Category: SUPRS News

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

SUPRS Copper World Classic Brings Supermodified Sim Racing to Desert Mile

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February 12, 2017 – Goshen, IN…One of the most anticipated races of the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, (SUPRS), 42 race schedule takes place on Wednesday with the running of the SUPRS Copper World Classic XIII presented by Kern Motorsports at Phoenix International Raceway.

SUPRS 2017 Copper World Classic XIII presented by Kern Motorsports promotional poster

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This annual event that signals the start of the SUPRS 2017 Winter Western Swing, features wing supermodified, non-wing supermodified sim racing on the one-mile paved oval in Arizona. Staying true to SUPRS Mission Statement, the sanction models this event after the popular Copper World Classic that was held annually at PIR from 1977-2009.

The supermodifieds were a part of the Copper World Classic  from 1984 to 2002 with one year off in 1991. 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 won the very first race and Lonnie Adamson won the last Copper World Classic supermodified race.

Curt Kern Long-Time SUPRS Supporter

Involved as an official for many years, Curt Kern of Kern Motorsports, has sponsored the SUPRS Copper World Classic since 2007.

In 1987, Kern and Ed Williams started the Northwest Supermodified Racing Association, (NSRA),  after the United States Auto Club, (USAC), unexpectedly pulled out of sanctioning regional racing.

In 1992, Curt Kern formed the Western States Supermodified Tour, separating the supermodifieds from sprint cars, which continued to race under the Northwest Supermodified/Sprintcar Racing Association.

Kern, got his start in racing as a flagman, and was an integral member of the supermodified officiating staff at the Copper World Classic. “Some years I was on the ground in the pit area and a couple of years in the tower running race control for the supers,” explained the Washington state native.

“For me, then, it was a pretty stressful position, but I looked forward to the five days in Phoenix every year. I also dreaded it at the same time,” he said.

While Kern’s involvement with the real supermodified division wound down to an end in the late 1990’s, he continues to support the online version. “I’m honored to still be involved with SUPRS and their version of the Copper World Classic and consider, (SUPRS co-founders), Bobby, (Gangwer), and John, (Davidson), both good friends,” he said.

Will the “Rocket” Finally Get His First?

As the current point leader with nine wins so far this season, “Rocket” Rob Warren would love nothing more than to make his tenth victory his first SUPRS Copper World Classic win.

Although he’s won at Phoenix International Speedway in a modified, Warren has no illusions that pulling down his first supermodified sim racing win in the Valley of the Sun will be any easier this year. “The level of competition is rising,” said Warren. “It has always been tough to get a win in this league, but everybody is picking up the pace.”

Not that he’s afraid of the competition though. As much as he wants to win, he’s just as enthused by the challenge. “Although it makes it more difficult to get a win, it also makes it more rewarding,” Warren admitted.

Minor Tweaks Benefit Fans

For the first time in SUPRS history, the NASCAR Heat sim racing platform  used at the Copper World Classic. As a result of a successful outing last year using the SUPRS NW (non-wing) V1.0 mod for rFactor, SUPRS officials decided to make the wing supermodified race rFactor as well.

Because both 25 lap features are rFactor based, fans can catch the action via SUPRS LIVE! as drivers challenge the “Desert Mile” in their wing and non-wing supermodifieds. Fans, friends, and family members can view live timing, scoring and track telemetry and know in an instant how their favorite SUPRS racer is doing by visiting www.SUPRS.net/site/live.

Feature finish points for the wing and non-wing supermodified races will decide the overall SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion.

Both divisions of supermodifieds will time trial, so the schedule for the night is somewhat different from normal. Systems Checks begin at 7:00pm. Official Practice starts at 7:30pm, then Time Trials will follow at 8:15pm and 9:00pm is when the first race will roll out.

Learn more about supermodified racing and online supermodified sim racing by visiting www.SUPRS.net, “Liking” SUPRS on Facebook, Circling SUPRS on Google+, Following @SUPRSOnline on Twitter, and Viewing SUPRS videos on YouTube.

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

  • 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

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

SUPRS Copper World Classic Wing/Non-Wing Combined Champions

  • 2016 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Ray Sand, Jr.

