With the points battle hotter than ever this season the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series drivers have a lot to lay on the line as they take on the “Monster Mile” at Dover International Raceway tonight for the St. Patrick’s Day Grab O’ the Green race.
Last year, after a seven-year absence, the race returned to where it started at Dover Downs and was won by Steve Callahan after he led all 25 laps of the feature. It also kicked off an amazing five race win streak for “Steady” Steve.
The speeds will be up and the nerves ragged as many of the SUPRS competitors battle the banks, the draft and each other on “The Monster Mile.” Last year Ray Sand, Jr. broke Bud Flath’s track record of 19.793 set on March 16, 2005, when he turned in a 18.992.
In the first three years of the race Dover Downs played host to the roaring winged supermodifieds with wins going to Kevin Marine, Randy Ritskes and Kris Heveron.
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 other than Phoenix and New Hampshire International Speedway The St. Patrick’s day event was then moved to Stafford Mountain Speedway and became part of the Empire State Super Series races. Bud Flath and Ray Sand, Jr. picked up the wins at the high banked half mile New York venue.
Continuing with a focus on short tracks, the race moved west of the Mississippi to Buckley Speedway in California and run prior to the Billy Vukovich III Classic. Canadian Jamie Hartley was victorious in the one and only time the St. Patrick’s Day Grab O’ the Green was raced there.
For the next several years, SUPRS focused on a smaller schedule and the St. Patrick’s Day Grab O’ the Green was dropped due to fact that there were fewer races during the season.
Practice begins at 8pm and Time Trials will take place at 8:30pm. Racing for the supermodifieds will begin with heat races at 8:45pm and the feature will go off around 9:00pm. The Luck of the Leprechaun Modified 75 is tentatively scheduled to run after the completion of all supermodified racing.
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.
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-No Race
- 2012-No Race
- 2013-No Race
- 2014-Steve Callahan-Dover Downs International Speedway
