RGeeProductions
08-16-2011, 07:23 PM
Ted Christopher, NASCAR's winningest modified driver of the
past 10 years, makes his first-ever start in this Friday night's Ollie Silva
Memorial Classic supermodified race here at Lee USA Speedway.
Christopher joins a highly competitive field including 2008 NASCAR Craftsman
Truck national champion Johnny Benson, a pair of six-time International
Supermodified Association champions, Chris Perley and Russ Wood, plus
four-time Northeast Midget Racing Association champ Ben Seitz.
Christopher, of Plainville Ct., will be driving the potent Clyde Booth
aerodynamic No. 61 winged roadster from Mooresville, North Carolina,
attempting his first Lee race in the cockpit of a supermod. He has already
won a 50-lap ISMA main event in the car last month in first appearance at
Airborne Speedway in Plattsburgh, N.Y. Christopher also won during his first
try with the car in another feature race in Berlin, Michigan.
Famed for his crossover racing moves, setting up a competing driver to pass
on the outside before sneaking by with a quick inside pass, Christopher is
the talk of modified racing fans in the Northeast. Lee is one of the few
tracks where he has never won. He also provides a stiff challenge for
Perley, the defending Ollie Silva Memorial Classic champion and a three-time
ISMA winner this season, who is famed for his daring outside passing in the
turns.
"Tell Perley he better be ready. We're not going to the Silva race to finish
second," promised Christopher, not known to be timid with his aggressive
on-track maneuvers or his straight-to-the-point conversations. "He beat me
once earlier this season (at Stafford, Ct.). It's not going to happen this
time."
Three Canadian drivers also are in Friday night's field: two-time 2011
feature winner Toronto's Mike Lichty, 2008 Silva Classic winner Mark Sammut,
of London, Ontario, and Craig Rayvals, an Ottawa supermod star who broke his
leg in a spectacular flip during the 2009 Silva event at Lee.
New Hampshire drivers Jeff Locke, Dave Duggan, Joey Scanlon and Eddie Witkum
Jr. are also in the fast field of entries along with Justin Belfiore, a
former Classic 150 champion.
Silva build a legendary Racing Hall of Fame career winning throughout the
U.S. and Canada between 1949 and 1981. He died at age 75 in 2004. His famous
"Big O" supermodified car, the winner of more than 100 feature races, will
pace Friday night's race, the ninth annual event in his honor.
The Frank Callahan Memorial 350 supermodified main event also is on Friday's
program. Mike Ordway Jr., of Fremont, N.H., Haverhill's Tom Tombarello, and
Wayne Helliwell Jr., of Dracut, are among the starters in that 35-lap
feature named for the former longtime fan and car-owner from Haverhill.
Friday's qualifying heats start at 6:30 p.m. The Ollie Silva Memorial
Classic 75-lap ISMA feature starts at 8 p.m. Practice for supermodifieds
gets the green flag at 4 p.m.
Lee USA Speedway
past 10 years, makes his first-ever start in this Friday night's Ollie Silva
Memorial Classic supermodified race here at Lee USA Speedway.
Christopher joins a highly competitive field including 2008 NASCAR Craftsman
Truck national champion Johnny Benson, a pair of six-time International
Supermodified Association champions, Chris Perley and Russ Wood, plus
four-time Northeast Midget Racing Association champ Ben Seitz.
Christopher, of Plainville Ct., will be driving the potent Clyde Booth
aerodynamic No. 61 winged roadster from Mooresville, North Carolina,
attempting his first Lee race in the cockpit of a supermod. He has already
won a 50-lap ISMA main event in the car last month in first appearance at
Airborne Speedway in Plattsburgh, N.Y. Christopher also won during his first
try with the car in another feature race in Berlin, Michigan.
Famed for his crossover racing moves, setting up a competing driver to pass
on the outside before sneaking by with a quick inside pass, Christopher is
the talk of modified racing fans in the Northeast. Lee is one of the few
tracks where he has never won. He also provides a stiff challenge for
Perley, the defending Ollie Silva Memorial Classic champion and a three-time
ISMA winner this season, who is famed for his daring outside passing in the
turns.
"Tell Perley he better be ready. We're not going to the Silva race to finish
second," promised Christopher, not known to be timid with his aggressive
on-track maneuvers or his straight-to-the-point conversations. "He beat me
once earlier this season (at Stafford, Ct.). It's not going to happen this
time."
Three Canadian drivers also are in Friday night's field: two-time 2011
feature winner Toronto's Mike Lichty, 2008 Silva Classic winner Mark Sammut,
of London, Ontario, and Craig Rayvals, an Ottawa supermod star who broke his
leg in a spectacular flip during the 2009 Silva event at Lee.
New Hampshire drivers Jeff Locke, Dave Duggan, Joey Scanlon and Eddie Witkum
Jr. are also in the fast field of entries along with Justin Belfiore, a
former Classic 150 champion.
Silva build a legendary Racing Hall of Fame career winning throughout the
U.S. and Canada between 1949 and 1981. He died at age 75 in 2004. His famous
"Big O" supermodified car, the winner of more than 100 feature races, will
pace Friday night's race, the ninth annual event in his honor.
The Frank Callahan Memorial 350 supermodified main event also is on Friday's
program. Mike Ordway Jr., of Fremont, N.H., Haverhill's Tom Tombarello, and
Wayne Helliwell Jr., of Dracut, are among the starters in that 35-lap
feature named for the former longtime fan and car-owner from Haverhill.
Friday's qualifying heats start at 6:30 p.m. The Ollie Silva Memorial
Classic 75-lap ISMA feature starts at 8 p.m. Practice for supermodifieds
gets the green flag at 4 p.m.
Lee USA Speedway