Drivers Excited to Compete at Virtual Version of Historic Milwaukee Mile
March 12, 2021 – Goshen, IN…The Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, (SUPRS), popular St. Patrick’s Day Grab O’ the Green supermodified sim race is moving to The Milwaukee Mile on March 16. This stop at the track that is historically important to real auto racing is a highly anticipated happening by many of the SUPRS members, and makes the sixth different track that the race has been held at since 2004.
Another SUPRS First
While last year’s race at Madison International Speedway marked the first time in SUPRS history that they had sanctioned a race in Wisconsin, the 2021 St. Patrick’s Day Grab O’ the Green will mark another first for the 17 year old supermodified sim racing sanction, as it will be the first time SUPRS has contested a race on the famed Milwaukee Mile. In the very early days of the sanction a race was planned there for the NASCAR Heat winged supermodifieds, but it never materialized.
Several SUPRS drivers are excited that they’ll get to race on the virtual version of a track that’s been in continuous operation since the late 1800s and has had at least one auto race there since 1903.
Brad Keysor, the most recent SUPRS winner at the Indyana Supermod Challenge, and the driver that has been chasing points leader Dave Ohh all season, has consistently been one of the fastest on the mile tracks and in pre-race testing, The Milwaukee Mile has been no different. “I want to win,” said Keysor. “Our speeds here are fantastic, like they are at all of the big tracks we run and with the closing rates. I know it’s going to be tricky, but we’ve seen in testing that there are a couple of grooves, so it should be a good race. It will be even better if I can keep the car clean and beat Speedy, (Dave Ohh), the finish line first and sit in victory lane at Milwaukee like so many greats have in the past.”
A driver that is taking a more light hearted approach to the event is Brooke Park, Ohio’s Bobby Hayduk. “I’m very excited to race at The Milwaukee Mile,” said the driver of the American Heart Association #14. “When I log into the server and get on the track, the first thing I see is that my “Army of Fans” are in full force in the grandstands!”
“We all know it’s for the other guy from Ohio,” he said, alluding to the popularity that three-time CART Champion, and fellow Buckeye, Bobby Rahal, enjoyed at Milwaukee. “But we all know those are my fans so I hope to do well at this historic place.”
Struggles for Milwaukee Mile
The track has struggled lately in real life and there is a concerted effort to find a way to promote the popular venue in a more consistent way. A local effort sprung up in 2008 called Save the Milwaukee Mile, and has been working hard to keep the track alive. Along with the Wisconsin State Fair Board, that is now a little more open to auto racing and it’s positive financial impact on the local West Allis economy, a willing and capable full-time promoter for the track is being sought.
Until then, the Milwaukee Mile remains open for bushiness with a variety of auto racing and auto themed events scheduled. Included among the Miller’s at Milwaukee Vintage Indy Car Event, and Rusty Wallace Racing Experience, is the return of the ARCA Menards Series to the track for the first time since 2007. The event is scheduled for August 29, 2021. Thanks to Bob Sargent it’s one of two events that keep the racing alive at The Milwaukee Mile.
For the last couple of years, Bob Sargent of Track Enterprises has worked hard to bring successful events back to the track that saw the last USAC Championship win by a roadster when AJ Foyt took the victory in the 1964 Rex Mays Classic. Sargent has been behind the resurgence of the Carb Day Classic at IRP as well as keeping the Hoosier Hundred alive after the Indiana State Fair Board voted to shutter that historic fairgrounds mile.
And while supermodifieds may never, (and probably should never), be a part of the effort to keep real racing alive at The Milwaukee Mile, the drivers and fans of SUPRS can experience it in the virtual world on March 16, 2021.
Not the First Mile for St. Patrick’s Day Race
Even though it’s the first time at The Milwaukee Mile for the SUPRS St. Patrick’s Day race, it’s certainly not the first time that the race has been run on a one-mile track.
In the first three years of the race, Dover Downs played host to the online supermodifieds with wins going to Kevin Marine, Randy Ritskes and Kris Heveron. Most of those races were 25 lap features, but on at least one occasion a 40 lap show was run.
For the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons, after a three-year run on the mile, SUPRS officials decided to move away from the longer tracks. But then when the race came back to the schedule in 2014 Dover was the site and Steve Callahan became the seventh different winner of the race. The race stayed at the famed Delaware speed plant in 2015 and Rob Warren turned in a stellar performance making a pass on the last lap to claim his first St. Pat’s Day win.
After a year away in 2016, SUPRS again returned to the “Monster Mile” in 2017 and Joe Achzet became the tenth different winner after taking the lead from arch rival Rob Warren on lap 14 and driving the rest of the race unchallenged.
Follow the Action Live
The SUPRS St. Patrick’s Day Grab o’ the Green rFactor supermodified sim race at The Milwaukee Mile is a family friendly affair. With the Heat Races and 25 lap feature being broadcast on SUPRS LIVE! beginning at 9:00pm ET, everyone can keep track of stats, track telemetry and official scoring and timing charts while they enjoy live video of the racing action that’s faster than an Irish Jig!
Race Schedule
Practice begins at 8:00pm with Time Trials 8:30pm. A final warmup takes place at 8:45pm prior to the start of the SUPRS LIVE! broadcast. Heat races go off at 9:05pm and the feature which should take the green flag around 9:20pm.
SEE FULL FORMAT of SUPRS St. Patrick’s Day Grab o’ the Green
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 the conversation on SUPRS active Social Media channels by “Liking” SUPRS on Facebook, Circling SUPRS on Google+, Following @SUPRSOnline on Twitter, and viewing SUPRS videos on YouTube. On race nights, watch us live and join our chat on Twitch.
SUPRS St. Patrick’s Day Grab O’ the Green History:
- 2005: Kevin Marine-Dover Downs International Speedway*
- 2006: Randy Ritskes-Dover Downs International Speedway*
- 2007: Kris Heveron-Dover Downs International Speedway*
- 2008: Bud Flath-Stafford Mountain Raceway*
- 2009: Ray Sand, Jr.-Stafford Mountain Raceway*
- 2010: Jamie Hartley-Buckley Speedway*
- 2011-2013: No Race
- 2014: Steve Callahan-Dover Downs International Speedway*
- 2015: Rob Warren-Dover Downs International Speedway*
- 2016: Clinton Cyr-Mosport Speedway** (non-wing)
- 2017: Joe-Achzet-Dover Downs International Speedway**
- 2018: Steve Callahan-Rocky Mountain Raceways**
- 2019: Dave Ohh-Rocky Mountain Raceways**
- 2020: Dave Ohh-Madison International Speedway**
* Denotes NASCAR Heat gaming platform, ** Denotes rFactor gaming platform
