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SUPRS Copper World Classic Supermodified Sim Race March 31 at Phoenix

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SUPRS Copper World Classic XVI presented by Kern Motorsports Has Wing and Non-Wing Supermodifieds at Phoenix International Raceway

March 27, 2020 – Maricopa, AZ…The stars and cars of the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, (SUPRS), are ready to offer a slight distraction from the chaos of the world as they close out the month of March with the SUPRS Copper World Classic XVI presented by Kern Motorsports on March 31 at Phoenix International Raceway.

Wing and non-wing supermodifieds take center stage at SUPRS Copper World Classic XVI presented by Kern Motorsports on March 31 at PIR. (Poster by Borderline Enterprises/BreezeGraphics.com)

Marquee Event

The SUPRS Copper World Classic has been held since the first year of the sanction and is one of the marquee events on the SUPRS schedule, with exciting 25-lap features for both the wing and non-wing supermodifieds.

The event means so much to a supermodified sim racer because it is modeled after the popular Copper World Classic held annually at PIR, (now called ISM Raceway), from 1977-2009. With Phoenix International Raceway, (now known as ISM Raceway), being built specifically to be the home of open-wheel racing in the west, it was only natural that the mighty supermodifieds would eventually find a home there.

The supermodifieds were a part of the Copper World Classic from 1984 to 2002 with one year off in 1991. On a couple of occasions the supermodifieds ran without wings, and on others both wing and non-wing supers could be seen on track at the same time. So the SUPRS version tries to give fans the best of both worlds by running both types of cars on the same night.

Davey Hamilton has the most Copper World Classic wins with five and Troy Regier has the record for most wins in a row at three. Doug Saunier was the very first winner and Lonnie Adamson was the last supermodified winner of the Copper World Classic.

Feature start for supermodifieds at Copper World Classic 2001
Here’s the full #supermodified field on their warm-up lap for the 2001 Copper World Classic at Phoenix International Raceway.(B&G Racing Photos-Bob Gangwer)

SUPRS Copper World Classic Details

Practice for the SUPRS Copper World Classic XVI presented by Kern Motorsports begins at 7:30pm with non-wing supermodifieds. The wing supermodifieds practice from 7:45 to 8:00pm before the Drivers Meeting. Time Trials for the wing supers are at 8:15pm and non-wing Time Trials follow at 8:30pm.

The format for SUPRS Copper World Classic XVI presented by Kern Motorsports is nearly identical to the old WSST, NSRA formats and has been used at Kern’s request since coming on board as a race sponsor in 2004. Racing on “The Desert Mile” begins with the eight lap heat races for wing supermodifieds at 9:05pm. Immediately following the redraw for the finishers of the heat race, the the wing supers head onto the mile for their 25 lap feature first at around 9:15pm. Then the non-wing 25 lap feature should take the green flag around 9:30pm ET.

Points for both feature finishes are added up to determine the overall SUPRS Copper World Classic XVI presented by Kern Motorsports Champion.

Watch Live Supermodified Sim Racing from PIR

Cheer on your favorite SUPRS racers while you view timing, scoring, track telemetry , stats and live streaming video of all the racing from the SUPRS Copper World Classic XVI presented by Kern Motorsports at Phoenix International Raceway when we go “Live @ 9pm est via the SUPRS LIVE! page.

Get Social with SUPRS

Fans can learn more about the supermodified division and 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.


SUPRS Copper World Classic-Wing Winners/Champions-Phoenix International

  • 2005 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: JP Curry-PA
  • 2006 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: John Davidson-CA
  • 2007 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Chuck Russell-MO
  • 2008 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Kris Heveron-FL
  • 2009 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Bobby Gangwer-IN
  • 2010 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Chad Phelps-NY
  • 2011 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Jeff Weber-IN
  • 2012 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Ray Sand, Jr.-NY
  • 2013 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: John Davidson-CA
  • 2014 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Ray Sand, Jr.-NY
  • 2015 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Steve Callahan-OH
  • 2016 SUPRS Copper World Classic Winner: Bobby Gangwer-IN
  • 2017 SUPRS Copper World Classic Winner: Nelson Rodrigues-MA
  • 2018 SUPRS Copper World Classic Winner: Nelson Rodrigues-MA
  • 2019 SUPRS Copper World Classic Winner: Keith Powell-OH

