First Randy Witkum Memorial for Seasoned Veteran
Jennerstown, PA – March 11, 2014… Steve Callahan lived up to his nickname “Steady Steve” in the 10th Annual Randy Witkum Memorial 125 at Jennerstown Speedway and held on for his first win in this prestigious event for the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series. Bob Gangwer and Rob Warren completed the podium in the third and final leg of the 2014 SUPRS Keystone Nationals.
After parking his car low on the front stretch with the nose aimed toward turn one where Randy Witkum lost his life in an International Supermodified Association race on August 14, 1999, an emotional and exhausted Callahan said, “Man, I’m out of breath, my eyes are burning and I’m still shaking, but this is just awesome.” He paused then went on to say, “It’s been kind of a rough year for me ya know? Both here online racing and in my personal life with losing my mom. I want to dedicate this one to my mom.”
The Cayuhoga Falls, OH racer has struggled this season and only just recently picked up his first win in the CPR Motorsports, Ice Oil supermodified. He then quickly followed it up with his second. His third win of the 2014 season now ranks as one of his favorites. “This is a big one and to win it in Randy’s memory is important,” he began. “This is a huge win. You know, I’ve been close a couple times but have never been able to get one of these until tonight and I’m really proud for getting it.”
Always the gentleman, Callahan added, “I just want to thank all the other guys for coming out and racing and supporting this league every week. It’s a lot of fun and for as much frustration as you can have every week, there’s four times the amount of fun and friendship and it’s great to hang out with all of these guys.”
Callahan continually, and successfully, staved off the charges of 2007 Randy Witkum Memorial winner Bob Gangwer(25).
Callahan had his hands full from the start of the race as pole sitter Dave Brigandi was able to get the jump on Callahan who started outside of row one. Brigandi became a formidable foe for the first 16 laps holding off Callahan with a strong running car and determination to match. The winner then had to fend off the charges of second place finisher Bob Gangwer.
“Steady” Steve elaborated on just how intense the racing was saying, “I got a great start but Dave got a better one. Dave was tough and he was running well while I was trying to bide my time and save my stuff.”
“I was finally able to get around Dave, then I was able to pull away some but it was hard to gauge how fast I was going because I was trying to save my tires and there I was riding by myself and trying to pace myself then all of the sudden Bob snuck in behind me. He was there the whole time running me hard but racing me clean. We fought it out until the end and I know that Bob was right there coming out of turn four and it was real close. That was a lot of fun,” Callahan said.
While Callahan was looking for his first Randy Witkum Memorial victory, second place finisher Bob Gangwer was looking to add another Witkum trophy to the mantel to match his 2007 win. Coming up just a nose short at the finish, Gangwer was still happy with the outcome saying, “What a run man. Congratulations to Steve, he ran a perfect race and he really deserves this win, I’m really happy for him.”
Gangwer had stalked Callahan for the better part of the race once he got around the strong running Dave Brigandi and finally reeled the leader in by lap 30.
“I was a little nervous at first thinking that Steve was going to take off once he got around Dave,” explained Gangwer. “I was having a hard time getting by Dave myself; he was really running good, but once I caught him all I wanted to do was sit and ride because I was hoping we could pull away from Rob and Ray and make it a two car race.”
Callahan said afterwards that he had the same mindset as Gangwer. “Bob and I must have been in the same helmet because I was just hoping he would sit back there and work with me to get away from the pack because I looked up and saw the splits and knew Rob was coming,” he stated.
Gangwer’s second place finish was good enough to give him enough points to win the Keystone National Championship and the bonus points that go along with it.
“I wasn’t all that sure I could pull it off to be honest,” Gangwer said of his accomplishment.
“Rob and I were tied going into the race and he’s been so strong here lately, that I thought he had it in the bag. I’m really happy to have pulled it off by just a few points and it just goes to show how tough the competition is in this league.”
SEE KEYSTONE NATIONALS HIGHLIGHTS
Two-time and defending Witkum Memorial winner Rob Warren had a long way to go to get to the front from his last row starting spot, but was able to work through the pack and come home third.
“I had a pretty good start and when I got up to whoever was running sixth, we went into turn one and a couple of people washed up and before I knew it I was up to fourth,” said the driver of the First to Finish Docks and Hoists number 35.
