Ray Sand, Jr. Victorious Both Nights at SUPRS Terry Gibson Memorial
Sandusky, OH – January, 14, 2015…If there was ever any question about what Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series racer dominates at Sandusky Speedway, the answers came over the course of two nights when Ray Sand, Jr. won the Terry Gibson Fast 50 and the prestigious Terry Gibson Memorial 100, for a record fourth straight year.
It seems nearly unthinkable that the reigning SUPRS Gold Crest Wing Champion had gone without a win this season until Tuesday night, but he silenced those that may have doubted how strong of a competitor he is when he handily led start to finish in the Tuesday night Terry Gibson Fast 50 then went on to do the same on Wednesday night’s Terry Gibson Memorial 100.
“I’ll tell ya this one,” he said then paused. Once the winner collected his thoughts he continued, “This one’s for Terry and his family. I love being able to come on here and race for someone we lost and someone we looked up to and watched. It feels good man, it really does and I’m just glad to be here.”
After winning his fourth Terry Gibson Memorial, Ray Sand, Jr. slows down the backstretch for a moment of reflection under the Terry Gibson sign.
Sand’s race was rather uneventful compared to the last couple of years where he had to make a pass for the lead with only a scant amount of laps remaining in the 100 lapper. “First of all I started on pole and the car was on a rail so I was just making sure that I didn’t screw up,” he explained. The only close call he had been when he exited turn four a little high and just brushed the wall, “I think i scuffed the wall there and maybe a couple times, but it wasn’t anything serious and the lapped cars did a great job tonight,” finished Sand.
Second once again in a race he’s been so close to winning the last few years, Steve Callahan was philosophical about his run saying, “Ya know, you’re never satisfied with second but congrats to Ray man, he really put it too us tonight, I know I had nothing for him.”
“I got a good start and was able to clear everybody and tried to settle in but I realized at about lap 40 that I didn’t have a chance unless Ray messed up or something happened to him in lapped traffic.
“I was trying to run good, consistent laps and trying to keep an eye on the pack behind me because I could tell there was some hard racing going on back there. Really, I just tried to stay steady, keep it off of the wall and have a good run.
Callahan, like Sand, Jr. was able to understand the bigger picture and the true nature of the event and declared, “It’s an honor to run this race for Terry and his family, for all they’ve done in the racing community and it always feels good to just be a part of this thing. You know, winning is cool, but just being able to run and hang out with everyone here is really cool.”
YOU’VE GOT TO SEE THIS ACTION!
Rob Warren of Pulaski, NY started in seventh place but moved his way through the field to garner the SUPRSCharger Award on his way to third place at the checkered flag. His race was the polar opposite of the winner’s as he experienced close company and hard-fought battles the entire race and just narrowly beat out Bob Gangwer and Myles Maxon to stand on the podium for the second year in a row.
“First of all, congratulations to Ray, it’s great to see him back in the winners circle and great to have him racing with us. I just want to say how good it is to be here and race this for Terry and the Gibson family in Terry’s memory Warren said.
The driver of the “First to Finish Flyer” was nearly out of breath after his run but explained all the action involving him.
Rob Warren takes advantage of Chris Meyers going into turn one.
“Third through seventh and you could throw a sheet over us,” Warren began. “There towards about lap 15 or 20, someone checked up and then it just accordioned and Chris, (Meyers), was right in front of me and it looked like he caught the back of someone and when he did I was able to get under him but it was a drag race into turn one.
“Then I got Carl, which was not an easy task because he was running very good, and then I had to chase Bob and Myles forever trying to catch up to them. I could see Bob was really working to get by Myles so they kind of came back to me.
“I don’t remember what lap it was but I had a screaming run off turn two and down the backstretch and had it down low just enough for Bob to see me and he gave me the room. Then I had a run on Myles but couldn’t back it out quick enough and we bumped so I let him back in. At that point I was three of four tenths off of him because of the bump and dropping back. Then all of a sudden he pulled high and let me by. I think he used up the car in the first part of the race, but then he hung with us so I think he had an awesome draft car but not a good lead car.
With about five to go, I said to myself ‘I’m not stretching this out’ and I could see Bob once or twice and thought ‘this is getting a little too close for comfort.’ But with one to go I turned one of my best laps of the race and somehow held Bob and Myles off. Let me tell you that was an exciting and good time. It was so much fun and so close; all 100 laps of it!”
