SUPRS Remembers Rising Star of Open Wheel Dynasty with Supermodified Sim Race
February 22, 2019 – Fresno, CA…The Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, (SUPRS), racers have begun their preparation for the 15th Annual running of the Billy Vukovich III Classic 100 supermodified sim race to be held February 26, 2019 at Mesa Marin Raceway presented by Supermodified Scorecard.
Four Former Winners Entered
This year’s race has four former winners entered to compete for the win in the Billy Vukovich III Classic. Three-time winner Steve Callahan, is joined by his teammate, and defending winner, Keith Powell, along with two-time winner Bob Gangwer. Defending SUPRS Gold Crest Wing Champion Rob Warren, who won the race in 2014, has also entered.
Callahan Hopes to Break Record
Three-time winner Steve Callahan, of Cuyahoga Falls, OH, understands as well as anyone that winning this event is not just another win. “I’m going into this race just like I did the other three, with a lot of focus, and hoping that I can bring it home with a win because it means a lot to me since it’s about Vuky,” he said recently. Callahan is shooting for a record fourth “Vuky” at a track that seems to suit his driving style.
Sponsor Misses Racing
SUPRS co-founder John Davidson, of Sacramento, CA, has sponsored this race through his Supermodified Scorecard business since it’s start. Like Callhan, he’s also a three-time winner of the event and would love nothing more than to be able to run this race again. “I miss the racing but most importantly the group of great guys who share and understand what SUPRS is all about ,” he explained. “The Vuky Classic is another classic race to honor a supermodified hero that left us way too early.”
About Billy Vukovich III
Billy Vukovich III was a three-time starter of Indianapolis 500 Mile Race, the first third generation racer to compete in the race and like his father and grandfather before him was named the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race Rookie of the Year.
While many in the mainstream motor sports arena will remember Billy III as a rising star of the IndyCar ranks, the supermodified community will always claim him as one of their own. Starting out just like Bill Vukovich and Bill Vukovich II, Billy got his start in midgets in his home state of California and was a champion in that division. He quickly moved through the ranks to the supermodifieds and competed for famed supermodified car builder Jim Belfiore before moving to larger, better funded teams in California’s Central Valley.
During his supermodified tenure, Vukovich III claimed the 1986-87 USAC Supermodified Championship. In 1987 alone he won an incredible 12 of 17 races with a string of seven consecutive victories. He was also a two-time winner of the prestigious Copper World Classic at Phoenix International Raceway and was a threat to win when he competed at Madera Speedway in the Vernon Reitz “Spirit of Madera” machine.
Vukovich III at Oswego Exhibition
Vukovich III was also a part of the storied return of winged supermodified racing to Oswego Speedway, competing there in an exhibition race against Eddie Bellinger, Steve Gioia, Jr. and Bentley Warren. This event was the forerunner of the return of winged supermodified racing to Oswego Speedway with 1992 ISMA wing show and set the stage for ISMA’s 1992 East vs West series and ultimately the 1995 East vs West Shootout at Indianapolis Raceway Park.
Vukovich III was killed at the age of 27 while practicing for a CRA pavement sprint car race at Mesa Marin Speedway on November 25, 1990.
Madera Speedway Hosts Real-Life Vukovich Classic
While SUPRS is proud to honor the Vukovich legacy with it’s annual sim racing Classic, it’s important to note that each year Madera Speedway runs the Vukovich Classic in honor of all three generations of the racing Vukovich family. There is an annual Billy Vukovich III golf tournament held to raise funds for the Billy Vukovich III Scholarship Fund for students of Billy’s high school Yosemite High School where there is also a memorial honoring the 1981 graduate who loved meteorology and amateur weather forecasting.
Details for Billy Vukovich III Classic
Practice begins at 8:00pm with Time Trials 8:30pm. The Fast Car Dash follows at 8:45pm to set the top four starting places for the
15th Annual running of the Billy Vukovich III Classic 100 presented by Supermodified Scorecard 100 lap feature which should take the green flag around 9:10pm.
Watch the Vuky
Fans can enjoy all 100 laps of the 15th Annual running of the Billy Vukovich III Classic 100 via SUPRS LIVE! beginning at 9pm EST. Because it is a NASCAR Heat race, there will be no cautions making for a show that should take under 30 minutes to complete.
SEE FULL FORMAT of 15th Annual Billy Vukovich III Classic
Get Social with SUPRS
Fans can learn more about the supermodified division and the original supermodified sim sanction, the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, by visiting 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. See us live and join our chat on Twitch.
SUPRS Billy Vukovich III Classic 100 History
- 2005 Billy Vukovich III Classic Champion: Bud Flath
- 2006 Billy Vukovich III Classic Champion: John Davidson
- 2007 Billy Vukovich III Classic Champion: Devin Gee
- 2008 Billy Vukovich III Classic Champion: John Davidson
- 2009 Billy Vukovich III Classic Champion: Ray Sand Jr
- 2010 Billy Vukovich III Classic Champion: Bobby Gangwer
- 2011 Billy Vukovich III Classic Champion: John Davidson
- 2012 Billy Vukovich III Classic Champion: Steve Callahan
- 2013 Billy Vukovich III Classic Champion: Steve Callahan
- 2014 Billy Vukovich III Classic Champion: Rob Warren
- 2015 Billy Vukovich III Classic Champion: Ray Sand, Jr.
- 2016 Billy Vukovich III Classic Champion: Bobby Gangwer
- 2017 Billy Vukovich III Classic Champion: Steve Callahan
- 2018 Billy Vukovich III Classic Champion: Keith Powell
