October 10, 2021- Goshen, IN…The Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, (SUPRS), 18th Annual Dion Parish Memorial is set to be run on October 12, 2021 at Kalamazoo Speedway. A good field of former winners, and new challengers are expected to battle for win in the supermodified sim race that honors the memory of Dion Parish who lost his life in a supermodified testing accident at Kalamazoo Speedway in 2002.
Parish Memorial is SUPRS Most Important Race
From the beginning of SUPRS, this race has embodied the sanction’s Mission Statement of giving back. SUPRS established the Dion Parish Memorial Benevolent Fund for Supermodifieds in the late racers name to help injured supermodified drivers and their families in their times of need. Through members donations, various fund-raisers, and race sponsorships, SUPRS has been able to give thousands of dollars to injured drivers through the fund.
Kalamazoo Speedway Was Favorite of Dion Parish
Kalamazoo Speedway was one of Dion Parish’s favorite tracks, and one that he had much of his racing success at while running vintage coupes. He considered it his home track because it was so close to his home, and practically grew up there watching his dad turn wrenches on real supermodifieds.
A big fan of the old Tri-SAC supermodified days, Dion spoke often of watching the greats like locals Marv and Jerry Carmen, Butch Fedewa, Sammy Sessions, and Bob Seelman take on Texas invaders like Ricky Otts, Page Reynolds, Leroy Halfin, and Chet Fillip mix it up with Ohio visitors Jim Shirey, Gary Allibritain and Todd Gibson at his beloved Kalamazoo Speedway.
Dion also loved watching the International Supermodified Association come to Kalamazoo Speedway during their annual Michigan Swing in June during the late 1990s.
It is with that dream, and those memories in mind that SUPRS helped promote the Dion Parish Memorial at Kalamazoo Speedway in 2007. A race that was won by Moe Lilje and was well attended. SUPRS, along with Dion’s daughters Mindy and Lindsey presented Jon Henes with the Dion Parish Memorial Perseverance Award. To date, there’s only been one supermodified races since that one at Kalamazoo.
It was at Kalamazoo Speedway that Dion Parish lost his life in a testing accident in 2002 while preparing for a late season event at Sandusky Speedway. His dedication to the supermodified division and “Never Give Up” attitude was the inspiration for the founding of the SUPRS sim racing sanction, and is a constant reminder to all members that there are more important things in life than winning races.
The Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series (SUPRS) was founded as a way to give back to supermodified community and through the Dion Parish Memorial Benevolent Fund for Supermodifieds, SUPRS accepts cash donations to help injured drivers and families in time of need in Dion’s memory.
Too many times we have seen racers and their families fall on hard times after a supermodified crash. A simple ambulance ride from the track to the hospital for a minor injury can run into the thousands of dollars, and we need not explain that a more severe injury that requires an overnight stay and extended rehabilitation will cost much more. Donations of any amount help offset those costs.
Up to Six Former Winners Expected
SUPRS officials expect up to six former winners to contest for the win at Kalamazoo on Tuesday. Active drivers with wins in the Dion Parish Memorial include, Bob Gangwer, (2004), Keith Powell, (2010), Carl Becker, (2012), Rob Warren, (2015, 2017, 2019), Derrick Backus, (2018), and Brad Keysor, who is the defending winner of the race.
Of those, the driver that is tied with Ray Sand, Jr. for the most wins overall of the Dion Parish Memorial, could break that record with a fourth victory. Statistically speaking, this should be Rob Warren’s year to win, having won the race in every odd numbered year since his first in 2015. Warren’s not much on statistics just for the sake of them though and the seven-time SUPRS season champion know he’ll have his work cut out to cross the finish line first at “The Zoo.”
“After Sunday night’s practice, I doubt the stats will continue,” said the Warren from Pulaski, NY. “Sharing a record with Ray is enough for me, and chasing Brad, Dave, (Ohh), Ryan, (Cloonan), and Greg, (Breen), will be fun as well.”
New Chargers Will Shake Things Up
As experienced as he is, Warren full well knows that he’ll have to fend off some of the new chargers he spoke of. Leading the pack is the 2021 Harvest of Speed winner and the defending SUPRS Gold Crest Wing Supermodified Champion, Dave Ohh. Ohh has won just about every other memorial race SUPRS has to offer, but he’s missed this one since he became a SUPRS member in 2018.
