Point Races Close Coming
Into Made In America Whelen 300
The Made In America Whelen 300 NASCAR Modified race at
Martinsville Speedway will feature not one, but two tight point
races when it takes the green flag Saturday afternoon at 3:30.
The Made In America Whelen 300 is a rare NASCAR combination
event with drivers from both the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and
the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour going head-to-head. It
is the only combination event each year for the two series.
Burt Myers broke a 13-race winless streak on the Southern
Tour with a win at Southern National Raceway Park Saturday
night. That win combined with leader Brian Loftin’s electrical
woes tightened the Southern point race headed into Martinsville.
Loftin still leads, but it’s a slim 32-point advantage over
L.W. Miller. Miller, a former Martinsville winner, finished
third Saturday night while Loftin wound up 15th. Loftin entered
the night with a 79-point lead over Miller.
Tim Brown, who finished second behind Meyers at Southern
National, is third, 35 points back while Myers is 37 back.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour point race is tight, but just
not as close as the Southern Tour.
Ted Christopher, who picked up his 30th career win in the New
Hampshire 100 Saturday, has a 99-point lead on Matt Hirschman
with four races to go. Chuck Hossfield is 167 points back in
third.
Christopher’s three wins tops the Northern Tour while
Hirschman, Ronnie Silk and Jimmy Blewett have two each. Blewett
is a former Martinsville winner with a victory in the Made In
American Whelen 300 in 2006.
Loftin leads the Southern Tour with three victories while
Miller is the only other driver with multiple wins. He has won
twice this season.
Last year’s race and pole winner Donny Lia will not be back
to defend this year. He is running for the NASCAR Craftsman
Truck Series rookie-of-the-year title.
Brown led the Whelen Southern Modified Tour competitors with
his fifth-place finish in the Made In America Whelen 300 last
year. Fellow southern competitor Brian King was sixth and Jay
Foley ninth.
The Made In America Whelen 300 is set to take the green flag
at 3:30 Saturday afternoon, but there is a full day of activity
on tap.
There will be a 90-minute practice session beginning at 9:30
a.m., followed by time trials at 2 p.m. Spectator gates will
open at 9 a.m.
There will be an autograph session at 2 p.m. Fans will be
allowed to enter the infield through the flag stand at the
start-finish line and visit with drivers on pit road.
The Made In America 300 will take the green flag at 3:30 p.m.
Tickets for the Made In America Whelen 300 are $25. Children
six to 12 years old are $5. Children under six are admitted
free. Tickets may be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX or
visiting
www.martinsvillespeedway.com.
Source: Mike
Smith/Martinsville Speedway PR
Posted:
September 15, 2008
