SUPRS Copper World Classic Supermodified Features Go Right to Wire
Avondale, AZ – March 25, 2014…Ray Sand, Jr. claimed his second SUPRS Copper World Classic winged supermodified victory Tuesday at Phoenix International Raceway, and also won the modified portion of the event. The only person stopping him from a full sweep of the SUPRS Copper World Classic was Steve Callahan taking the victory in the 25 lap non-wing supermodified feature.
“The Sandman” Ray Sand, Jr. picked up his second SUPRS Copper World Classic win at Phoenix International Raceway.
Myles Maxon and Rob Warren followed Sand, Jr. across the line in the winged supermodified race and then did the same behind Steve Callahan in the non-winged feature race.
Sand, Jr. qualified fastest in all three divisions, nearly breaking his own five year old winged supermodified record, setting a new track record in the non-wing supermodified division and then also qualifying fastest in for the modifieds.
Even though he qualified fastest in all three divisions, the Rochester, NY racer was more impressed with his competition than himself, noting Myles Maxon’s blazing lap in the feature and paying great respect to his fellow racer. “Let’s just start off talking about that .706 Myles ran in the feature behind me. WOW,” exclaimed Sand, Jr.
“You know this was just like good old times out there racing with Myles. We were simply going balls out as usual but with a lot of respect for each other,” stated Sand, Jr. “I really think he left a little out there being on the bottom at the start and not wanting to wash up into me, but that’s how it is with him. He’s very generous and it’s all about give and take with good old Myles.”
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Maxon, a former winged Gold Crest Division champion, was looking for his first Copper World Classic win while racing the Ed Riley US Air Force machine. Although a sporadic visitor to the track this SUPRS season, Maxon was once again a force to be rekoned with, challenging Sand, Jr. for the lead from the drop of the green flag.
“First of all, I want to say congratulations to Ray, he ran great and it’s a well deserved win and appologize to Rob for screwing him up,” said Maxon. He went on to explain his thoughts on not being able to make a clean pass on Sand, Jr. “To be honest, I was way better out of (turn) two than Ray, but he kept pulling me out of (turn) four and unfortunately, the finish line is out of turn four.”
While Rob Warren brought his 1st to Finish Docks & Hoists ride home in third behind Maxon he wasn’t pleased with his finish. “Seven seconds behind the leaders, not a real good run,” he said.
“Congratulations to Ray, it was fun watching Myles and him race each other for a couple of laps before they took off,” stated the Pulaski, NY racer. “I didn’t have anything for them and I was probably holding up Steve and it wasn’t anything Myles did, it was more me than anything else.”
In the non-wing supermodified feature, the top four qualifiers were inverted leaving Steve Callahan on the pole with Rob Warren outside of row one. Callahan didn’t fail to capitolize on his prime position in the line up and was able to hold off Maxon for the win. Warren came home in third.
“Steady” Steve Callahan was the only driver that could break up the “Sandman” Copper World Classic party. He won the 25 lap non-wing supermodified feature.
The non-wing win was the first for Callahan at Phoenix International Raceway and his third in a row in SUPRS competition and while he pulled off the win, it was anything but easy as the racers in the top waged an all out nerf bar to nerf bar battle for 25 nail biting laps.
Said Callahan of the ordeal, “That was pretty intense but a lot of fun, Myles was there the whole time and so was Ray and Rob, it was just real close racing.”
“Steady” Steve had kind words for Maxon the second place finisher saying, “I really have to thank Myles because he got under me in the dogleg before I knew he was there and there was some contact. He got around me but then pulled high and let me back by. That’s the kind of racer he is, just real clean and courteous and it’s great having him back racing with us.”
In the final race of the night, the Pavement Modifieds took to Lake Havasu Speedway for a 125 lap grind and Ray Sand, Jr. dominated the race, lapping all but second place finisher Steve Callahan. Rob Warren pulled off the hat trick of third places some distance back in a strung out field.
The SUPRS racers head back across the country where they will spend the next two weeks on the East Coast. First up will be the re-scheduled Empire State Super Series race at Stafford Mountain Speedway on April 1st. The next week finds the SUPRS hot rods at Stafford Motor Speedway in CT for the popular “Xtreme Tuesday” 50 lapper followed the next night by the 4th Annual SUPRS All-Star Classic 200 at Star Speedway in NH.
