Tag: NASCAR Heat

SUPRS Racers Nervous About ESS Blind Date Night

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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.

SUPRS Empire State Super Series Blind Date Night 2019 Poster

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.

Blind Date Night Format

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

Upset Victory at SUPRS Terry Gibson Memorial

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Dave Ohh Laps Terry Gibson Memorial Field for Upset Win January 9, 2019…Everyone figured he’d be a threat, but no one could predict the upset victory by Dave Ohh over the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, (SUPRS), regulars at 11th Annual Terry Gibson Memorial Wednesday at Sandusky Speedway. After a controversial finish Rob Warren was awarded second place over Keith Powell. Doubt Is Over Capitalizing on mistakes, charging hard, but showing patience, “SpeedyMan” as he’s known… Keep Reading

Quick Results: First Time Winner at Gibson Fast 50

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Dave “SpeedyMan” Ohh Brings Home First Supermodified Win at Terry Gibson Fast 50 January 8, 2019 – Sandusky, OH…There was little doubt that Dave Ohh would eventually win a Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, (SUPRS), event. But the 15-Time ARL Champion used skill and superior moves to win the Terry Gibson Fast 50 at Sandusky Speedway in just his third start behind the wheel of the mighty supermodifieds. Second First Time Winner His win on… Keep Reading

Strong Field Expected for 11th Terry Gibson Memorial

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January 4, 2019 – Goshen, IN…A strong field of determined competitors is expected to compete for the prestige of winning the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, (SUPRS), 11th Annual Terry Gibson Memorial January 8-9, 2019. This race pays tribute to real supermodified racer Terry Gibson, who lost his life while competing in a supermodified race in 2008 at Toledo Speedway.

SUPRS Terry Gibson Memorial poster
The 2019 SUPRS Terry Gibson Memorial could prove to be one of the most competitive in the 11 year history of the event. (Poster by BreezeGraphics.com)

Big Race Big Guns

Because of the prestige of the race and also because, this year, it is part of the SUPRS/HeatFinder.net NASCAR Heat Supermodified Challenge, organizers are expecting one of the most competitive fields of sim racers seen at this race in a while. Several of the most skilled NASCAR Heat sim racing drivers in the country have already indicated that they are interested in competing, so this two-night extravaganza of sim racing could prove to be one of the best yet.

15-Time ARL Champion-Dave “SpeedyMan” Ohh, along with Jeff “Grumpy” Bivens, Rick ” BlackKnight” Walls, and Henry “Bandit” Kay are just a few of the HeatFinder.net regulars that will likely compete for the honor of winning this memorial race at SUPRS.

Keene Coming Back

Frank Keene, of Scranton, PA has recently decided that he is coming back to SUPRS racing after about a five-year abscense. Keene was one of the first sim racers to become a SUPRS Member way back in 2005 and is second only to Steve Callahan when it comes to drivers with the oldest original SUPRS join date that will hit the track for the Gibson Memorial.

Paying Tribute to Terry Gibson

SUPRS Terry Gibson Memorial remembers and honors the late Terry Gibson who lost his life during a heat race for the Midwest Supermodified Association at Toledo Speedway on July 18, 2008. Gibson was part of one of the first families of the real supermodified division and was competing in his own car at the time of his death.

Terry is survived by his wife Linda, son, Ryan W. Gibson; a daughter, Lindsay N. Kincaid; his father Todd Gibson, two brothers, Gene Lee (Lucinda) Gibson, Sandusky; Larry (Lisa) Gibson, Marysville; and a sister, Deb (Randy McElroy) Brady, Richwood. Terry was followed in death by his brother Jeff (Shannon) Gibson in 2012, and mother Brenda in 2018.

Hard Race to Win

From the first race run in 2009, only four drivers have won this challenging event, so it’s no exaggeration to say that the Terry Gibson Memorial is not only one of the most sought-after victories on the SUPRS schedule, but also one of the toughest.

Myles Maxon was the first driver to win the race more than once. After winning the inaugural race in 2009, and being beat by Californian John Davidson in 2010, Maxon came back to win in 2011.

