• Happy Thanksgiving!

    SUPRS Thanksgiving graphicSUPRS Thanksgiving Break
    November 20, 2024 5pm - December 2, 2024, 8am
    NO RACING-ALL SERVERS CLOSED
    We wish all of the SUPRS Members, sponsors, friends, fans, and supporters in the sim racing and real supermodified world a very Happy Thanksgiving. Please be safe in your travels and celebrations. We'll see you all for the Wing Side Up Twin 25s on December 3, 2024 at The Salem Speedway and Winchester Speedway!

    DON'T DRINK & DRIVE!

Category: SUPRS News

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

SUPRS 2019 North Carolina Swing Adds New Track, Scheduled for October 22-24

Image

  By
Share SUPRS:

Orange County Speedway added to 16th Annual North Carolina Swing

SUPRS 2019 North Carolina Swing poster
SUPRS grueling 3-night North Carolina Swing has a new track for 2019. (Poster by BreezeGraphics.com)

October 19, 2019 – Goshen, IN…A new track has been added to the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, (SUPRS), 16th Annual North Carolina Swing that takes place over the course of three nights on October 22-24, 2019. After a long run at Caraway Speedway, the series has decided to move to the high-banked 3/8 mile Orange County Speedway in Rougemont, NC for the second race of the swing on October 22.

 “It’s always a tough decision to stop racing at a track that has a long history on our schedule,” said SUPRS co-founder Bob Gangwer. “The reality is, we just feel that Orange County can provide an even better racing environment for the drivers and the fans, and we are always looking at options that make for a better supermodified sim racing show.”

“On top of that, the real supermodifieds have raced at OCS, (Orange County Speedway), on a couple of occasions and we try very hard to showcase real tracks where the real division races at,” added Gangwer.

Other Tracks Remain Same

Beyond the change from Caraway to Orange County, the grueling run through “The Tarheel State” will have a familiar look for the other four races over the course of three nights from October 22-24, 2019. Dasera Speedway, Concord Motorsports Park, and Southern National Motorsports Park, which was added in 2016 and replaced Coastal Plains Speedway, are all a part of the North Carolina Swing tradition in 2019. And of course it wouldn’t be the North Carolina Swing without the crowning jewel of the five race spectacular; The Hickory Hustle at Hickory Motor Speedway.

2019 NORTH CAROLINA SWING Format

Swing Begins with NASCAR Heat and Dasera Speedway

The series kicks off Tuesday at Dasera Speedway as the first race of the swing and a 40 lap feature. The swing then moves to Orange County Speedway on the same night for another 40 lap feature.

Both races are part of the SUPRS/HeatFinder.net Supermodified Challenge and will use the SUPRS W v6.0 mod for NASCAR Heat.

rFactor Races Headline Second Night

On Wednesday, October 23, the series switches gears to the rFactor sim racing platform as it moves to Concord Motorsports Park, and Southern National Motorspots Park. Each race will have a 50 lap feature using the the SUPRS W v7.3 mod for rFactor.

Hickory Hustle Determines NC Swing Champ

The fifth and final race of the North Carolina Swing at Hickory Motor Speedway, is ultimately the most important because it’s the one that determine the 2019 NC Swing Champion.

The Hickory Hustle is the invite only, 75 lap, winner take all event. After the first four races, the North Carolina Swing points, (which are a total of a drivers feature finish points), are added up and the top eight are invited to the Hickory Hustle to vie for the North Carolina Swing Championship.

Adding to the intense challenge of winning the NC Swing Championship is the fact that those eight drivers will draw for their starting place for a completely random feature event line-up.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the SUPRS North Carolina Swing History

Fans Can Follow the Festivities

Fans can follow the fun and excitement of the 16th Annual North Carolina Swing all three nights. The  SUPRS LIVE! Timing and Scoring page keeps fans abreast of the action showing live streaming video, instantaneous position changes, lap times, penalties, race status and track telemetry.

If fans can’t make it to SUPRS.net for the live action, they can always catch up with the SUPRS On-Demand replays uploaded to YouTube within 72 hours of each event.

