Sears Banks Black Creek Win and First Speedweeks Victory

Zach Sears Wins Second Round of SUPRS Florida Speedweeks, Breaking Ohh’s Streak at Black Creek Raceway

February 7, 2023 – Enterprise, FL…Elyria, Ohio’s Zach Sears banked a Black Creek Raceway win and his first ever of the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, (SUPRS), Florida Speedweeks on Tuesday in Enterprise. Along with the win, Sears driving his Midwest Supermodified Series machine, kept Dave Ohh from winning the 25 lap feature for the fourth consecutive year. Ohh led a lap and was a close second after winning the opening round at Desoto on Monday, while Anthony Corsoniti had a spirited battle right to the line with Ryan Cloonan, but held him off for third place.

Relieved to Win

After watching his shot at winning Monday’s opening round of SUPRS Florida Speedweeks at Desoto evaporate after the sixth restart of the night, Sears felt some relief after crossing the finish line first at Black Creek. “This is 100% a lot better than last night,” he said. “To beat Dave, (Ohh), and Brad, (Keysor), with these two sometimes I just don’t know how to keep up with them, they are so good, but I’m glad tonight, he, (Ohh), was on me.”

“I don’t know if Dave had damage, but coming through the field is tough, so he might have,” said Sears noting the hard charge that Ohh made from his eighth starting spot. “I just got behind Brad and he kind of pushed, then Dave got him and I got Dave.”

Sears is now the twenty-seventh different driver to win a SUPRS Florida Speedweeks feature and the eleventh from Ohio. His win also means that no driver will sweep the five night series, a record that has stood since the first time SUPRS Speedweeks was contested fourteen installments ago. In addition, Sears has now moved into second place in the Speedweeks standings and keeps his hopes alive of becoming the ninth different SUPRS Florida Speedweeks Champion.

Taking What He Learned to Dodge

Unlike his undoing in traffic and restarts last night, Sears had little to worry about in the way of lapped traffic tonight and just had to hold off one of the best drivers to ever get behind the wheel of any type of car in the NASCAR Heat game and he’s taking what he learned at Desoto and Black Creek on to the third night of Speedweeks Wednesday at Dodge Raceway Stadium.

“I”m just going to stay of of peoples way,” he said. “I’m not going to get involved in other’s accidents and lapped cars, run my race, and hope nothing happens tomorrow,” he said.

Close Competition

After a roll of the die, the top six of the Elite 8 qualifiers from Time Trials were inverted and “The Quite Storm,” Anthony Corsoniti found himself on the pole. Brad Keysor, who was second in Speedweeks points coming into the night lined up right next door and got the jump at the green flag.

Keysor, who stated after the night was done, “I just wanted to minimize damage tonight, I knew going in this isn’t my best track,” ended up leading the first five laps and finishing fifth. Meanwhile, Ohh had blasted to second after starting in eighth, and went right after Keysor. He pounced when Keysor slid up the track which allowed not only Ohh through but also Sears who had started in fourth.

Sears wasted no time and took advantage of Ohh’s slightly damaged machine and went into the lead, while Keysor slid back into the grips of Corsoniti and SUPRS veterans Gary Waldron and Bob Gangwer.

A fierce battle was waged, and for a minute it looked like Gangwer, who is a three-time winner at Black Creek and finished second the last two years in a row, would clear the three in front of him as he worked the outside.

Gangwer didn’t get to far though and walloped the wall on the exit of turn two, dropping from fifth to seventh and out of contention for the second night in a row.

Corsoniti hung tough and was able to get by Keysor, who then had to try to hold off Waldron, who in turn was trying to keep Ryan Cloonan at bay. You wouldn’t have needed a very big blanket to through over the cars that ran fourth through sixth, but eventually Cloonan got by both Waldron, and Keysor, and set sail for Corsoniti.

While the top two had a tight battle of their own going, Corsoniti and Cloonan were three seconds back but fighting for the podium. And fight they did, right to the line with Corsoniti able to stave off every challenge Cloonan through at him to earn a well deserved third place.

Time Trials

Dave Ohh was the fast qualifier for the second night in a row, and although he didn’t break Ray Sand, Jr.’s 14 year old track record of 17.016, he was the only driver under a 17.2 and came close with a 17.085 lap. Ryan Cloonan took his Simibility sponsored #13 to second on the speed charts with a lap time of 17.217 seconds while Zach Sears was third quick at 17.255. Gary Waldron, Brad Keysor, Anthony Corsoniti, Bob Gangwer and Carl Becker completed the Elite 8 qualifiers and were all eligible for the feature inversion.

Dash to Dodge

After stretching their legs on the big 3/4 at Black Creek, the battle for the SUPRS drivers will make the mad dash to Dodge Raceway Stadium for the third night of SUPRS 2023 Florida Speedweeks to do battle within the tight confines of the 1/3 mile track built inside of a stadium.

Dave Ohh of Union, CT is the defending winner of the race, and after winning his third straight at Dodge last year, looks to move ahead of Nelson Rodrigues for most SUPRS wins at this unique venue with four.

****2023 SUPRS Florida Speedweeks Schedule****

Remaining Races:

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Wednesday 02/08/2023

SUPRS Florida Speedweeks Race 3

• Track: Dodge Raceway Stadium-by Gator-50 laps-0.375 Miles
• Platform: rFactor
• Mod: SUPRS W v7.3 mod 
• 8:00pm Practice
• 8:15pm Mandatory Drivers’ Meeting
• 8:20pm Time Trials
• 8:30pm Racing
• Current Track Record: Brad Keysor; 10.710; Set: 02/02/22(rF)
• Defending Race Winner: Dave Ohh

Special Notes:

• Group Practice. 
• Pits closed at all times during race conditions. Drivers are not allowed to enter or exit the pits once the Feature Race goes green.
• Elite 8 qualifiers inverted for feature based on pill draw

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Thursday 02/09/2023

SUPRS Florida Speedweeks Race 4

• Track: USA International Speedway-by Sim Factory LLC-25 laps-3/4 Mile
• Platform: rFactor
• Mod: SUPRS W v7.3 mod 
• 8:00pm Practice
• 8:10pm Mandatory Drivers’ Meeting
• 8:20pm Time Trials
• 8:30pm Racing
• Current Track Record: Brad Keysor; 14.657 sec.; Set: 02/03/2022(rF)
• Defending Race Winner: Brad Keysor

Special Notes:

• All-Skate Practice. 
• Pits Closed during caution until opened by Race Control, except to pull off track. Cars may not re-enter track from pits once white flag is shown.
• Elite 8 qualifiers inverted for feature based on pill draw

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Friday 02/10/2023

SUPRS Florida Speedweeks Race 5

• Track: 5 Flags Speedway-by RFN-50 laps-½ Mile
• Platform: rFactor
• Mod: SUPRS W v7.3 mod 
• 8:00pm Practice
• 8:10pm Drivers’ Meeting
• 8:20pm Time Trials
• 8:30pm Racing
• Current Track Record: Dave Ohh; 13.442 sec.; Set: 02/04/2022(rF)
• Defending Race Winner: Dave Ohh

Special Notes:

• All-Skate Practice
• Pits Closed during caution until opened by Race Control, except to pull off track. Cars may not re-enter track from pits once white flag is shown.
• Elite 8 qualifiers inverted for feature based on Florida Speedweeks points standings after four races.