Category: SUPRS News

News about the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series including PR, website updates, race preview stories, and more.

Golden State Classic Returns to Buckley Speedway April 21

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Sherman Oaks, CA – April 20, 2020…The Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, (SUPRS), Golden State Classic returns to Buckley Speedway on Tuesday April 21. It marks the first time since 2016 that this race has been held at the fictional supermodified sim racing track for NASCAR Heat.

SUPRS 2020 Golden State Classic poster
The Golden State Classic will be held on April 21 at Buckley Speedway for the first time since 2016. (Poster by Borderline Enterprises)

SUPRS Race a Nod to Real Deal

While only a one night show, this NASCAR Heat supermodified sim race staged by SUPRS is a race that pays homage to the Gold State Classics and Golden West Classics of the early to mid 1970s. The Golden State Classic was  an extremely popular series of open competition supermodified races and it is in keeping with SUPRS Mission Statement, that the virtual version of the GSC is run. These the real GSC featured the best drivers from across the United States and Canada on tracks in California and later Nevada.

From 1971-1975 the Golden State and Golden West Classics drew the greatest names in supermodified racing to San Jose Speedway, All-American Speedway, Altamont Speedway, Stockton Speedway, Clovis Speedway, Shasta Speedway, T-Car Speedway, Ukiah, Madera, and on and on for the seven race series. Most times the entry list was over 100 drivers for each of the races and it was often hard to find a place to pit them all.

The combination of dirt, paved, flat 1/4 miles to high banked half miles combined with radically offset roadsters, the San Jose coupes or “hard tops”, upright sprint cars and low slung rear engine supermods, plus huge purses, and a challenging format that had a 100 lap main, a 50 lap b-main and a 25 lap c-main and paid passing points to legendary names like Rescino, Silva, Conley, Silsby, Seelman, Kaeding, Sneva, Edlund, Allbritain, Brazil, Patterson, Ceti, Ellefson, Woodward, Gibson, Bigioni, Madsen, Baker and more, all added up to some of the greatest supermodified racing ever seen on the planet.

Racing at Buckley Intense

Buckley’s high banks, high-speed, and three-eights mile configuration allows for fast lap times and little room for error. Whether it’s been the three previous runnings of the Golden State or the Presidents’ Day Special or just a regular show, the car count always seems larger and that sometimes means a lot of wrecked race cars and egos. Either way, the races at Buckley never fail to disappoint fans of the “Original Supermodified Sim Racing Sanction.”

The banks of Buckley never fail to produce close racing.

Rob Warren has won a total of three races at Buckley, all of them 75 lappers, including the last Golden State race held in 2016, and will be looking for his third straight and fourth overall on Tuesday. Other Buckley winners expected to compete in the Golden State Classic are Keith Powell, Carl Becker and possibly Steve Callahan.

The track record here at Buckley dates back to 2008 when 4-Time SUPRS Gold-Crest Champion Myles Maxon stopped the clocks at 11.895 seconds.

Gary Waldron won the first SUPRS race held at this Mike Jackson, DSES, creation for NASCAR Heat way back in 2006.

Everyone Chasing SpeedyMan

SUPRS Bounty Poster Dave Ohh 25pts
The SUPRS Bounty on Dave “SpeedyMan” Ohh is up to 25 points. (Poster by BreezeGraphics.com)

While the list of former Buckley winners is impressive, the driver everyone is chasing of late is Union, CT racer Dave “SpeedyMan” Ohh. The driver of the TMS Wolfpack “Black Beauty” Roadster has put together a string of eight straight SUPRS feature wins that date back to March 10 at Indianapolis Raceway Park. When he won his fifth feature in a row, SUPRS put out a “Bounty” and as of yet, none of the bounty hunters have been quick enough to stop his stomp across the west.

Last Race Before Summit Classic

This race will be the last one before the traveling troupe of supermodified sim racers move from the San Fernando Valley into the Central Valley of California to close out the season at Madera Speedway with the running of the 16th Annual Summit Classic 125 next week. The race at Madera closes out a three week stretch of races in California and puts the period on the 43 race Gold Crest Wing Supermodified Championship XVI.

Important Race Night Times

Practice starts at 8:00pm ET for the Golden State Classic and Time Trials follow 8:30pm. The Fast Car Dash takes to the track at 8:45pm then Heat Races get underway at 9:05pm.

Watch the Golden State Classic

Fans can enjoy all of the supermodified sim racing action from the Golden State Classic via SUPRS LIVE! beginning at 9pm EST. Streaming live on SUPRS.net as well as Twitch, this interactive broadcast has become a favorite for supermodified fans and gamers alike.