Be Social with SUPRS

Supermodified racing fans and sim racers alike can learn more about the original online supermodified sim racing sanction when they visit www.SUPRS.net.

The Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series is very active on social media where fans can  “Like” SUPRS on Facebook, Follow @SUPRSOnline on Twitter, See SUPRS on Instagram,  and View over 650 real supermodified racing videos on  SUPRS  YouTube.

2019 SUPRS North Carolina Swing Schedule:

  • Sun., October 20: Test-N-Tune-rFactor-Southern National Motorsports Park, Concord Motorsports Park, Hickory Motor Speedway.
  • Tue., October 22: Dasera Speedway – NASCAR Heat – 40 Laps
  • Tue., October 22: Orange County Speedway – NASCAR Heat – 40 Laps
  • Wed., October 23: Southern National Motorsports Park – rFactor – 50 Laps
  • Wed., October 23: Concord Motorsports Park – rFactor – 50 Laps
  • Thu., October 24: Hickory Motor Speedway – rFactor – 75 Laps

SUPRS North Carolina Swing History:

  • 2005 North Carolina Swing Champion: JP Curry-PA
  • 2006 North Carolina Swing Champion: Sean O’Kane-NY
  • 2007 North Carolina Swing Champion: Mike Jackson-NY
  • 2008 North Carolina Swing Champion: Gary Waldron-MI
  • 2009 North Carolina Swing Champion: Myles Maxon-NY
  • 2009-10 North Carolina Swing Champion: Myles Maxon-NY
  • 2010-11 North Carolina Swing Champion: Ray Sand, Jr.-NY
  • 2011-12 North Carolina Swing Champion: Chris Meyers-OH
  • 2012-13 North Carolina Swing Champion: Carl Becker-MI
  • 2013-14 North Carolina Swing Champion: Bob Gangwer-IN
  • 2014-15 North Carolina Swing Champion: Myles Maxon-NY
  • 2015-16 North Carolina Swing Champion: Rob Warren-NY
  • 2016-17 North Carolina Swing Champion: Steve Callahan-OH
  • 2017-18 North Carolina Swing Champion: Rob Warren-NY
  • 2018-19 North Carolina Swing Champion: Keith Powell-OH
SUPRS – “Supermodified Sim Racing for the Right Reasons” since 2004

First Race at Berlin Raceway for SUPRS on October 15

Image

  By
Share SUPRS:
SUPRS heads to Berlin Raceway for the first time on October 15 for the Wolverine 50. (Poster by BreezeGraphics.com)

October 13, 2018 – Goshen, IN…The Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, (SUPRS), 16th season continues with race three of the 2019-20 Wing Supermodified Championship on October 15 with our very first visit to the famed Berlin Raceway.

This track is one of the few that can boast as helping to bring about the formation of the real supermodifieds and played a pivotal part in the early development of the division.

Watch the Race Live

The SUPRS racers take to Berlin Raceway on October 15, 2019. A 30 minute practice session starts at 8:00pm with Time Trials to follow at 8:30pm. Racing gets underway at 9:05pm with the Fast Car Dash for the top four qualifiers. Heat Races and the Wolverine 50 feature follow.

Come cheer on your favorite SUPRS racers at the virtual version of the track that once hosted the real supermodifieds nearly every week, and is celebrated as the home of Johnny Benson. Enjoy chat, timing, scoring, instant track telemetry and of course our outstanding live streaming video from the Wolverine 50 via the SUPRS LIVE! page.

Get Social with SUPRS

You can learn more about this race on the SUPRS schedule page.  Regular season updates as well as real supermodified and sim racing news are popular features on the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series Facebook page and @SUPRSOnline.

SUPRS – “Supermodified Sim Racing for the Right Reasons” since 2004

Dion Parish Memorial Honors Racer with Never Give Up Attitude

Image

  By
Share SUPRS:

October 4, 2019 – Goshen, IN…The Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, (SUPRS), honors the memory of Dion Parish, the supermodified racer that would “Never Give Up” with the running of the 16th Annual Dion Parish Memorial 62 on October 8, 2019 at Kalamazoo Speedway.

