Billy Vukovich III Classic Prize Eyed by SUPRS Racers

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The Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series will honor the late Billy Vukovich III tonight with the 11th Annual running of the Billy Vukovich III Classic 100 at Mesa Marin Raceway presented by Supermodified Scorecard.

suprs Billy Vukovich III Classic 100 poster

The SUPRS racers consider this race one of most prestigious and toughest races on the schedule.

suprs_billy-vukovich_III-classic-lap97

Rob Warren(35) had his work cut out for him on the way to winning the 2014 SUPRS Billy Vukovich III Classic 100.

Defending winner Rob Warren of Pulaski, NY hopes to add his name to the short list of repeat winners. Last year Warren led all 100 laps but felt the pressure of two-time Vukovich III Classic winner Steve Callahan to the point of being physically and mentally worn out at the end of the race. “Steady Steve didn’t really give me much of a chance to breathe during the race,” stated Warren after his 2014 win. “That is, I think, the most exhausted I’ve ever been after a SUPRS race.”

Callahan ended up second and is embroiled in an intense points battle with Warren for the better part of the 2014-15 SUPRS Gold Crest Championship season. Callahan was the first, and so far only, back to back winner of this race.

2013 Vuky Classic_40

Steve Callahan is the only back to back winner of the prestigious SUPRS Billy Vukovich III Classic 100.

SEE PHOTOS OF 2014 Billy Vukovich III Classic

Myles Maxon of Oswego, NY has dominated this season, setting fast time at nearly every race and has won almost half of the races run to date, yet, he’s never been able to pull off a win in the Billy Vukovich III Classic 100. When asked what it would mean to finally be able to claim a Billy Vukovich III Classic victory he said, “It would be a great honor to win this race in memory of Billy Vukovich.”  Maxon went on to explain why, “Individuals such as he were taken from his family and the racing community far too soon and it would be special to win this event that we,  (SUPRS), hold in his honor.”

John Davidson, of Sacramento, CA, is the only three-time winner of the event and would love nothing more than to make a run at the race his website, Supermodified Scorecard, sponsors. “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.

Bob Frey and Billy Vukovich III at Berlin Raceway 1989 by B&G Racing photos

Bob Frey(L) talks things over with Billy Vukovich III at 1989 USAC sprint car show at Berlin Raceway. Photo by B&G Racing Photos

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 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.

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.

The SUPRS racers won’t get much rest in the west as they head to the Phoenix International Raceway for the 11th Annual SUPRS Copper World Classic X on Tuesday March 3. This event will feature wing online sim supermodifieds as well as non-wing sim supermodifieds and closes with a 100 lap sim modified race.

Fans of supermodified racing and online sim racers alike can 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 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

Billy Vukovich III Classic 100 at Mesa Marin Raceway Next for SUPRS

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The Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series will honor the late Billy Vukovich III with the 10th Annual running of the Billy Vukovich III Classic 100 at Mesa Marin Raceway presented by SupermodifiedScorecard.com.

SUPRS 2014 Billy Vukovich III Classic poster by Breeze Graphics

In what is considered one of most prestigious and toughest races on the schedule, the SUPRS competitors are not only focused on what will be a tough battle but also ultimately, the reasons why they are running this event.

Two time and defending winner Steve Callahan of Cayuhoga 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 two, 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.

Though sitting fourth in Gold Crest points and a the first back to back winner of this race, Callahan has yet to visit victory lane and will have his work cut out for him against the likes of current point champion and 2009 Vukovich III Classic winner Ray Sand, Jr. To date this season, Sand, Jr. parked his #18 in victory lane eight times and is on his way to tying John Davidson on the SUPRS All-Time Win  list with 74 feature victories.

Davidson, of Sacramento, CA, is the only three-time winner of the event and would love nothing more than to make a run at the race his website SupermodifiedScorecard.com sponsors. “I’d really like to have a shot at a fourth Vuky Classic, but with work and the kids, I doubt that I can make it,” he explained. “I love that track and I was a big fan of Billy’s so it’s really a bummer I can’t be there.”

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.

Bob Frey and Billy Vukovich III at Berlin Raceway 1989 by B&G Racing photos

Bob Frey(L) talks things over with Billy Vukovich III at 1989 USAC sprint car show at Berlin Raceway. Photo by B&G Racing Photos

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 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.

