Warren Rockets Past Brigandi to Win Harrisburg

Rob Warren Snatches Win from Dave Brigandi at Harrisburg Speedway on Opening Night of SUPRS Keystone Nationals

Harrisburg, PA – March 8, 2016…Rob Warren of Pulaski, NY hounded Dave Brigandi for 29 laps on Tuesday night before he was finally able to get by and kick off the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, (SUPRS), 11^th Annual Keystone Nationals with a win at Harrisburg Speedway. Ray Sand, Jr. was also able to get by for second forcing Brigandi to settle for third.

Rob Warren took his 1st to Finish “Flyer” to Harrisburg Victory Lane on the first night of SUPRS 11th Annual Keystone Nationals supermodified sim race.

In a relatively trouble free race, (compared to prior runs at Harrisburg, where many a driver has found himself smashed into the backstretch wall), Warren looked high and low repeatedly but was unable to find a way around Brigandi.

“Right from the start it was a battle, wow was the 52 was fast tonight,” exclaimed Warren.

The winner went on to describe how hard he had to work to get by Brigandi. “Dave was entering turn three a little high and he’d cut across into four, so even if I did have a good run at apex off, I could couldn’t get under him and I would end up pinching the car off and he’d just drive away from me.”

Warren finally found a weak spot on Brigandi as the lead trio came through turn three with 20 laps to go.  “I was trying to get by Dave and here was Ray, (Sand, Jr.),  working me on the outside, in fact Ray and I drag raced down the backstretch at one point because he was able to get to the outside of me in turn two. Then Dave went into three a little higher and I got under him going into turn three, it was an awesome run for Dave.”

Ray Sand, Jr. put his SandmanRacing.com roadster high and low looking for a way around not only Warren, but Brigandi as well, “Great Great Great job by Dave, I thought he had that one for sure but Rob snookered him on the bottom and I couldn’t follow Rob through,” said Sand, Jr.

“I ended up getting by Dave and tried to run Rob down but I ran out of time,” he explained.  “Early I was focusing on the outside because I had some breathing room behind me and I almost got Rob but couldn’t make it stick up there. Congrats to Rob he was the man out there tonight, I’ll try to get him tomorrow at RT 93.”

Brigandi was looking for his first win of the season and had one of his best races of the year, leading the most laps and looked to be a shoe-in for the win on this flat 1/2 mile but for that one small mistake.

“I’m a little upset at myself when I let Rob get under me,” Brigandi stated. “I came out just a little high and he was right there and then the same thing happened with Ray. I grazed the inside wall just enough and then slid up and Ray was right there to capitalize.”

While he may not have pulled off the win, “The Enforcer” was still in a good mood afterwards. “I’m happy with the car, I let the car do what it had to do, I was just along for the ride trying to hit the marks I worked on today in practice. I’ve very pleased with where I finished, especially with those guys,” Brigandi said.

SUPRS veteran Carl Becker was a welcome surprise to the night’s festivities making his first attempt to race in over a year after battling various health issues. Unfortunately, after a fine second place run last year and after running some very fast practice laps, “Bonzai” Becker had computer issues and was unable to compete at one of his favorite tracks. He said, “I’m not sure what was going on, but it was nice to talk to everybody again. I hope that I can things fixed up for tomorrow night so I can race with everyone.”

Earlier in the evening Ray Sand, Jr. set fast time while Rob Warren and Domenic Gioia took home wins in the heat races.

The Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series now moves to RT 93 Raceway in Slusser, PA for night two of the 2016 Keystone Nationals for a 50 lap affair at the square 1/2 mile.

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:

• 11^th Annual Keystone Nationals
• Race 1 of 3
• March 8, 2016

Harrisburg Speedway

Time Trials (showing car number, driver name, hometown, sponsors, lap 1, lap 2, best lap underlined)

1. 18-Ray Sand, Jr.; Rochester, NY; SandmanRacing.com, Tint Shop: 14.941, 14.962
2. 25-Bob Gangwer; Goshen, IN; Wing Side Up Enterprises, RW Woodworking: 15.152, 15.064
3. 55-Steve Callahan; Cayuhoga Falls, OH; Ice Oil, CPR Motorsports: 15.181,  15.081
4. 9-Domenic Gioia; Oswego, NY; Lizard Lick Towing, Genesee Beer: 15.118, 15.364
5. 35-Rob Warren; Pulaski, NY; 1st to Finish Docks & Hoists, Designs of Elegance: 15.159, 15.128
6. 52-Dave Brigandi; Syracuse, NY; Buffalo Bio-Diesel, Terry: 15.360, 15.326
7. 50-Brian Potvin; Hudson, FL; None: 16.727, 15.991
8. 42-Carl Becker; Lansing, MI; Wholesale Diamond Exchange, Michigan Hill Gang: NT

Heat Race 1-13 Laps (Top two get time back)

1. 35-Rob Warren
2. 55-Steve Callahan
3. 18-Ray Sand, Jr.
4. 50-Brian Potvin

Heat Race 2-13 Laps (Top two get time back)

1. 9-Domenic Gioia
2. 52-Dave Brigandi
3. 25-Bob Gangwer
4. 42-Carl Becker-DNS

Feature – 50 Laps (showing car number, driver, name, bonus, fastest lap, distance behind winner)

1. 35-Rob Warren;  *  | 15.051
2. 18-Ray Sand, Jr.; 15.020 | +0.729
3. 52-Dave Brigandi; * ** | 15.058 | +2.005
4. 55-Steve Callahan; 15.063 | +2.244
5. 25-Bob Gangwer; 15.036 | +2.401
6. 9-Domenic Gioia; 15.013 | +9.048
7. 50-Brian Potvin; 15.527 | DNF
8. 42-Carl Becker; DNS

Time of Race:  13:31.079

• * Denotes Lap Led
• ** Denotes Most Laps Led
• ! Denotes Fastest Lap of Race

FINAL 2016 SUPRS Keystone Nationals Point Standings

SUPRS-Supermodified Sim Racing for the Right Reasons