Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series co-founder. "Voice of the Supermodifieds" Owner Bob Gangwer's Wing Side Up on the World Wide Web http://www.wingsideup.wordpress.com Christian, father, cigar smoker, bourbon drinker & race fan.

Billy Vukovich III Classic 100 at Mesa Marin Raceway Next for SUPRS

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The Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series will honor the late Billy Vukovich III with the 10th Annual running of the Billy Vukovich III Classic 100 at Mesa Marin Raceway presented by SupermodifiedScorecard.com.

SUPRS 2014 Billy Vukovich III Classic poster by Breeze Graphics

In what is considered one of most prestigious and toughest races on the schedule, the SUPRS competitors are not only focused on what will be a tough battle but also ultimately, the reasons why they are running this event.

Two time and defending winner Steve Callahan of Cayuhoga Falls, OH understands as well as anyone that winning this event is not just another win. “I’m going into this race just like I did the other two, with a lot of focus and hoping that I can bring it home with a win because it means a lot to me since it’s about Vuky,” he said recently.

Though sitting fourth in Gold Crest points and a the first back to back winner of this race, Callahan has yet to visit victory lane and will have his work cut out for him against the likes of current point champion and 2009 Vukovich III Classic winner Ray Sand, Jr. To date this season, Sand, Jr. parked his #18 in victory lane eight times and is on his way to tying John Davidson on the SUPRS All-Time Win  list with 74 feature victories.

Davidson, of Sacramento, CA, is the only three-time winner of the event and would love nothing more than to make a run at the race his website SupermodifiedScorecard.com sponsors. “I’d really like to have a shot at a fourth Vuky Classic, but with work and the kids, I doubt that I can make it,” he explained. “I love that track and I was a big fan of Billy’s so it’s really a bummer I can’t be there.”

Billy Vukovich III was a three-time starter of Indianapolis 500 Mile Race, the first third generation racer to compete in the race and like his father and grandfather before him was named the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race Rookie of the Year.

While many in the mainstream motor sports arena will remember Billy III as a rising star of the IndyCar ranks, the supermodified community will always claim him as one of their own. Starting out just like Bill Vukovich and Bill Vukovich II, Billy got his start in midgets in his home state of California and was a champion in that division. He quickly moved through the ranks to the supermodifieds and competed for famed supermodified car builder Jim Belfiore before moving to larger, better funded teams in California’s Central Valley.

Bob Frey and Billy Vukovich III at Berlin Raceway 1989 by B&G Racing photos

Bob Frey(L) talks things over with Billy Vukovich III at 1989 USAC sprint car show at Berlin Raceway. Photo by B&G Racing Photos

During his supermodified tenure, Vukovich III claimed the 1986-87 USAC Supermodified Championship. In 1987 alone he won an incredible 12 of 17 races with a string of seven consecutive victories. He was also a two-time winner of the prestigious Copper World Classic at Phoenix International Raceway and was a threat to win when he competed at Madera Speedway in the Vernon Reitz “Spirit of Madera” machine.

Vukovich III was also a part of the storied return of winged supermodified racing to Oswego Speedway, competing there in an exhibition race against Eddie Bellinger, Steve Gioia, Jr. and Bentley Warren. This event was the forerunner of the return of winged supermodified racing to Oswego Speedway with 1992 ISMA wing show and set the stage for ISMA’s 1992 East vs West series and ultimately the 1995 East vs West Shootout at Indianapolis Raceway Park.

Vukovich III was killed at the age of 27 while practicing for a CRA pavement sprint car race at Mesa Marin Speedway on November 25, 1990.

Each year Madera Speedway runs the Vukovich Classic in honor of all three generations of the racing Vukovich family. There is an annual Billy Vukovich III golf tournament held to raise funds for the Billy Vukovich III Scholarship Fund for students of Billy’s high school Yosemite High School where there is also a memorial honoring the 1981 graduate who loved meteorology and amateur weather forecasting.