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.

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

Mid-Season Championship for SUPRS Features Double Points and Twin 35s

The Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series is already at the half way point of it’s 10th Anniversary Gold Crest Winged Championship Season and the SUPRS racers are now setting their sites on a Mid-Season Championship Crown. With a full slate of action featuring time trials, heats, Twin 35 lap features and double points as well as bonus points for the driver crowned Mid-Season Champion, and SUPRSCharger for both features, the action is sure to be intense at Oswego Speedway on Tuesday, January 21.

SUPRS 2014 Mid-Season Championship poster

For the first time since the 2009-2010 season, this much anticipated special event will feature two features in one night to determine the SUPRS Mid-Season Championship. These two races will also kick off the 2013-2014 Empire State Super Series Regional Championship which is comprised of various races throughout the season at tracks located in New York.

In the history of the league, this event has been run only at two different tracks; LaPorte Speedway from 2005-2009 and Oswego Speedway from 2010 to the present.

Originally the race used a Twin 25 lap feature format and rewarded consistency of finishes to determine the overall Mid-Season Champion. It continued the Twin feature format with the release of Oswego Speedway by Flash Tracks for the 2008-2009 season, but the laps were increased to 35 to pay homage to one of the traditions of the famed Upstate New York track.

After just two years the format was switched to a single 75 lap feature at Oswego, which brought with it it’s own set of challenges to the racers as it now became more important to manage tire wear and keep the car free of damage. But for SUPRS 10th Anniversary Season he Twin 35 format has returned and while the drivers will be rewarded for consistent finishes in each feature, they will also have to do their best to get to the front quickly in the short sprint race.

Since the inception of the Mid-Season Championship, it has always paid double Season Championship points for the drivers feature finish and this year will be no different. Ray Sand, Jr. has led the point standings right from the start of the season and while he looks to be headed for a record sixth Gold Crest Winged Supermodified Season Championship, second place point man Rob Warren will have a chance to gain some valuable ground.

The driver that has won the Mid-Season Championship has gone on to win the SUPRS Gold Crest Season Championship four times but only two different drivers have accomplished that feat. John Davidson was the first to do it winning back to back Mid-Season and Season Championships in 2004-2005 and 2005-2006. Five time and current Season Champion Ray Sand, Jr. pulled it off for the first time in 2008-2009 then again last year, 2012-2013.

No other driver in SUPRS history has won the Mid-Season Championship more than once other than Davidson and Sand, Jr.

Practice kicks off at 8:00 pm followed by Time Trials at 8:30. Racing begins at 8:45 with heats, with the first feature to follow.

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.netLiking SUPRS on Facebook, Circling SUPRS on Google+ and viewing SUPRS videos on YouTube.

SUPRS Winged Mid-Season Championship History-

2004-05 Winged Mid-Season Champion: John Davidson-LaPorte Speedway-25×2
2005-06 Winged Mid-Season Champion: John Davidson-LaPorte Speedway-25×2
2006-07 Winged Mid-Season Champion: Ray Sand, Jr.-LaPorte Speedway-25×2
2007-08 Winged Mid-Season Champion: Myles Maxon-LaPorte Speedway-25×2
2008-09 Winged Mid-Season Champion: Ray Sand, Jr.-Oswego Speedway-35×2
2009-10  Winged Mid-Season Champion: N/A-Oswego Speedway-35×2
2010-11   Winged Mid-Season Champion: Chris Meyers-Oswego Speedway-75
2011-12   Winged Mid-Season Champion: Rob Warren-Oswego Speedway-75
2012-13   Winged Mid-Season Champion: Ray Sand, Jr.-Oswego Speedway-75

SUPRS Anniversary; 10 Years of Racing Online to Give Back Real Time

Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series 10th Anniversary logo
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This week we celebrate the actual formation of the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series and in the words of that great band The Grateful Dead, “What a long strange trip it’s been.” Ok so maybe it’s not been ‘strange’ per say, but it sure has been a long and interesting ride getting to the point where we can look back and ask ‘wow, where has the time gone?” What began as a ragtag group of… Keep Reading

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