The Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series will honor the late Billy Vukovich III tonight with the 11th Annual running of the Billy Vukovich III Classic 100 at Mesa Marin Raceway presented by Supermodified Scorecard.
The SUPRS racers consider this race one of most prestigious and toughest races on the schedule.
Rob Warren(35) had his work cut out for him on the way to winning the 2014 SUPRS Billy Vukovich III Classic 100.
Defending winner Rob Warren of Pulaski, NY hopes to add his name to the short list of repeat winners. Last year Warren led all 100 laps but 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 breathe during the race,” stated Warren after his 2014 win. “That is, I think, the most exhausted I’ve ever been after a SUPRS race.”
Callahan ended up second and is embroiled in an intense points battle with Warren for the better part of the 2014-15 SUPRS Gold Crest Championship season. Callahan was the first, and so far only, back to back winner of this race.
Steve Callahan is the only back to back winner of the prestigious SUPRS Billy Vukovich III Classic 100.
SEE PHOTOS OF 2014 Billy Vukovich III Classic
Myles Maxon of Oswego, NY has dominated this season, setting fast time at nearly every race and has won almost half of the races run to date, yet, he’s never been able to pull off a win in the Billy Vukovich III Classic 100. When asked what it would mean to finally be able to claim a Billy Vukovich III Classic victory he said, “It would be a great honor to win this race in memory of Billy Vukovich.” Maxon went on to explain why, “Individuals such as he were taken from his family and the racing community far too soon and it would be special to win this event that we, (SUPRS), hold in his honor.”
John 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, Supermodified Scorecard, sponsors. “I miss the racing but most importantly the group of great guys who share and understand what SUPRS is all about ,” he explained. “The Vuky Classic is another classic race to honor a supermodified hero that left us way too early.”
About Billy Vukovich III
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.
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
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.
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.
The SUPRS racers won’t get much rest in the west as they head to the Phoenix International Raceway for the 11th Annual SUPRS Copper World Classic X on Tuesday March 3. This event will feature wing online sim supermodifieds as well as non-wing sim supermodifieds and closes with a 100 lap sim modified race.
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 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
- 2014 Billy Vukovich III Classic Champion: Rob Warren