Ray Sand, Jr. was the next driver to win the race more than once doing so in 2012 and 2013. Those two wins set him on a path to an incredible four wins in a row. Sand, Jr. could be called “The King of Sandusky” as the 9-Time SUPRS Champion also has three wins in the Terry Gibson Fast 50.

Bob Gangwer took the lead from Rob Warren with 30 laps to go for his first and only win to date in 2016, but Warren came right back in 2017 and last year to join the two-time winner’s club.

Close Calls for Callahan

Last year, veteran SUPRS pilot Steve Callahan finally picked up a feature win at Sandusky Speedway after trying since 2005. Callahan looked to be the favorite going into the 100 lap show the next night but was outdone by his teammate and fellow “Buckeye” Keith Powell and eventual winner Rob Warren.

In all, there have only been two times in the last six runnings of the race that Callahan hasn’t stood on the podium after 100 laps. In fact, for three years running, (2013-2015), Callahan had victory in his grasp only to fall victim to lapped cars with just a handful of laps left and had to settle for second place.

NASCAR Heat Supermodifieds Live

Fans can enjoy both nights of racing with SUPRS LIVE! This two-night NASCAR Heat supermodified sim racing event features live streaming video, driver interviews, in stream stats and scoring.

For a family friendly stream where you can choose your favorite and cheer them on, go to www.SUPRS.net/site/live to tune in beginning at 9:00 pm est each night.

2019 Terry Gibson Memorial Details

Tuesday, January 98Practice: 8:00pm Drivers Meeting: 8:30pm Racing: 9:0pm NO TIME TRIALS

See SCHEDULE for more

Wednesday, January 9: Practice: 8:00pm Drivers Meeting: 8:15pm Time Trials: 8:30pm Heats: 8:40pm B-Main-8:50pm Consi-9:00pm Driver Introductions:9:10pm Green Flag 11th Annual Terry Gibson Memorial 100-9:15pm.

Stay in the SUPRS Loop

Regular season updates, as well as real supermodified and sim racing news, are popular features on the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series Facebook page and Twitter @SUPRSOnline. We’re also on Instagram, YouTube, and Twitch.

Terry Gibson Fast 50 History:

  • 2009 Terry Gibson Memorial Fast 50 Winner: Dave Biro III
  • 2010 Terry Gibson Memorial Fast 50 Winner: Jamie Hartley
  • 2011 Terry Gibson Memorial Fast 50 Winner: Ray Sand, Jr.
  • 2012 Terry Gibson Memorial Fast 50 Winner: Joe Achzet
  • 2013 Terry Gibson Memorial Fast 50 Winner: Ray Sand, Jr.
  • 2014 Terry Gibson Memorial Fast 50 Winner: Canceled
  • 2015 Terry Gibson Memorial Fast 50 Winner: Ray Sand, Jr.
  • 2016 Terry Gibson Memorial Fast 50 Winner: Ray Sand, Jr.
  • 2017 Terry Gibson Memorial Fast 50 Winner: Rob Warren
  • 2018 Terry Gibson Memorial Fast 50 Winner: Steve Callahan

Terry Gibson Memorial 100 History:

  • 2009 Terry Gibson Memorial 100 Champion: Myles Maxon
  • 2010 Terry Gibson Memorial 100 Champion: John Davidson
  • 2011 Terry Gibson Memorial 100 Champion: Myles Maxon
  • 2012 Terry Gibson Memorial 100 Champion: Ray Sand, Jr.
  • 2013 Terry Gibson Memorial 100 Champion: Ray Sand, Jr.
  • 2014 Terry Gibson Memorial 100 Champion: Ray Sand, Jr.
  • 2015 Terry Gibson Memorial 100 Champion: Ray Sand, Jr.
  • 2016 Terry Gibson Memorial 100 Champion: Bobby Gangwer
  • 2017 Terry Gibson Memorial 100 Champion: Rob Warren
  • 2018 Terry Gibson Memorial 100 Champion: Rob Warren

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