Carl Becker Steals a Win, Steve Callahan Dominates on Night 1 of SUPRS North Carolina Swing
October 22, 2019 – Rougemont, NC …For the second year in a row, Carl Becker waited until the end of the race to steal a win at Dasera Speedway, while Steve Callahan dominated the feature at Orange County Speedway on the first night of the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, (SUPRS), 16th Annual North Carolina Swing Tuesday at Dasera Speedway and Orange County Speedway.
Becker Hits the Inhaler
After a last gasp pass on rookie Zach Sears, Carl Becker held on for the final two laps of an exciting 40 lap feature at Dasera Speedway. Becker was thrilled to win at the high-banked speedbowl for the second year in a row, but admitted that he was out of breath at the end. “I about fell out of the seat,” said the driver that is north of 70 years old. “I was plumb wore out, was breathing hard, and had to get up and get my inhaler.”
Becker dropped to second after outside pole-sitter Zach Sears got a big jump on the Lansing, MI driver at the drop of the green flag. Becker then proceeded to hound the youngster for the entire race, moving high, then low trying to force Sears into a mistake.
The stalking finally paid off on lap 38 when Sears went a little too deep into the turn and Becker pounced. Sears tried to fight back, but the cagey SUPRS veteran would have nothing of it and refused to give an inch, hanging on for the popular win in his Wholesale Diamond Exchange, Dowker Titanium Roadster. Sears held on for second while Keith Powell was able to fend off Rob Warren for third.
Steady Steve Returns and Wins
After missing most of the non-wing season over the summer because of work, and not being present for the first three races of the current season because of family commitments, one would think that 2016-17 North Carolina Champion Steve Callahan would be a little rusty.
However, Callahan left no doubt that he remembers where he left off after a dominating victory at Orange County Speedway. Callahan, started from the pole and never looked back, leading all 40 laps in SUPRS first feature race to be held at the Rougemont oval.
Callahan’s last win came a little over a year ago and some 59 races back at New River Valley Speedway in a 50 lap contest. Callahan likened his success at Orange County to that he has experienced at New River Valley. “This track is a lot like New River Valley and that’s a momentum track,” said the CPR Motorsports driver. “I really like both tracks and this one just seemed to suit my style. If feels good to be back.”
Rob Warren, who had earlier set a track record for the supermodifieds of 10.974 seconds, ended up in second nearly three seconds behind Callahan, while Callahan’s teammate, Keith Powell, kept his perfect streak of podium finishes in tact.
Two 50 Lap Features on Night 2
The SUPRS stars move on to Southern National Motorsports Park and Concord Motorsports Park for the third and fourth legs of the challenging North Carolina Swing. These are the last two qualifying races of the swing and drivers will push their rFactor supermodifieds hard to make sure they stay in the top eight in North Carolina Swing points after the two 50 lap features on Wednesday October 23.
Practice for both races begins at 8pm ET with racing slated to go at 9:05.
Hickory Hustle on Thursday
The swing finishes off at Hickory Motor Speedway on Thursday, October 24th where the winner of challenging “Hickory Hustle 75” will be crowned North Carolina Swing Champion and gain 10 bonus points in the SUPRS Gold Crest Wing Supermodified Championship.
Supermodified and sim racing fans alike can view timing and scoring including track telemetry of races three and four as well as The Hickory Hustle during the 16th Annual North Carolina Swing with SUPRS LIVE! You’ll be able to keep up with your favorite SUPRS racer in an instant by going to www.SUPRS.net/site/live.
Learn more about the original supermodified sim racing sanction and read about real supermodified racing with a visit to www.SUPRS.net. Join SUPRS active and vibrant Social Media channels by “Liking” SUPRS on Facebook, Following @SUPRSOnline on Twitter, and viewing SUPRS videos on YouTube.
SUPRS RACE RESULTS:
16th Annual North Carolina Swing Race 1
- Race 4 of Season
- SUPRS NASCAR Heat W v6 mod
- October 22, 2019
- Dasera Speedway
Time Trials (showing car number, driver name, hometown, sponsors, lap 1, lap 2-best lap highlighted)
- 55-Steve Callahan; Cuyahoga Falls, OH; Exide Battery, CPR Motorsports: 11.469, 11.369
- 25-Bob Gangwer; Goshen, IN; RW Woodworking, Wing Side Up Enterprises: 11.505, 11.430
- 35-Rob Warren; Pulaski, NY; 1st to Finish Race Servers, Designs of Elegance: 11.467, 11.565
- 41-Keith Powell; Carrollton, OH; Icings on Top, CPR Motorsports: 11.611, 11.481
- 42-Carl Becker; Lansing, MI; Wholesale Diamond Exchange, Michigan Hill Gang: 11.536, 11.617
- 22-Zach Sears; Round Lake Beach, IL; Midwest Supermodified Series, Adkins Glass: 11.612, 11.600
- 3-Brad Keysor; Liverpool, NY, Southern Hills Storm Football, Justice League: 11.749, 11.677
Feature-40 Laps (showing car number, driver, name, bonus, distance behind winner)
- 42-Carl Becker; * / P1 / 11.334
- 22-Zach Sears; * / ** / P2 /11.435/ +0.320
- 41-Keith Powell; P5 / 11.384 / +0.781
- 35-Rob Warren; P6 / 11.330 / +0.947
- 25-Bob Gangwer; P4 / 11.286 / +1.977
- 3-Brad Keysor; P3 / 11.322 / +2.324
- 55-Steve Callahan; ! / P7 / 11.264 / +2.330
Time of Race: 08:51.261
- * Denotes Lap Led
- ** Denotes Most Laps Led
- ! Denotes Fastest Lap of Race
16th Annual North Carolina Swing Race 2
- Race 5 of Season
- SUPRS NASCAR Heat W v6 mod
- October 22, 2019
- Orange County Speedway
Time Trials (showing car number, driver name, hometown, sponsors, lap 1, lap 2-best lap underlined)
- 35-Rob Warren; Pulaski, NY; 1st to Finish Race Servers, Designs of Elegance: 10.974 TR, 11.043
- 41-Keith Powell; Carrollton, OH; Icings on Top, CPR Motorsports: 11.112, 11.066
- 25-Bob Gangwer; Goshen, IN; RW Woodworking, Wing Side Up Enterprises: 11.086
- 3-Brad Keysor; Liverpool, NY, Southern Hills Storm Football, Justice League: 11.164, 11.365
- 55-Steve Callahan; Cuyahoga Falls, OH; Exide Battery, CPR Motorsports: 11.309, 11.175
- 42-Carl Becker; Lansing, MI; Wholesale Diamond Exchange, Michigan Hill Gang: 11.334, 11.213
- 22-Zach Sears; Round Lake Beach, IL; Midwest Supermodified Series, Adkins Glass: 11.444, 11.528
Feature-38 Laps (showing car number, driver, name, bonus, fastest lap, distance behind winner)
- 55-Steve Callahan; * / ** / ! / P1 / 11.046
- 35-Rob Warren; P4 / 11.117 / +2.778
- 41-Keith Powell; P5/ 11.087 / +3.092
- 25-Bob Gangwer; P3/ 11.073 /+3.640
- 3-Brad Keysor; P2 / 11.107/ +8.344
- 22-Zach Sears; P6 / 11.211 / +1 Lap
- 42-Carl Becker; P7 / 11.327 / DNF (Crash on last lap)
Time of Race: 08:37.709
- * Denotes Lap Led
- ** Denotes Most Laps Led
- ! Denotes Fastest Lap of Race