll take second tonight and move on,” finished the defending and multiple MSA Championship driver.

 Schultz held on to a podium finish and had some thoughts. “I was really pretty pleased. We unloaded and kind of struggled in practice, and just kept working on the car. This has been a huge learning curve today. We just kept throwing stuff at the car and it would get a little better. We have a motor that is not built for the wing; it is defiantly a non wing motor. I was hoping it would go green the whole way, but it didn’t, it was a good points night,” finished Schultz.

Tim Ice, Pole sitter Jim Paller, Gene Lee Gibson, Mark Sammut, and Rich Reid rounded out the top ten. Both Stephens and Paller won the heat races. Next stop will be the two day King of the Wing show at Oswego New York in July.            

#8 Timmy J, #28 Bobby Dawson, #11 Kyle Edwards do battle= photo by Todd Ridgeway

#55 Rich Reid & #52 Randy Burch jockey for position= photo by Todd Ridgeway

#19 Trent Stephens celebrates his victory - photo by Todd Ridgeway

#19 Trent Stephens adds a notch to the win column-photo by Todd Ridgeway

 Todd Ridgeway

MSA Media June 12, 2010

Four races and four winners. That is how the Midwest Supermodified Association (MSA) 2010 stat book will read after the Toledo (OH) Speedway event. Veteran racer Tim “Iceman” Ice froze the field and went into a track that he is very familiar with taking his Fast Racing Engines powered May Motorsports entrée to the win in the special 40 lap MSA/Oswego Wing Challenge feature race Friday night. With finishes of fifth, second, and third in the first three starts of 2010, it only seemed like a matter of time until Ice took the checkers. Well known for making a living at blasting to several victories and Championships in the Late Model ranks, this was Ice’s first open wheel win. This is the second new winner on the MSA tour in as many weeks. The Ohio high-banks provided plenty of excitement and proved its tough, hard knock reputation to be true, even if Mother Nature tried to rain on the parade.

#77 Tim Ice - photo by Todd Ridgeway

Racing action was halted at lap nine during the first of two heat races for a brief, quick down pour as the skies opened up and moisture fell. After an hour of track drying by the ARCA officials the famed Ohio oval was back in business as the second heat hit the track and sailed off without a hitch. When the 40 lap main lined up it was the latest winner Jon Henes on the pole with Gene Lee Gibson to the outside. Once the green dropped Gibson blasted to the front and immediately opened up on the field. Gibson set a torrid pace for the first 15 laps as Ice was coming through the field from his seventh starting position. Just as Ice caught Gibson and was nipping at his heels the caution would fly followed by the red flag for a hard crash in turns one and two between Jack Smith and Talon Stephens whom was making his first career Supermodified start. Both cars had to be flat bedded off as the No. 09 Smith car suffered very heavy damage. Once the green reappeared at lap 16 it was Gibson and Ice, followed by Mike Lichty with fast qualifier Charlie Schultz making his way to the front. It was short lasted as Schultz and Trent Stephens would get together on lap 18 sending both cars into the turn four outside retaining wall. Schultz made hard contact as debris flew everywhere ending the racers night. Stephens was able to get to the pits for quick repairs and rejoined the field at the tail. Once again the field realigned for the start and this time it was a blistering pace by the 77 car of Ice until lap 38 when a car came to a stop in turn four. With but two laps to go it was now Ice, and the two Craig Reed teammates of Lichty and MSA Champion Timmy Jedrzejek. Like a rocket Ice took off at the drop of the green hankie and never looked back, not being denied his first victory. However, Timmy J was able to muster his way by Lichty and grab second. Following the trio across the line was young Brandon Fisher fourth as the other Reed team car of Bobby Dawson rounded out the top five.

