Perley, Wood among field of 45th annual event at Lee Speedway

LEE, N.H. — New England's longest running traditional oval-track racing event, the "Classic" for Supermodifieds, is now officially sanctioned and scheduled for the green flag on Saturday night, Sept. 11th, here at Lee USA Speedway.

The 45th annual "Classic" already has drawn a long entry list as the grand-daddy event of New England motorsports returns to Lee for the first time since 1967, sanctioned by International Supermodified Association (ISMA).

This year's championship program has a new site and a special new format making up the 100-lap "Classic" with two 50-lap feature events. Points will be awarded in each 50-lap portion, along with $20,000 in each main event. The field will be inverted from the finish of the first 50-lapper to the start of the second 50 laps. Up to 24 supermods will start each race.

The overall best finisher in the twin races for the 100-lap distance will win the 2010 "Classic" championship plus bonus prize money. In case of a tie in points, the tie-breaker will be determined by the best finish in 12-lap qualifying heats, giving each heat race extra incentive for drivers.

Fans will be treated to green-flag racing only, meaning caution-flag laps will not count in this special all-out "Classic" championship clash.

Six-time ISMA Champion Chris Perley, of Rowley, MA, is among the top entries. Perley is a four-time Classic champion (1996, 2005, 2008, 2009) and is attempting to become only the third driver ever to win three consecutive Classics. Legendary Ollie Silva won three straight between 1969 and 1971 and Russ Wood scored a Classic hat trick (2002-2004).

Wood, of Pelham, N.H., is a five-time Classic champion and will be driving the sleek Brian Allegresso-prepared winged No. 29 equipped with a 90-horsepower motor.

Bobby Santos III, the current 2010 NASCAR Modified Division National Championship point leader, will be making a rare Supermodified start in this "Classic" race. Santos is a late entry driving Clyde Booth's low-slung special design No. 61 from Mooresville, N.C.

Santos is no stranger to the Lee Oval, having the 2006 Ollie Silva Memorial Championship. In 2007, Santos finished second after starting 22nd in the Silva 75-lap Supermodified event at Lee.

The winner of numerous United States Auto Club (USAC) events from California to the Mid-west and Northeast, Santos is looking to add the "Classic" championship to his list of career achievements.

Justin Belfiore, the 2007 "Classic" champ from Ipswich, MA, has a beautiful winged supermod ready to roll which he has driven to top finishes in California, Nevada and Vermont.

Canada also is represented with four top cars headed to the Classic from north of the border.

Mark Sammut, of London, Ontario, won this July's 100-Lap "High Mile Championship" at Sandusky, Ohio. Sammut is no stranger to the Lee 3/8-mile banked oval. Sammut won the 2009 Ollie Silva Memorial 75-lap supermod event with a spectacular late race charge.

Mike Licty, of Toronto, finished fourth after leading some of the 2009 Classic and will return for another try. Craig Rayvals, of Brockville, Ontario, took a nasty flip at Lee in 2009, but will return for a bid at the 2010 title. Gary Morton, of Oshawa, Ontario, also is expected.

Ray Graham, of Ankeny, Iowa, won this year's "Mr. Supermodified" Championship at Oswego, N.Y., and is entered for the Classic at Lee.

So is the four-time Northeast Midget Racing Association Champion Ben Seitz, driving a new highly sophisticated winged supermodified.

Also scheduled on the Classic night program is a special 40-lap small block supermod feature event plus a full card of stock car racing.

The pit area on Classic Saturday will open at noon with the grandstand box office opening at 4:00, for practice warm-up sessions. Stock car heats start at 6:00. Supermodified Classic qualifying heats begin at 6:30, the 100-lap "Classic" starts at 7:30, with the first 50-lap main event.

Back in 1966, the old Lee Raceway tri-oval hosted the first Classic which was the only other time the championship was decided by points earned in race segments. Racing Hall-of-Famers, Eddie West, Don MacLaren and Bob Cloutier shared the inaugural Classic title.

Bud Crotty won the 1967 Classic at Lee before the race venue shifted to Star Speedway, in Epping, N.H.

"The Classic" Champions

Year Champion Laps Car No. Car Owner

1 - 1966 Bob Cloutier Tri-Winners 84.......Bob Cloutier

Don MacLaren 3 Segments F5.......Ed Bowley

Eddie West 75, 50, 25 Laps 61Jr.....West/Yogi Fahey

2 - 1967 Bud Crotty 150 77........Loren Valley/Dan Dexter

3 - 1968 Don MacLaren 150 F5........Ed Bowley

4 - 1969 Ollie Silva 200 0........Ollie Silva

5 - 1970 Ollie Silva 150 0........Ollie Silva

6 - 1971 Ollie Silva 150 0........Ollie Silva

7 - 1972 Jim Landry 150 38........Jim Landry

8 - 1973 Eddie West 150 61Jr......West/Yogi Fahey

9 - 1974 Ollie Silva 150 0.........Ollie Silva

10 - 1975 Eddie West 150 61Jr......Eddie West

11 - 1976 Bentley Warren 150 77X.......Cindy Snyder

12 - 1977 Howie Brown 150 77.........Loren Valley

13 - 1978 Dave Thomas 150 1.........Red MacDonald

14 - 1979 Jim Shampine 150 8-Ball...Jim Shampine

15 - 1980 Jim Shampine 150 8-Ball...Jim Shampine

16 - 1981 Dick Batchelder 150 33.........Dick Batchelder

17 - 1982 Doug Heveron 150 1.........Tom Heveron

18 - 1983 Doug Heveron 200 1.........Tom Heveron

19 - 1984 Bentley Warren 150 5......... Ed & Tom Bowley

20 - 1985 Paul Richardson 150 7..........F. Barthel & Lee Allard

21 - 1986 Paul Richardson 200 7..........Frank & Bill Barthel

22 - 1987 Gene Lee Gibson 200 0..........Gene Lee Gibson

23 - 1988 Dick Batchelder 200 77..........Tim Trefethen

24 - 1989 Bentley Warren 200 61..........Mike Mazur

25 - 1990 Bentley Warren 200 61..........Mike Mazur

26 - 1991 Dave Simard 200 77.........Tim Trefethen

27 - 1992 Dave Simard 200 77.........Tim Trefethen

28 - 1993 Bentley Warren 200 29.........Paul Dunigan

29 - 1994 Bentley Warren 200 29.........Paul Dunigan

30 - 1995 Joe Gosek 200 00.........Joe Gosek

31 - 1996 Chris Perley 200 11.........Vic Miller

32 - 1997 Russ Wood 200 29.........Paul Dunigan

33 - 1998 Mike Ordway, Sr. 200 26.........Paul Dunigan

34 - 1999 Russ Wood 200 29.........Paul Dunigan

35 - 2000 Lou Cicconi 200 75.........Lou Cicconi

36 - 2001 Joe Gosek 150 26.........Paul Dunigan

37 - 2002 Russ Wood 200 29.........Paul Dunigan

38 - 2003 Russ Wood 200 29.........Paul Dunigan

39 - 2004 Russ Wood 200 29.........Paul Dunigan

40 - 2005 Chris Perley 200 11.........Vic Miller

41 - 2006 Lou Cicconi 200 75.........Lou Cicconi

42 - 2007 Justin Belfiore 148 8.........Jim Belfiore

43 - 2008 Chris Perley 100 11.........Vic Miller

44 - 2009 Chris Perley 100 ` 11.........Vic Miller

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