Less than three-tenths of a second separate top four finishers
May 7, 2019 – Madera, CA…Brad Keysor won one of the closest finishes in the history of the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, (SUPRS), Summit Classic 125 Tuesday night at Madera Speedway, and in so doing, became the first rookie to claim the top honor in the second race of the SUPRS Triple Crown of Supermodified Sim Racing presented by Icings on Top.
Thrilling Finish
Similar to throwing a dart at the dartboard with eyes closed, the last five laps of the 2019 Summit Classic 125 left many wondering who would end up where at the finish. After charging from sixth starting place, Keysor put himself into contention in the last 21 laps. But it was fellow rookie, Dave Ohh that looked to have the best shot at getting around leader Rob Warren.
Ohh repeatadly took as stab at Warren, but ended up getting passed by Keysor. With just four laps left, Keysor stole the lead from Warren. Incredibly, Warren, the 2017 Summit Classic 125 winner, and the leader for 121 laps, went from first to fourth in the last four laps.
At the same time, Dave Ohh and now Keith Powell were swapping nerf bar paint and positions behind the top two as they dashed to the finish. Eventually Powell was able to take second on the last lap, leaving Ohh in third in his first Summit Classic 125.
Realization Sets In
While he had a great car for most of the race, it wasn’t until he had a shot at the lead that he realized he could lead. “Probably right before I passed Rob,” he said is when the realization set in that he could take the lead. “Rob and Dave, (Ohh), were racing hard and when Dave went into the infield I knew I was faster than Rob. I knew I had turn three and four to make a move or the race was over. That lap I made a move and it stuck going into one and I knew I had it.”
Thankful to Family and Supporters
“I want to thank my grandma Shirley Letcher for getting me into racing, she’s not been well, but if it wasn’t for her, I don’t know that I’d be sitting here today enjoying this win.”
Notes and Stats
Keith Powell won the 10 lap heat race on Monday night. Brad Keysor had the fastest lap of the race and moved up five places, but because he started further back, Dave Ohh picked up the SUPRSCharger Award for advancing the most places from his starting spot.
Rob Warren led the most laps at 121, and Keysor led four. Six cautions for a total of 34 laps slowed the race. The first yellow flag flew on lap 10. There was a long run of 65 green flag laps in the middle of the race and the last 21 laps were run under the green flag.
Three rookies started the race, (Keysor, Ohh, and Rob VanTuinen) and two former winners, (Warren, and Bob Gangwer) took the green flag. Rookie Rob VanTuinen had the best lap consistency of the race at 75.91%.
May Break
The SUPRS racers will take a much-needed break for the month of May so that many of the members can enjoy the start of the real supermodified season, including the Oswego Speedway season opener, Star Speedway openers, and the Vukovich Classic at Madera Speedway. Several others plan to make their way to Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 103rd Indianapolis 500 Mile Race, and to Anderson Speedway for the 71st Little 500.
SUPRS will fire up the 15th season of non-wing supermodified sim racing the first week of June when they take to an updated version of Oswego Speedway using the SUPRS rFactor and NASCAR Heat modifications. Two races with the new rFactor 2 modification for supermodifieds are planned as well.
Get Social with SUPRS
The Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series is the original supermodified sim racing sanction and supports real supermodified racing. You can learn more about SUPRS and supermodified racing by visiting www.SUPRS.net, “Liking” SUPRS on Facebook, Following @SUPRSOnline on Twitter, and viewing SUPRS videos on YouTube. Don’t forget to watch live and previously broadcast races, as well as test nights on our Twitch Channel.
SUPRS RACE RESULTS
- 15th Annual Summit Classic 125
- Race 46 of 46
- May 7, 2019
- SUPRS rFactor W v7.3 mod
- Madera Speedway
- 125 Laps -Cautions do not count
Supermodified Time Trials (showing car number, driver name, hometown, sponsors, lap 1, lap 2-best lap bold)
- 25-Bob Gangwer; Goshen, IN; B&G Racing Photos, RW Woodworking: 11.749, 11.723
- 35-Rob Warren; Pulaski, NY; 1st to Finish Race Servers, Designs of Elegance: 11.746, 11.827
- 41-Keith Powell; Carrollton, OH; Icings on Top, CPR Motorsports: 12.158, 12.014
- 42-Carl Becker; Lansing, MI; Wholesale Diamond Exchange, Michigan Hill Gang: 12.312, 12.353
- 47-Rob VanTuinen; Modesto, CA; USS Balthasar, Ratman Racing: 12.570, 12.388
Supermodified Qualifying Heat Race – 10 Laps (showing car number, driver, name)
- 41-Keith Powell
- 47-Rob VanTuinen
- 42-Carl Becker
Time of Race: 3:54.24
Supermodified Feature 125 Laps (showing car number, driver name, bonus, starting place, distance behind winner)
- 3-Brad Keysor: * | ! | P6 | 11.786
- 41-Keith Powell: P3 | 11.906 | +0.104
- 11-Dave Ohh: ^ | P8 | 11.798 | +0.138
- 35 Rob Warren: * | ** | P2 | 11.798 | +0.257
- 25-Bob Gangwer: P1 | 11.948 | 12.026 | +2.744
- 42-Carl Becker: P5 | 12.026 | +4 Laps
- 61-Derrick Backus: P7 | 11.865 | DNF-Fuel
- 47-Rob VanTuinen: P4 | 12.209 | +8 Laps
Time of Race: 37:21.879
- * Denotes Lap Led
- ** Denotes Most Laps Led
- ! Denotes Fastest Lap of Race
- ^ Denotes SUPRSCharger