#09 Jack Smith makes is move in the field - Photo by Todd Ridgeway

“The win means it’s just tremendous to finally get to do this and just blessed to be able to do this,” stated the race winner. “And at Toledo, it’s just like home. I raced here for 15 years pretty much here all the time. Just awful good and hopefully this will ease all our sorrows. When I just got to Gene Lee I was starting to struggle a little, then we had the red flag. I thought all man the stagger is going to go away or something. Gene new I had tried the outside to get by so he went a little high on the restart and I went by,” finished a very happy Iceman.

“I guess I had a pretty good run, considering I have never drove one of Craig’s (Reed) car’s before,” said third place Lichty. “The car was set up for Timmy J, who is substantially smaller than me. I had to move the pedals, brakes, and everything else just to try and get myself as comfortable as possible. Generally running here at Toledo if there is an incident it is pretty big. Everybody I was running with tonight ran me pretty clean, it was a good deal,” said Lichty.

#8 Timmy J moves to the inside - photo by Todd Ridgeway

Runner up and defending MSA Champion driver Timmy J had some thoughts as well. “It was a rough second place, but I am ecstatic that I got that far. Early on in the race I was just free all around the track and running eighth at the time. I took a gamble at the red flag and brought the car to the pits making some adjustments. We started battle back up through from the tail and I could tell I was fast. I got to third but the others where so far ahead, and then I got the caution with two to go. That gave us a chance, and I was able to get around the 08 of Mickey. Who knows, maybe a couple more laps would have helped us, but congratulations to Tim Ice, I am glad to see him win it and we’ll take second,” finished Timmy J.

#77 Tim Ice - Photo by Todd Ridgeway

The race was slowed by three cautions and one red flag. Although all drivers involved in the hard crashes, including D J Shullick Jr. and Randy Burch in practice, where a bit woozy afterwards, no one sustained serious injury thank goodness. The two heat winners included Gibson and Kyle Edwards. 23 cars filled the pit area and 19 would start the 40 lap event. In qualifying Schultz blistered the Toledo pavement with a lap of 12.999 around the half-mile high banks.

Top 3 from left- Tim Ice, feature winner Jon Henes, & Charlie Schultz - Todd Ridgeway photo

“I’ve raced here forever, I mean I started racing here in 1994, it took me till now to finally win here, it means a lot to my family, and myself.” That’s what the first time Midwest Supermodified Association (MSA) winner Jon Henes said after nailing down the 30 lap feature win at the series second season’s visit to the track up north, Sandusky (OH) Speedway. Henes was on a rail of determination that was not to be denied coming from the inside second row and getting the lead just a handful of laps into the event and never looked back. “Finally, my son told me this mourning Dad your going to win and he never says that. When I saw the checkered flag that was the first thing that popped in my head,” said the emotional race winner.

#36 Jon Henes motors to his 1st win at Sandusky

Rookie contender Zach Gibson and veteran Jack Smith brought the field to the green flag with 17 other winged warriors in tow for the start of the 30 laps. The action was quickly slowed when young Kyle Reed smashed the front stretch wall ending his night early. Once racing resumed Gibson again set sail on the point with heavy heat coming from Smith and now Henes whom was on a rail and picking up the pace. Once Henes got around Smith he set his sights on the lead car of Gibson as the two went wheel to wheel. Eventually contact was made and Gibson’s car came to a stop in turn three. Back under green with the field in tow Henes set sail. At the half way point it was Henes, Randy Burch, and the latest series winner Liquid Lou Cicconi. Fast qualifier Charlie Schultz was now setting in fourth after coming from the twelfth starting spot. With but two laps to go a caution would fly when two cars made contact in turn one and came to a stop. As Henes brought the field back to the start, and dash to the checkers, contact was made between Cicconi and Burch scattering the rest of the field. Everybody managed to maintain control staying on track and making it to the checkered flag as Henes came across the line with a pumped fist in celebration. The May Motorsports teammates of Schultz and Tim Ice finished second and third, with Cicconi regaining composure to get fourth, and Kyle Edwards rounding out the top five. Joe Armbruster, Trent Stephens, Burch, Smith, and Matt “the cat” Palmer completed the top ten.

