Leads Entire Billy Vukovich III Classic Start to Finish
Bakersfield, CA – February 11, 2014… Rob Warren may have led all of the laps in the 10th Annual Billy Vukovich III Classic for the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series,(SUPRS), but after being hounded by second place finisher Steve Callahan for the full distance, he never thought he had the race in the bag until he crossed the finish line. Chris Meyers followed Warren and Callahan under the checkered flag to claim third place.
“Rocket” Rob Warren shoots across the stripe to win his first Billy Vukovich III Classic 100.
Warren, of Pulaski, NY felt the pressure of two-time Vukovich III Classic winner Steve Callahan to the point of being physically and mentally worn out at the end of the race. “Steady Steve didn’t really give me much of a chance to breath the whole race,” stated the Warren. “That is, I think, the most exhausted I’ve ever been after a SUPRS race.”
“At some point in time I found a stride and I started stretching it out but at one point i thought to myself that Steve had won this race the last two years maybe he knows something I don’t,” the 1st to Finish Docks and Hoists sponsored driver said.
Even though he lead the full distance, Warren’s win was anything but domination as the top three stayed no more than a second apart for all 100 laps with defending winner Callahan putting heavy pressure on Warren in lapped traffic and again in the final five laps.
“I started catching lapped cars about half way and I thought that it was kind of early to catch them,” Warren said. “I had about a second lead, but that got swallowed up quick and Chris had to have a bird eye view of the battle Steve and I had.”
Steve Callahan (55) throws one last ditch effort for the win on lap 99 in turn one.
Callahan for all of his efforts, again came up just a couple of tenths short and had to settle for another second place but as always, the Cayuhoga Falls, OH racer was quick to congratulate his fellow SUPRS racers after the race saying, “First off congratulations to Rob, he did an awesome job. I pressured him and pressured him and he just never slipped up.”
When asked about being the bridesmaid once again, Callahan said, “Yeah, ya know, it’s fun racing, but this is just getting old finishing second.” “Steady” Steve continued stating, “He left me just enough room to stick my nose in but I needed just a little bit more and I wasn’t going to push him up the track and wipe us both out trying to get past him for the win.”
View Photos of 10th Annual Billy Vukovich III Classic 100
Callahan not only had to work to find a way around Warren, but also had to contend with third place finisher Chris Meyers being glued to his rear nerf bar. “I was faster than he, (Warren), was especially with about 20 go go but Chris was right there and tucked up behind us, so I had to use my head.”
Meyers, having not competed in SUPRS competition since the second race of the year over two months ago, arrived late and with no practice time trialed into the top five positions. He was able to capitalize on the mistakes made early by the drivers starting in front of him and put himself into contention for the win.
“It was great to be back racing with SUPRS,” said the Amherst, OH racer. “I had an amazing car tonight, it was simply beautiful from lap one until I scrubbed the wall on lap 98.”
Ray Sand, Jr., looking for his record tying 74th overall SUPRS feature win was never a factor in the race after clipping the wall early and running by himself half a track behind the lead trio. Sand, Jr. was able to stay on the lead lap and held onto his heavily damaged supermodified for fourth with Carl Becker finishing a lap down in fifth.
The SUPRS racers will next be in action for the Presidents Day Special at New River Valley Speedway for a 75 lap feature. Later that night there will be a special Modified race at New Hampshire International Speedway.
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+, Following @SUPRSOnline on Twitter, and Viewing SUPRS videos on YouTube.
SUPRS RACE RESULTS:
- February 11, 2014
- 10th Annual Billy Vukovich III Classic 100
Winged Supermodified Time Trials
(showing car number, driver name, hometown, sponsors, best lap)
- 18-Ray Sand, Jr.; Rochester, NY; SandmanRacing.com: 14.162
- 35-Rob Warren; Pulaski, NY; 1st to Finish Docks & Hoists, Phillips Family Farm: 14.237
- 55-Steve Callahan; Cayuhoga Falls, OH; CPR Motorsports, Ice Oil: 14.245
- 25-Bob Gangwer; Goshen, IN; Wing Side Up Enterprises, Ricky’s Sideline Shots: 14.273
- 23-Chris Meyers; Amherst, OH; Burch’s Full Throttle Soda Blasting: 14.274
- 42-Carl Becker; Lansing, MI; Michigan Hill Gang, Wholesale Diamond Exchange: 14.310
- 77-Kevin Timmins; Baldwinsville, NY; BreezeGraphics.com: 14.317
- 10-Gary Waldron; Wyoming, MI; Michigan Hill Gang, Ada Automotive: 14.317
Feature-100 Laps
- 35-Rob Warren* ** !
- 55-Steve Callahan
- 23-Chris Meyers
- 18-Ray Sand, Jr.
- 42-Carl Becker -1
- 77-Kevin Timmins -1
- 25-Bob Gangwer -1
- 10-Gary Waldron DNF
Time of Race: 25:33.167
- * Denotes Lap Led
- ** Denotes Most Laps Led
- ! Denotes Fastest Lap of Race
Rob Warren Guaranteed Starter 10th Annual SUPRS Season Summit 125
