{"id":12503,"date":"2019-02-21T07:25:33","date_gmt":"2019-02-21T12:25:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/suprs.net\/site\/?p=12503"},"modified":"2025-06-23T16:48:18","modified_gmt":"2025-06-23T20:48:18","slug":"suprs-racers-prepare-for-billy-vukovich-iii-classic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/suprs.net\/site\/suprs-racers-prepare-for-billy-vukovich-iii-classic\/","title":{"rendered":"SUPRS Racers Prepare for Billy Vukovich III Classic"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

SUPRS Remembers Rising Star of Open Wheel Dynasty with Supermodified Sim Race<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

February 22, 2019 \u2013 Fresno, CA\u2026<\/strong><\/em>The Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, (SUPRS), racers have begun their preparation for the 15th<\/sup> Annual running of the Billy Vukovich III<\/a> Classic 100 supermodified sim race to be held February 26, 2019 at Mesa Marin Raceway presented by Supermodified Scorecard<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"SUPRS
SUPRS remembers a rising legend of open wheel racing that was taken too soon with the 15th running of the Billy Vukovich III Classic at Mesa Marin Raceway on February 26.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Four Former Winners Entered<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

This year’s race has four former winners entered to compete for the win in the Billy Vukovich III Classic. Three-time winner Steve Callahan, is joined by his teammate, and defending winner, Keith Powell, along with two-time winner Bob Gangwer. Defending SUPRS Gold Crest Wing Champion Rob Warren, who won the race in 2014, has also entered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Callahan Hopes to Break Record<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Three-time winner Steve Callahan, of Cuyahoga Falls, OH, understands as well as anyone that winning this event is not just another win. \u201cI\u2019m going into this race just like I did the other three, with a lot of focus, and hoping that I can bring it home with a win because it means a lot to me since it\u2019s about Vuky,\u201d he said recently. Callahan is shooting for a record fourth “Vuky” at a track that seems to suit his driving style.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sponsor Misses Racing<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

SUPRS co-founder John Davidson, of Sacramento, CA, has sponsored this race through his Supermodified Scorecard<\/a> business since it\u2019s start. Like Callhan, he’s also a three-time winner of the event and would love nothing more than to be able to run this race again. \u201cI miss the racing but most importantly the group of great guys who share and understand what SUPRS is all about ,\u201d he explained. \u201cThe Vuky Classic is another classic race to honor a supermodified hero that left us way too early.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About Billy Vukovich III<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Billy Vukovich III was a three-time starter of Indianapolis 500 Mile \nRace, the first third generation racer to compete in the race and like \nhis father and grandfather before him was named the Indianapolis 500 \nMile Race Rookie of the Year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While many in the mainstream motor sports arena will remember Billy \nIII as a rising star of the IndyCar ranks, the supermodified community \nwill always claim him as one of their own. Starting out just like Bill \nVukovich and Bill Vukovich II, Billy got his start in midgets in his \nhome state of California and was a champion in that division. He quickly\n moved through the ranks to the supermodifieds and competed for famed \nsupermodified car builder Jim Belfiore before moving to larger, better \nfunded teams in California\u2019s Central Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During his supermodified tenure, Vukovich III claimed the 1986-87 \nUSAC Supermodified Championship. In 1987 alone he won an incredible 12 \nof 17 races with a string of seven consecutive victories. He was also a \ntwo-time winner of the prestigious Copper World Classic at Phoenix \nInternational Raceway and was a threat to win when he competed at Madera\n Speedway in the Vernon Reitz \u201cSpirit of Madera\u201d machine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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