{"id":12439,"date":"2019-02-11T20:43:45","date_gmt":"2019-02-12T01:43:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/suprs.net\/site\/?p=12439"},"modified":"2025-06-23T16:50:23","modified_gmt":"2025-06-23T20:50:23","slug":"suprs-copper-world-classic-presented-by-kern-motorsports-at-pir","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/suprs.net\/site\/suprs-copper-world-classic-presented-by-kern-motorsports-at-pir\/","title":{"rendered":"SUPRS Copper World Classic presented by Kern Motorsports at PIR"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

February 9, 2019 \u2013 Goshen, IN\u2026<\/strong><\/em>The Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, (SUPRS), racers are set to start their month long “Winter Western Swing\u201d with the SUPRS Copper World Classic XV presented by Kern Motorsports on Tuesday, February 12, 2019 at Phoenix International Raceway. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"SUPRS<\/a>
SUPRS Copper World Classic XV presented by Kern Motorsports is the first race of SUPRS Winter Western Swing (Poster by BreezeGraphics.com<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Copper World Classic Has Rich History<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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

Curt Kern’s Deep Roots in Supermodified<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Involved as an official for many years, Curt Kern of Kern Motorsports, has sponsored the SUPRS Copper World Classic since 2007.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1992, Curt Kern formed the Western States Supermodified Tour, \nseparating the supermodifieds from sprint cars, which continued to race \nunder the Northwest Supermodified\/Sprintcar Racing Association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Copper World Stressful for Kern<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Eventually Kern also found himself working in an official capacity \nduring the Copper World Classic. \u201cSome years I was on the ground in the \npit area and a couple of years in the tower running race control for the\n supers,\u201d explained the Washington state native.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me, then, it was a pretty stressful position, but I looked \nforward to the five days in Phoenix every year. I also dreaded it at the\n same time,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second Year for Kern’s Supermodified Reunion<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

While Kern\u2019s active involvement with the real supermodified division wound down to an end in the late 1990\u2019s, he has stayed involved, albeit from a distance and has never completely walked away from the division. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

\u201cI posted on Facebook about a potential supermodified reunion to be held at Meridian Speedway on May 26, 2018,\u201d began Kern. \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve 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\u2019ve got it scheduled for then end of May, first of June this year,\u201d stated Kern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many States Represented at Reunion<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>, 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kern\u2019s Continued Support of SUPRS<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

It was only natural for Kern to gravitate to the online version of \nsupermodified racing. After hanging up his sim racing helmet Kern was \nthe SUPRS Race Director for a couple of years and since 2007 Kern \nMotorsports has been a sponsor of the SUPRS Copper World Classic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m honored to still be involved with SUPRS and their version of the\n Copper World Classic and consider Bobby and John both good friends,\u201d he\n said. \u201cI only wish I could get set up and come back and get in \neveryone\u2019s way again,\u201d joked Kern. \u201cThe event at the time was the \nsupermodified communities version of the Indy 500 and to have SUPRS \ncontinue to run that event is pretty cool. Good luck to all and thank \nyou for allowing me to be a part of the show.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SUPRS Copper World Classic Details<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 \u201cThe Desert Mile\u201dbegins 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Points for both feature finishes are added up to determine the overall SUPRS Copper World Classic XV presented by Kern Motorsports Champion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Supermodifieds at Phoenix Shown Live<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

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 \u201cLive @ 9pm est via the SUPRS LIVE!<\/a> page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get Social with SUPRS<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>. Join SUPRS active and vibrant Social Media channels by  \u201cLiking\u201d SUPRS on Facebook<\/a>, Following @SUPRSOnline<\/a> on Twitter, and viewing SUPRS videos on YouTube<\/a>. See us live and join our chat on Twitch.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SUPRS Copper World Classic-Wing Winners\/Champions-Phoenix International Raceway<\/h3>\n\n\n\n