Bob Gangwer Covers Field for Second Billy Vukovich III Classic Win
Bakersfield, CA – February 23, 2016… Bob Gangwer of Goshen, IN led every lap of the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, (SUPRS), 12th Annual Billy Vukovich III Classic Tuesday night at Mesa Marin Raceway and became the fourth two-time winner of the prestigious race.
Bob Gangwer led all 100 laps to claim his second Billy Vukovich III Classic at Mesa Marin Raceway
Two-time winner Ray Sand, Jr. crossed the finish line some distance behind Gangwer and 2014 winner Rob Warren finished third place one lap down.
“Winning this race for the second time means the world to me,” began Gangwer. “Billy was a good person and a fantastic racer. I am thankful to the good Lord to be able to do this and for everyone that believes in what SUPRS does including our sponsor for this race Supermodified Scorecard. This one’s for Billy’s parents.”
Gangwer is now a guaranteed starter for the season ending Summit Classic 125, and even though he won by over three seconds, he nearly failed to finish the race when he found himself in a jam with two-time winner Steve Callahan just past the half-way point.
“Just as I started to move under Steve he scrubbed the wall and got out of the throttle and I got into him, then that jammed Ray up and he got into me a little. I figured that was it, but Ray didn’t force the issue and we all gathered it up and kept going, but the car had a horrible push after that, but something must have happened to Ray back there because I pulled away and you just don’t do that to the Champ,” said the winner.
Ray Sand, Jr. was looking to become the second three-time winner in the history of the race and for a while looked like he had the car that could beat Gangwer until something indeed happened to keep him from winning.
“First off, congrats to Bobby, that was one heckuva pace he was setting,” said Sand, Jr. “Lap after lap we were tearing off some wicked fast times in the 14.1’s and flats. He took off right at the beginning and I think he was trying to hide from us.”
“I think I used up my car trying to get to Bobby and after I ran him down, we got into that deal with Steve, but once we got by I started knocking the wall down and the car was pretty beat up after that. Bobby just had us covered tonight,” Sand explained.
Rob Warren started third, finished third and said, “Amazing race, congrats to Bob and Ray on a great runs.”
Warren waxed philosophically about his finish saying, “My car was pretty well junk the whole race. Those guys were running 14.1, 2, I was running 14.3’s with a couple of 2’s. Ray got ahead of me real clean right at the start and he pulled away. Then he got by Dave, I followed him through, but I couldn’t keep up with him or Bob.”
The SUPRS racers begin their trek back east and over the mountains to the desert mile of Phoenix International Raceway for the SUPRS Copper World Classic XI presented by Kern Motorsports on March 1. They’ll strap into their wing NASCAR Heat and non-wing rFactor supermodifieds to run 25 feature laps in each. . Practice gets underway at 8:00pm.
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.
SUPRS RACE RESULTS:
- February 23, 2016
- 12th Annual Billy Vukovich III Classic 100 presented by Supermodified Scorecard
Mesa Marin Raceway
Time Trials (showing car number, driver name, hometown, sponsors, lap 1, lap 2-best lap underlined)
- 25-Bob Gangwer; Goshen, IN; Wing Side Up Enterprises, Ricky’s Sideline Shots: 14.210, 14.190
- 18-Ray Sand, Jr.; Rochester, NY; SandmanRacing.com: 14.195, 14.385
- 35-Rob Warren; Pulaski, NY; 1st to Finish Docks & Hoists, Designs of Elegance: 14.380, 14.289
- 55-Steve Callahan; Cayuhoga Falls, OH; Ice Oil, CPR Motorsports: 14.376, 14.309
- 9-Domenic Gioia; Oswego, NY; Lizard Lick Towing, Genesee Beer: 14.337, 14.383
- 52-Dave Brigandi; Syracuse, NY; Buffalo Bio-Diesel, Terry: 14.603, 14.450
- 50-Brian Potvin; Hudson, FL; None: 14.947, 15.308
Feature – 100 Laps (showing car number, driver, name, bonus, fastest lap, distance behind winner)
- 25-Bob Gangwer; * | ** | 14.088
- 18-Ray Sand, Jr.; ! | 14.084 | +3.415
- 35-Rob Warren; 14.241 | +1 lap
- 55-Steve Callahan; 14.294 | +1 lap
- 52-Dave Brigandi; 14.355 | +2 laps
- 9-Domenic Gioia; 14.255 | DNF
- 50-Brian Potvin; 14.522 | DNF
Time of Race: 25:07.959
- * Denotes Lap Led
- ** Denotes Most Laps Led
- ! Denotes Fastest Lap of Race