SUPRS Dion Parish Memorial 2019 poster
The Dion Parish Memorial is the SUPRS race that epitomizes our sim racing sanction and what we look to when we need to be reminded of why SUPRS exists. (Promotional poster by BreezeGraphics.com)

Just a Normal Guy That Loved Supermodifieds

Dion Parish was just a normal guy that simply and absolutely LOVED the supermodified division. He was a US Veteran. A father. A son. A husband. He was a racing champion in the vintage coupes. He was a decent human being that gave a lot more than he ever took and he always did his best to “Never Give Up.”

While Dion Parish wasn’t very well known outside of the Michigan and Indiana racing scene, he had a pretty big impact on everyone he was around. His contagious smile, and his ability to be friendly to everyone he met, and his tenacity in the face of adversity are all character traits that come up when those that knew him talk about him.

Dion was killed on Saturday, September 14 2002 in a practice crash at Kalamazoo, (MI), Speedway. Dion was in the midst of shaking down his recently finished supermodified in preparation for an upcoming Midwestern Supermodified Association, (MSA), race at Sandusky, (OH), Speedway when the car suddenly and without warning went straight in turn two at Kalamazoo.

The Reason We Race

Dion Parish Memorial Benevolent Fund for Supermodifieds donation graphic

The Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series  (SUPRS) was founded as a way to give back to supermodified drivers and teams in time of need in Dion’s memory. SUPRS started and administers the Dion Parish Memorial Benevolent Fund for Supermodifieds, also in his memory, and donates money to injured drivers and their families.

Through members donations, various fund-raisers and race sponsorships, SUPRS has been able to give thousands of dollars to injured supermodified drivers through the fund.

Backus Wins 2018 Barn Burner

In a race that went green to checker last year and had a lot of nerf bar to nerf bar racing throughout the pack, Derrick Backus held the lead nearly from the drop of the green flag, and won his first Dion Parish Memorial.

While he enjoyed an early cushion, as the race wore on four former winners filled out the rest of the top five and had begun to put the pressure on the Mexico, NY racer. 

Watch just how good the 2018 Dion Parish Memorial was!

When the checkered flag flew, former winners fifth place finishing Bob Gangwer was less than five seconds behind the winner, and second place finishing Keith Powell was practically pushing Backus across the finish line. between those two were 2-time winner Rob Warren and 2011 winner Steve Callahan.

Backus was fully aware of how narrow his +0.187 second margin of victory was in this important race saying simply, “At the end, they were all over me.” The 62 lap race took just over 11 minutes to run.

SUPRS 15th Annual Dion Parish Memorial VL screenshot
Derrick Backus ran a nearly perfect race to win the 15th Annual Dion Parish Memorial at Kalamazoo Speedway. (Victory Lane Art by BreezeGraphics.com).

“To win one of these memorial races, especially the Dion is huge,” he said. “Coming into tonight I never really expected this, so this is really exciting.”

Only Three Have Won Race More Than Once

Just three SUPRS drivers have won the prestigious race more than once. nine-time SUPRS Gold Crest Champion Ray Sand, Jr. of Rochester, NY, was the first driver to do it when he won back to back in 2006, 2007. He did again in 2013, and is the only 3-time winner. Chris Meyers joined the club by winning in 2008 and 2014. The third driver to win the Dion Parish Memorial more than once is the only driver to do it in both NASCAR Heat and rFactor, and is the reigning SUPRS Gold Crest Wing Supermodified Champion-Rob Warren. He was a winner in 2015 and again in 2017, and is coming off of his first season opener win last week.

Former Winners Looking for Second Victory

There are three drivers sitting in the top five in points that could join Sand, Jr., Meyers, and Warren as multi-time winners of the race, and one other that is on the current roster that may be at the race. 2010 winner Keith Powell sits second in points, 2004 winner Bob Gangwer is third, and Carl Becker, who won the Dion Parish Memorial in 2012, is sitting in fifth overall.

Of them all, Carl “Bonzai” Becker, has the added inspiration of having known Dion Parish and his family on a personal level. Becker, the elder statesmen of SUPRS, who is now well into his 70s, also spent many years working on race cars that raced at Kalamazoo Speedway in his home state.