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

-SUPRS-

“Supermodified Sim Racing for the Right Reasons”

since 2004

Keith Powell is SUPRS Florida Speedweeks 2017 Champion

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First Ohio Driver to Win SUPRS Florida Speedweeks Championship Lakeland, FL – February 11, 2017….Keith Powell of Carrollton, OH is the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, (SUPRS), Florida Speedweeks 2017 Champion. This is Powell’s first SUPRS Florida Speedweeks Championship, and he is now the sixth different winner in 13 years to claim the Speedweeks Championship. Powell, driver of the Icings on Top, CPR Motorsports “Mayfield Missle” said, “This feels pretty awesome. Going into it I… Keep Reading

SUPRS Florida Speedweeks Swings Through Sunshine State

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Five Nights, Five Tracks, One Florida Speedweeks Champion

Goshen, IN – February 3, 2017…The Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, (SUPRS), swings through the Sunshine State this week for the SUPRS Florida Speedweeks, an experience like no other in supermodified sim racing.

SUPRS 2017 Florida Speedweeks poster

Whether it’s a one day or one week promotion, BreezeGraphics.com can help you get the word out with great looking graphics like Florida Speedweeks poster.

This week-long swing through Florida tests even the toughest supermodified sim racers as they tally points each night on five distinctive and unique tracks while trying to become the SUPRS Florida Speedweeks Champion.

New Firsts, Old Favorites

Several “firsts” will take place over the course of Speedweeks, including one new track, the use of the rFactor sim racing platform, and SUPRS first race inside a stadium.

To date, there have been nine different tracks to host the SUPRS Florida Speedweeks and this year with adding Dodge Raceway Stadium, the count goes to 10.

Dodge will take the place of the popular Sunrise Raceway on the fourth night of competition and it will mark the first time in SUPRS history for supermodified sim racing inside the confines of a stadium.

While not a new venue, the fifth and last race of Speedweeks at USA International Speedway will use the rFactor platform for the first time. USA Int’l, along with Black Creek Raceway are the only tracks to have held a race every year that SUPRS Florida Speedweeks has taken place.

Orlando Speedworld, and New Smyrna Speedway are scheduled for night one and three of this year’s Speedweeks.

Different Winners Not Uncommon

20 different drivers have sat in victory lane through the years. Nine drivers have multiple wins. Of those Ray Sand, Jr. has the most Speedweeks feature wins overall with nine. John Davidson has five, then Myles Maxon and Bob Gangwer with four.

Kris Heveron has three wins total, while Sean O’Kane, Chris Myers, Dave Biro III and Steve Callahan each have two apiece. Last year Rob Warren won his second SUPRS Florida Speedweeks feature, while Dave Brigandi is the most recent drivers to win at least one Speedweeks feature.

Of the multiple winners, only Davidson Sand, Jr. have won more than two features during a five night swing with each picking up three out of five.

New Speedweeks Champion Likely

With no former SUPRS Florida Speedweeks champions expected to compete this year, a first time winner is a nearly a given and one driver will join the ranks of AJ Truax, (2005), Sean O’Kane (2006), and Kris Heveron, (2009), to have broken the Ray Sand, Jr. and Myles Maxon stranglehold on Speedweeks championships.

Sand, Jr. and Maxon each have three and swapped the crown back and forth in 2007, and 2008 then again from 2014 to 2016.

Save for Heveron’s championship in 2009, Maxon would be the only back to back Speedweeks champ having won his second in 2010.

This year former Speedweeks feature winners Rob Warren, Bob Gangwer, Kevin Timmins, Dave Brigandi, Carl Becker, and Steve Callahan are all expected to compete for the overall crown and the 10 bonus points that go along with it.

Joe Achzet is SUPRS most recent feature winner during the 2016-17 season and is in second place in the SUPRS Gold Crest Wing Championship XIII.

Joining Achzet in search of their first feature win in Florida are hot shoes like Keith Powell, Kyle Clark,  and rookie Nelson Rodrigues, (who led his first SUPRS feature lap last week).

All of these drivers are looking for their first SUPRS Florida Speedweeks title.

Five Nights of Action

Practice begins each night at 8pm. Time Trials will take place at 8:30 and the feature race is set to take the green flag at 9pm every night. The winner of the overall Florida Speedweeks Championship will receive a five-pound bag of Florida Oranges.

Since Dodge Raceway Stadium and USA International races will be rFactor shows, fans and friends of SUPRS can enjoy the last two nights of the week via SUPRS LIVE! as they cheer on their favorite supermodified sim racer.