SUPRS Copper World Classic-Non-Winged Winners – Phoenix International Raceway

  • 2014 SUPRS Copper World Classic Winner: Steve Callahan-OH
  • 2015 SUPRS Copper World Classic Winner: Myles Maxon-NY
  • 2016 SUPRS Copper World Classic Winner: Ray Sand, Jr.-NY
  • 2017 SUPRS Copper World Classic Winner: Joe Achzet-NY
  • 2018 SUPRS Copper World Classic Winner: Rob Warren-NY
  • 2019 SUPRS Copper World Classic Winner: Dave Ohh-CT

SUPRS Copper World Classic Wing/Non-Wing Combined Champions

  • 2016 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Ray Sand, Jr.
  • 2017 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Joe Achzet
  • 2018 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Nelson Rodrigues
  • 2019 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Dave Ohh

(Note: Before 2016, the winner of the wing supermodified race was the SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion)


“Supermodified Sim Racing for the Right Reasons” since 2004

SUPRS Copper World Classic presented by Kern Motorsports at PIR

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February 9, 2019 – Goshen, IN…The Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, (SUPRS), racers are set to start their month long “Winter Western Swing” with the SUPRS Copper World Classic XV presented by Kern Motorsports on Tuesday, February 12, 2019 at Phoenix International Raceway.

SUPRS Copper World Classic XV presented by Kern Motorsports poster by BreezeGraphics.com
SUPRS Copper World Classic XV presented by Kern Motorsports is the first race of SUPRS Winter Western Swing (Poster by BreezeGraphics.com)

Copper World Classic Has Rich History

This event is modeled after the popular Copper World Classic held annually at PIR, (now called ISM Raceway), from 1977-2009. With Phoenix International Raceway, (now known as ISM Raceway), being built specifically to be the home of open-wheel racing in the west, it was only natural that the mighty supermodifieds would eventually find a home there.

The supermodifieds were a part of the Copper World Classic from 1984 to 2002 with one year off in 1991. On a couple of occasions the supermodifieds ran without wings, and on others both wing and non-wing supers could be seen on track at the same time. So the SUPRS version tries to give fans the best of both worlds by running both types of cars on the same night.

Davey Hamilton has the most Copper World Classic wins with five and Troy Regier has the record for most wins in a row at three. Doug Saunier was the very first winner and Lonnie Adamson was the last supermodified winner of the Copper World Classic.

Curt Kern’s Deep Roots in Supermodified

Involved as an official for many years, Curt Kern of Kern Motorsports, has sponsored the SUPRS Copper World Classic since 2007.

In 1987, Kern and Ed Williams started the Northwest Supermodified Racing Association, (NSRA), after the United States Auto Club, (USAC), unexpectedly pulled out of sanctioning regional racing.

In 1992, Curt Kern formed the Western States Supermodified Tour, separating the supermodifieds from sprint cars, which continued to race under the Northwest Supermodified/Sprintcar Racing Association.

Copper World Stressful for Kern

Eventually Kern also found himself working in an official capacity during the Copper World Classic. “Some years I was on the ground in the pit area and a couple of years in the tower running race control for the supers,” explained the Washington state native.

“For me, then, it was a pretty stressful position, but I looked forward to the five days in Phoenix every year. I also dreaded it at the same time,” he said.

Second Year for Kern’s Supermodified Reunion

While Kern’s active involvement with the real supermodified division wound down to an end in the late 1990’s, he has stayed involved, albeit from a distance and has never completely walked away from the division.

For the second year in a row Curt Kern is heading up the Supermodified Reunion at Meridian Speedway for western states supermodified racers young and old May 31-June 1, 2019.

“I posted on Facebook about a potential supermodified reunion to be held at Meridian Speedway on May 26, 2018,” began Kern. “The response was pretty good so I decided to take the next step and brought it up to Adam Nelson at Meridian to see if we were on the same page.”

“We’ve lost a lot of supermodified greats since I got out and I thought it was time to remember them and get everyone else back together. Adam was all for it and now we’ve got it scheduled for then end of May, first of June this year,” stated Kern.