Henes makes his move around Randy Burch

“I felt like once we got back to green, I didn’t feel any pressure, I couldn’t hear anybody back there so I thought we where kind of leaving them,” stated the race winning driver. “Every time I felt comfortable we would have a caution and everybody would get reeled back in on me. We would then go down the back straightaway I could hear somebody there and they sounded like they where right up my butt. And then it seemed like as soon as we would come off the corner I wouldn’t hear the noise any more. I felt really comfortable; on the last restart I kind of overshot three and washed out a little bit. I tried screwing myself up but all in all a great day,” finished Henes.

Fast qualifier Schultz finished second after blistering the track with a 14.961 lap early in the day. “We definitely had to work for it tonight. I had to really get up on the wheel and drive the car. Not as good a car as we had here opening night, we tried a couple little different things. The stager never really came in like I wanted it to and we had to work a little more with the air pressure. But, you know sometimes it better to be lucky than good, the last restart I went from fourth to second when the 49 and 52 got tangled up. We will take second and go on to Toledo,” stated Schultz.

Jon Henes & family crew celebrate their victory

Stay in the top five consistently and on the verge of getting that first Supermodified victory Ice was pleased with the third place finish. “We where tight all day. I was really struggling in the feature and just kept going back. Finally under one of the cautions I felt it, a right rear tire going down. We came in and put a really fat huge tire on it but it had air in it. So I started back up through there, the car was really good. There where a couple little miss hap’s there the last couple laps and I got to third, coming from sixth. I am still having a ball, these cars are so much fun to drive,” finished third place Ice.

"Liquid" Lou Cicconi flexes muscle @ Lorain County. (Todd Ridgeway photo)

By: Todd Ridgeway

By the end of the night it became clear that “Liquid” Lou Cicconi came to Lorain County (OH) Speedway with one thing in mind, win! Cicconi bested the 18 car Midwest Supermodified Association (MSA) field winning the 30 lap feature in convincing style. Cicconi blasted to the front from his tenth starting position and on lap seven zipped past then leader Mark Sammut never looking back until the checkered flag flew. This was the second stop of the MSA tour and Cicconi’s first MSA victory of the young season.

#49 Lou Cicconi - Acme Racing (Todd Ridgeway photo)

Rookie driver Zach Gibson and Mark Sammut brought the field to the green flag, but it did not last long. On lap two the first of three race cautions flew when Jack Smith and Trent Stephens got together and both spun up the track in turn one. When racing resumed Smith was in the pit area and Stephens tagged the tail. At the drop of the green hankie Sammut set sail trying to get some distance between himself and the field, however, Cicconi, Tim Ice, and Charlie Schultz had other ideas as they where coming fast. By lap seven Cicconi took the point with Schultz and Ice in tow. At lap seven Schultz got tagged and spun to the inside of the track slowing the field just briefly until he got re-fired and rejoined the field on the tail. From that point a blistering pace was laid down by Cicconi as Ice stayed right in his tracks with Randy Burch keeping pace in third. Both Stephens and Schultz where setting sail to the front from their back marker positions, until lap 28 when Schultz and Sammut got together both going off track in turn four. Once again Schultz had to go to the tail as Sammut went pit side out of competition. The green dropped with just two laps to go and try as he might Ice could not get past the Steve Stout owned No. 49 of Cicconi. Following winner Cicconi across the line was Ice in second, Randy Burch very quietly nabbed third, Stephens, also in a Stout car, charged back to get fourth and Jon Henes rounded out the top five. Brandon Fisher, Schultz, Gibson, Joe Armbruster, and Rich Reid completed the top ten finishers.  

#52 Randy Burch & #09 Jack Smith (Todd Ridgeway photo)

“I didn’t know if I had them covered or not because I was out front, and I knew the guys behind me where fast,” said the race winner. “I really like this type of racing; it’s a lot of fun. Hopefully we get some more wins,” finished Cicconi. 

