Tag: Punxsutawney Phil

Punxsutawney Phil Keeps SUPRS Racers Guessing

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Punxsutwaney Phil Predicts Weather, SUPRS Race Format

January 30, 2018 – Goshen, IN…Letting the groundhog Punxsutawney Phil decide the format for a night of supermodified sim racing may sound a bit odd, but the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, (SUPRS), figures if he can predict the weather, he can also predict the Groundhog Day Derby chain of events on February 2 at Lee USA Speedway.

SUPRS 2018 Groundhog Day Derby promo slide

Even Punxsutawney Phil knows that you can predict your marketing future when you use BreezeGraphics.com.

It’s All about Phil

While Phil and his Groundhog Club Inner Circle at Gobbler’s Knob may not know it, his yearly prognostication determines whether the race uses a standard format with time trials, heats and the feature, or a random start. And while doing it this way can prove to be just as vexing to the SUPRS racers as predicting when winter will end, it’s been the course of action since Bud Flath won the first Groundhog Day Derby in 2005.

New Venue for SUPRS is Long-Time venue for Real Supers

The site of this year’s race is Lee USA Speedway in Lee, NH. Lee was once the home of the New England Supermodified Racing Association, (NESMRA). More recently it has played host to the International Supermodified Association, (ISMA), and is the only weekly NASCAR sanctioned supermodified race track in the country.

P&L Motorsports Supermodified

The 21 supermodified owned by Pam and Lee Vinal at Lee USA Spee dway. (Jim Feeney photo)

But while Lee has long been  a hotbed of real supermodified racing, SUPRS has never raced on this historic venue before. Even so, during on pre-race testing, the virtual supermodifieds turned the 3/8 mile in nearly identical lap times as their mighty real world counterparts. So it seems like the 40 lap race could be over faster than Phil can crawl back into his hole.

Only One Repeat Winner

Letting Punxsutawney Phil decide the format for the night may sound a bit odd but SUPRS has done it that way for this race since Bud Flath won the first one in 2005. Most noteworthy, and probably due in part to the nature of the uncertain format, there has been just one repeat winner of this race.

Here’s a look at the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series Groundhog Day Derby History:

  • 2005 Groundhog Day Derby Winner: 71jr.-Bud Flath (No TT)
  • 2006 Groundhog Day Derby Winner: 2-Sean Gibbs (TT)
  • 2007 Groundhog Day Derby Winner: 54j-Mike Jackson (TT)
  • 2008 Groundhog Day Derby Winner: 66-Tim Heveron (No TT)
  • 2009 Groundhog Day Derby Winner: 79-Myles Maxon (N/A)
  • 2010 Groundhog Day Derby Winner: 58-Keith Powell (N/A)
  • 2011 Groundhog Day Derby Winner: 37-Dave Biro III (TT)
  • 2012 Groundhog Day Derby Winner: 55-Steve Callahan (No TT)
  • 2013 Groundhog Day Derby Winner: 23-Chris Meyers (TT)
  • 2014 Groundhog Day Derby Winner:Ray Sand, Jr. (No TT)
  • 2015 Groundhog Day Derby Winner: Ray Sand, Jr. (No TT)
  • 2016 Groundhog Day Derby Winner: 35-Rob Warren (TT)
  • 2017 Groundhog Day Derby Winner: 14-Joe Achzet (No TT)

See the Action Live

Watch for Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction in the morning and then get ready to watch the SUPRS racers do battle in the Groundhog Day Derby the evening of February 2, 2018 at Lee USA Speedway with SUPRS LIVE!

Cheer on your favorite SUPRS racers while you view timing, scoring, and of course our outstanding live streaming video of the Groundhog Day Derby when we go “Live @ 9pm 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, Circling SUPRS on Google+, Following @SUPRSOnline on Twitter, and viewing SUPRS videos on YouTube. See us live and join our chat on Twitch.

-SUPRS-

“Supermodified Sim Racing for the Right Reasons”

since 2004

The Rabbit Grabs the Groundhog Day Derby

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SUPRS 2017 Groundhog Day Derby poster by BreezeGraphics.com
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Joe Achzet Wins a Wild Groundhog Day Derby February 2, 2017 – Myrtle Beach, SC….Punxsutawney Phil has predicted six more weeks of winter, but trying to predict that Joe Achzet would win the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, (SUPRS), 13th Annual Groundhog Day Derby wasn’t as easy. After doing several donuts at the start-finish line, Achzet said, “The early part of that race was very scary, I just missed Carl and Nelson’s spins.” “Hat’s off… Keep Reading

Groundhog Day Derby Format Fine for Phil, Headscratcher for Racers

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Punxsutawney Phil Predictions Leave SUPRS Racers Scratching Head over Groundhog Day Derby Format

January 29, 2017 – Goshen, IN…The Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, (SUPRS), Groundhog Day Derby format is decided by the world’s most famous groundhog Punxsutawney Phil, which sometimes proves to be a real head scratching experience for the supermodified sim racers at SUPRS.

