From: Lou Modestino
Last year Johnny Benson Jr. of NASCAR truck fame, came to Seekonk Speedway for the first time to compete in the ISMA 100. He left Seekonk with his career-first ISMA victory after an exciting battle with Chris Perley to the end of the 1st annual Racing Against Cancer 100. Benson duplicated his feat Sunday at the Cement Palace with a few different adversaries, but an equally awesome run. Benson was able to present the $2,500 ISMA check once again to the Racing Against Cancer effort and he also participated in the Cancer Team Walk on Saturday for one fulfilling weekend.
The former NASCAR Camping World truck champ started 7th in the field of 26 potent supermodifieds and had to work by Eddie Witkum Jr, swap the top spot with 7-time ISMA champ Russ Wood and then spend over half the race fending off the torrid advances of Louie Cicconi in his newly-purchased Vic Miller machine, a car which Cicconi had taken to two wins in 2011 while subbing for Chris Perley. Benson was finally able to clear some heavy traffic with less than five to go, leaving second place finisher Russ Wood a couple car lengths behind at the checkers.
Benson mentioned the traffic factor in victory lane, “I would have liked to see some open traffic in those last laps. I’ve got to thank Brad and Mike Lichty, Reggie, Duane and all the guys that work on the 74. The thing was pretty good tonight. I began to think toward the end there that I might have used it up more than I wanted to, but it just felt good. I remember from last year that you could run the car pretty hard here so that’s what we did.
“But those last 15 laps were pretty spectacular. The car was getting loose and sliding around pretty good. But I’m sure the other guys were doing the same thing. I don’t know if it was Russ or Louie who got beside me there but that woke me up. You have to be patient in traffic. You have to keep tires on the car. Sometimes you come up on guys and you kind of surprise them. You kind of click through when you do. When somebody puts the pressure on, then you have to go. I probably took a few chances out there, but outside that we did pretty good.
“Again I have to thank Brad, Patco Transportation and the whole Lichty family for giving me this opportunity and to Gary Sagar for having me come up here two years in a row. The hospitality has been great. The walk they had for Breast Cancer was a pretty cool success. It’s been a good time this week. We appreciate everybody who has helped the cause. On behalf of ISMA, I get to present the check for $2500 for Racing Against Cancer. There are a lot of great people who help make this happen. It was great to be a huge part even though I only walked 25 laps!”
Russ Wood, who actually led the race briefly, and then had to get by Louie Cicconi late in the race for second, commented, “It was a pretty fun race there. Johnny won here last year and I think he’s got this place down pat. We were good and then we were bad. I was having fun in traffic. I had a ball. Thanks to Gary from Kraze Korlacki Speed Equipment for putting this on and to everybody who has given to Racing Against Cancer this year. Every little bit helps.”
Rob Summers, in the thick of things all race long, came across in third after Cicconi got some help for a late race bobble. Said Summers, “I was running pretty good but toward the end of the race I got in a bad lane and got shuffled back. Then we were able to get back toward the front again. Russ was good but none of us were as good as Johnny. He owns this place. I can’t thank enough Jeff Holbrook, Russ Wood, JWJ Enterprises, Brian Allegresso and all these guys who gave me a great car tonight.” The ISMA 100, which had been delayed a day due to bad weather forecasts, got underway just after 5 pm on Sunday with Dave Sanborn and Mike Ordway Jr. leading the strong 26-car field down to green.
Summary ISMA Event #13
Racing Against Cancer 100
Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011
Heat 1 – Justin Belfiore, Mike Lichty, Dave Sanborn, Jamie Timmons, Jon McKennedy, Otto Sitterly, Joey Scanlon, Bob Magner, Rick Wentworth
Heat 2: Russ Wood, Johnny Benson, Lou Cicconi, Eddie Witkum, Chris Perley, Dan Bowes, Ben Seitz, Brandon Bellinger, Dave Duggan
Heat 3: Jeff Abold, Mike Ordway Sr., Rob Summers, Jon Gambuti, Mark Sammut, Jeff Locke, Bob Bond, Dave Danzer, Bob Dawson
RAC 100: 1. Johnny Benson Jr. (74), 2. Russ Wood (29), 3. Rob Summers (35), 4. Jon McKennedy (79) 5. Chris Perley (11), 6. Lou Cicconi (75), 7. Bob Bond (25), 8. Mark Sammut (78), 9. Dan Bowes (18), 10. Jon Gambuti (14), 11. Jeff Locke (37), 12. Eddie Witkum Jr. (97) 13. Mike Lichty (84), 14. Joey Scanlon (88), 15. Dave Sanborn (9), 16. Bobby Dawson (28), 17. Bobby Magner (40), 18. Brandon Bellinger (02), 19. Rick Wentworth (10), 20. Jeff Abold (04), 21. Ben Seitz (17), 22. Jamie Timmons (27), 23. Justin Belfiore (98), 24. Otto Sitterly (7) 25. Mike Ordway Sr. (61), 26. Dave Danzer (52).
Witkum survived a couple cautions for spins in those early lapsNotes…ISMA’s $2,500 donation to Racing Against Cancer came from a share of their purse for the night’s feature… Rick Wentworth, driver/owner of car 10 gave all of his earnings for the night to Racing Against Cancer…Russ Wood gave his second place trophy to a young man, Austin Hayes, who was a young cancer survivor. ISMA’s season finale comes at Thompson Speedway on Oct 14-16.
On the undercard Seth Carlson of Brimfield, MA won the NEMA Lites 20 lap feature. Bethany Stoehr of Bridgewater took the runner-up spot with Ryan Bigelow of E. Hampton, NH next, Carl Mederios of Westport, MA and Russ Wood of Pelham, NH cracked the top five. Anthony Nocella of Woburn, MA was sixth then David Moniz of Fairhaven, MA, Brandon Igo of Wilbraham, MA, Andy Barrows of New Ipswich, NH and Paul Luggelle of Holbrook, MA rounded out the top ten. Some 16 NEMA Lites answered the bell at feature time.
The Small Block Super Modifieds that race weekly at the NASCAR sanctioned Lee USA Speedway, NH took to the so-called Cement Palace with Sparkey McIver taking the 20 lap feature event. Tom Tomborello, Leslie Keyser, Matt Sevey and Jim Baker had to settle for the leftovers. “That race was awesome. I’d like to thank Seekonk management and Gary Sager the promoter for inviting us down here. This is my first win for the season! ” said McIver. ” Tomboro, the runner-up, “It was nice getting some track time at another track that I’ve never raced at.” Kiser was equally pleased and revealed, “This is my first time here. A total of 14 Small Block Supers entered the event.
Steve Axon won the 50 lap Street Stock Open while Paul Lallier was next then Justin Travis, Sparky Arsenault and Crystal Serydynski completed the top five. Sixth through tenth were; Scott Bruneau, Ryan Lineham, Joe Kohler, Vincent Arrenegado, Jr. and Scott Cestodio. All of those mentioned drivers compete at the Seekonk Speedway on a weekly basis. A total of 30 entries started the feature event.
The Powder Puff feature saw some 16 woman start in that main event. Lisa Butler ended up the winner with Sabrina Latham, Sonya DeCosta, Gretchen Perry and Nicole Leach cross the finish line for the top five. Sixth was Stacey Krewko then Katie Neville, Tara Wallace and Donna Machado in for ninth place.