Last year, Ryan Cloonan finished a strong third in the Dion Parish Memorial then went on to win the Icings on Top Rookie of the Year Award. He parlayed that into leading the non-wing supermodified points battle for the first third of the 2021 summer season and ended up in second behind Brad Keysor. He’s been fast in pre-race testing, and will no doubt be in the hunt for the win.
Host of Rookie of the Year Winners and Contenders Looking for First Dion Win
There’s plenty of other fast competitors looking to put their name on the list of Dion Parish Memorial winners including real supermodified racer Kyle Perry. Perry is joined in his pursuit of a win in this special race by former Icings on Top Rookie of the Year recipients Nelson Rodrigues, Zach Sears, Erich Becker, and Anthony Corsoniti, as well as current and Icings on Top Rookie of the Year contenders, Brian Strickland, and Connor Kennard.
Watch the Race Live
The SUPRS racers take to the “Fastest 3/8 Mile Oval in the World” at Kalamazoo Speedway on October 12, 2021. After a rookie/refresher hot lap session, a 15 minute practice session starts at 7:45pm with Time Trials to follow the drivers meeting at 8:20pm. 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 recently celebrated it’s 70th consecutive year of racing. Enjoy chat, timing, scoring, instant track telemetry and of course our outstanding live streaming video and announcing from the 18th Annual Dion Parish Memorial via the SUPRS LIVE! page.
Get Social with SUPRS
Fans of supermodified racing and online 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, and View over 650 real supermodified racing videos, and archived SUPRS races on SUPRS YouTube. Fans can also enjoy our live stream SUPRS Twitch page and chat with each other and other SUPRS members via Discord.
Dion Parish Memorial 62 History
Current Track Record Kalamazoo Speedway: Rob Warren – 9.633 – December 6, 2016 (rF-W)
Defending Race Winner-Brad Keysor
Year/Winner/Platform/Track
- 2004: Bobby Gangwer (NH-State Fair Speedway)
- 2005: Sean O’Kane (NH-State Fair Speedway)
- 2006: Ray Sand, Jr. (NH-Rander Speedway)
- 2007: Ray Sand, Jr. (NH-Rander Speedway)
- 2008: Chris Meyers (NH-Rander Speedway)
- 2009: John Davidson (NH-Rander Speedway)
- 2010: Keith Powell (NH-Rander Speedway)
- 2011: Steve Callahan (NH-Rander Speedway)
- 2012: Carl Becker (NH-Rander Speedway)
- 2013: Ray Sand, Jr. (NH-Rander Speedway)
- 2014: Chris Meyers (NH-Rander Speedway)
- 2015: Rob Warren (NH-Rander Speedway)
- 2016: Domenic Gioia (rF-Kalamazoo Speedway)
- 2017: Rob Warren (rF-Kalamazoo Speedway)
- 2018: Derrick Backus (rF-Kalamazoo Speedway)
- 2019: Rob Warren (rF-Kalamazoo Speedway)
- 2020: Brad Keysor (rF-Kalamazoo Speedway)
- Most Wins: Ray Sand, Jr., Rob Warren: 3
- Back to Back Winners: Ray Sand, Jr.
- Longest Stretch Between Multiple Wins: Chris Meyers, Ray Sand, Jr.-5 years
- Multi-Time Winners: Ray Sand, Jr., Rob Warren, Chris Meyers
- Fastest Recorded Race: 10:55.569-10/08/2019 (Green to Checkered)
- Most Entries: 31-10/22/2008
- Average Car Count: 13.6
About SUPRS:
The Supermodified Ultimate Racing Series started in 2004 when supermodified race fans John Davidson and Bob Gangwer started to enjoy online racing with their favorite form of motor-sport, the supermodified division.
The team quickly realized that there were many opportunities available with the online racing platform that would give them a way to give back to the teams, tracks, sponsors and fans of the division. With this thought in mind, and using a suggestion from a member, the league went to a donation to play” format soon after its formation.
By asking members to donate to the newly created Dion Parish Memorial Benevolent Fund for Supermodifieds, SUPRS quickly accumulated funds that allowed the league to donate cash to injured drivers and their families when they needed it the most.
SUPRS has continued to grow using this, until then, unheard of model, and is now in its nineteenth season of sim racing and is one of the longest continuously operating online racing leagues in history.
“Supermodified Sim Racing for the Right Reasons” since 2004
