{"id":15724,"date":"2020-10-11T12:58:40","date_gmt":"2020-10-11T16:58:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/suprs.net\/site\/?p=15724"},"modified":"2025-06-23T16:48:52","modified_gmt":"2025-06-23T20:48:52","slug":"never-give-up-attitude-of-supermodified-racer-remembered","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/suprs.net\/site\/never-give-up-attitude-of-supermodified-racer-remembered\/","title":{"rendered":"Never Give Up Attitude of Supermodified Racer Remembered"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

October 10, 2020 \u2013 Goshen,<\/strong> IN\u2026<\/strong><\/em>The Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series, (SUPRS), honors the memory of the supermodified racer with the “Never Give Up” attitude with the running of the 17th<\/sup> Annual Dion Parish<\/a> Memorial 62 on October 13, 2020 at Kalamazoo Speedway<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"SUPRS_2020_Dion_Parish_Memorial_poster_10-13-2020\"<\/a>
The Dion Parish Memorial honors a real supermodified racer that lived by the “Never Give Up” attitude. (Promotional poster by BreezeGraphics.com)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Chasing a Dream<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Dion Parish refused to give up on his dream of racing a real supermodified. After growing up in a family that was involved in supermodified racing during the Tri-SAC years in Michigan, he always knew he wanted to eventually get behind the wheel of “The Ultimate Short Track Race Car.” He raced stock cars and eventually became a champion in vintage coupes. All the while he kept the attitude of Never Give Up, doing more with less, and always chasing the dream of racing in the supermodified division.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He eventually got to fulfill that dream and made his first supermodified start in 1999. It was a steep learning curve, and frustrating at times as well. But he never gave up and eventually he even made the tow to “The Home of the Supermodifieds” Oswego Speedway where he attempted to compete in the International Supermodified Association’s “SuperNationals” during the prestigious International Classic 200 weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Died Living His Dream<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Dion was killed on Saturday, September 14 2002 in a practice crash at Kalamazoo, (MI), Speedway. Dion was in the midst of shaking down his recently finished supermodified in preparation for an upcoming Midwestern Supermodified Association, (MSA), race at Sandusky, (OH), Speedway when the car suddenly and without warning went straight in turn two at Kalamazoo. While his death was tragic, Dion died doing what he loved and living his dream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though Dion Parish wasn’t very well known outside of the Michigan and Indiana racing scene, he had a big impact on everyone he was around. His contagious smile, and his ability to be friendly to everyone he met, and his tenacity in the face of adversity are all character traits that come up when those that knew him talk about him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SUPRS Founded with Never Give Up Attitude<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Dion<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series\u00a0 (SUPRS) was founded as a way to give back to supermodified drivers and teams in time of need in Dion\u2019s memory<\/a> and his never give up attitude. SUPRS started and administers the Dion Parish Memorial Benevolent Fund for Supermodifieds, also in his memory, and donates money to injured drivers and their families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through members donations, various fund-raisers and race sponsorships, SUPRS has been able to give thousands of dollars to injured supermodified drivers through the fund since 2004.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Warren Looking for Record Fourth Win<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Last year, in the 62 lap feature that went green to checkers in 11 minutes, Rob Warren held off a hard charging Keith Powell to win the 16th<\/sup> Annual Dion Parish Memorial at Kalamazoo Speedway. In so doing he tied Ray Sand, Jr. for the most wins in the prestigious sim race with three. If he can pull off the win this year, he’ll move ahead of the only other three-time winner of the race, Ray Sand, Jr. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rob Warren picked up his third Dion Parish Memorial at Kalamazoo Speedway on October 8, 2020. (Victory Lane by BreezeGraphics.com)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

For the last several years, the top of the heap at the end of the race, has been dominated by former winners like Warren, Keith Powell, Bob Gangwer, and Steve Callahan. Add to that list of former winners, Carl Becker, (2012), and Derrick Backus, (2018), plus a host of new drivers and veterans, in what’s expected to be one of the largest fields in the recent history of the race, and it’s obvious that Warren will face one of his toughest record breaking attempts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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