January 20, 2019 – Goshen, IN… Like a teenager going on his
first date, the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, (SUPRS), racers
are just as nervous about which of three possible tracks they’ll be courting on
the Empire State Super Series Regional Tour Blind Date Night on January 22.
Little Later Start to Tour
Because of a slight shuffling of the schedule in the early part of SUPRS 15th Anniversary Gold Crest Wing Supermodified Championship season, the 2018-19 Empire State Super Series, (ESS), is getting a later than normal start. Traditionally contested of anywhere from three to six races over the course of a calendar year and two SUPRS Gold Crest seasons, (wing and non-wing supermodified seasons), the ESS, “season within a season,” features races run at tracks in the state of New York.
Blind Date Night a SUPRS Tradition
The Blind Date Night portion of the ESS Regional Tour has been a SUPRS tradition almost since the beginning of the sanction in 2004. Growing out of the old New Year’s Eve in New York 4-n-1 Bash, where four New York tracks were run on New Year’s Eve. Following the demise of that crazy event, Blind Date Night kept the spirit of the old event alive, but with the twist of a blind draw for one of three potential tracks.
Multitude of NASCAR Heat New York Tracks Available
There are a multitude of New York state tracks available for use in NASCAR Heat, most made by SUPRS friend, and New York resident, Mike Jackson of DSES and DRT fame. Some are real, some are fictional, and some are based on real tracks with fictional names. This means that the three tracks that SUPRS puts into the annual rotation for Blind Date Night, rarely get seen more than every three or four years. Some tracks, because of the blind draw, have even still, after 15 years, yet to be raced upon.
The Nominees Are
This year three nominees for the ESS Blind Date Night are very distinct and all have particular nuances that make the racing very tough. The first nominee is Buffalo Speedway. Loosely modeled after the famed Lancaster Speedway in Depew, NY, this track is most noted for its flat corners, but more particularly, its candy-cane striped walls, lining the inside and outside of the 1/2 mile, that like to reach out and grab a supermodified as it races by. Of the three tracks in this year’s rotation, SUPRS has raced the most at Buffalo, with seven prior events contested there. The last time this track was raced on by SUPRS was January 15, 2013 and the race was won by Steve Callahan.
The second option is Clover Valley Speedway, a fictional track located in Clover Valley, NY. This ¼ mile is deceptively fast with six degree banking in the corners, and has a distinct racing groove that resembles dirt. The trickiest part of this track figuring out where the track ends and outside wall begins. SUPRS has raced at Clover Valley five previous occasions with the last coming in March of 2013 when John Davidson won there.
The third and final potential track for Blind Date Night is Diamond Speedway. This big, wide ½ mile speed plant is another fictional track and is located in Diamond, NY. While seemingly an easy track to conquer on first glance, the tricky, off-camber and uphill turn four is treacherous and has ruined many a supermodified sim racers night. There has never been a SUPRS sanctioned event contested at Diamond, so if this track is drawn out of the hat, there will not only be a first time winner there, but also a track record set.
A SUPRS HeatFinder.net Supermodified Challenge Race
Like all NASCAR Heat races on the SUPRS schedule this year, the ESS Blind Date Night is part of the SUPRS/HeatFinder.net Supermodified Challenge. This race is open to any driver that has signed up at SUPRS.net, and has the SUPRS mod and all three tracks. The last two of these Challenge races have been won by Dave Ohh. Hot off of his Terry Gibson Memorial win, it’s likely he will be contesting for the victory in this race as well.
Cameras Allowed on Blind Date Night
Chaperone the SUPRS racers on their ESS Blind Date Night, January 22, 2019. A 15 minute practice session starts at 8:15pm with Time Trials to follow at 8:45pm. Then you can keep an eye on the them when racing gets underway at 9:05pm with SUPRS LIVE!
Cheer on your favorite SUPRS racers while you view timing, scoring, and of course our outstanding live streaming video of the ESS Blind Date night when we go “Live @ 9 pm EST via the SUPRS LIVE! page.
Get Social with SUPRS
Fans can learn more about 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, Following @SUPRSOnline on Twitter, and viewing SUPRS videos on YouTube. See us live and join our chat on Twitch.
Empire State Super Series Champion-Wing:
- 2005-06 Empire State Super Series Champion: Sean Gibbs-ONT
- 2006-07 Empire State Super Series Champion: Myles Maxon-NY
- 2007-08 Empire State Super Series Champion: John Davidson-CA
- 2008-09 Empire State Super Series Champion: Ray Sand, Jr.-NY
- 2009-10 Empire State Super Series Champion: Ray Sand, Jr.-NY
- 2010-11 Empire State Super Series Champion: Ray Sand, Jr.-NY
- 2011-12 Empire State Super Series Champion: Ray Sand, Jr.-NY
- 2012-13 Empire State Super Series Champion: Ray Sand, Jr.-NY
- 2013-14 Empire State Super Series Champion: Steve Callahan-OH
- 2015-16 Empire State Super Series Champion: Bob Gangwer-IN
- 2016-17 Empire State Super Series Champion: Rob Warren-NY
- 2017-18 Empire State Super Series Champion: Rob Warren-NY
Visit the SUPRS Points Archives Page to see final standings of ESS Championship through the years
-SUPRS-
“Supermodified Sim Racing for the Right Reasons”
since 2004
