Author: Bobby G.

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.

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

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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

Mid-Season Championship for SUPRS Features Double Points and Twin 35s

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The Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series is already at the half way point of it’s 10th Anniversary Gold Crest Winged Championship Season and the SUPRS racers are now setting their sites on a Mid-Season Championship Crown. With a full slate of action featuring time trials, heats, Twin 35 lap features and double points as well as bonus points for the driver crowned Mid-Season Champion, and SUPRSCharger for both features, the action is sure to be intense at Oswego Speedway on Tuesday, January 21.

SUPRS 2014 Mid-Season Championship poster

For the first time since the 2009-2010 season, this much anticipated special event will feature two features in one night to determine the SUPRS Mid-Season Championship. These two races will also kick off the 2013-2014 Empire State Super Series Regional Championship which is comprised of various races throughout the season at tracks located in New York.

In the history of the league, this event has been run only at two different tracks; LaPorte Speedway from 2005-2009 and Oswego Speedway from 2010 to the present.

Originally the race used a Twin 25 lap feature format and rewarded consistency of finishes to determine the overall Mid-Season Champion. It continued the Twin feature format with the release of Oswego Speedway by Flash Tracks for the 2008-2009 season, but the laps were increased to 35 to pay homage to one of the traditions of the famed Upstate New York track.

After just two years the format was switched to a single 75 lap feature at Oswego, which brought with it it’s own set of challenges to the racers as it now became more important to manage tire wear and keep the car free of damage. But for SUPRS 10th Anniversary Season he Twin 35 format has returned and while the drivers will be rewarded for consistent finishes in each feature, they will also have to do their best to get to the front quickly in the short sprint race.

Since the inception of the Mid-Season Championship, it has always paid double Season Championship points for the drivers feature finish and this year will be no different. Ray Sand, Jr. has led the point standings right from the start of the season and while he looks to be headed for a record sixth Gold Crest Winged Supermodified Season Championship, second place point man Rob Warren will have a chance to gain some valuable ground.

The driver that has won the Mid-Season Championship has gone on to win the SUPRS Gold Crest Season Championship four times but only two different drivers have accomplished that feat. John Davidson was the first to do it winning back to back Mid-Season and Season Championships in 2004-2005 and 2005-2006. Five time and current Season Champion Ray Sand, Jr. pulled it off for the first time in 2008-2009 then again last year, 2012-2013.

No other driver in SUPRS history has won the Mid-Season Championship more than once other than Davidson and Sand, Jr.

Practice kicks off at 8:00 pm followed by Time Trials at 8:30. Racing begins at 8:45 with heats, with the first feature to follow.

Fans of supermodified racing and online sim racers alike are encouraged to learn more about the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series by visiting www.SUPRS.net, Liking SUPRS on Facebook, Circling SUPRS on Google+ and viewing SUPRS videos on YouTube.

SUPRS Winged Mid-Season Championship History-

2004-05 Winged Mid-Season Champion: John Davidson-LaPorte Speedway-25×2
2005-06 Winged Mid-Season Champion: John Davidson-LaPorte Speedway-25×2
2006-07 Winged Mid-Season Champion: Ray Sand, Jr.-LaPorte Speedway-25×2
2007-08 Winged Mid-Season Champion: Myles Maxon-LaPorte Speedway-25×2
2008-09 Winged Mid-Season Champion: Ray Sand, Jr.-Oswego Speedway-35×2
2009-10  Winged Mid-Season Champion: N/A-Oswego Speedway-35×2
2010-11   Winged Mid-Season Champion: Chris Meyers-Oswego Speedway-75
2011-12   Winged Mid-Season Champion: Rob Warren-Oswego Speedway-75
2012-13   Winged Mid-Season Champion: Ray Sand, Jr.-Oswego Speedway-75

Terry Gibson Fast 50 Postponed

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Terry Gibson Memorial poster

Server Issues Shut Sandusky Down Sandusky, OH – January 14, 2014….They say the third time is a charm, but it wasn’t to be the case Tuesday night for the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series. After three attempts to fix a server issue, league directors decided to postpone the Terry Gibson Fast 50 until further notice. SUPRS was set to kick off a two night swing of action at Sandusky Speedway to honor Terry Gibson, an… Keep Reading

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