Dave Brigandi was just as tough of a competitor for Warren as he was for the top two. “Dave started to come back through the pack we really started racing hard,” Warren said. “Dave gave me a shot and we swapped, I gave him a shot and we swapped back,” said Warren of the battle he had with Brigandi. “Then Ray went by both of us. I finally got by Dave and I’m following Ray and thinking that we could work together to catch up to Bob and Steve but the splits never changed.”
As Sand, Jr. ran third and Warren fourth the distance between that duo and the two up front continued to grow when suddenly Sand, Jr. moved high and let Warren by. “We were five and a half seconds back but nipping away at it and I was just following Ray and I was a little better on turn entry running about a tenth behind him, then all of the sudden we got to turn three and Ray just pulled up and let me by.”
As the laps ticked away, the two time Witkum Memorial winner had not given up thinking that he still had a shot at the win even with Sand, Jr. glued to his rear nerf bar. “I didn’t think I was going to end up in third until I caught some lapped traffic just past half-way,” he stated. “They were really racing hard, and nothing against them, but I had to finally let them know that I was there so I nudged them and it ruined the car so all the momentum I had gained was lost.”
Warren cleared the lapped cars and ended up some three second back in third. He didn’t hesitate to give credit to the winner saying, “Congratulations to Steve, I know how tough it’s been this year and I’m really happy to see him win this one.”
Kyle Perry finished in fifth and was pleased. “Well you know I’m just happy I got through this thing only one lap down,” he said. “Carl, Dave and I had a great battle going there and I was able to get by them but then Carl kept coming back and he got back by me but then he got into the 77(Kevin Timmins) and I was able to get by them and pull away.” “After about lap 85 the car really went away so I had to really ease into it off the corners and I was just hoping that Carl wouldn’t catch me but he did and I was lucky to hold him off.”
Early leader Dave Brigandi ended up coming home in seventh but was pleased overall with his run. He said, “Let me tell you what, when I saw 16 laps on the board and I was still leading this thing I was amazed. I started losing the grip on the front end and I started going backwards but I had a lot of fun racing with everyone especially Carl and Kyle, but congratulations to Steve he was really fast.”
Earlier in the evening Ray Sand, Jr. set fast time and won his qualifying heat while Bob Gangwer picked up the other heat win.
Rob Warren, Carl Becker, Dave Brigandi, Kevin Timmins, Kyle Perry and Bob Gangwer had perfect attendance for all three of the Keystone Nationals races and Gangwer is now a guaranteed starter for the 10th Annual SUPRS Summit Classic 125.
The SUPRS racers now move on to the St. Patrick’s Day Grab O’ the Green which returns to it’s roots at the Dover Downs International Speedway on March 18. The pavement modifieds will join the card for a full night of racing on the “Monster Mile.”
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.
10th Annual Randy Witkum Memorial 125
SUPRS Keystone Nationals Race 3
Jennerstown Speedway
Winged Supermodified Time Trials
(showing car number, driver name, hometown, sponsors, best lap)
- 18-Ray Sand, Jr.; Rochester, NY; SandmanRacing.com: 15.526
- 25-Bob Gangwer; Goshen, IN; Wing Side Up Enterprises, Ricky’s Sideline Shots: 15.597
- 55-Steve Callahan; Cayuhoga Falls, OH; CPR Motorsports, Ice Oil: 15:610
- 35-Rob Warren; Pulaski, NY; 1st to Finish Docks & Hoists, Phillips Family Farm: 15.648
- 77-Kevin Timmins; Baldwinsville, NY; BreezeGraphics.com: 15.723
- 42-Carl Becker; Lansing, MI; Michigan Hill Gang, Wholesale Diamond Exchange: 15.829
- 02-Kyle Perry; Fulton, NY; Bellinger’s Auto Sales, 21 Tequila: 15.834
- 52-Dave Brigandi; Syracuse, NY: Pizza Hut, Terry: 15.847
Heat 1-13 Laps
- 25-Bob Gangwer
- 52-Dave Brigandi
- 42-Carl Becker
- 35-Rob Warren
Heat 2-13 Laps
- 18-Ray Sand, Jr.
- 55-Steve Callahan
- 77-Kevin Timmins
- 02-Kyle Perry
Feature-50 Laps
- 55-Steve Callahan* **
- 25-Bob Gangwer
- 35-Rob Warren
- 18-Ray Sand, Jr.!
- 02-Kyle Perry
- 42-Carl Becker
- 52-Dave Brigandi*
- 77-Kevin Timmins
Time of Race: 32.25:005
- * Denotes Lap Led
- ** Denotes Most Laps Led
- ! Denotes Fastest Lap of Race
