Gangwer Survives Early Race Carnage to Win at Harrisburg

Bob Gangwer Wins at Harrisburg for Second Year in a Row to Kick Off  SUPRS Keystone Nationals

Harrisburg, PA – March 9, 2015…While not as dramatic of a finish as 2014, Bob Gangwer was just as pleased with his win on opening night of the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series 2015 10th Annual Keystone Nationals at Harrisburg Speedway Monday evening. Carl Becker and Steve Callahan crossed the line behind Gangwer in second and third.

Bob Gangwer won the opening night round of the 10th Annual Keystone Nationals at Harrisburg Speedway.

Last year as the lead trio caught lapped cars on the white flag lap Gangwer was able to use a lapped car as a pick and pass Rob Warren for the win. This year, he steered clear of a mêlée of colliding cars on lap 10 to take the lead and hold it all the way to the finish of the 50 lap feature.

“I love running here but I’d like to give a shout out to my ma as she’s not been feeling well the last few days. She’s the one that taught me to always do my best and never give up and tonight her advice sure came in handy. I love you mom, this one’s for you,” declared Gangwer.

“I can’t be sure exactly what happened up there, but there were cars all over and all the sudden the track cleared and there was a hole,” explained Gangwer. “I had an idea that even though I was starting at the back, there may be a shot at a good finish and it just worked out OK.”

Second place finisher Carl Becker was as surprised as Gangwer about the parting of the online supermodified waters and stated, “I’ve come to the conclusion that starting at the back was the safe place to be tonight. It was kind of weird, I caught right up and everyone got bunched up so I backed off a little and let them get going then I think Steve hit the inside wall and I saw Rob going low so I just followed Bob and I got into second.” Becker, the driver of the Dowker Titanium Roadster continued, saying, “Once I got up in front of that mess I couldn’t’ run Bob down even though I was turning OK laps but it’s always kind of fun to run Harrisburg and I enjoyed it tonight.”

Third place finisher Steve Callahan felt a little like a ping-pong ball in his CPR Motorsports machine, but was still able to smile after a race where he led six laps. “Congrats to Bob, he survived it and that was the key tonight,” he said. “I had a pretty good start, Dom hit the wall and Dave and I got by. Then Dave hit the wall so I got under Dave then I had contact from behind and knocked out-of-the-way. So I was driving mad the rest of the time but by the end somehow I got back to third and even though it was a pretty goofy night I had a good time and hope everyone else did too. Tomorrow will be better.”

The Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series now moves to RT 93 Raceway in Slusser, PA for night two of the 2015 Keystone Nationals for a 50 lap affair at the square 1/2 mile.

Fans of supermodified racing and online sim racers alike can learn more about the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series by visiting www.SUPRS.net, “Liking” SUPRS on Facebook, Circling SUPRS on Google+, Following @SUPRSOnline on Twitter, and Viewing SUPRS videos on YouTube.

SUPRS RACE RESULTS:

• 10th Annual Keystone Nationals
• Race 1
• March 9, 2015

Harrisburg Speedway

Time Trials (showing car number, driver name, hometown, sponsors, lap 1, lap 2-best lap underlined)

1. 55-Steve Callahan; Cayuhoga Falls, OH; Ice Oil, CPR Motorsports: 14.972,  15.014
2. 25-Bob Gangwer; Goshen, IN; Wing Side Up Enterprises, Ricky’s Sideline Shots: 15.219, 15.037
3. 42-Carl Becker; Lansing, MI; Wholesale Diamond Exchange, Michigan Hill Gang: 15.136, 15.189
4. 35-Rob Warren; Pulaski, NY; 1st to Finish Docks & Hoists, Designs of Elegance: 15.198, 15.256
5. 52-Dave Brigandi; Syracuse, NY; Buffalo Bio-Diesel, Terry: 15.280, 15.215
6. 9-Domenic Gioia; Oswego, NY; Lizard Lick Towing, Genesee Beer: 15.415, 15.293

Heat Race 1-8 Laps

1. 9-Domenic Gioia
2. 35-Rob Warren
3. 25-Bob Gangwer

Heat Race 2-8 Laps

1. 52-Dave Brigandi
2. 55-Steve Callahan
3. 42-Carl Becker

Feature – 50 Laps (showing car number, driver, name, bonus, fastest lap, distance behind winner)

1. 25-Bob Gangwer; * ** 15.035
2. 42-Carl Becker; * 15.072 | +1.854
3. 55-Steve Callahan; * 15.051 | +3.883
4. 35-Rob Warren; 15.060 | +4.017
5. 9-Domenic Gioia; * ! 15.013 | +7.818
6. 52-Dave Brigandi; * 15.164 | +7.142

Time of Race:  13:50.905

• * Denotes Lap Led
• ** Denotes Most Laps Led
• ! Denotes Fastest Lap of Race

SUPRS-Supermodified Sim Racing for the Right Reasons