SUPR races into history books with most DLM events all-time
By Bryan Wimberley
SUPR Dirt Late Model Series correspondent
BRYANT, Ark. (July 21) - The Southern United Professional Racing (SUPR) Series quietly entered its 23rd season this year, knowing it was about to make dirt late model racing history. Almost 20 years after the series introduced the cost efficient spec engine in 1993, SUPR has raised the bar once more, competing in its 623rd sanctioned event at I-30 Speedway, outside of Little Rock, Arkansas, making it the all-time leader in sanctioned dirt late model races by a single organization (active or discontinued) in the country.
"This record for SUPR means a lot, to know that in 1990 it started between three racetracks in the State of Louisiana and has grown to where it is now. It shows that we have great fans, tracks and most of all great racers who want a place to race! For me personally, until we talked the other night about it and you said something that stuck with me and I never paid any attention to, which was, I grew up watching SUPR. I never really thought about that, the fans that have supported us over the years is what it's all about! I really thank the fans for their continued support of us," said current president, Greg Holmes.
The Friday night (July 20th) opener of a weekend doubleheader, won by newcomer, Sean Jones of Mansfield, Tex., marked the passing of the torch from record holder, Southern All-Stars (SAS) Series, to the Louisiana-based SUPR Series.
Co-founded in 1990 by current Baton Rouge Raceway owner, Donald Watson and former owner of Boothill Speedway, Roxy Dancy, SUPR has averaged over (27) events per season, giving it the record in 8,156 days since its introduction into the dirt late model racing world. The series has shown its versatility over the years, forming a sprint and modified version of its touring sector, plus continuously expanding its dirt late model events into neighboring states. SUPR has held events in nine different states (Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas) during its tenure, holding races as far north as Kansas City and as far west as Amarillo. Through the years, competitors from all over the country have participated in series' events, and as far away as Canada.
In 1997, the series was placed in new hands, as Watson's son in-law, Holmes, took over promoting and race directing duties for SUPR. Holmes has only missed one race in (16) years at the helm, coming last season at Jones Motor Speedway on June 11th.
Holmes recounted moments that stick out to him during his leadership of the series,
"There are a few of them that immediately come to mind, first was in 1997, when racing at Sun Coast Speedway in Pass Christan, Miss., there was a young racer by the name of Rusty Cooper, who had to borrow a trailer to get his late model to the track, with a single cab pick-up. The trailer had no fenders on it and the car had to roll over the trailer tires to get on and off, a sight in itself. He ran second in the feature, but at tech, the first-place car was light at the scales and he ended up with the win. What I like about it is that really anybody truly has a chance to win."
Holmes adds, "Secondly, I have made some great friends in the 16 years of promoting. Just like a couple months ago, I broke down and made a call to Larry Collet to ask about renting a truck and he said, 'No reason to rent a truck, you can use mine'. He drove to Brookhaven, Miss., with the truck and picked me up, then I was off to Little Rock to do a show. You can't put a price on that!"
Many racing memories throughout SUPR's history surface, like NASCAR Sprint Cup driver, Ken Schrader, coming fresh off his (currently last) win at the Budweiser 500, at Dover (DE) International Speedway, to take a SUPR victory at Devil's Bowl Speedway in October 1991 or having the first female (Elizabeth Halpin Smith) to win a sanctioned dirt late model race, at I-30 Speedway in June 1999. Others at the top is, Kenny Merchant passing Hall of Famer, Doug Ingalls, all-time series' win mark in August 2008, again at I-30 Speedway, along with the instant classic put on between, Morgan Bagley, Ray Moore, Timothy Culp & Kyle Cummings, last July at Champion Park Speedway, to honor the late SUPR champion, Rusty Cummings.
Holmes recalls, "There are a lot of them, when we raced at Oklahoma City Fair Grounds with Lanny Edwards, there was about 8,000 people in the grandstands. When we done driver intros, the crowd was unbelievable to the racers -it made me have chills! Also when we finally had the chance to race at The Great American Speedway's Dirt Track, at Texas Motor Speedway -just incredible."
Plenty of rumors stirred at the end of 2011, when O'Reilly Auto Parts dropped its primary sponsorship, leaving the series after (13) seasons. SUPR entered into the 2012 campaign as searching for a primary sponsor and has ran the season without one, like had been done many years ago. The series has operated with (25) events on this year's schedule, concluding after the Thanksgiving holidays.
SUPR's survival through the test of times has depended on a myriad of things, just like any other functional series currently still active. The Southern United Professional Racing tour is currently the sixth longest running series in time measurement, trailing only National Championship Racing Association (NCRA), Southern All Stars (SAS), UMP DIRTcar Summernationals, IMCA Deery Brothers Summer Series and the Midwest Latemodel Racing Association (MLRA).
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Even though the World of Outlaws (WoO) began in 1988, it experienced a dormant phase of (14) years, before starting up again in 2004 -the series is currently in its 11th season of operation.
"The SUPR Spec Motor package I believe has made the difference through the years, but most of all, the drivers have made it survive, because without them it wouldn't work. SUPR's biggest obstacle without a doubt, is needing a title sponsor. We have a great crew, but really it's all about the drivers! I've always said that we have some of the best talent in the country and given the budget that the big racers have, they could win!" Holmes said.
"Surprisingly late models are pretty good right now, the problem is that we are losing racetracks left and right. Long term for our area is scary, but with the tracks, fans & the racers we have, anything is possible," Holmes concluded.
As it looks towards being in the business for a quarter of a century, SUPR has been a pioneering figure in dirt late model racing through its existence and that is pretty remarkable for a regional touring series that started some time ago in the bayous of Louisiana.
All-time Dirt Late Model Events By Series
(Through July 20, 2012)
623 - Southern United Professional Racing Series (SUPR)
622 - Southern All-Star Series (SAS)
585 - Northern Xtreme Series (STARS) *
544 - Midwest Latemodel Racing Association (MLRA)
510 - UMP DIRTcar Summernationals
495 - Hav-A-Tampa Racing Series *
398 - IMCA Deery Brothers Series
375 - World of Outlaws Late Model Series (WoO)
362 - National Championship Racing Association (NCRA)
291 - American Late Model Series (ALMS)
290 - Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
284 - MARS DIRTcar Series (MARS)
270 - Northern All-Stars Late Model Series *
262 - NASCAR Busch O'Reilly All-Stars *
238 - Carolina Clash Super Late Model Series
209 - Mid Atlantic Championship Series *
202 - All-Star Circuit of Champions *