Earlier in the night Myles Maxon set fast time, just a tick off Sand, Jr.’s 4 year old record of 14.329, turning in a 14.362. The fast field all qualified in the 14 second bracket with Domenic Gioia turning in ninth fastest time with a 14.763. The B-Main win went to Chris Meyers followed by Bob Gangwer, Rob Warren, Domenic Gioia and Joey Callahan.
The SUPRS racers move a little further east next week with the kick-off of the 2015-16 season of the Empire State Super Series in New York. Practice gets under way at 8:00pm with Time Trials at 8:30pm and Racing at 9:00pm.
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:
7th Annual Terry Gibson Memorial 100
January 14, 2015
Sandusky 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: 14.362, 14.337
- 18-Ray Sand, Jr.; Rochester, NY; SandmanRacing.com: 14.350, 14.406
- 55-Steve Callahan; Cayuhoga Falls, OH; Ice Oil, CPR Motorsports: 14.397, 14.449
- 42-Carl Becker; Lansing, MI; Wholesale Diamond Exchange, Michigan Hill Gang: 14.475, 14.595
- 23-Chris Meyers; Amherst, OH; Burch’s Full Throttle Soda Blasting, Oswego Sub Shop: 14.497, NT
- 25-Bob Gangwer; Goshen, IN; Wing Side Up Enterprises, Ricky’s Sideline Shots: 14.507, 14.530
- 35-Rob Warren; Pulaski, NY; 1st to Finish Docks & Hoists, Designs of Elegance: 14.628, 14.583
- 15-Joey Callahan; Attaboy, IL; Exide Battery, CPR Motorsports: 14.935, 14.602
- 9-Domenic Gioia; Oswego, NY; Lizard Lick Towing, Genesee Beer: 14.792, 14.763
B-Main 1-13 Laps (showing finish, car number, driver name)
- 23-Chris Meyers
- 25-Bob Gangwer
- 35-Rob Warren
- 9-Domenic Gioia
- 15-Joey Callahan
Feature-100 Laps (showing car number, driver, name, bonus, fastest lap, distance behind winner)
- 18-Ray Sand, Jr.; * ** ! 14.325
- 55-Steve Callahan; 14.388 | +4.742
- 35-Rob Warren; ^ 14.379 | +10.495
- 25-Bob Gangwer; 14.380 | +10.692
- 79-Myles Maxon; 14.402 | +10.848
- 42-Carl Becker; 14.373 | +14.485
- 9-Domenic Gioia; 14.483 | +2 Laps
- 23-Chris Meyers; 14.450| DNF
- 15-Joey Callahan; 15.761 | DNF
Time of Race: 25:28.018
- * Denotes Lap Led
- ** Denotes Most Laps Led
- ! Denotes Fastest Lap of Race
- ^ Denotes SUPRSCharger
SUPRS RACE RESULTS:
Terry Gibson Fast 50
January 13, 2015
Sandusky Speedway
Heat Race 1-15 Laps (showing finish, car number, driver name-top 2 get handicap back)
- 18-Ray Sand, Jr.
- 25-Bob Gangwer
- 23-Chris Meyers
- 15-Joey Callahan
- 55-Steve Callahan
Heat Race 2-15 Laps (showing finish, car number, driver name-top 2 get handicap back)
- 35-Rob Warren
- 79-Myles Maxon
- 52-Dave Brigandi
- 42-Carl Becker
- 9-Domenic Gioia
Feature-50 Laps (showing car number, driver, name, bonus, fastest lap, distance behind winner)
- 18-Ray Sand, Jr.; * ** ! 14.335
- 79-Myles Maxon; 14.347 | +3.730
- 23-Chris Meyers; 14.393| +4.716
- 35-Rob Warren; 14.383 | +4.849
- 42-Carl Becker; 14.442 | +9.125
- 55-Steve Callahan; 14.397 | +9.247
- 25-Bob Gangwer; 14.444 | +9.489
- 15-Joey Callahan; 14.442 | +14.738
- 52-Dave Brigandi; 14.638 | +1 Lap
- 9-Domenic Gioia; 14.560 | DNF
Time of Race: 12:52.470
- * Denotes Lap Led
- ** Denotes Most Laps Led
- ! Denotes Fastest Lap of Race
