Goshen, IN – June 7, 2015…If there’s one race that online supermodified sim racers would like most to check off their must-win list, it is the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series Jim Shampine Memorial.
The SUPRS Jim Shampine Memorial has a storied history.
Honoring supermodified builder, racer and innovator, the late Jim Shampine, this SUPRS event is one of the longest running and most prestigious on the SUPRS schedule.
Jim Shampine was a seven-time Oswego Speedway Champion that not only won more feature events at Oswego Speedway, (87), than any other driver, but also has three Oswego Speedway International Classic 200 wins to his name, is a two-time winner of the Star Speedway International Classic 200, helped found and was the 1977 International Supermodified Association champion and is known as the father of the modern radical off-set supermodified. Prior to his death in the 1982 Modified 200 at Oswego Speedway, Shampine’s legacy was already well established and continues on to this day as one the one most talked about in all supermodified circles across the country.
SEE PICTURES of JIM SHAMPINE at JAKESSITE.COM
The winner of this year’s event will receive a custom trophy courtesy of 1st to Finish Docks & Hoists as well as a special winner’s
This fantastic looking trophy will be awarded to the Jim Shampine Memorial Champion courtesy of 1st to Finish Docks & Hoists
tee-shirt. The winner will also pick up one of the coveted Topless! 200 “Guaranteed Starter” positions.
As has been a tradition in years past for this race, the 8th place finisher will receive a special surprise award to be announced on race night.
The SUPRS version of the Jim Shampine Memorial is now in its tenth year and while all have been good races, several in that span stand out as instant classics. We took a moment to look at eight of the most memorable best Jim Shampine Memorial races:
- #8-2012: In the only time in the history of the race, the Jim Shampine Memorial was shorted to 75 laps for this year. After finishing in third place the year before, Dave Biro III claimed his first and only Jim Shampine Memorial.
- #7-2011: After his Jim Shampine Memorial win in 2010, John Davidson went on to claim his only SUPRS Gold Crest Non-Wing Championship, so it wasn’t much of a surprise when he entered the 2011 season as a favorite to claim another Shampine Memorial as well as the Championship. He battled with a determined Ray Sand, Jr. for nearly the entire 80 lap distance but was able to hold him off for the win to become the second two-time winner and second back to back winner in this event. Sand, Jr. went on to win the Championship that year, and it wouldn’t be the last time he figured into an exciting finish for the Shampine Memorial.
- #6-2014: After a bad time trial run that forced him to take the green flag from sixth starting position, Maxon proved to be too “Mighty” for early race leader Rob Warren when he made the pass for the lead and win on lap 50. After chasing up to the rear nerf bar of Chris Meyers, Maxon worked with Meyers to close the gap on Warren. Suddenly Meyers lost connection and was out of the race ending his bid for the win. Meanwhile Warren looked well on the way to his first Jim Shampine Memorial win but Maxon slowly closed the gap. After staving off repeated challenges by Maxon, Warren made one small slip and it was just enough to allow Maxon to become the first three time winner of the race.
#5-2008: A stout field of 20 other online racers showed up and after starting in seventh position and dueling with Kris Heveron throughout most of the race, Myles Maxon became the first two-time winner. The race was held for the first time at the recently completed SUPRS Oswego Speedway for NASCAR Heat built by Doug “Flash” Forgue.- #4-2007: Defending SUPRS Gold Crest Non-Wing Champion, Myles Maxon, is one of only two multi-time winners, and none of his wins have come easy. Maxon’s first win in this race came early in his SUPRS career in 2007. After qualifying 14th, finishing last in his heat and starting next to last in the 16 car field, he methodically steered clear of on track altercations that took out many of the favorites, kept his car clean and won after 80 laps at Jennerstown.
- #3-2006: The largest field to ever start a Jim Shampine Memorial race was 22 cars at the first one held in 2006 held at Jennerstown Speedway. “Dandy” Dave Soja was one of six different leaders of that memorable race, (the most ever in a Shampine Memorial), and led 44 of the 80 laps to win over Jim Crannell and Sean O’Kane. Soja’s win is notable, because it was his first ever feature victory in SUPRS competition.
- #2-2009: After winning back to back SUPRS Gold Crest Non-Wing Season Championships in 2007-2008, but never having been able to claim a race that meant so much to his family, Kris Heveron came out swinging in 2009. Kris is the son of Shampine protegé’, “The Young One” Doug Heveron and from the time he went into the server on race night 2009, he left no doubt that he was going to be tough to beat. When the dust settled, he had finally won his first Jim Shampine Memorial and speechless in victory lane.
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Ray Sand, Jr. (18) brought home his first SUPRS Jim Shampine Memorial 80, narrowly beating Myles Maxon(79).
#1-2013-There was one race that Ray Sand, Jr. hadn’t won in his incredible SUPRS career that he coveted more than any other. The Jim Shampine Memorial had eluded him for various reasons in years past, but this year he was on a tear, having surpassed John Davidson as the All-Time Winner in SUPRS history during the Gold Crest Wing Championship season. His win in 2013 goes down as the closest in SUPRS Jim Shampine Memorial history and came after an intense battle with Myles Maxon throughout the race. “Let me tell you, after winning just about everything else, this one means a ton, especially doing it while holding off Myles for most of the race, then right at the line. Anytime you can do that and win in this league it means a lot, but winning against a field like this and with it being the Shampine Memorial, it’s all the more special.” said Sand, Jr. after the win.
The SUPRS 10th Annual Jim Shampine Memorial 80 will feature the best online supermodified sim racers on Tuesday June 9, 2015. The SUPRS Race Server will open at 7pm for an hour of testing then at 8pm will be open for Official Practice. At 8:30pm a drivers meeting will be held. Then at 8:45pm the drivers will all attempt to set a new track record at the SUPRS version of Oswego Speedway and the Elite 8 qualifiers will be locked into the feature event. At 9:00pm heat races will qualify the rest of the field of 20.
Supermodified and online racing fans can view timing and scoring of the 10th Annual Jim Shampine Memorial 80 and every SUPRS race this season with SUPRS LIVE! You’ll be able to keep up with your favorite SUPRS racer in an instant by going to www.SUPRS.net/site/live.
All fans can learn more about the original and oldest online supermodified sim sanction, the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, when they visit www.SUPRS.net. Join SUPRS active and vibrant Social Media channels by “Liking” SUPRS on Facebook, Circling SUPRS on Google+, Following @SUPRSOnline on Twitter, and viewing SUPRS videos on YouTube.
Jim Shampine Memorial-Non-Wing-Jennerstown Speedway/Oswego Speedway
- 2006 Jim Shampine Memorial Champion-Jennerstown Speedway: Dave Soja
- 2007 Jim Shampine Memorial Champion-Jennerstown Speedway: Myles Maxon
- 2008 Jim Shampine Memorial Champion-Oswego Speedway: Myles Maxon
- 2009 Jim Shampine Memorial Champion-Oswego Speedway: Kris Heveron
- 2010 Jim Shampine Memorial Champion-Oswego Speedway: John Davidson
- 2011 Jim Shampine Memorial Champion-Oswego Speedway: John Davidson
- 2012 Jim Shampine Memorial Champion-Oswego Speedway: Dave Biro III
- 2013 Jim Shampine Memorial Champion-Oswego Speedway: Ray Sand, Jr.
- 2014 Jim Shampine Memorial Champion-Oswego Speedway: Myles Maxon
