Brigandi, Sand Snowball Derby Challenge Team Winners
Nelles Corners, Ontario, CAN – January 7, 2014…Ray Sand, Jr. didn’t let a new year slow him down when the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series slid into Cayuga Speedway for the 10th Annual Crazy Canuck Snowball Derby Tuesday night. Sand, Jr. was joined on the podium by Rob Warren and Bob Gangwer.
Ray Sand, Jr. crosses the Cayuga finish line to take his third Crazy Canuck Snowball Derby win.
The Crazy Canuck Snowball Derby Team Challenge consists of two man teams that battle not only for individual success during the night, but work to gain team points for the overall team challenge bonus. Ray Sand, Jr. and Dave Brigandi came out on top with a team total of 140 points.
After previously being a back to back winner in 2008-09, Sand, Jr. is now the only three-time winner of this race and is well on his way to winning his fourth SUPRS Gold Crest Division Championship crown.
“This place is tough cause the cars are very throttle pushy here so you gotta drive like there’s an egg under the pedal, its my style track for sure,” stated Sand, Jr. Of his Crazy Canuck Snowball Challenge teammate he said, “Hats off to Dave Brigandi for having a good run and helping us win the team challenge that’s pretty cool and I’m glad he’s back racing with us.” “I’m really looking forward to the rest of the season with everybody, I’m just glad to be apart of SUPRS.”
VIEW THE 10th ANNUAL CRAZY CANUCK SNOWBALL DERBY GALLERY!
Rob Warren wasn’t just chasing Sand, Jr. around the Cayuga track, he is also chasing him in the Gold Crest Championship point standings and said, “I knew going into the feature that this was Ray’s race to win and mine to lose even though I was second quick in Time Trials and won the Pursuit.” So convinced was Warren of Sand, Jr. winning, that he found his concern about a victory waning in the middle parts of the race. So much so in fact that Bob Gangwer caught up to challenge for second. “I tried to hang with Ray but all I could do was watch him pull away but I should have stayed more focused trying to dig at Ray’s lead because he not only slowed down towards the end, but I also had to contend with Bob the last few laps,” said the driver of the First to Finish Docks and Hoists roadster.
With one last ditch effort, Gangwer (25) shot to the inside of Warren but wasn’t able to pull of the pass and settled for third place.
Bob Gangwer, a three-time Snowball Derby Team Challenge winner, capitalized on a strong start to move from sixth into third by lap 5. “It was like the parting of the waters there at the start of the race, I mean the outside was wide open so I went up there and got by Carl, Dave and if Ray hadn’t of slid high in turn one, I may have gotten him too,” explained Gangwer. “Ray was just fantastic again tonight and while I knew there was no way to get Ray, I thought that maybe I had a shot at Rob at the end and really had a blast trying to get by him,” he said.
Dave Brigandi joined Sand, Jr. as part of the Snowball Derby Challenge winning team and was pleased with his night of racing. “I finally got my first heat win after all of these years of trying and almost won the Pursuit, plus Ray and I got the ten bonus points for winning the Challenge, so all in all a great night for me,” said the Syracuse, NY racer.
Frank Keene returned to SUPRS competition and saw plenty of action. Here he races behind Steve Callahan.
Making his return to SUPRS competition after struggling with his race rig was Frank Keene of Scranton, PA. Keene came home with a top five and said, “I had fun out there tonight just trying to keep pace but I’m happy to be back because this group was my first supermodified league and will always be number one in my heart.”
Keene was involved in a wild incident with Kevin Timmins and Carl Becker early in the race that saw Becker slam then ride the turn three wall putting him out for the night.
Team USA was once again crowned Can-Am Challenge Champions after no Canadian racers made the race.
Next week SUPRS will honor a supermodified racer that lost his life in crash at Toledo Speedway. The 6th Annual Terry Gibson Memorial gets underway Tuesday, January 14 with the Fast 50 at Sandusky Speedway. Then on Wednesday the prestigious Terry Gibson Memorial 100 takes place with the winner becoming a guaranteed starter for the 10th Annual Season Summit Classic 125. Practice starts at 8p both nights.
Learn more about the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series and it’s Mission by visiting SUPRS.net, ‘Liking‘ on Facebook and adding on Google+.
10th Annual Crazy Canuck Snowball Derby
Cayuga Speedway
Winged Supermodified Time Trials (showing best lap)
- 18 Ray Sand, Jr.; Rochester, NY: 16.422
- 35 Rob Warren; Pulaski, NY: 16.457
- 55 Steve Callahan; Cayuhoga Falls, OH: 15.460
- 25 Bob Gangwer; Goshen, IN: 16.517
- 42 Carl Becker; Lansing, MI: 16.590
- 83 Frank Keene; Scranton, PA: 16.786
- 77 Kevin Timmins; Baldwinsville, NY: 16.855
- 52 Dave Brigandi; Syracuse, NY: 16.974
Heat Race 1-13 Laps – Top 2 Transfer to Canadian Pursuit
- 18 Ray Sand, Jr.
- 42 Carl Becker
- 55 Steve Callahan
- 77 Kevin Timmins
Heat Race 2-13 Laps – Top 2 Transfer to Canadian Pursuit
- 52 Dave Brigandi
- 35 Rob Warren
- 25 Bob Gangwer
- 83 Frank Keene
Canadian Pursuit-8 Laps
- 35 Rob Warren
- 18 Ray Sand, Jr.
- 52 Dave Brigandi
- 42 Carl Becker
Feature-50 Laps
- 18 Ray Sand, Jr.* ** !
- 35-Rob Warren*
- 25-Bob Gangwer
- 55-Steve Callahan
- 83 Frank Keene
- 52-Dave Brigandi
- 77-Kevin Timmins -1
- 42-Carl Becker DNF
Time of Race: N/A
- * Denotes Lap Led
- ** Denotes Most Laps Led
- ! Denotes Fastest Lap of Race