Fans of supermodified racing and online sim racers alike are encouraged to 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 Copper World Classic X
Phoenix International Raceway Winged Supermodified Time Trials (showing car number, driver name, hometown, sponsors, best lap)
- 18-Ray Sand, Jr.; Rochester, NY; SandmanRacing.com: 22.758
- 88-Myles Maxon; Oswego, NY; GoPro, US Air Force: 22.843
- 55-Steve Callahan; Cayuhoga Falls, OH; CPR Motorsports, Ice Oil: 22.888
- 35-Rob Warren; Pulaski, NY; 1st to Finish Docks & Hoists, Phillips Family Farm: 22.981
- 25-Bob Gangwer; Goshen, IN; Wing Side Up Enterprises, Ricky’s Sideline Shots: 23.062
- 42-Carl Becker; Lansing, MI; Michigan Hill Gang, Wholesale Diamond Exchange: 23.294
- 52-Dave Brigandi; Syracuse, NY: Pizza Hut, Terry: 23.554
Heat 1-6 Laps
- 42-Carl Becker
- 18-Ray Sand, Jr.
- 55-Steve Callahan
- 52-Dave Brigandi
Heat 2-6 Laps
- 35-Rob Warren
- 88-Myles Maxon
- 25-Bob Gangwer
Feature-25 Laps
- 18-Ray Sand, Jr.* **
- 88-Myles Maxon !
- 35-Rob Warren
- 55-Steve Callahan
- 25-Bob Gangwer (penalized one position-passing below line)
- 42-Carl Becker
- 52-Dave Brigandi
Time of Race: 09:09.500
- * Denotes Lap Led
- ** Denotes Most Laps Led
- ! Denotes Fastest Lap of Race
Non-Wing Supermodified Time Trials
(showing car number, driver name, hometown, sponsors, best lap)
- 18-Ray Sand, Jr.; Rochester, NY; SandmanRacing.com: 22.984
- 88-Myles Maxon; Oswego, NY; GoPro, US Air Force: 23.081
- 35-Rob Warren; Pulaski, NY; 1st to Finish Docks & Hoists, Phillips Family Farm: 23.187
- 25-Bob Gangwer; Goshen, IN; Wing Side Up Enterprises, Ricky’s Sideline Shots: 23.241
- 55-Steve Callahan; Cayuhoga Falls, OH; CPR Motorsports, Ice Oil: 23.249
- 42-Carl Becker; Lansing, MI; Michigan Hill Gang, Wholesale Diamond Exchange: 23.656
- 52-Dave Brigandi; Syracuse, NY: Pizza Hut, Terry: 24.051
Feature-25 Laps
- 55-Steve Callahan* ** !
- 88-Myles Maxon
- 35-Rob Warren
- 18-Ray Sand, Jr.
- 25-Bob Gangwer
- 42-Carl Becker
- 52-Dave Brigandi
Time of Race: 09:21.500
- * Denotes Lap Led
- ** Denotes Most Laps Led
- ! Denotes Fastest Lap of Race
Copper World Modified 125
Lake Havasu Speedway Modified Time Trials (showing car number, driver name, hometown, sponsors, best lap)
- 18-Ray Sand, Jr.; Rochester, NY; Budweiser, SandmanRacing.com: 15.371
- 55-Steve Callahan; Cayuhoga Falls, OH; CPR Motorsports, Exide Battery: 15.474
- 35-Rob Warren; Pulaski, NY; 1st to Finish Docks & Hoists, Phillips Family Farm: 15.563
- 52-Dave Brigandi; Syracuse, NY: Briggs & Stratton, Jerry Rich School of Stewards: 15.563
- 25-Bob Gangwer; Goshen, IN; Wing Side Up Enterprises, WAG’s Custom & Cool Awards: 25:608
- 42-Carl Becker; Lansing, MI; Michigan Hill Gang, Wholesale Diamond Exchange: 15.752
Feature-125 Laps
- 18-Ray Sand, Jr.* ** !
- 55-Steve Callahan
- 35-Rob Warren*
- 25-Bob Gangwer
- 42-Carl Becker
- 52-Dave Brigandi DNF
Time of Race: 54:41.960
- * Denotes Lap Led
- ** Denotes Most Laps Led
- ! Denotes Fastest Lap of Race