Supermodified Challenge Winds Down

The season long SUPRS/HeatFinder.net NASCAR Heat Supermodified Challenge is winding down, and just like last week at Mesa Marin for the Billy Vukovich III Classic presented by Supermodified Scorecard, organizers are expecting a good influx of competitors from Heat Finder and The Mod Squad including Henry “The Bandit” Kelleher who had a good run in the “Vuky” to finish in fourth place.

Get Social with SUPRS

Fans can learn more about the supermodified division and the original supermodified sim sanction, the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, by visiting 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. See us live and join our chat on Twitch.

SUPRS History at Buckley Speedway

  • 2006: Gary Waldron (Regular Show-38L)
  • 2007: Jamie Hartley (Regular Show-50L)
  • 2008: John Davidson (Printwerx-50L)
  • 2010: Joe Achet (Silver Crest-38L)
  • 2010: Jamie Hartley (St. Patrick’s Day Grab O’ the Green-75L)
  • 2011: Carl Becker (Golden State Spcl.-75L)
  • 2012: Keith Powell (Golden State Spcl.-75L)
  • 2015: Steve Callahan (Golden State Spcl.-75L)
  • 2016: Rob Warren (Golden State Spcl.-75L)
  • 2017: Keith Powell (Presidents Day Spcl.-75L)
  • 2018: Rob Warren (Presidents Day Spcl.-75L)
  • 2019: Rob Warren (Presidents Day Spcl-75L)

“Supermodified Sim Racing for the Right Reasons” since 2004

SUPRS Vukovich III Classic Honors Legacy of Fresno Supermodified Racer

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April 13, 2020 – Dinuba, CA…The Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, (SUPRS), has taken up residence in California for the final three races of the 2020 season, and the first of those three is the 16th Annual Billy Vukovich III Classic 100 presented by Supermodified Scorecard, a race that honors the legacy and contribution to supermodified racing by Fresno’s Billy Vukovich III, April 14 at Mesa Marin Raceway.

Supermodified Scorecard Proud to Sponsor Event

SUPRS co-founder John Davidson, of Sacramento, CA,  has sponsored this race since it’s inception through his Supermodified Scorecard business. His support is just as strong now as it ever was for a race that honors a fellow Californian.

“California-based Supermodified Scorecard continues to proudly sponsor the annual SUPRS sanctioned “Billy Vukovich III Classic” to recognize and honor his legacy and contribution to the supermodified division,” said Davidson.

Davidson is a three-time winner of the race and is one of four drivers to have won the prestigious supermodified sim racing event more than once.

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.

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, like Vernon Reitz 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.

Tragically, Vukovich III was killed while practicing for a CRA pavement sprint car event on November 25, 1990 at Mesa Marin Raceway. Billy was only 27 years old.

Vukovich Classic Important to Madera Speedway

While SUPRS is proud to honor the Vukovich legacy with it’s annual sim racing Classic, it’s important to note that 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.

Billy Vukovich III Classic Details

Supermodified racing at Mesa Marin with Billy Vukovich III & others

Practice begins at 8:00pm with Time Trials 8:30pm. The Fast Car Dash follows at 8:45pm to set the top four starting places for the
16th Annual running of the Billy Vukovich III Classic 100 presented by Supermodified Scorecard. The 100 lap feature at Mesa Marin Raceway should take the green flag around 9:10pm.

Watch the Vuky

Fans can enjoy all 100 laps of the 16th Annual running of the Billy Vukovich III Classic 100 via SUPRS LIVE! beginning at 9pm EST. Because it is a NASCAR Heat race, there will be no cautions making for a show that should take under 30 minutes to complete.

Part of Supermodified Challenge

The Billy Vukovich III Classic is part of the SUPRS/HeatFinder.net NASCAR Heat Supermodified Challenge, so fans may see some drivers that aren’t regulars on the SUPRS trail. Last year, multi-Time ARL HeatFinder.net Champion, Dave Ohh, of Union, CT, surprised everyone when won the race as a rookie.

This year, Ohh is on a seven race win streak and will try to become the fifth driver in SUPRS history to win more than one “Vuky Classic.” Ohh is one of five former winners expected to compete including three-time winner Steve Callahan, two-time winner Bob Gangwer, current SUPRS Champion Rob Warren, and 2018 winner, Keith Powell.

Get Social with SUPRS

Fans can learn more about the supermodified division and the original supermodified sim sanction, the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, by visiting 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. See us live and join our chat on Twitch.