SUPRS 2017 Groundhog Day Derby poster by BreezeGraphics.com

There’s nothing unpredictable about the quality of work from BreezeGraphics.com

While Phil and his Groundhog Club Inner Circle at Gobbler’s Knob may not know it, his yearly prognostication determines whether it will be a regular format with time trials, heats and the feature, or a random start. This can prove to be just as vexing to the SUPRS racers as predicting what the weather will do.

Letting Punxsutawney Phil decide the format for the night may sound a bit odd but SUPRS has done it that way for this race since Bud Flath won the first one in 2005. Since then, there has been just one repeat winner.

With the SUPRS Gold Crest Wing Championship XIII as hot as ever after last week’s Mid-Season Championship, many of the drivers are hoping that an early spring is predicted which means a full format of Time Trials, Heats and Feature. That also means more chances to score valuable points.

If the famous groundhog from Pennsylvania sees his shadow and determines that we are in for six more weeks of winter, there will be no time trials or heats and the lineup for the 50 lap feature is set by a random draw. 

The fun and unpredictable Groundhog Day Derby begins on February 2, 2016 with the cars taking to Myrtle Beach Speedway for the first time in SUPRS history at 8:00pm for practice. Depending on whether Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, Time Trials could start at 8:30pm. Regardless of an early spring or six more weeks of winter SUPRS racing is always at 9:00pm.

Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series Groundhog Day Derby History:

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“Supermodified Sim Racing for the Right Reasons”

since 2004

Punxsutawney Phil Decides Format for SUPRS Groundhog Day Derby

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SUPRS Racers Waiting on Punxsutawney Phil to Determine Their Fate

Goshen, IN – January 29, 2016…The world’s most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, will not only decide if spring is coming soon or not, but will also decide the fate of the The Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, (SUPRS), racers when they head to Derry Raceway Park in Maine to run the 12th Annual Groundhog Day Derby.

SUPRS Groundhog Day Derby with Punxsutawney Phil

We think the Punxsutawney Phil is perfect in this poster thanks to BreezeGraphics.com!

The SUPRS Groundhog Day Derby has always been one of the most interesting and unpredictable races on the schedule and the race format is decided by a weather forecasting groundhog. Letting Punxsutawney Phil determine the format for the night may sound a bit odd,  but SUPRS likes to keep the sim racing fun and letting a groundhog decide the race format always keeps things as dubious as trying to judge what the weather will do, even for Phil!

The racing at Derry Raceway Park is  so unpredictable in fact, that it took 11 years for a driver to win the race more than once. Last year three former winners battled each other in trying to become the first two-time winner. Ray Sand, Jr. , Myles Maxon and Steve Callahan lapped the rest of the 11 car field but it was Sand, Jr. who drove across the finish line first with Maxon latched his rear nerf bar a scant 0.064 seconds behind. Callahan finished in third, nearly six seconds back, after being caught in lapped traffic in a 50 lap race that took just over 10 and a half minutes to run.

Part of the challenge of winning this race lies in the unusual layout of the racetrack. Derry Raceway Park features two completely different ends with turn one and two having a good deal of banking and turn three and four being almost off-camber creating a great challenge to racers lap by lap.

Some are better on the banking and can sling-shot under another driver off turn two, but often find it hard to get a good line through the flats of turn three and four. Other drivers are better suited to making a pass coming from turn four and racing down the wide front stretch hoping that they don’t slide too far up the banking in turn one when they get there.

The fun and unpredictable Groundhog Day Derby begins on February 2, 2016 with the cars taking to the track at 8:00pm for practice. Depending on whether Phil sees his shadow, Time Trials could start at 8:30pm. Racing is always at 9:00pm.

Here’s a look at the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series Groundhog Day Derby History:

  • 2005 Groundhog Day Derby Winner: 71jr.-Bud Flath (No TT)
  • 2006 Groundhog Day Derby Winner: 2-Sean Gibbs (TT)
  • 2007 Groundhog Day Derby Winner: 54j-Mike Jackson (TT)
  • 2008 Groundhog Day Derby Winner: 66-Tom Heveron (No TT)
  • 2009 Groundhog Day Derby Winner: 79-Myles Maxon (N/A)
  • 2010 Groundhog Day Derby Winner: 58-Keith Powell (N/A)
  • 2011 Groundhog Day Derby Winner: 37-Dave Biro III (TT)
  • 2012 Groundhog Day Derby Winner: 55-Steve Callahan (No TT)
  • 2013 Groundhog Day Derby Winner: 23-Chris Meyers (TT)
  • 2014 Groundhog Day Derby Winner: 18-Ray Sand, Jr. (No TT)
  • 2015 Groundhog Day Derby Winner: 18-Ray Sand, Jr. (No TT)

Current Track Record: Derry Raceway Park: Steve Callahan 12.459 sec. Set 02/02/11

See the full format and schedule of events on the SUPRS SCHEDULE page.

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