Achzet Runs Away Enroute to First Randy Witkum Memorial

Joe Achzet Wins First Career Randy Witkum Memorial 125

March 9, 2015 – Jennerstown, PA … Joe Achzet closed out the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, (SUPRS), 12^th Annual Keystone Nationals in a big way by winning his first Randy Witkum Memorial 125. Bob Gangwer and Keith Powell completed the podium.

The size of his accomplishment wasn’t lost on the Utica, NY driver. When asked how he felt after winning this race for the first time, he referenced the recent loss of former Oswego Speedway supermodified racer Joe Paeno and remembered Randy Witkum by solemnly saying, “From one Joe to another one, for Randy, this one is huge. It’s simply unbelievable.”

Achzet’s pace was fast from the start and after he passed Domenic Gioia for the lead on lap 7, he ended up setting the fastest lap of the race. But as fast as he was, he was still surprised that there was nobody near him at the end of the race. “I didn’t know I pulled away from him,” he said about early challenger Rob Warren. “I figured he was right on me right to the end because I figured somebody had to be there. But I took the checkered flag and looked back and there was nobody there.”

He got to the finish line all alone by staying true to his pre-race plan of staying out of trouble and keeping the car damage free. He explained, “I tried to stay consistent and not put it in the outside wall for 125 laps. I told myself to “just be patient and keep it out of the wall.””

His plan worked well but before the race was over, Achzet’s nerves of steel became as pliable as rubber. “About 10 to go I had to keep calming myself down,” he admitted. “I’m like “he’s gotta be right there, he’s gonna be mounting a charge, somebody’s gotta be there, they’re too quick, there’s no way I ran away from them” so I really had to talk myself calm all the way to the checkered flag.”

Six Seconds too Much for Gangwer

Bob Gangwer made his was from sixth on the grid to finish second six seconds behind Achzet. Last year he was able to run down the winner, Rob Warren, from the same distance and made Warren fight for the win. This year, six seconds was just too much. “First of all, congratulations to Joe, he had a great car tonight and he drove near perfect race,” he began. “I ran a little harder a little sooner than I wanted too and I think I really used up the car trying to get by Rob for 20 laps. I just never could get any closer than six seconds to Joe.”

SEE KEYSTONE NATIONALS HIGHLIGHTS

Warren Has One Put On

Keith “Put One on Ya” Powell made a last race charge to put himself back into third place after losing it around lap 40. Closing in an ill-handling Rob Warren, Powell worked hard the last ten laps but never took the spot until right at the finish line when the checkered flag flew.

“It feels pretty good to get into third, it was real close at the end,” he said.  “I just wanted to keep the car clean and I did for a long time. It didn’t have a scratch on it until lap 115 when I just touched rob. That was a tough battle with Rob at the end. I think we’re both pretty happy that it’s over.”

“Congratulations to Joe on the win. You have to be consistent and keep the car clean for 125 laps and that’s a real accomplishment.

Warren Wins Third Keystone Nationals Championship

After winning the first two races and coming home with a fourth place in the Randy Witkum Memorial, Rob Warren tallied enough points to bring home his third Keystone Nationals Championship and gains 10 bonus points for doing so.

“This was a real challenge this year,” said Warren. “Three different tracks, Joe leading at RT 93 then dropping out, then let’s throw rFactor in the mix with a new track we’ve never run and had it been 26 laps instead of 25 Kyle would have passed me, this was a tough one.”

Then he added, “It’s been a tough week, let’s just remember we lost Joe Paeno this week, and tonight we raced to remember Randy.”

This was Warren’s second Keystone Nationals Championship in a row with his first coming in 2012 and he is now just one Keystone Nationals Championship behind Myles Maxon.

Keystone Nationals Support Shown

Rob Warren, Bob Gangwer, Keith Powell, Joe Achzet, Kyle Clark , Carl Becker, and Nelson Rodrigues had perfect attendance for the Keystone Nationals. Ten drivers total competed in at least one of the three races.

