Successful Return for SUPRS to Dover Downs after Seven Years
‘Steady” Steve Callahan parked his Exide Battery supermodified in Dover Downs Victory Circle after winning the St.Patrick’s Day Grab O’ the Green.
Dover, DE – March 18, 2014… Steve Callahan took advantage of his front row starting spot to lead all 25 laps of the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series Grab O’ the Green supermodified race at Dover Downs International Speedway.
Callahan won his second SUPRS feature in a row and crossed the line a scant tenth of a second ahead of second place finisher Ray Sand, Jr. with third place finisher Rob Warren just two tenths behind the winner.
While he may have led the entire 25 mile distance, the race was anything but a Sunday cruise. “That was intense but a lot of fun,” exclaimed Callahan. “Chris was right there with me, then Ray got up behind me, then Rob got up there.”
Steve Callahan crosses the Dover Downs finish line with Ray Sand, Jr. hot on his rear nerf bar.
Doing nearly 200 mph at the end of the straightaways left little margin for error and as the battle raged behind him the winner stayed focused on keeping the Exide Battery roadster off the wall and going fast. “I was trying to all I could to keep a good line and stay smooth and keep it off the wall and I think I did ok,” he said.
The field was extremely close in time trials and the race proved to be just as tight, with the drivers overwhelmingly expressing their pleasure of a nerve-wracking, frenzy filled thrill ride.
Callahan was the first to say that he felt the racing was as competitive and exciting as he’s ever seen. “There must have been one heck of a race going on behind me but I’d have to say everyone did an awesome job here tonight.”
Second place finisher Ray Sand, Jr. was pleased with his run and was one of the drivers playing the top five high-speed shuffle throughout the race.
“This was pretty cool running back here at Dover and I want to thank SUPRS for putting this on,” said the former Grab O’ the Green winner. “I wouldn’t mind running here on a weekly basis because everyone was so equal and fast out there.”
Sand, Jr. set his third New Track Record of the season, obliterating the old mark of 19.793 set by Bud Flath in 2005 with a blazing 18.992 in the SandmanRacing.com entry. “I was just hooked up all night, starting with Time Trials,” he stated.
Rob Warren was also hooked up but after time trialing second quick, he failed to make it into the top three of his heat and was not eligible for the feature inversion. Taking advantage of a good start, Warren was able to move quickly through the field from his eighth starting spot.
VIEW SCREENSHOTS OF ALL THE DOVER DOWNS ACTION
“I really think my driving style is suited to a track like this where you have to let out a little early and roll in easy to keep your momentum up,” began the driver of the 1st to Finish Docks and Hoists Services number 35. “The start was good for me when I had one guy go low and another go high and I just went through the middle and never touched anyone.”
Warren quickly put himself into contention for the win and by lap 4 he was knocking on the door of the leaders. “Something happened in front of Bobby and Ray and they checked up around lap five and they got backed up and I had a head of steam and slid under them for third,” he explained.
Rob Warren(35) and Ray Sand, Jr.(18) had a spirited battle throughout the race.
While Callahan worked to keep Chris Myers behind him, Meyers, Sand, Jr, Warren and Bob Gangwer waged an epic battle behind him, moving high and low while riding on the ragged edge of disaster each lap. Warren explained the intensity of the race, “I was just trying to hang out in third and was watching and waiting to see what Steve and Chris were going to do then all of a sudden Ray had a great run off the corner and he got by me. Then I got back by him, then he got back by me and then he got by Chris. It seemed like it all happened in one lap we were just flying and so close.”
Myles Maxon started in last position and made his way up to sixth driving the Ed Riley US Air Force machine and Ray Sand, Jr. was happy to see his old rival racing at Dover. “I’m really glad to see Myles back out here, he was fast but just ran out of laps.”
Earlier in the night Carl Becker and Steve Callahan won their heats while Kyle Perry struggled with technical issues that eventually forced him out for the night. Domenic Gioia also made the tow to Dover Downs and after a spirited battle with Kevin Timmins came home ninth.
The Pavement Modified portion of the event was won by Bob Gangwer after Ray Sand, Jr. led 100 laps only to have mechanical issues in the last 25 ending up in second place at the finish. Chris Meyers, Steve Callahan, Carl Becker rounded out the field while Rob Warren and Kevin Timmins failed to finish the 125 lap grind.
