Myers
Looking for Improvement in Made in America Whelen 300
MARTINSVILLE, VA (August 22, 2007) – Even though he’s only 31 years old,
Burt Myers has a pretty impressive Modified racing resume. He’s won
championships at storied Bowman-Gray Stadium. He’s poised to capture his
first NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified championship this season and has four
tour victories in two seasons.
But there’s a hole in that resume. He doesn’t have a Martinsville
Speedway win. In fact, he doesn’t even have a top 10 to his credit.
He hopes, though, that he can change all of that in the Made In America
Whelen 300 at Martinsville on Saturday, Sept. 1.
“This year we’re more prepared than in a long time,” said Myers. “We’ve
got a real good motor program right now, we’ve got a new crew this year and
we’ve got a new shock package for Martinsville.
“We’ve been on a little hot streak and we’re going to try to keep that
going into Martinsville.”
Myers comes into the Made In America Whelen 300 with an eight-point point
lead over Junior Miller in the Whelen Southern Modified championship chase.
Myers hasn’t finished out of the top 10 in six tour races this season. He
has three top five finishes and one win. He also won the Bowman-Gray Stadium
Modified championship this season.
“I really thing we’ve got a good shot at qualifying well and a good shot
at running well and ultimately try to win the race,” Myers said of his
Martinsville chances.
He hasn’t always been so confident at Martinsville. In fact, he remembers
being awestruck during his first trip to race at the historic half-mile.
“This is only about my fourth or fifth time coming to Martinsville to
race,” said Myers. “I remember the first time I came and remember everything
flashing through my mind … the drivers that had been there and the races I
had se in the stands and watched.
“My family goes pretty far back in racing and I like the history of
racing and where it’s come from and Martinsville is one of the places where
it originated. Racing there means a lot to me.”
The Made In America Whelen 300 is the only time each season when the
entire Whelen Southern Tour gets to go head-to-head with their counterparts
from the New England-based NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. The combination race
could make for an interesting evening Myers said.
“The thing about it is, the Yankees are hardnosed racers…people laugh
when we say that, but we are the southerners and they are the Yankees and
that’s the way it is,” said Myers. “And they are hard nosed. They use their
bumpers and they lay on you and lean on each other.
“I don’t mind doing that. It seems like a lot of guys in the south, when
you do that, they take offense to it. I don’t mind it. When we get up to
Martinsville and start banging and the sparks are flying, I’m sure it will
be a good night.”
The Made In America Whelen 300 is set to take the green flag at 8:30 p.m.
on Saturday, Sept. 1. Gates will open at noon, practice will be at 1 p.m.,
followed by qualifying at 5 and an open autograph session in the pits at
6:30 p.m.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $5 for children 6 to 12, and children under 6
will be admitted free. Tickets may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or
visiting
www.racetickets.com on line.
Source: Martinsville
Speedway
PR
Posted:
August 23, 2007