Many States Represented at Reunion

The west coast supermodified sanction list reads like an alphabet soup and stretches from British Columbia through Washington down to California over Idaho and includes Colorado and Utah. With all those states and sanctions represented, this reunion could be one of the largest ever organized for supermodified racing.

A gathering of this size and magnitude deservers to be remembered and a poster and t-shirts are planned as well as an owner/drivers only social gathering. For more information and to be added to the supermodified reunion Facebook Group, former drivers, owners, crew members and fans should contact Curt Kern via email curtkern@yahoo.com or Adam Nelson via the Meridian Speedway contact page.

Kern’s Continued Support of SUPRS

It was only natural for Kern to gravitate to the online version of supermodified racing. After hanging up his sim racing helmet Kern was the SUPRS Race Director for a couple of years and since 2007 Kern Motorsports has been a sponsor of the SUPRS Copper World Classic.

“I’m honored to still be involved with SUPRS and their version of the Copper World Classic and consider Bobby and John both good friends,” he said. “I only wish I could get set up and come back and get in everyone’s way again,” joked Kern. “The event at the time was the supermodified communities version of the Indy 500 and to have SUPRS continue to run that event is pretty cool. Good luck to all and thank you for allowing me to be a part of the show.”

SUPRS Copper World Classic Details

Practice for the SUPRS Copper World Classic XV presented by Kern Motorsports begins at 7:30pm with non-wing supermodifieds. The wing supermodifieds practice from 7:45 to 8:00pm before the Drivers Meeting. Time Trials for the wing supers are at 8:15pm and non-wing Time Trials follow at 8:30pm.

The format for SUPRS Copper World Classic XV presented by Kern Motorsports is nearly identical to the old WSST, NSRA formats and has been used at Kern’s request since coming on board as a race sponsor. Racing on “The Desert Mile”begins with the eight lap, inverted wing supermodified heat races at 9:05pm and the the wing supers run their 25 lap feature first at 9:05. The non-wing 25 lapper follows.

Points for both feature finishes are added up to determine the overall SUPRS Copper World Classic XV presented by Kern Motorsports Champion.

Supermodifieds at Phoenix Shown Live

Cheer on your favorite SUPRS racers while you view timing, scoring, track telemetry , stats and live streaming video of all the racing from the SUPRS Copper World Classic XV presented by Kern Motorsports at Phoenix International Raceway when we go “Live @ 9pm est via the SUPRS LIVE! page.

Get Social with SUPRS

Fans can learn more about the supermodified division and 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.


SUPRS Copper World Classic-Wing Winners/Champions-Phoenix International Raceway

  • 2005 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: JP Curry-PA
  • 2006 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: John Davidson-CA
  • 2007 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Chuck Russell-MO
  • 2008 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Kris Heveron-FL
  • 2009 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Bobby Gangwer-IN
  • 2010 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Chad Phelps-NY
  • 2011 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Jeff Weber-IN
  • 2012 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Ray Sand, Jr.-NY
  • 2013 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: John Davidson-CA
  • 2014 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Ray Sand, Jr.-NY
  • 2015 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Steve Callahan-OH
  • 2016 SUPRS Copper World Classic Winner: Bobby Gangwer-IN
  • 2017 SUPRS Copper World Classic Winner: Nelson Rodrigues-MA
  • 2018 SUPRS Copper World Classic Winner: Nelson Rodrigues-MA

SUPRS Copper World Classic-Non-Winged Winners – Phoenix International Raceway

  • 2014 SUPRS Copper World Classic Winner: Steve Callahan-OH
  • 2015 SUPRS Copper World Classic Winner: Myles Maxon-NY
  • 2016 SUPRS Copper World Classic Winner: Ray Sand, Jr.-NY
  • 2017 SUPRS Copper World Classic Winner: Joe Achzet-NY
  • 2018 SUPRS Copper World Classic Winner: Rob Warren-NY

SUPRS Copper World Classic Wing/Non-Wing Combined Champions

  • 2016 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Ray Sand, Jr.
  • 2017 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Joe Achzet
  • 2018 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Nelson Rodrigues

(Note: Before 2016, the winner of the wing supermodified race was the SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion)

-SUPRS-

“Supermodified Sim Racing for the Right Reasons”

since 2004

Supermodified Sim Racers Ready for SUPRS Copper World Classic

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Avondale, AZ – February 27, 2016…The Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, (SUPRS), will take up residence at Phoenix International Raceway March 1, 2016 for the SUPRS Copper World Classic XII.

