Sand, Jr. Capitalizes on Callahan Mistake to Claim President’s Day Special
Radford, VA – February 17, 2015…Using lapped traffic to his advantage, Ray Sand, Jr. passed leader Steve Callahan with 12 laps to go and went on to win the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series race at New River Valley Speedway. Myles Maxon came home second and Callahan held on for third after 75 laps.
Ray Sand, Jr. picked up his first President’s Day Special win since 2009.
“I’ll tell you I’m glad that’s over with,” began Sand, Jr. after the race. “What a tough track. You really have to hold the bottom and watch the wall on the exit.”
“With Myles right there at the left rear it’s nerve-wracking. Steve did everything he had to do to stay up front. It got a little hairy up there around some lapped cars but everyone did pretty good.
Sand, Jr.(18) makes his move on leader Steve Callahan(55) while following Dave Brigandi.
“When I made the pass on Steve, I didn’t think I was going to get him. It was the only time that whole race that I saw a hole and I put my nose in there. I think he tried to quickly close that because he knew he left it open just a little but I was already in there. Steve and Myles had good runs tonight and I’m happy with the win. We’ll pack it up and go on to the next one in a couple of weeks.”
Current SUPRS point leader Myles Maxon put continuous pressure on Sand, Jr. and stayed glued to him right down the finish for the second week in a row, but didn’t have enough laps or room to get past the defending series champion for the win.
“I don’t think I could have gotten Ray,” said Maxon. “It’s kind of like the end of last week where I was pretty quick by myself, but in a pack I couldn’t figure it out so I’ll definitely take second here tonight and move on to the Vukovich Classic.”
With Steve Callahan leading, Sand, Jr. right on his tail, and Myles Maxon glued to Sand, the top three closed in on Dave Brigand to put him a lap down. All it took was one small slip by Callahan on lap 63 and Sand, Jr. pounced. Myles Maxon took advantage of the shocked Callahan in the very next corner to move into second.
After winning here last year and having the best finishing record of any current SUPRS competitor at New River Valley Speedway, Callahan dropped to third at the end and was a man of very few words at the end of the race. “Yeah it was a good run until the end, but I just didn’t get it done and that’s really all I’ve got to say about it,” stated Callahan.
Earlier in the evening Myles Maxon again set the fastest time trial and Steve Callahan won the dash.
The SUPRS racers will take the last week of February off before heading west to CA for the 11th Annual Billy Vukovich III Classic Monday March 2, and then to Arizona for the SUPRS Copper World Classic X on Tuesday March 3.
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:
- February 17, 2015
- President’s Day Special
New River Valley Speedway
Time Trials (showing car number, driver name, hometown, sponsors, lap 1, lap 2-best lap underlined)
- 79-Myles Maxon; Oswego, NY; Tamarack Golf Club, The Swamp: 11.938, 11.885
- 18-Ray Sand, Jr.; Rochester, NY; SandmanRacing.com: 11.912, 11.959
- 55-Steve Callahan; Cayuhoga Falls, OH; Ice Oil, CPR Motorsports: 11.994, 11.980
- 25-Bob Gangwer; Goshen, IN; Wing Side Up Enterprises, Ricky’s Sideline Shots: 12.301, 12.022
- 35-Rob Warren; Pulaski, NY; 1st to Finish Docks & Hoists, Designs of Elegance: 12.186, 12.211
- 42-Carl Becker; Lansing, MI; Wholesale Diamond Exchange, Michigan Hill Gang: 12.195, NT
- 52-Dave Brigandi; Syracuse, NY; Buffalo Bio-Diesel, Terry: 12.214, 12.245
- 15-Joey Callahan; Robinson, IL; CPR Motorsports, Chevrolet: 13.009, NT
Fast Car Dash – 8 Laps
- 55-Steve Callahan
- 18-Ray Sand, Jr.
- 79-Myles Maxon
- 25-Bob Gangwer
Feature – 75 Laps (showing car number, driver, name, bonus, fastest lap, distance behind winner)
- 18-Ray Sand, Jr.; * 11.941
- 79-Myles Maxon; ! 11.881 | +0.345
- 55-Steve Callahan; * ** 11.967 | +1.095
- 25-Bob Gangwer; 11.978 | +1.369
- 35-Rob Warren; 12.168 | +1 lap
- 42-Carl Becker; 12.113 | +1 lap
- 52-Dave Brigandi; 12.220 | +2 laps
- 15-Joey Callahan; 12.335 | +70 laps
Time of Race: 16:16.979
- * Denotes Lap Led
- ** Denotes Most Laps Led
- ! Denotes Fastest Lap of Race
