Category: SUPRS News

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

Billy Vukovich III Classic 100 This Week

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February 24, 2017 – Fresno, CA…The Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, (SUPRS),  will honor the late Billy Vukovich III  with the 13th Annual running of the Billy Vukovich III Classic 100 at Mesa Marin Raceway presented by Supermodified Scorecard.

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 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 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 the 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.

Practice gets underway for the SUPRS 12th Annual Billy Vukovich III Classic at 8pm. Time Trials take place at 8:45pm with racing starting at 9pm.

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
  • 2015 Billy Vukovich III Classic Champion: Ray Sand, Jr.
  • 2016 Billy Vukovich III Classic Champion: Bobby Gangwer

SUPRS in CA for President’s Day Special

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February 18, 2017 – Clovis, CA….The Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series,(SUPRS), heads to California’s Buckley Speedway this week for the popular President’s Day Special supermodified sim race.

SUPRS President's Day Special 2017 poster

Great looking promotional materials like this President’s Day poster from BreezeGraphics.com will have you singing Hail to the Chief

For the second year in a row the SUPRS President’s Day Special takes place at a new venue, and for the first time in California. But the format remains the same while the game platform returns to NASCAR Heat after being a rFactor race last year at The Bullring.

Buckley Speedway, a long-time SUPRS venue, hosts this year’s President’s Day Special as part of SUPRS Winter Western Swing that kicked off last week at Phoenix International Raceway for the Copper World Classic XIII presented by Kern Motor Sports.

The SUPRS Gold Crest Wing Championship battle for supremacy got even closer last week at PIR when Joe Achzet cut another bug chunk from Rob Warren’s lead with a win in the non-wing supermodified part of the event. Achzet now trails Warren by just 84 points.

To Warren’s advantage this week is that he’s the defending winner of the race,(albeit using rFactor and at The Bullring), and has a lot more track time on the high-banked oval at Buckley where finesse can pay big dividends as drivers come up out of the bowled corners.

Warren and Achzet will have to contend with the likes of former President’s Day Special winner “Steady” Steve Callahan, as well as NASCAR Heat masters Carl “Bonzai” Becker, Dave “The Enforcer” Brigandi, Bob Gangwer, “The Breeze” Kevin Timmins and “The Dominator” Domenic Gioia.

Added to the mix will be drivers that have very little, if any, experience at Buckley like Chad Phelps, Derrick Backus, Kyle Clark, rookie Nelson Rodrigues, (who won his second SUPRS feature last week at PIR), and believe it or not, the guy that’s third in points, Keith “Put One on Ya” Powell.

Practice for the 2017 President’s Day Special starts at 8pm Tuesday, February 20. Racers will use their NASCAR Heat sim supermodifieds to time trial, run a fast car dash, a heat and a 75 lap feature.

Coming up next week to close out the SUPRS “Winter Western Swing” on February 28, is the prestigious 13th Annual Billy Vukovich III Classic 100 at Mesa Marin Raceway presented by Supermodified Scorecard.

Fans of supermodified racing and online sim racers alike can learn more about the original supermodified sim racing sanction and real supermodified 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 President’s Day Special History

  • 2005 President’s Day Special Winner: John “Bud” Flath(New River Valley Speedway; NASCAR Heat; Wing; 38 laps)
  • 2006 President’s Day Special Winner: John Davidson(New Hampshire International Speedway; NASCAR Heat; Wing; 75 laps)
  • 2007 President’s Day Special Winner: JP Curry(New Hampshire International Speedway; NASCAR Heat; Wing; 25 laps)
  • 2008 President’s Day Special Winner: Myles Maxon(New Hampshire International Speedway; NASCAR Heat; Wing; 25 laps)
  • 2009 President’s Day Special Winner: Ray Sand, Jr.(New Hampshire International Speedway; NASCAR Heat; Wing; 25 laps)
  • 2010 President’s Day Special Winner: No Race
  • 2011 President’s Day Special Winner: No Race
  • 2012 President’s Day Special Winner: No Race
  • 2013 President’s Day Special Winner: No Race
  • 2014 President’s Day Special Winner: Steve Callahan(New River Valley Speedway; NASCAR Heat; Wing; 75 laps)
  • 2015 President’s Day Special Winner: Ray Sand, Jr.(New River Valley Speedway; NASCAR Heat; Wing; 75 laps)
  • 2016 President’s Day Special Winner: Rob Warren(The Bullring; rFactor; non-wing; 75 laps)

Learn More About Presidents’ Day at History.com

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

BreezeGraphics.com provides classic design with new twists.

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)

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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

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