Rob Warren Sweeps Night Two of Keystone Nationals at Nazareth Speedway
March 8, 2017 – Nazareth, PA …Rob Warren swept the evening on his way to winning the second night of the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, (SUPRS), 12th Annual Keystone Nationals at Nazareth Speedway. Kyle Clark made a spirited charge through the top five in the last 10 laps to come home just shy of the win, as Joe Achzet hung on for third.
Rob Warren, Kyle Clark, and Joe Achzet were on the podium for SUPRS first race at Nazareth Speedway on Night 2 of the 12th Annual Keystone Nationals
Racing with a heavy heart after learning of the passing of his friend and former Oswego Speedway supermodified racer Joe Paeno, Warren said, “First of all, I want to dedicate this win to Joe Paeno. He was a good man, and a friend to the Warren family for many years. This one’s for him.”
Starting from outside row two, Warren followed Joe Achzet around pole sitter Dave Brigandi at the drop of the green flag. After a quick caution on lap two for Brigandi, Warren quickly went to work trying to find a way around the leader and by lap six he had accomplished his mission.
“I got behind Joe and I was trying to figure out where to make the pass,” he said. “I didn’t want to make a pass through the dog leg because it’s so narrow, but I got a great run off turn four and I had to go for it and Joe gave me plenty of room and we made it through.”
After that the rest of the race was smooth sailing for the Pulaski, NY racer, at least until the last two laps when Kyle Clark appeared out of nowhere to challenge for the win.
TAKE A LOOK AT THE ACTION FROM NAZARETH
“The 38, (Clark), came on strong at the end and that was a little nerve-wracking,” admitted Warren. “I noticed that Joe dropped back and then all the sudden Kyle had gobbled up 6/10ths of a second in no time with two to go. It was a great race, a real fun race, I’m just glad it wasn’t a 30 lap race.”
Warren’s win gives him a real boost in the Keystone Nationals points, and his sweep of the night that included a track record, a heat race win, and leading the most laps of the feature has given him 139 points of breathing room over Joe Achzet in the SUPRS Gold Crest Wing Championship.
Eventful Race for Clark
After time trialing second quick and winning his heat race, there was little doubt that Kyle Clark was going to be a contender when the green flag came out for the 25 lap feature. When he came up just .126 of a second shy, he knew where he went wrong.
“First of all congrats to Rob,” began the Disturbed Motorsports driver. “That was fun, but I over drove the last corner. I was too excited and I just drove it in too hard. If I would have done what I had done the rest of the race I may have gotten him. I’m happy it was a fun race.”
CLARK CLOSE in KEYSTONE NATIONALS POINTS
Although he had one of his best finishes since SUPRS Florida Speedweeks in February, Clark’s race wasn’t without a few close calls and scary moments when a great night nearly turned into disaster. At one point he got crossed up coming out of turn two and nearly crashed but somehow hung on to get back in the fight. “I got loose at one point and I had already in my head thought to myself “that’s it, I’m bringing out a caution,” but somehow I saved it,” he said.
The second close call wasn’t of his doing, but that of Keith Powell. “I got back to Keith and I was all over him but just didn’t have enough to pass him and then he got loose and I was hoping just hoping he wasn’t going to shoot back across the track in front of me,” explained Clark.
Satisfaction for Achzet
For Joe Achzet his third place was almost like a win after struggling with connection issues the last few races. Although he had one of the better cars on the track, he lacked enough speed to hold off the top two.
“It was a good car we just weren’t fast, we had a third place car and that’s where we ended up,” he stated. “It was good to actually finish and lead some more laps again. It’s just good to be around at the end.”
Keystone Nationals Wraps Up
Tomorrow the SUPRS racers will gather at Jennerstown Speedway to honor and remember the late Randy Witkum for the third and last event of the 12th Annual Keystone Nationals. The 13th Annual Randy Witkum Memorial is a 125 lap supermodified sim race that pay tribute to the driver that lost his life at Jennerstown Speedway in 1999 during an International Supermodified Association race.
Official Practice gets underway at 7:45pm with racing slated to go at 9:00pm.
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.
RACE RESULTS
- 12th Annual Keystone Nationals Race 2
- Race 31 of 42
- March 8, 2017
- SUPRS rFactor W v7.1 mod
- Nazareth Speedway
- 25 Laps
Supermodified Time Trials (showing car number, driver name, hometown, sponsors, lap 1, lap 2-best lap underlined)
- 35-Rob Warren; Pulaski, NY; 1st to Finish Race Servers, Designs of Elegance: 21.533, 21.351
- 38-Kyle Clark; Mexico, NY; Coors’ Light, Disturbed Motorsports: 21.588, 21.567
- 14-Joe Achzet; Yorkville, NY; Cottontail Designs, GraphX: 21.617, 21.640
- 7-Nelson Rodrigues; Stoneham, MA; Star Speedway: 21.948, 22.597
- 41-Keith Powell; Carrollton, OH; Icings on Top, CPR Motorsports: 22.170, 21.989
- 25-Bob Gangwer; Goshen, IN; Wing Side Up Enterprises, RW Woodworking: 22.413, 22.031
- 61-Derrick Backus; Mexico, NY; Jose’ Cuervo Tequila, Disturbed Motorsports: 22.513, 22.169
- 52-Dave Brigandi; Syracuse, NY; Brigandi Carpet and Tile, Terry: 23.587, 23.391
- 42-Carl Becker; Lansing, MI; Wholesale Diamond Exchange, Michigan Hill Gang: 24.968, 24.546
Supermodified Heat Race 8 Laps (showing car number, driver name-top two get time back)
- 38-Kyle Clark
- 52-Dave Brigandi
- 25-Bob Gangwer
- 7-Nelson Rodrigues
Supermodified Heat Race 8 Laps (showing car number, driver name-top two get time back)
- 35-Rob Warren
- 14-Joe Achzet
- 41-Keith Powell
- 61-Derrick Backus
- 42-Carl Becker
Supermodified Feature 25 Laps (showing car number, driver name, bonus, starting place, fastest lap, distance behind winner)
- 35-Rob Warren: ! | * | ** | P4 | 21.589
- 38-Kyle Clark: P3 | 21.323 | +0.126
- 14-Joe Achzet: * | P2 | 21.662 | +1.610
- 7-Nelson Rodrigues: P7 | 21.812 | +3.305
- 25-Bob Gangwer: P5 | 21.599 | +3.699
- 61-Derrick Backus: P8 | 21.682 | +9.572
- 41-Keith Powell: P6 | 22.007 | +20.454
- 52-Dave Brigandi: P1 | 23.013 | +1 Laps
- 42-Carl Becker: P1 | 23.978 | DNF (Black Flag-Spin Rule)
Time of Race: 14:30.242
- * Denotes Lap Led
- ** Denotes Most Laps Led
- ! Denotes Fastest Lap of Race
