SUPRS Thanksgiving BreakSUPRS Remembers and Honors Terry Gibson with Two-Night Supermodified Sim Racing Event
January 5, 2017 – Goshen, IN…The Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, (SUPRS), is proud to present the 9th Annual Terry Gibson Memorial January 10-11, 2017, a two night extravaganza of supermodified sim racing meant to honor the late Terry Gibson.
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Gibson lost his life during a heat race for the Midwest Supermodified Association at Toledo Speedway on July 18, 2008. Terry is survived by his wife Linda, son, Ryan W. Gibson; a daughter, Lindsay N. Kincaid; his mother and father Todd & Brenda Gibson, two brothers, Gene Lee (Lucinda) Gibson, Sandusky; Larry (Lisa) Gibson, Marysville; and a sister, Deb (Randy McElroy) Brady, Richwood. His brother Jeff (Shannon) Gibson followed him in death in 2012.
Much Anticipation for Many Reasons
The race is one of the most anticipated events of the season and one of several memorial races that SUPRS runs throughout the year to help sim racers and fans remember those drivers killed while racing a real supermodified.
Everything kicks off at 8pm Tuesday, January 10 with practice for the Terry Gibson Fast 50 which many of the drivers use as a tune up for the next night. The winner of this race becomes a guaranteed starter for the Terry Gibson Memorial 100 which takes place on Wednesday, January 11.
Winning the Terry Gibson 100 automatically makes the driver that pulls it off a guaranteed starter for the SUPRS Summit 125 coming up at the end of the season.
The fact that Sandusky Speedway is known as the “North Coast Home of the Supermodifieds,” is where the Gibson family has experienced much of their racing success, hosts part of the real supermodified Triple Crown, (the prestigious International Supermodified Association Hy-Miler Supermodified Nationals), and is cl home track to many SUPRS members, adds even more excitement to this particular event.
One of the Hardest SUPRS Races to Win
Since beginning of the 100 lap event, there have been only four drivers to win it, and of those only two are multi-time winners.
Oswego, New York’s “Mighty” Myles Maxon brought home the inaugural race in 2009. In 2010 Californian John Davidson won and then Maxon came back in 2011 to win amid a controversial finish that resulted in Dave Biro III being penalized for rough driving and disqualified.
Ray Sand, Jr. battled Fast 50 winner Joe Achzet and came out on top for the win in 2012. Then in 2013, he joined Myles Maxon as a two-time winner of this event and became the first racer to win it back to back. In 2014, the Rochester, NY native made a surprise pass on leader Steve Callahan to win his third straight Terry Gibson Memorial 100.
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Gangwer Puts Sandman Domination to Sleep
When 2016 rolled around, Sand, Jr. was in better shape than the year before and coming into the Terry Gibson Memorial had already won six features and was standing on top of the points.
When he dominated the Terry Gibson Fast 50 the night before, and set fast time for the 100, it seemed a foregone conclusion that he would secure his fifth win in a row.
It wasn’t to be though as Bob Gangwer surprised everyone when he passed leader Rob Warren with 30 laps to go and went on to win in emotional fashion.
Gangwer will look to become just the third driver with multiple Terry Gibson Memorial 100 wins this year.
CPR Hopeful for Hometown Win
There are several other drivers besides Gangwer that would cherish a Terry Gibson Memorial win. Of them all CPR Motorsports members “Steady” Steve Callahan of Cayuhoga Falls, OH, his son Joey, and his best friend and fellow May Motorsports crew member, Keith Powell rank the highest from a personal standpoint.
Growing up as supermodified fans at Sandusky Speedway and being a part of a real supermodified racing team, the CPR Motorsports guys all understand the relevance of the Gibson name to the track and supermodified racing in general.
Of the three, Steve has had the most success and the biggest heartbreak in this race.
He has been off of the podium just once, (4th last year), in the last four events finishes means that Callahan knows how to get around the semi-banked Sandusky paperclip.
For three years in a row, (2013-2015), it looked like Callahan had a lock on the top step of the podium only to have his hopes dashed in the closing stages of each race to come home in second place.
Callahan has rarely been out of the top 10 finishing positions of this race, so this could be the year he turns his heartbreak into happiness at the end of 100 laps.
Powell has not run as well as his friend in this race, but has a good season going, only recently been knocked off the top of the championship point standings, while the youngest of the CPR bunch, Joey Callahan, could be the sleeper of all the contenders and if he can keep his resolve, may surprise everyone.
Warren Looks to Avenge 2016 Loss
Rob Warren of Pulaski, NY full well knows the frustration of being close to the win at the Terry Gibson Memorial 100, only to come up just shy of victory.
Last year in particular, “Rocket” Rob, looked to be assured of his first win in this race only to lose the lead after a scuffle with eventual winner Bob Gangwer 30 laps before the checkers. Warren lost the Fast 50 the night before in similar fashion when Ray Sand, Jr. made a power move low in turn two to take the win.
Warren is the current SUPRS Gold Crest Wing Championship XIII point leader and is will be looking for his third win in a row and sixth on the season overall.
Three times since 2012 the driver of the 1st to Finish Race Servers machine has crossed the line in third place and finished the aforementioned 2016 race in second. His worst finish is thirteenth in 2011 and he’ll be looking to avenge his loss last year.
So Many Contenders
While the previous drivers have all either had success in the race already or could be considered favorites to win, there is a whole bunch of other SUPRS racers that should not be counted out.
Kevin Timmins, Dave Brigandi, and Joe Achzet will be joined by fellow New Yorker’s Chad Phelps, Derrick Backus and Kyle Clark, while Michigander Carl Becker looks to be the only other Midwesterner hoping for a good run.
SUPRS Icings on Top Rookie of the Year contender Nelson Rodrigues of Stoneham, MA will make his first NASCAR Heat start and has shown steady progress since his first SUPRS start in November including winning the Canadian Pursuit last week at Mosport.
Terry Gibson Memorial Race Night Times and Schedule of Events:
Tuesday, January 10: Practice: 8:00pm Drivers Meeting: 8:30pm Racing: 9:0pm NO TIME TRIALS
Wednesday, January 111: Practice: 8:00pm Drivers Meeting: 8:15pm Time Trials: 8:30pm Heats: 8:40pm B-Main-8:50pm Consi-9:00pm Driver Introductions:9
See SCHEDULE for Format and Details
More Fun for Fans
Fans can learn more about the original and oldest online supermodified sim sanction, the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, when they visit 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.
Terry Gibson Memorial 100-Wing-Sandusky Speedway
- 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
Terry Gibson Fast 50-Wing-Sandusky Speedway
- 2009 Terry Gibson Fast 50 Winner: Dave Biro III
- 2010 Terry Gibson Fast 50 Winner: Jamie Hartley
- 2011 Terry Gibson Fast 50 Winner: Ray Sand, Jr.
- 2012 Terry Gibson Fast 50 Winner: Joe Achzet
- 2013 Terry Gibson Fast 50 Winner: Ray Sand, Jr.
- 2014 Terry Gibson Fast 50 Winner: Canceled
- 2015 Terry Gibson Fast 50 Winner: Ray Sand, Jr.
- 2016 Terry Gibson Fast 50 Winner: Ray Sand, Jr.
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