Story By: CAMDEN PROUD / ISMA – SANDUSKY, OH – The 42nd annual Hy-Miler Convenience Nationals for the International Supermodified Association will take center stage this Friday and Saturday, July 26 and 27 at Ohio’s Sandusky Speedway.
The 2019 edition of the Hy-Miler marks the thirty eighth consecutive year that the ISMA Supers have competed in a two day double header on the ultra fast half mile oval located one hour west of Cleveland.
This weekend’s festivities will open up with the 40-lap, $2,400 to win ’Fast Forty’ special on Friday, June 26 with the 42nd 100-lap, $6,000 to win Hy-Miler Nationals serving as the headliner on Saturday.
An impressive field, made up of six former Hy-Miler winners, is expected for the ‘Dusky double including Dave McKnight, Mark Sammut, Tim Jedrzejek, Mike Ordway Jr, Jon McKennedy and defending champion Dave Shullick Jr, who will be piloting the all new ACME Racing No. 49.
Lichty Racing will again bring two cars to the Hy-Miler, driven by Mike Lichty and Moe Lilje. The duo have won one ‘Fast Forty’ event each, but have never been able to find victory lane come Saturday evening.
Ben Seitz, another Fast Forty winner, will also be searching for his first Hy-Miler checkers with the potent No. 32 for Dan Soule. Soule Racing won back to back Hy-Milers with Tim Jedrzejek at the wheel in 2011 and 2012.
Joining some of ISMA’s finest will be a healthy contingent of Midwest competitors such as Jim Paller, Kyle Edwards, Larry Lehnert, Ricky Otts, Rich Reid, Jake Smith, MIke McVetta, Danny Shirey, AJ Leseicki, and Talon Stephens, who have all put the Hy-Miler on their schedules.
A trio of Oswego Speedway drivers are set to make the trip out as well, including eight time champion Otto Sitterly, who will look for his first Hy-Miler with John Nicotra’s No. 7. Joining Sitterly will be 2018 rookie of the year Tyler Thompson and former series winner Mike Muldoon.
One year removed from his tremendous drive from fourteenth to challenge for the race win in Hy-Miler 41, Oswego track champion Michael Barnes will also be back in the Vic Miller No. 11, vying for his first ever checkered flag with a winged Supermodified.
For the Sandusky Hy-Miler Nationals, ISMA handicapping will not be used. Heats will be set based on top twelve in time trials for each program. Drivers must be within one second of the fourth fastest car in practice in order to claim rightful starting position.
In both the Fast Forty and the Hy Miler, the top four from each heat will draw a pill number for starting position. The remainder of the field will be lined up behind the top twelve according to heat race finish.
Stepping in with contingency awards for both main events are H&S Prototype & Design and the 4th Turn Crazies. H&S will be posting $100 Fast Time and Last Car Running bonuses while the 4th Turn Crazies will post a $100 check to the Hard Charger.
Pit gates will open at 2pm on Friday afternoon, with grandstands and practice at 4pm and time trials at 6:30pm. Qualifying racing will take the green flag at 7:30pm. Grandstand tickets are $25 for adults, $23 for seniors, $8 for kids six to twelve, and children five and under are free.
For the Saturday finale, pits will open at 11am, grandstands and practice are at 1pm, time trials at 4pm, and racing at 7pm. Grandstand pricing will be $28 for adults, $26 for seniors, $8 for kids six to twelve, and children five and under will again be admitted without charge.
Fans planning to attend both days of the Hy-Miler will have the opportunity to purchase a two day pit pass through Sandusky Speedway for $75.
Michael Barnes Returning to the Hy-Miler Aboard Vic Miller’s No. 11
Michael Barnes ‘The Hustler’ from Mexico, N.Y. will return to Sandusky Speedway’s Hy-Miler this Friday and Saturday, July 26 and 27, again piloting the famed Vic Miller No. 11 ISMA Supermodified.
On the heels of an impressive drive from fourteenth to second a year ago, Barnes is hoping for a repeat performance this weekend, and perhaps a change in luck. His 2018 run went to naught when he was caught in the path of a spinning lapped car while chasing leader Dave Shullick Jr.
Despite his misfortune in the 100-lapper, Barnes made the most of his three appearances with Miller last season, first finishing third in the ‘Fast Forty,’ following that up with his brilliant run in the Hy-Miler a day later, and concluding with another podium at Thompson’s World Series.
There is no question that the 2016 Oswego champion, who already won big in the ‘Grand Prix’ Independence Weekend special earlier this month, will again be a threat this weekend. In his four Sandusky appearances with Miller, Barnes has fallen short of the top five just one time.
Other drivers from New York State set to join this fan favorite at the Hy-Miler Nationals include eight time Oswego champ and former ‘King of Wings’ Otto Sitterly, another former ISMA winner in Michael Muldoon, sophomore campaigner Tyler Thompson, and rookie Nick Capelli.
Sandusky’s gates will open at 2pm on Friday, with grandstands and practice at 4pm and time trials at 6:30pm. Qualifying races will take the green flag at 7:30pm. Grandstand tickets are $25 for adults, $23 for seniors, $8 for kids six to twelve, and children five and under are free.
For Saturday’s finale, pits will open at 11am, grandstands and practice at 1pm, time trials at 4pm, and racing at 7pm. Grandstand pricing will be $28 for adults, $26 for seniors, $8 for kids six to twelve, and children five and under will again be admitted without charge.