SUPRS Copper World Classic poster by Breeze Graphics

BreezeGraphics.com posters always look as good as this!

This annual event features winged supermodified, non-wing supermodified  sim racing on the one mile paved oval in Arizona. With 50 laps of feature racing plus time trials and heats, this event is modeled after the popular Copper World Classic held annually at PIR from 1977-2009.

Feature start for supermodifieds at Copper World Classic 2001

Here’s the full #supermodified field on their warm-up lap for the 2001 Copper World Classic at Phoenix International Raceway.(B&G Racing Photos-Bob Gangwer)

The supermodifieds were a part of the Copper World Classic  from 1984 to 2002 with one year off in 1991. Davey Hamilton has the most Copper World Classic wins with five and Troy Regier has the record for most wins in a row at three. Doug Saunier was the very first winner and Lonnie Adamson was the last supermodified winner of the Copper World Classic.

Curt Kern of Kern Motorsports, the sponsor of the SUPRS Copper World Classic was involved as an official for the supermodifieds for several years. “Some years I was on the ground in the pit area and a couple of years in the tower running race control for the supers,” explained the Washington state native.

“For me, then, it was a pretty stressful position, but I looked forward to the five days in Phoenix every year. I also dreaded it at the same time,” he said.

“It was a pretty high-speed joint for us and I was always fearful of a “Rex Beach” type of accident. I went from loving the cars on the mile to be believing as an official, that it was too big of a track, but I doubt you’d convince very many drivers of that.”

SUPRS Members Racing

Here’s Curt Kern at an NSRA race. Curt is a SUPRS Member as well as former president of the NSRA.

While Kern’s involvement with the real supermodified division wound down to an end in the late 1990’s, he continues to support the online version. “I’m honored to still be involved with SUPRS and their version of the Copper World Classic and consider Bobby and John both good friends,” he said. “I only wish I could get set up and come back and get in everyone’s way again,” joked Kern. “The event at the time was the supermodified community’s version of the Indy 500 and to have SUPRS continue to run that event is pretty cool. Good luck to all and thank you for allowing me to be a part of the show.”

Last year Myles Maxon finally got his first win at the SUPRS Copper World Classic after many years of trying and set a New Track Record, (his ninth of the 2014-15 season) in the wing supermodifieds, stopping the clocks with a 22.744 and besting Ray Sand, Jr.’s six year old record of 22.750. Sand, Jr. then qualified fastest of the non-wing supermodifieds at 23.061.

Steve Callahan was once again a major factor on the “Desert Mile” and after winning the non-wing sim supermodified race in 2014, he came back last year to claim the wing sim supermodified race. Steve said, “This is a tough track with three different turns and you have to be perfect in every corner and keep the momentum up.”

Although he’s won at Phoenix International Speedway in a modified, Rob Warren is looking for his first SUPRS Copper World Classic supermodified win. It’s something that has eluded him and something he hopes to change in 2016. “It would be difficult to say how much a win would mean here,” began the Pulaski, NY driver. “Any win, at the stout level of competition in this league is special but Phoenix would be a little more special to me because while I’ve done very well in a modified here, I would really like a supermodified win here too.”

Warren believes his particular style of driving is well suited to the fast one mile track, “Everybody has a few tracks that they ‘expect’ to do well at. Places where their driving style lines up better. I tend to be off throttle earlier than most, roll through the center and get a good exit hard on he go pedal so just the way I drive, that works great at Phoenix,” he said.

This year, SUPRS officials will combine feature finish points for the wing and non-wing races to decide an overall SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion. Unlike earlier seasons, the driver that wears that crown will have to be proficient not only in both types of sim supermodified cars, but will also need to be consistent across two different gaming platforms and versions of the online track.