Because of his win, Achzet joins Domenic Gioia, Rob Warren and Steve Callahan as a guaranteed starter for the season-ending 13^th Annual Summit Classic 125 next month at Madera Speedway.

Driving to Delaware

The SUPRS racers move on to the St. Patrick’s Day Grab O’ the Green  at the Dover Downs International Speedway on March 14. This will be the first time that SUPRS has run rFactor at the “Monster Mile” and because of that fans, friends, and family can cheer on their favorite supermodified sim racer with SUPRS LIVE! which has scoring, timing and live track telemetry to keep everyone informed.

Official Practice begins at 8pm for the St. Patrick’s Day race with Time Trials at 8:30pm after the Driver’s Meeting. Racing action begins at 9pm.

Fans of supermodified racing and online sim racers alike can learn more about the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series by visiting www.SUPRS.net, “Liking” SUPRS on Facebook, Circling SUPRS on Google+, Following @SUPRSOnline on Twitter, and Viewing SUPRS videos on YouTube.

RACE RESULTS

• 13^th Annual Randy Witkum Memorial
• 12^th Annual Keystone Nationals Race 3
• Race 32 of 42
• March 9, 2017
• SUPRS NASCAR Heat W v6 mod
• Jennerstown Speedway
• 125 Laps

Supermodified Time Trials (showing car number, driver name, hometown, sponsors, lap 1, lap 2-best lap underlined)

1. 35-Rob Warren; Pulaski, NY; 1^st to Finish Race Servers, Designs of Elegance: 15.572, 15.656
2. 41-Keith Powell; Carrollton, OH; Icings on Top, CPR Motorsports: 15.788, 15.625
3. 14-Joe Achzet; Yorkville, NY; Cottontail Designs, GraphX: 15.645, 15.709
4. 9-Domenic Gioia; Oswego, NY; Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer, Team Domination Motorsports: 15.734, 15.836
5. 25-Bob Gangwer; Goshen, IN; Wing Side Up Enterprises, RW Woodworking: 15.820, 15.893
6. 42-Carl Becker; Lansing, MI; Wholesale Diamond Exchange, Michigan Hill Gang: 16.092, 15.915
7. 7-Nelson Rodrigues; Stoneham, MA; Star Speedway: 16.186, 16.070
8. 38-Kyle Clark; Mexico, NY; Coors’ Light, Disturbed Motorsports:  16.284, 16.175

Supermodified Heat Race 8 Laps (showing car number, driver name-top two get time back)

1. 9-Domenic Gioia
2. 41-Keith Powell
3. 38-Kyle Clark
4. 42-Carl Becker

Supermodified Heat Race 8 Laps (showing car number, driver name-top two get time back)

1. 35-Rob Warren
2. 14-Joe Achzet
3. 25-Bob Gangwer
4. 7-Nelson Rodrigues

Supermodified Feature 25 Laps (showing car number, driver name, bonus, starting place, fastest lap, distance behind winner)

1. 14-Joe Achzet: ! | * | ** | P2 | 15.583
2. 25-Bob Gangwer: ^ | P6 | 15.595 | +5.850
3. 41-Keith Powell: P3 | 15.598 | +11.481
4. 35-Rob Warren:  P4 |   15.586 | +11.506
5. 42-Carl Becker: P7 | 15.626 | +2 Laps
6. 38-Kyle Clark: P5 | 15.734 | +2 Laps
7. 9-Domenic Gioia: P1 | 15.695 | +3 Laps
8. 7-Nelson Rodrigues: P8 | 15.974 | +6 Laps

Time of Race:  34:12.963

• * Denotes Lap Led
• ** Denotes Most Laps Led
• ! Denotes Fastest Lap of Race
• ^ Denotes SUPRSCharger

FINAL 2017 SUPRS Keystone Nationals Point Standings