While his status is uncertain because of recently purchasing a new home, “Steady” Steve Callahan has a long tradition of running well in this race and won it in 2011. If he makes it to the virtual track, he’ll try to better his forth place finish from a year ago.

Going for First Dion Parish Memorial Win

Dave Ohh, Jeff Bivens, Brad Keysor, Nelson Rodrigues, Frank Keene, and Icings on Top Rookie of the Year contender, Zach Sears, all have a shot at making sure there is not another repeat winner.  All of these drivers know how to put the hammer down, especially Ohh who is a multi-time sim racing champion and has taken to the supermodifieds like a veteran.

Watch the Race Live

The SUPRS racers take to the “Fastest 3/8 Mile Oval in the World” at Kalamazoo Speedway on October 8, 2019. A 15 minute practice session starts at 8:00pm with Time Trials to follow at 8:45pm. Racing gets underway at 9:05pm and everyone is welcome to be a part of the action.

Come cheer on your favorite SUPRS racers at the virtual version of the track that once hosted the real supermodifieds nearly every week, and celebrated it’s 70th consecutive year of racing this season. Enjoy chat, timing, scoring, instant track telemetry and of course our outstanding live streaming video from the 16th Annual Dion Parish Memorial via the SUPRS LIVE! page.

Get Social with SUPRS

You can learn more about this race on the SUPRS schedule page.  Regular season updates as well as real supermodified and sim racing news are popular features on the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series Facebook page and @SUPRSOnline.

SUPRS – “Supermodified Sim Racing for the Right Reasons” since 2004

SUPRS Dion Parish Memorial History

  • 2004 Dion Parish Memorial Champion-State Fair Speedway: Bobby Gangwer
  • 2005 Dion Parish Memorial Champion-State Fair Speedway: Sean O’Kane
  • 2006 Dion Parish Memorial Champion-Rander Speedway: Ray Sand, Jr.
  • 2007 Dion Parish Memorial Champion-Rander Speedway: Ray Sand, Jr.
  • 2008 Dion Parish Memorial Champion-Rander Speedway: Chris Meyers
  • 2009 Dion Parish Memorial Champion-Rander Speedway: John Davidson
  • 2010 Dion Parish Memorial Champion-Rander Speedway: Keith Powell
  • 2011 Dion Parish Memorial Champion-Rander Speedway: Steve Callahan
  • 2012 Dion Parish Memorial Champion-Rander Speedway: Carl Becker
  • 2013 Dion Parish Memorial Champion-Rander Speedway: Ray Sand, Jr.
  • 2014 Dion Parish Memorial Champion-Rander Speedway: Chris Meyers
  • 2015 Dion Parish Memorial Champion-Rander Speedway: Rob Warren
  • 2016 Dion Parish Memorial Champion-Kalamazoo Speedway: Domenic Gioia
  • 2017 Dion Parish Memorial Champion-Kalamazoo Speedway: Rob Warren
  • 2018 Dion Parish Memorial Champion-Kalazazoo Speedway: Derrick Backus

SUPRS Schedule Released for 2019-20 Supermodified Sim Racing Season

  By
SUPRS 2019-20 Gold Crest Wing Championship Schedule screenshot
Share SUPRS:

Slightly Refined Schedule Has 43 Race Dates for Wing Supermodified Sim Racing Goshen, IN – September 26, 2019… The Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, (SUPRS), has officially released its 2019-20 Gold Crest Wing Supermodified  Schedule, and although slightly refined from last year, the season still has a seven month schedule of 43 race dates in 17 different states and Canada. Five new venues have been added to the schedule, and a SUPRS will visit Wisconsin… Keep Reading

  • Real Supermodified Racing Videos


    Our Real Supermodified Racing YouTube Playlist contains over 900 videos like this. Featuring wing, non-wing, 360/350 small-block, and vintage supermodified videos! If you've never seen, or heard a real supermodified, this is a good place to learn more about "The Ultimate Short Track Race Car" and understand why we love them and support them!
  • SUPRS Business Card 2017 Join Slide