Bob Gangwer crosses the finish line at New Hampshire International Speedway to win the Luck of the Leprechaun Modified 125.
The SUPRS racers move across the country to run the re-scheduled SUPRS Copper World Classic IX at Phoenix International Raceway this coming Tuesday. The race will showcase the winged supermodfiieds for battling in a 25 lap feature. Also on the card is a 25 lap non-wing supermodified feature and the 125 lap Pavement Modified race. Practice starts at 8:00pm.
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 St. Patrick’s Day Grab O’ the Green
Dover Downs International Speedway
Winged Supermodified Time Trials
(showing car number, driver name, hometown, sponsors, best lap)
- 18-Ray Sand, Jr.; Rochester, NY; SandmanRacing.com: 19.992 NTR
- 35-Rob Warren; Pulaski, NY; 1st to Finish Docks & Hoists, Phillips Family Farm: 19.010
- 42-Carl Becker; Lansing, MI; Michigan Hill Gang, Wholesale Diamond Exchange: 19.030
- 23-Chris Meyers; Amherst, OH; Burch’s Full Throttle Soda Blasting, Mark’s Lawn Maintenance: 19.040
- 25-Bob Gangwer; Goshen, IN; Wing Side Up Enterprises, Ricky’s Sideline Shots: 19.048
- 9-Domenic Gioia; Oswego, NY; Lizard Lick Towing, Genesee Beer: 19.055
- 88-Myles Maxon; Oswego, NY; GoPro, US Air Force: 19.116
- 55-Steve Callahan; Cayuhoga Falls, OH; CPR Motorsports, Ice Oil: 19:173
- 77-Kevin Timmins; Baldwinsville, NY; BreezeGraphics.com: 19.176
- 52-Dave Brigandi; Syracuse, NY: Pizza Hut, Terry: 19.195
- 02-Kyle Perry; Fulton, NY; Bellinger’s Auto Sales, 21 Tequilla: 19.359
Heat 1-13 Laps
- 42-Carl Becker
- 18-Ray Sand, Jr.
- 25-Bob Gangwer
- 02-Kyle Perry
- 77-Kevin Timmins
- 88-Myles Maxon
Heat 2-8 Laps
- 55-Steve Callahan
- 52-Dave Brigandi
- 23-Chris Meyers
- 35-Rob Warren
- 9-Domenic Gioia
Feature-25 Laps
- 55-Steve Callahan* **
- 18-Ray Sand, Jr. !
- 35-Rob Warren
- 23-Chris Meyers
- 25-Bob Gangwer
- 88-Myles Maxon
- 42-Carl Becker
- 52-Dave Brigandi
- 9-Domenic Gioia
- 77-Kevin Timmins
- 02-Kyle Perry DNS
Time of Race: 08:35.676
- * Denotes Lap Led
- ** Denotes Most Laps Led
- ! Denotes Fastest Lap of Race
Luck of the Leprechaun Modified 125
New Hampshire International Speedway
Modified Time Trials
(showing car number, driver name, hometown, sponsors, best lap)
- 18-Ray Sand, Jr.; Rochester, NY; Budweiser, SandmanRacing.com: 25.583
- 25-Bob Gangwer; Goshen, IN; Wing Side Up Enterprises, WAG’s Custom & Cool Awards: 25:608
- 77-Kevin Timmins; Baldwinsville, NY; BreezeGraphics.com: 25.777
- 23-Chris Meyers; Amherst, OH; Burch’s Full Throttle Soda Blasting, Oswego Sub Shop: 25.857
- 55-Steve Callahan; Cayuhoga Falls, OH; CPR Motorsports, Exide Battery: 25.898
- 35-Rob Warren; Pulaski, NY; 1st to Finish Docks & Hoists, Phillips Family Farm: 25.916
- 42-Carl Becker; Lansing, MI; Michigan Hill Gang, Wholesale Diamond Exchange: 26.497
Feature-125 Laps
- 25-Bob Gangwer*
- 18-Ray Sand, Jr.* ** !
- 23-Chris Meyers
- 55-Steve Callahan
- 42-Carl Becker
- 35-Rob Warren DNF
- 77-Kevin Timmins DNF
Time of Race: 54:41.960
- * Denotes Lap Led
- ** Denotes Most Laps Led
- ! Denotes Fastest Lap of Race