SUPRS Billy Vukovich III Classic 100 History – Mesa Marin Raceway

  • 2005: Bud Flath (NH-63L)
  • 2006: John Davidson (NH-75L)
  • 2007: Devin Gee (NH-75L)
  • 2008: John Davidson (NH-75L)
  • 2009: Ray Sand, Jr. (NH-75L)
  • 2010: Bobby Gangwer (NH-100L)
  • 2011: John Davidson (NH-100L)
  • 2012: Steve Callahan (NH-100L)
  • 2013: Steve Callahan (NH-100L)
  • 2014: Rob Warren (NH-100L)
  • 2015: Ray Sand, Jr. (NH-100L)
  • 2016: Bobby Gangwer (NH-100L)
  • 2017: Steve Callahan (NH-100L)
  • 2018: Keith Powell (NH-100L)
  • 2019: Dave Ohh (NH-100L)

“Supermodified Sim Racing for the Right Reasons” since 2004

Supermodified Sim Racers Invade The Bullring for Jeff Russell Special April 7

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April 4, 2020 – Carson City, NV…The Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, (SUPRS), drivers are ready to invade The Bullring for the Jeff Russell Special on April 7, 2020 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. This supermodified sim race will help raise awareness about it’s namesake, who continues to recover from injuries in a 2010 supermodified crash at this track.

SUPRS Invades Vegas April 7 for Jeff Russell Special at The Bullring (poster by Borderline Enterpises with art from BreezeGraphics.com)

Help SUPRS Help Jeff

It is the goal of SUPRS to help people remember that Russell, a native of Boise, ID, continues to heal from injuries incurred during the last practice session for the Supermodified Racing Association, (SMRA), ”Night of Fire” event at The Bullring in Las Vegas, NV on October 30, 2010.

Jeff continues to heal from Traumatic Brain Injury as well as other injuries and in the nearly 10 years since the accident, has endured multiple surgeries at great expense. Jeff’s medical bills have been hard on his family, but you can help. During the race and from April 6 to April 12, 2020, all donations to the Dion Parish Memorial Benevolent Fund for Supermodifieds will benefit the Jeff Russell Road to Recovery Fund.

Click “Donate” in the main navigation and when you make a donation of any amount, SUPRS will forward that donation to help aid in Jeff’s continued healing and recovery.

Leave Jeff a Get Well Note

You can visit Jeff Russell’s website to leave a note of encouragement and just to say you are thinking about him. While Jeff may not respond personally, he is always happy to hear from friends and fans that haven’t forgotten him.

Watch the Jeff Russell Special Live

The SUPRS Jeff Russell Special rfactor supermodified sim race is a family friendly live streaming show. SUPRS will broadcast the Heat Races and the 85 lap feature on SUPRS LIVE! beginning at 9:00pm est. Fans can enjoy the action as well as stats, track telemetry and official scoring and timing charts.

More Race Details

Practice begins at 8:00pm with Time Trials 8:30pm. The six lap Fast Car Dash follows at 8:45pm for the Fast Four qualifiers of the SUPRS Jeff Russell Special. All the drivers then must race a qualifying heat at 9:05pm. It’s expected that the feature race should take the green flag around 9:20pm.

View Jeff Russell Race Data Sheet

Get Social with SUPRS

Fans can learn more about the supermodified division and the original supermodified sim sanction, the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, by visiting 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. See us live and join our chat on Twitch.

SUPRS Jeff Russell Special History

  • 2017 Jeff Russell Special Winner: Kyle Clark
  • 2018 Jeff Russell Special Winner: Steve Callahan
  • 2019 Jeff Russell Special Winner: Dave Ohh

Note: Rob Warren won a non-wing supermodified show at The Bullring in 2016 that was not the Jeff Russell Special

“Supermodified Sim Racing for the Right Reasons” since 2004

SUPRS Copper World Classic Supermodified Sim Race March 31 at Phoenix

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SUPRS Copper World Classic XVI presented by Kern Motorsports Has Wing and Non-Wing Supermodifieds at Phoenix International Raceway

March 27, 2020 – Maricopa, AZ…The stars and cars of the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, (SUPRS), are ready to offer a slight distraction from the chaos of the world as they close out the month of March with the SUPRS Copper World Classic XVI presented by Kern Motorsports on March 31 at Phoenix International Raceway.

Wing and non-wing supermodifieds take center stage at SUPRS Copper World Classic XVI presented by Kern Motorsports on March 31 at PIR. (Poster by Borderline Enterprises/BreezeGraphics.com)

Marquee Event

The SUPRS Copper World Classic has been held since the first year of the sanction and is one of the marquee events on the SUPRS schedule, with exciting 25-lap features for both the wing and non-wing supermodifieds.

