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.
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
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.
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.
“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