SUPRS will use the tried and true NASCAR Heat SUPRS V6 wing supermodified on the stock Phoenix International Raceway, then will switch to the SUPRS NWV1 non-wing supermodified and use ThePits.US version of PIR. Creating even more of a challenge will be the rFactor,  ThePits.US  track is the updated and more modern version of PIR, where, the NASCAR Heat example is the original PIR layout.

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-“Supermodified Sim Racing for the Right Reasons”

SUPRS Copper World Classic-Winged-Phoenix International Raceway

  • 2005 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: JP Curry
  • 2006 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: John Davidson
  • 2007 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Chuck Russell
  • 2008 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Kris Heveron
  • 2009 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Bobby Gangwer
  • 2010 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Chad Phelps
  • 2011 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Jeff Weber
  • 2012 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Ray Sand, Jr.
  • 2013 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: John Davidson
  • 2014 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Ray Sand, Jr.
  • 2015 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Steve Callahan

SUPRS Copper World Classic-Non-Winged-Phoenix International Raceway

  • 2014 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Steve Callahan
  • 2015 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Myles Maxon

SUPRS Copper World Classic Emulates Real Race

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Avondale, AZ – March 1, 2015…The Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series will take up residence at Phoenix International Raceway March 3, 2015 for the SUPRS Copper World Classic X.

SUPRS 2015 copper world classic poster

This annual event features wing supermodified, non-wing supermodified, and pavement modified sim racing on the one mile paved oval in Arizona. With over 150 laps of online  racing, this event is modeled after the popular Copper World Classic held annually at PIR from 1977-2009.

The supermodifieds were a part of the Copper World Classic  from 1984 to 2002 with one year off in 1991. Davey Hamilton has the most Copper World Classic wins with five and Troy Regier has the record for most wins in a row at three. Doug Saunier was the very first winner and Lonnie Adamson was the last supermodified winner of the Copper World Classic.

Curt Kern of Kern Motorsports, the sponsor of the SUPRS Copper World Classic was involved as an official for the supermodifieds for several years. “Some years I was on the ground in the pit area and a couple of years in the tower running race control for the supers,” explained the Washington state native.

“For me, then, it was a pretty stressful position, but I looked forward to the five days in Phoenix every year. I also dreaded it at the same time,” he said.

“It was a pretty high-speed joint for us and I was always fearful of a “Rex Beach” type of accident. I went from loving the cars on the mile to be believing as an official, that it was too big of a track, but I doubt you’d convince very many drivers of that.”

While Kern’s involvement with the real supermodified division wound down to an end in the late 1990’s, he continues to support the online version. “I’m honored to still be involved with SUPRS and their version of the Copper World Classic and consider Bobby and John both good friends,” he said. “I only wish I could get set up and come back and get in everyone’s way again,” joked Kern. “The event at the time was the supermodified communities version of the Indy 500 and to have SUPRS continue to run that event is pretty cool. Good luck to all and thank you for allowing me to be a part of the show.”

The 2014 edition of the SUPRS Copper World Classic was one of the most exciting ever. Ray Sand, Jr. claimed his second Copper World Classic winged supermodified victory and also  won the modified part of the event. The only person stopping him from a full sweep of the SUPRS Copper World Classic was Steve Callahan taking the victory in the 25 lap non-wing supermodified feature.

Current point leader “Mighty” Myles Maxon will be looking for his first SUPRS Copper World Classic win. He’s been close several times in the past, including last year where he finished second to Sand, Jr. after a race long battle of epic proportions.

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-“Supermodified Sim Racing for the Right Reasons”

SUPRS Copper World Classic-Winged-Phoenix International Raceway

  • 2005 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: JP Curry
  • 2006 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: John Davidson
  • 2007 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Chuck Russell
  • 2008 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Kris Heveron
  • 2009 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Bobby Gangwer
  • 2010 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Chad Phelps
  • 2011 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Jeff Weber
  • 2012 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Ray Sand, Jr.
  • 2013 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: John Davidson
  • 2014 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Ray Sand, Jr.

SUPRS Copper World Classic-Non-Winged-Phoenix International Raceway

  • 2014 SUPRS Copper World Classic Champion: Steve Callahan
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