The event means so much to a supermodified sim racer because it is modeled after the popular Copper World Classic held annually at PIR, (now called ISM Raceway), from 1977-2009. With Phoenix International Raceway, (now known as ISM Raceway), being built specifically to be the home of open-wheel racing in the west, it was only natural that the mighty supermodifieds would eventually find a home there.

The supermodifieds were a part of the Copper World Classic from 1984 to 2002 with one year off in 1991. On a couple of occasions the supermodifieds ran without wings, and on others both wing and non-wing supers could be seen on track at the same time. So the SUPRS version tries to give fans the best of both worlds by running both types of cars on the same night.

Davey Hamilton has the most Copper World Classic wins with five and Troy Regier has the record for most wins in a row at three. Doug Saunier was the very first winner and Lonnie Adamson was the last supermodified winner of the Copper World Classic.

Feature start for supermodifieds at Copper World Classic 2001
Here’s the full #supermodified field on their warm-up lap for the 2001 Copper World Classic at Phoenix International Raceway.(B&G Racing Photos-Bob Gangwer)

SUPRS Copper World Classic Details

Practice for the SUPRS Copper World Classic XVI presented by Kern Motorsports begins at 7:30pm with non-wing supermodifieds. The wing supermodifieds practice from 7:45 to 8:00pm before the Drivers Meeting. Time Trials for the wing supers are at 8:15pm and non-wing Time Trials follow at 8:30pm.

The format for SUPRS Copper World Classic XVI presented by Kern Motorsports is nearly identical to the old WSST, NSRA formats and has been used at Kern’s request since coming on board as a race sponsor in 2004. Racing on “The Desert Mile” begins with the eight lap heat races for wing supermodifieds at 9:05pm. Immediately following the redraw for the finishers of the heat race, the the wing supers head onto the mile for their 25 lap feature first at around 9:15pm. Then the non-wing 25 lap feature should take the green flag around 9:30pm ET.

Points for both feature finishes are added up to determine the overall SUPRS Copper World Classic XVI presented by Kern Motorsports Champion.

View Copper World Classic Format

Watch Live Supermodified Sim Racing from PIR

Cheer on your favorite SUPRS racers while you view timing, scoring, track telemetry , stats and live streaming video of all the racing from the SUPRS Copper World Classic XVI presented by Kern Motorsports at Phoenix International Raceway when we go “Live @ 9pm est via the SUPRS LIVE! page.

Get Social with SUPRS

Fans can learn more about the supermodified division and the original supermodified sim sanction, the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, by visiting 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. See us live and join our chat on Twitch.

SUPRS Copper World Classic-Wing Winners/Champions-Phoenix International

  • 2005 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: JP Curry-PA
  • 2006 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: John Davidson-CA
  • 2007 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Chuck Russell-MO
  • 2008 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Kris Heveron-FL
  • 2009 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Bobby Gangwer-IN
  • 2010 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Chad Phelps-NY
  • 2011 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Jeff Weber-IN
  • 2012 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Ray Sand, Jr.-NY
  • 2013 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: John Davidson-CA
  • 2014 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Ray Sand, Jr.-NY
  • 2015 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Steve Callahan-OH
  • 2016 SUPRS Copper World Classic Winner: Bobby Gangwer-IN
  • 2017 SUPRS Copper World Classic Winner: Nelson Rodrigues-MA
  • 2018 SUPRS Copper World Classic Winner: Nelson Rodrigues-MA
  • 2019 SUPRS Copper World Classic Winner: Keith Powell-OH

SUPRS Copper World Classic-Non-Winged Winners – Phoenix International Raceway

  • 2014 SUPRS Copper World Classic Winner: Steve Callahan-OH
  • 2015 SUPRS Copper World Classic Winner: Myles Maxon-NY
  • 2016 SUPRS Copper World Classic Winner: Ray Sand, Jr.-NY
  • 2017 SUPRS Copper World Classic Winner: Joe Achzet-NY
  • 2018 SUPRS Copper World Classic Winner: Rob Warren-NY
  • 2019 SUPRS Copper World Classic Winner: Dave Ohh-CT

SUPRS Copper World Classic Wing/Non-Wing Combined Champions

  • 2016 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Ray Sand, Jr.
  • 2017 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Joe Achzet
  • 2018 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Nelson Rodrigues
  • 2019 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Dave Ohh

(Note: Before 2016, the winner of the wing supermodified race was the SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion)

“Supermodified Sim Racing for the Right Reasons” since 2004

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