SUPRS Billy Vukovich III Classic 100 History

  • 2005 Billy Vukovich III Classic Champion: Bud Flath
  • 2006 Billy Vukovich III Classic Champion: John Davidson
  • 2007 Billy Vukovich III Classic Champion: Devin Gee
  • 2008 Billy Vukovich III Classic Champion: John Davidson
  • 2009 Billy Vukovich III Classic Champion: Ray Sand Jr
  • 2010 Billy Vukovich III Classic Champion: Bobby Gangwer
  • 2011 Billy Vukovich III Classic Champion: John Davidson
  • 2012 Billy Vukovich III Classic Champion: Steve Callahan
  • 2013 Billy Vukovich III Classic Champion: Steve Callahan

Groundhog Day Derby win to Ray Sand, Jr.

SUPRS Groundhog Day Derby poster by Breeze Graphics
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Three Lead Changes and Wild Finish Highlight Race Derry, ME – February 4, 2014… Punxsutawney Phil may be able to predict the weather, but nobody could have predicted the outcome of the 10th Annual Groundhog Day Derby at Derry Raceway Park for the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series (SUPRS). After an incredible battle throughout the race among the entire field, Ray Sand, Jr. was able to wrestle the lead away from Rob Warren with just… Keep Reading

Groundhog Day Derby Ready to Roll for 10th Year

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The Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series Groundhog Day Derby features an interesting format that is decided by the world’s most famous groundhog.

Letting Punxsutawney Phil decide the format for the night may sound a bit odd but SUPRS has done it that way for this race for 10 years and always keeps things just as unpredictable as trying to judge what the weather will do.

SUPRS Groundhog Day Derby poster by Breeze Graphics

The racing at Derry Raceway Park is so unpredictable in fact, that there has never been a repeat winner of the race. A lot of that has to do with the racetrack as much as the format of this event. Derry Raceway Park features two completely different ends with turn one and two having a good deal of banking and turn three and four being almost off-camber creating a challenge to racers on each lap.

Steve Callahan is the current track record holder and a former winner of this race. So far this season, although he has been close, he’s been locked out of SUPRS Victory Lane. Twice he’s been passed while leading by reigning SUPRS Wing Gold Crest Division Champion Ray Sand, Jr., but his smooth, steady style is well suited for this racetrack and is a favorite to become the first two-time winner of Groundhog Day Derby.

Here’s a look at the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series Groundhog Day Derby History:

  • 2005 Groundhog Day Derby Winner: 71jr.-Bud Flath (No TT)
  • 2006 Groundhog Day Derby Winner: 2-Sean Gibbs (TT)
  • 2007 Groundhog Day Derby Winner: 54j-Mike Jackson (TT)
  • 2008 Groundhog Day Derby Winner: 66-Tim Heveron (No TT)
  • 2009 Groundhog Day Derby Winner: 79-Myles Maxon (N/A)
  • 2010 Groundhog Day Derby Winner: 58-Keith Powell (N/A)
  • 2011 Groundhog Day Derby Winner: 37-Dave Biro III (TT)
  • 2012 Groundhog Day Derby Winner: 55-Steve Callahan (No TT)
  • 2013 Groundhog Day Derby Winner: 23-Chris Meyers (TT)

Current Track Record: Derry Raceway Park: Steve Callahan 12.459 sec. Set 02/02/11

Mid-Season Championship Features to Sand, Becker

SUPRS 2014 Mid-Season Championship poster
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Ray Sand, Jr. Claims Bonus as SUPRS Mid-Season Champion Oswego, NY – January 21, 2014… After another late race pass in one feature and a charge from last starting place to second in another, Ray Sand, Jr. has been crowned the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series Mid-Season Champion for the Winged Gold Crest Division for the second year in a row. The SUPRS Mid-Season Championships featured Twin 35 lap features at Oswego Speedway and in the… Keep Reading

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