International Supermodified Association


The International Super Modified Association is a sanctioning body of short track auto racing in the United States. It is the largest sanctioning body of super modified racing, an open wheel discipline.

History

The International Super Modified Association was founded in 1974 by Jim Shampine and Nolan Swift, with support from Tom Heveron and Jacob Speck. It aimed to improve safety and increase race events for better driver support. Heveron served as president while Shampine and Fred Graves were also in key roles.
ISMA negotiated with the Lancaster National Speedway & Dragway in Lancaster, New York, to hold its first-ever race at the track. It was a 40-lap event on July 3, 1974. Todd Gibson of Richwood, Ohio, emerged as the winner, marking a key moment in the association’s expansion into new venues. The following year, ISMA booked races at Fulton Speedway with a $5,000 purse and $1,000 to win.
Starting in 1976, ISMA developed a point fund. Tracks contributed $500–$1,000 per race to support this fund. ISMA awards points to car owners, not the drivers. Joining the Heveron, Shampine, and Graves team, Shirley Letcher took over the responsibility for the point system. In just three seasons, ISMA had sanctioned over $96,000 in purse money and races, adding a point fund of $4,400 paid by promoters, providing a tow fund at all races, requiring all promoters to hold insurance, and working to expand the race schedule to other tracks. Steve Giola Jr. became the first point-based champion that year.

Current

ISMA has recently introduced a franchise system in which teams purchase a franchise at the beginning of the season. Each of the 19 franchise teams may miss up to 3 shows during the race season while being guaranteed a minimum starting purse of $1,000 at each event.
ISMA typically approves 13 to 17 events annually, which includes two races from the Super Modified Triple Crown Series held on paved short tracks ranging from one-quarter to five-eighths of a mile in length, situated across six states and Canada. In 2023, ISMA merged with the Midwest Super Modified Series, focusing on events in New York, Ohio, and Michigan. The 2024 schedule includes races at Oswego, Evans Mills, Sandusky, Lorain County, Lee, Claremont, Berlin, and Caraway.

Champions

Bracketed numbers denote a cumulative number of championships:
SeasonDriver
1976Steve Gioia Jr.
1977Jim Shampine
1978Steve Gioia Jr.
1979Doug Heveron
1980Doug Heveron
1981Doug Heveron
1982Doug Heveron
1983Den Wheeler
1984Bentley Warren
1985Steve Gioia Jr.
1986Steve Gioia Jr.
1987Joe Gosek
1988Bentley Warren
1989Bentley Warren
1990Bentley Warren
1991Russ Wood
1992Pat Abold
1993Pat Abold
1994Russ Wood
1995Mike Ordway Sr.
1996Russ Wood
1997Russ Wood
1998Mike Ordway Sr.
1999Russ Wood
2000Joe Gosek
2001Dave McKnight Jr.
2002Russ Wood
2003Chris Perley
2004Chris Perley
2005Pat Abold
2006Chris Perley
2007Chris Perley
2008Chris Perley
2009Chris Perley
2010Russ Wood
2011Russ Wood
2012Mike Lichty
2013Lou Cicconi Jr.
2014Ben Seitz
2015Dave Shullick Jr.
2016Dave Shullick Jr.
2017Jonathan McKennedy
2018Kyle Edwards
2019Mike Lichty
2021Otto Sitterly
2022Otto Sitterly
2023Mike McVetta
2024Otto Sitterly
2025Mike McVetta

Competitors notable outside of ISMA: