Quick Results: Sandman Show at Sandusky Fast 50

Ray Sand, Jr. Back in Sandusky Speedway Victory Lane for Fourth Terry Gibson Fast 50

Sandusky, OH – January 12, 2016…Another race is in the bag at Sandusky Speedway and like so many before it, Ray Sand, Jr. was standing in Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, (SUPRS), victory lane. This time it was for his fourth Terry Gibson Fast 50 win in a row.

This year’s race was a little different though as it wasn’t as easy as winning had been in the last couple. Sand, Jr. had a horrible start from the pole position at the drop of the green, dropping to third behind fellow front row starter Rob Warren and third place starter Dave Brigandi. “That initial start Rob caught me sleeping and I got all flustered and Dave got by so yeah that didn’t go so well,” he said.

By lap 10 though, Sand, Jr. had caught and passed Brigandi then set his sights on Warren who was some two full seconds ahead.

His life got a little easier as the caution flag came out on lap twelve when the SUPRS Race Server crashed. It was all Sand, Jr. needed. When the field came down for the restart, “The Sandman” definitely wasn’t asleep this time around.  “I was glad for the restart,” he said.

After chasing Warren for a scant couple of laps, Sand, Jr. pounced, but when he did, Warren wasn’t going to make it easy on him.

The Sandman mows some grass to take the lead from Rob Warren(35) at the 2016 Terry Gibson Fast 50.

Sand, Jr. explained, “Rob got into one there and he pushed a little on entry, so I put it under him then he slammed the door. I was already committed so I was all the way in the grass under him like Earnhardt to get by him.”

From there on Sand, Jr. while not pulling more than four car lengths away from Warren, enjoyed a comfortable lead for the rest of the race. He said, “I had a blast that was a really fun race and I really like this place so tomorrow night will be interesting.”

Warren hung on for second and Bob Gangwer snuck by Steve Callahan with two laps to go for third place.

“Awesome race by Ray. I had about a 1/3 of car length on him at the first start and I took off,” began Warren. “I looked at the splits and saw that Dave was ahead of Ray so that helped, then all the sudden I saw Ray was into second and figured it was only a matter of time until he tracked me down.”

Warren explained his strategy for the restart. “On the restart I took it easy trying to keep the field bunched up until I heard green then I dropped the hammer but it bogged a little and I thought Ray was going right by me but he didn’t.”

“About two laps later I pushed into turn one real bad and I knew that I was going to see a yellow wing under me. I made it as hard on him as I could but it was an awesome pass. It may have been in the grass but it wasn’t his fault because I put him there,” said the second place finisher.

Third place finisher Bob Gangwer had a good time and said, “Man, Ray is in a league of his own here, congrats to him. I had a great time racing with Steve, it was good to have him back racing. He had a better car but just slipped with a couple to go and I got him.”

Earlier in the evening Gangwer took the heat race win.

Tomorrow the SUPRS competitors will be racing to have their name listed as Terry Gibson Memorial 100 Champion. It won’t be easy though as this race has only produced three different winners in the previous seven runnings and Ray Sand, Jr. stands atop the heap with four wins in a row.

Watch for full results and post race report of the Terry Gibson Fast 50 as well tomorrow night’s 8^th Annual Terry Gibson Memorial 100 coming soon to SUPRS.net.

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.

RACE RESULTS

Event: Terry Gibson Fast 50
Track: Sandusky Speedway
Laps: 50