#77 Tim Ice charges past #00 Zack Gibson (Todd Ridgeway photo)

Racing with a heavy heart Ice was very happy to get second. “The car was really good, right there at the start I got kind of bunched up and Lou and Charlie got by me. I think I had plenty for Charlie, but I don’t think I had anything for Lou; his car was getting off the corners better than mine was. I wanted to win so bad here for my Father-In-Law, he passed away Tuesday. He is our engine builder and my best friend, I wanted to win so badly, but it is awful good what we did,” concluded Ice.

“It was a good run for our team tonight,” said Burch. “We definitely had a good car that stayed underneath us. You had to pick your moves tonight; we had a lot of traffic out there. I had a real good car from the time we unloaded. We made a few changes, but then went back with what we had and it was great. I just want to thank the crowd we had a great show for the fans. It looked like they had a good time. We appreciate all those guys coming out,” finished third place driver Burch.

Top 3 - Cicconi, Ice, & Burch (Todd Ridgeway photo)

In qualifying 13 of the 18 Winged Warriors beat the 13 second mark with D J Shullick showing the way with a new track record lap of 12.124. Heat race winners included Gibson and Cicconi. With an inversion of 12 all 18 cars took the green flag for the feature event.

Acme Racing & Crew pose their win @ Lorain County (Todd Ridgeway photo)

 

After a chilly-season opener at Sandusky Speedway, the cars and stars of the Midwest Supermodified Association are gearing up for Lorain County Speedway on Saturday, May 22nd. The 3/8’s mile located off State Route 58 in South Amherst, Ohio always is a sure bet for exciting side by side racing. Lorain County Speedway’s Terry Adams is awaiting the return of the supers. He states, “I am really looking forward to seeing the supermodifieds return to Lorain County Speedway. We are expecting a good car count and a great crowd. The super drivers always put on a great race for the fans. The fans will have the opportunity to talk to the supermodified drivers and get autographs before the races.”

Drivers expected to compete in the event include veterans Timmy Jedrzejek, Charlie Schultz, “Liquid” Lou Cicconi, Jon Henes, Tim Ice, Jack Smith, Randy Burch, Rich Reid, and Bobby Dawson. Young guns such as Trent Stephens, Brandon Fisher, Matt Palmer, and Zach Gibson are expected to compete as well. Last season Randy Burch and Gene Lee Gibson each picked up a feature win at the track while mother nature claimed the other two events including the season-championship.

Gates will open at 2:30 pm, practice will start at 3:30 pm, qualifying will take place at 4:45 pm, and the first race begins at 7pm. Other divisions racing on the evening include the E-mods, Pure Stocks, Street Stocks, Enduros, and Hobby Stocks. Adult general admission is $17, $5 for kids ages 6-12 and kids ages 5 and younger are admitted free. Members will get into the pits for $25 while it will cost non-members $30. Check out the official MSA website at http://www.midwestsupers.com  for all the latest news, stats, and pictures. For more information on Lorain County Speedway visit http://www.loraincountyspeedway.com

By: Todd Ridgeway 

On a day that looked like it may never see a green flag May Motorsports driver Charlie Schultz took command in the early stages and bested the field to win the 2010 season opening Midwest Supermodified Association (MSA) 30 lap feature race at Sandusky Speedway (OH) last Saturday night. Coming from his ninth starting position in his bright red trademark No. 7 Schultz sailed to the front in dominating fashion setting a torrid pace to get his first checkered flag of the new season. Defending MSA Champion Timmy Jedrzejek finished second followed by the Steve Stout teammates of Trent Stephens third and “Liquid” Lou Cicconi fourth as the May Motorsports No. 77 with Tim Ice aboard rounded out the top five.

Jon Henes (36), Jack Smith (09), and Bobby Dawson (28) bring field to green flag

“When they first threw the green the car felt pretty good,” said the race winner. “After we got that little bit of a run there under green I thought this car feels pretty loose. We had the red flag and the car set there long enough that the stager closed up to where I wanted it. Then on the restart I was able to get on the outside in the clean air and the car was just really, really good,” finished Schultz.

