The International Supermodified Association (ISMA) is a sanctioning body of short track auto racing in the United States. It is the largest sanctioning body of supermodified racing, an open wheel discipline which is particularly popular in Upstate New York.

History

The ISMA was founded in 1974 by Jim Shampine and Nolan Swift, who had won multiple races and championships at the Oswego Speedway. With the help of local businessperson Tom Heveron, they formed ISMA as a forum for owners and drivers to express their ideas and opinions, particularly those drivers and owners who felt concerns were not being listened to by the track's management. ISMA's goals were to improve safety conditions in supermodified racing and to host a larger number of events per season to ensure sufficient purses and support for drivers. The association worked with the track to plan for future improvements and focused on driver safety and having a say in the track's future, along with spreading the racing discipline to other tracks and fans outside Oswego. Tom Heveron served as the sanctioning body's president and led ISMA through its developmental stages, with the help of the organization's vice president Jim Shampine and Fred Graves, its secretary and treasurer. ISMA negotiated with the Lancaster National Speedway & Dragway in Lancaster, New York for a 40-lap race held on July 3, 1974, which Todd Gibson of Richwood, Ohio won. 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 with tracks contributing $500–$1,000 per race to this fund. Unlike most other point systems, ISMA awards points to car owners rather than 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 accomplished sanctioning 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. would become the first point-based champion in that year.

Current

ISMA continues to be at the forefront of Supermodified sanctioning bodies, pioneering the franchise system, in which teams purchase a franchise at the beginning of the season. Creating a win-win situation for both the teams and promoters, each of the 19 franchise teams are allowed to miss up to 3 shows during the race season while being guaranteed a minimum starting purse of $1,000 at each event. This system helps to ensure solid, stable car counts and a successful event for the promoter. ISMA has generally sanctioned between 13–17 shows a year including two of the prestigious Supermodified Triple Crown Series at 1/4-5/8 mile paved short tracks located in 6 states and Canada. In 2023, ISMA merged with the Midwest Supermodified Series (MSS), focusing on events in New York, Ohio and Michigan. The 2024 schedule includes races at Oswego, Evans Mills (New York), Sandusky, Lorain County (Ohio), Lee, Claremont (New Hampshire), Berlin (Michigan) and Caraway (North Carolina).

Champions

Bracketed numbers denote cumulative number of championships. Competitors notable outside of ISMA: