Ray Sand, Jr. Closes Out SUPRS Florida Speedweeks with Third USA International Speedway Victory
Lakeland, FL – February 12, 2016…The last two years, Ray Sand, Jr. waited until the last night of Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series Florida Speedweeks to pull off a win. This year he used the last night to win his third of the week and won for the third year in a row at USA International Speedway.
Ray Sand, Jr. USA International Speedway 25 winner and 2016 SUPRS Florida Speedweeks Champion
His win gave him enough points to clinch his third SUPRS Florida Speedweeks title, and joined Myles Maxon as the only drivers to do so in SUPRS history.
Bob Gangwer closed in on Sand, Jr. at the end of the race but had to settle for second in the Wing Side Up machine and Rob Warren held on for third.
Sand, Jr. is one of the few SUPRS drivers through the years to take a liking to USA and said, “This track is awesome, I look forward to it at the end of Speedweeks. There’s something about USA.”
Part of his love of the big 3/4 mile may because he’s figured out how to get through the tight paper clip corners. “It’s a throttle track ya know? You really gotta be sensitive with your gas pedal,” he explained. “If you can feather it at the apex of the corner you’re gonna be really fast here.”
During the week, Sand, Jr. set a new track record, was fastest qualifier at all but one track, finished out of the top three only once, led 75 of a possible 200 laps and set the fastest lap of the race twice.
In 2014 Sand, Jr. tied John Davidson for SUPRS All-Time wins at 74, on Wednesday he collected his 100th feature victory and now has 101.
After a frantic start that saw three and even four wide racing down the long chutes at USA, Bob Gangwer was able to make his way into second place after passing pole sitter Dave Brigandi on lap two.
He then spent most of the race trying to reel Sand, Jr. in. “Congratulations to Ray on another great run here at USA,” began Gangwer. “I tried and tried to get to Ray, and later in the race I kind of remembered how to drive this place and got close. There was no way I was going to get around him though, he’s just too good here.”
Gangwer added, “That start was intense, but everyone did a great job and there was a lot of respect, tonight and all week. My hats off to Ray on his third Speedweeks Championship.”
SEE FLORIDA SPEEDWEEKS HIGHLIGHTS
Rob Warren of Pulaski, NY never finished off of the podium and took second overall in the Speedweeks Championship by virtue of tie-breaker on being the fastest qualifier more times than Bob Gangwer.
“Congrats to Ray, he was fast all week. My car got slower and slower but it was fun,” said Warren. The start of the race impressed the driver of the 1st to Finish Docks & Hoists Special as well and he stated, “That start was wicked cool and it seemed like we were all side by side. Everyone just played it cool and held their lines. I love racing with people who race hard but respect you.”
Pole sitter Dave Brigandi was sweating bullets as he brought the field out of turn for to take the green. “I just wanted to keep my line and not put anybody in the wall. I was just slow and Ray got by me, then Bobby then Rob,” said the Syracuse, NY driver.
Brigandi spoke about his struggles on the last night in Florida. “This is a tough track for me. I played around with setups right before we started, and I think I went the wrong way so I’m a little disappointed but all in all it’s been a good week.”
“I want to say congratulations to Ray on the win tonight and the Speedweeks championship,” concluded Brigandi.
VIEW FINAL SUPRS FLORIDA SPEEDWEEKS POINTS
The SUPRS racers won’t have much rest as they begin their western swing stopping first at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Tuesday February 16 for the Presidents Day Special 75. Then on Wednesday they will run the re-scheduled Veterans Day Special 75 at Madera Speedway.
Both will be rFactor races using the SUPRS NW V1 mod. Practice starts at 8:00pm, Time Trials will follow at 8:30pm and racing will start at 9:00pm both nights.
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 RACE RESULTS:
- Florida Speedweeks
- Race 5
- February 12, 2016
USA International Speedway
Time Trials (showing car number, driver name, hometown, sponsors, lap 1, lap 2-best lap underlined)
- 18-Ray Sand, Jr.; Rochester, NY; SandmanRacing.com, The Tint Shop: 19.711, 19.583
- 35-Rob Warren; Pulaski, NY; 1st to Finish Docks & Hoists, Designs of Elegance: 19.902, 19.728
- 25-Bob Gangwer; Goshen, IN; Wing Side Up Enterprises, RW Woodworking: 19.918, 19.806
- 52-Dave Brigand; Syracuse, NY; Buffalo Bio-Diesel, Terry: 20.015, 19.986
Feature – 25 Laps (showing car number, driver, name, bonus, fastest lap, distance behind winner)
- 18-Ray Sand, Jr.; * ** | 19.520
- 25-Bob Gangwer; ! | 19.470 | +0.219
- 35-Rob Warren; 19.621 | +4.074
- 52-Dave Brigandi; * | 20.130 | +18.604
Time of Race: 08:58.468
- * Denotes Lap Led
- ** Denotes Most Laps Led
- ! Denotes Fastest Lap of Race
