Quick Results: SUPRS Competitors See Warren’s Shadow

Punxsutawney Phil may not have seen his shadow on Groundhog Day 2016, But Rob Warren was casting his over the rest of the field on his way to winning the 12^th Annual Groundhog Day Derby for the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, (SUPRS), Tuesday night at Derry Raceway Park.

The Pulaski, NY racer held off three different drivers that tried to stop him from becoming the eleventh different winner in twelve years of this raucous SUPRS race.

Rob Warren(35) had his hands full keeping the competitors behind him at the Groundhog Day Derby

“That was a race, a battle, a war, wow, that was a fantastic race,” exclaimed Warren. “It was great racing with Steve.”

Former Groundhog Day Derby winner, Steve Callahan, was who Warren was having fun with, but the fun ended for Callahan when rode up on the inner curb and made hard contact with Warren. Callahan backed off allowing Warren to go back by, then just as he was gathering it up, got hit from behind knocking him out of contention for the win.

As Callahan shot up the track the door opened for two-time and defending Groundhog Day Derby winner Ray Sand, Jr. to shoot through the middle of Warren and Callahan and into the lead.

Sand, Jr. was not in his usual championship form, struggling to keep the car off the wall and Warren was very aware that it would be his only chance to get by the leader.

“I got behind Ray and I could see where his corner exit speed was really lacking, he had a heckuva push coming off the corner,” said Warren. “I thought that if I could get there when he was having trouble I would be good to get by him and when he got into the wall I went by him.”

With Sand, Jr. trying to get back by, a ferocious battle was taking place behind the lead two with Steve Callahan, Bob Gangwer and Dave Brigandi. The three swapped places several times before Gangwer was finally able to move into third. He immediately started to run down Sand, Jr. and with less than 10 laps to go was within striking distance.

Pulling the same move that Warren had, Gangwer shot to the inside of Sand, Jr. on the exit of turn two. He took off after Warren and caught the leader with just five laps to go. After a couple of attempts low, he moved to the outside of Warren for one last-ditch effort, but it wasn’t enough and opened up the inside groove for Sand, Jr. to take second away on the last lap.

“I saw Bob try the outside with two to go,” Warren said. “I was willing to give him all the real estate up there he wanted and wished him good luck.”

Sand, Jr. was more than happy with his race saying, “Jesh, Rob said it all because I was pretty much out to lunch tonight but what an awesome race, we were all so racey out there tonight. Congrats to Rob he had a helluva run tonight.”

Rob Warren set fast time and Ray Sand, Jr. picked up another SUPRSCharger for advancing the most places from his starting spot. While his finishing spot may not show it, Dave Brigandi had a great run and set the fastest lap of the race.

It will be a short turnaround for the SUPRS racers as they set their sights on the Sunshine State beginning Monday February 8, 2016 for the SUPRS Florida Speedweeks featuring five nights of supermodified sim racing. Points will be tallied for every feature race to decide the overall Florida Speedweeks Champion. Full details are on on the schedule page of SUPRS.net.

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

Event: 12^th Annual Groundhog Day Derby
Date: February 2, 2016
Track: Derry Raceway Park
Laps: 50