****2017 SUPRS Florida Speedweeks Schedule****

Sunday 02/05/2017

Open Practice All SUPRS Florida Speedweeks Tracks 8:00pm

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Monday 02/06/2017

SUPRS Florida Speedweeks Race 1

  • Orlando Speedworld  – 50 laps – 3/8 Mile
  • 8:00pm Practice
  • 8:15pm Drivers Meeting
  • 8:30pm Time Trials
  • 9:00pm Racing
  • Current Track Record: Orlando Speedworld: Ray Sand, Jr.; 11.581 sec.; Set: 02/08/2015
  • Defending Race Winner: Ray Sand, Jr.
  • NASCAR Heat platform SUPRS W v6 mod

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Tuesday 02/08/2017

SUPRS Florida Speedweeks Race 2

  • Black Creek Raceway – 25 laps – 3/4 Mile
  • 8:00pm Practice
  • 8:15pm Drivers Meeting
  • 8:30pm Time Trials
  • 9:00pm Racing
  • Current Track Record: Black Creek Raceway: Ray Sand, Jr.; 17.016 sec. Set: 02/10/2009
  • Defending Race Winner: Bob Gangwer
  • NASCAR Heat platform SUPRS W v6 mod

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Wednesday 02/09/2017

SUPRS Florida Speedweeks Race 3

  • New Smyrna Speedway – 50 Laps – ½ Mile
  • 8:00pm Practice
  • 8:15pm Drivers Meeting
  • 8:30pm Time Trials
  • 9:00pm Racing
  • Current Track Record: New Smyrna Speedway: Myles Maxon; 14.042; Set: 02/11/15
  • Defending Race Winner: Ray Sand, Jr.
  • NASCAR Heat platform SUPRS W v6 mod

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Thursday 02/10/2017

SUPRS Florida Speedweeks Race 4

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Friday 02/11/2017

SUPRS Florida Speedweeks Race 5

  • USA International Speedway – 25 laps – 3/4 Mile
  • 8:00pm Practice
  • 8:15pm Drivers Meeting
  • 8:30pm Time Trials
  • 9:00pm Racing
  • Current Track Record: USA International Speedway: Myles Maxon; 19.397 sec. Set: 02/13/2015(NASCAR Heat)-Defending Race Winner: Ray Sand, Jr.
  • rFactor platform SUPRS W v7.1 mod
  • Enjoy this race with SUPRS LIVE!

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Florida Speedweeks History-

 

Groundhog Day Derby Format Fine for Phil, Headscratcher for Racers

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Punxsutawney Phil Predictions Leave SUPRS Racers Scratching Head over Groundhog Day Derby Format

January 29, 2017 – Goshen, IN…The Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, (SUPRS), Groundhog Day Derby format is decided by the world’s most famous groundhog Punxsutawney Phil, which sometimes proves to be a real head scratching experience for the supermodified sim racers at SUPRS.

SUPRS 2017 Groundhog Day Derby poster by BreezeGraphics.com

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While Phil and his Groundhog Club Inner Circle at Gobbler’s Knob may not know it, his yearly prognostication determines whether it will be a regular format with time trials, heats and the feature, or a random start. This can prove to be just as vexing to the SUPRS racers as predicting what the weather will do.

Letting Punxsutawney Phil decide the format for the night may sound a bit odd but SUPRS has done it that way for this race since Bud Flath won the first one in 2005. Since then, there has been just one repeat winner.

With the SUPRS Gold Crest Wing Championship XIII as hot as ever after last week’s Mid-Season Championship, many of the drivers are hoping that an early spring is predicted which means a full format of Time Trials, Heats and Feature. That also means more chances to score valuable points.

If the famous groundhog from Pennsylvania sees his shadow and determines that we are in for six more weeks of winter, there will be no time trials or heats and the lineup for the 50 lap feature is set by a random draw. 

The fun and unpredictable Groundhog Day Derby begins on February 2, 2016 with the cars taking to Myrtle Beach Speedway for the first time in SUPRS history at 8:00pm for practice. Depending on whether Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, Time Trials could start at 8:30pm. Regardless of an early spring or six more weeks of winter SUPRS racing is always at 9:00pm.

Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series Groundhog Day Derby History:

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“Supermodified Sim Racing for the Right Reasons”

since 2004

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