Tim Ice (77) and Jon Henes (36)

After a three hour track drying process between the heat races and the feature race veteran racers Jon Henes and Jack Smith brought the field to the green flag and start of the MSA season. Smith would lead the first handful of laps which included just two caution periods, one of which went red for the upturned car of Rich Reid. No injuries reported and no serious equipment damage was reported and racing resume going to the checkers non-stop from that point. By lap five Schultz was out moving while in front Timmy J was also setting sail for the leaders. Once Shultz got to Timmy J they ran side by side for two laps until Shultz cleared the Champion setting sail for leader Smith. The horsepower showed as Schultz went to the point and wore out the rest of the field with blinding speed on a track he is very familiar with. Smith faded to sixth followed by Randy Burch, Jon Henes, Bobby Dawson, and Rich Reid rounded out the top ten.

Bobby Dawson (28) and Lou Cicconi (49)

“Opening night, we had some problems in the heat race,” said Timmy J. “We’ll take home second place and tip our hats over to No. 7 team, they were awful strong tonight. We’ll go back to the shop, see what we got, and bring out a better machine than last time,” finished the series Champion. 14 Supermodifieds were in the pit on opening night as Cicconi set fast time of 14.873 around the northern Ohio oval. Heat winners included Brandon Fisher and Schultz.        

Top three (L to R) Timmy J second, Charlie Shultz winner, Trent Stephens third

 Opening Points Status -

The columns for points are:  T  Q  H  F  …. T = Tow (20 points for all) … Q = Qualifying … H = Heat … F = Feature

Timmy J focusing on defending his crown in tonite’s MSA season opener @ Sandusky Speedway

By: Bob Stascak 

The 2010 Midwest Supermodified Association (MSA) season starts tonight at Sandusky Speedway. As can be expected this season will once again see returning veterans and new rookies behind the wheel of the ultimate short track machines. Reeds Salvage is sponsoring tonights show that will also feature the Sportsman, Street Stocks and Spectator Stocks. There will also be a drawing for a kids bicycle. The pit gates open at 3 p.m. with grandstand admission and hot laps starting at 4. The qualifying will be at 5:30 and racing starts at 7 p.m. Adult admission is $17, $5 ages 6-12, ages 5 and younger admitted free. No coolers are allowed in the grandstands. Call (419) 625-4084.  

Multi time MSA champion Tim Jedrzejek of Independence will be back behind the wheel of the familiar number eight Reeds Salvage sponsored machine. Jedrzejek reports that the car has some new body work and is ninety five percent finished. While Jedrzejek leads the MSA all time win list with twenty two, this season will see him taking a different approach. “We are going to mix it up this season, pick and choose” Jedrzejek said. Jedrzejek plans on running some International Super Modified Association (ISMA) shows this coming season including some shows at Delaware Speedway in Ontario, Canada and winning as many races as he can. 

The May Motorsports team will once again have Charlie Schultz from Lorain and Tim Ice from Seville handling their driving chores. The Steve Stout owned ACME Racing team from Castalia will have a new driver behind the wheel of the number fourty nine this season. Lou Cicconi  from Aston, Pa. Cicconi won the International Super Modified Association (ISMA) season opener this past Sun. at the Albany – Saratoga Speedway in Malta, NY. Cicconi wil have Trent Stephens of Ravenna as his team mate in the number nineteen. The 2008-2009 Buckeye Super Sprint champion Zach Gibson of Richwood will be one of several new drivers joining the Supermodified ranks.  

Sandusky Speedway will have the MSA returning on June 5, June 26 and Sept. 18 for a special non-wing show. Lorain County Speedway will host the MSA on May 22, June 12, July 31 and on Oct. 2 for the MSA season championship. Other stops for the MSA include Toledo Speedway (June 11); Oswego Speedway (July 9 & 10); Kil-Kare Speedway (July 16); Mansfield Motorsports Park (Aug.14) and Shady Bowl Speedway (Aug.21).