Rain Halts NSS
Qualifying; List of Guaranteed Starters Grows
This past weekend was scheduled to be a big one in
North-South ShootoutTM Qualifying competition. Three
of the final remaining qualifying races for the 6th Annual John
Blewett III Memorial North-South ShootoutTM were
originally scheduled for the weekend of September 27 and 28. But
yet another tropical storm pounded the northeast canceling all
racing in the region for the duration of the weekend.
The "King of the Mountain" event scheduled for Saturday and
Sunday at Mountain Speedway were to have carried starting spots
for both the Modified and SK-Type Modified portions of the
annual North-South ShootoutTM. On Sunday, in
Claremont, NH, the Twin State Speedway was set to proudly host
the first-ever Ricky Miller Memorial 100 for the True Value
Modified Racing Series. The winner of that event would also
secure a starting spot for their car owner in the Modified
portion of the Shootout.
Both the Sport Mod and Modified events at Mountain Speedway
have been rescheduled for next weekend, Saturday, October 4 and
5, respectively. With a busy schedule in New England racing,
Twin State Speedway has scheduled their make-up for the event on
October 25 and 26, 2008. All three events will remain on the
Shootout qualifying race schedule.
The final two qualifying spots in the Modified portion of the
6th Annual John Blewett III Memorial North-South ShootoutTM
will be up for grabs on October 25. A northern winner will be
decided in the final installment of the Sno ‘n Go All-Star
Modified Series at All-Star Speedway in Epping, NH while a
southern starter will be determined in the ASA Southern Modified
Tour race at Hickory Speedway in Hickory, NC.
Two competitors who do not have to worry about qualifying for
the 6th Annual John Blewett III Memorial North-South ShootoutTM
include the defending race champions. Matt Hirschman of
Northampton, PA, the two-time and defending champion of the John
Blewett III Memorial North-South ShootoutTM and 2007
SK-Type Modified winner, Jimmy Blewett, removed the first
obstacle in their respective title defenses with wins in recent
qualifying race wins. Both drivers have expressed their
intentions to defend their titles in 2008.
By virtue of his dominating performance in the Race of
Champions event as part of Modified Mania at Thompson
International Speedway September 7, 2008, owner/driver Hirschman earned a guaranteed starting
spot in the field of the North-South ShootoutTM for
his family-owned #60. Blewett, who had previously won a
guaranteed starting spot in the Modified portion of this year’s
event for car owner George Bierce with a victory at Stafford
Motor Speedway on August 8, scored a popular victory at Thompson
Speedway on August 28th in the 50-lapper for the Sunoco
Modifieds to earn long-time car owner Eddie Partridge a spot in
the SK-Type potion of the event as well.
A host of other contenders have also secured their place on
the starting grid on November 8, 2008 at Concord Motorsport
Park. In Southern Modified competition, the highest finishing
Southern Modified Tour competitor in NSS history, Brian Loftin,
put himself solidly in the field as he prepares to become the
first Southern winner of the prestigious event. Loftin earned a
guaranteed starting spot for his family owned and operated team
with a victory in the Whelen Southern Modified Tour on August
22, 2008 at Caraway Speedway. Loftin is joined by southern ‘bad
boy’ Burt Myers, who won on a very emotional night at Ace
Speedway to earn his car owner Phillip Smith a spot on the
starting grid. Myers took top honors on September 1, 2008 in
the ASA Southern Modified Race Tour race dedicated to the memory
of Brian Pack.
Myers was not done there. He was victorious in another
Modified qualifying race on September 13, 2008 in the Whelen
Southern Modified Tour event at Southern National. With Myers
already in the field, runner-up Tim Brown was awarded the
guaranteed starting spot for his brother, car owner Ben Brown.
Previous Modified qualifiers have included Ronnie Silk
(North) and Brian King (South).
The Supermodified contingent, who have their own East-West
Supermodified ShootoutTM as part of the John Blewett
III Memorial North-South ShootoutTM have been busy
earning guaranteed starting spots of their own. In Supermodified
qualifying race action, Englewood Racing Association competitor
Nick Haywood earned a guaranteed starting spot in the East-West
Supermodified ShootoutTM for his car owner by virtue
of his victory on August 30th at Colorado National.
Subsequently, because Haywood, the winner of September 6 event
also held at Colorado National, had already earned his starting
spot, runner-up Tom Adler was awarded the second ERA guaranteed
starting spot at this year’s Shootout. On August 31, 2008,
owner/driver Doug Didero bested a stellar field of competition
at the celebrated Non-Wing Classic at Oswego Speedway to earn a
spot on the starting grid for the East-West Supermodified
ShootoutTM.
Continuing with the pattern of repeat winners, Chris Perley
earned a guaranteed starting spot for his car owner Vic Miller
on July 27th with his win in the qualifying race at Sandusky
Speedway. He replicated his winning ways defeating young driver
Jon McKennedy after a fierce battle in the prestigious All-Star
Classic on Saturday, September 13, 2008. (The event was
originally scheduled for September 6 but was ultimately
postponed due to inclement weather in the form of tropical storm
Hanna). Despite settling for the runner-up position to Perley,
owner/driver McKennedy was awarded the starting spot on November
8 at Concord Motorsport Park.
Charlie Schultz and Brian Warf had previously earned
guaranteed starting positions for their car owners for the
East-West Supermodified ShootoutTM.
Aces Doug Coby, Tyler Chadwick, and Henry Stampfl will be
joined by the Sport Mod winner at Mountain Speedway as
guaranteed starters in the SK-Type Modified portion of the
North-South ShootoutTM on November 8, 2008.
The sixth Annual John Blewett III Memorial North-South
ShootoutTM, scheduled for November 7&8, 2008, is 125
laps of green flag racing for the ground-pounding Modifieds that
features the best open-wheel drivers from both north and south
of the Mason-Dixon Line. For the second year in a row, the
ultra-fast Supermodifieds will add an incredible level of
intensity with the 50-lap East-West Supermodified ShootoutTM.
The SK-type Modifieds have provided their own brand of
excitement as part of the festivities with a 50-lapper of their
own. The Vintage Modifieds and Street Stocks will also be on
hand.
The event is a throwback of sorts with drivers from various
tracks and racing organizations joining together for two-days of
racing action at one of the fastest half-mile race tracks in the
country. Every year, the roster for this annual event reads like
a “Who’s Who” of Modified racing.
In 2008, C&C Racing Promotions has extended the annual event
to include two nights of racing at the quarter-mile speedway
located on the grounds of Concord Motorsport Park; making the
event a five-day racing extravaganza. Divisions competing on
Tuesday and Wednesday, November 4&5, 2008 include Ford Focus
Midgets, Four-Cylinders, Legends and Bandoleros.
The action of the North-South ShootoutTM kicks off
on Tuesday, November 4th and Wednesday, November 5, 2008 at the
short track. Thursday, November 6, Concord Motorsport Park will
host an open practice. On Friday, November 7th, qualifying will
be held for all divisions. Time trials will be run for the
Tour-Type Modifieds and SK-Type Modifieds followed by heat races
for all five of the weekend divisions. The Street Stocks will
have their 50-lap feature event on Friday night. The remaining
feature events, the ever-popular pit party, and the renowned
“Little Shootout” will all take place on Saturday, November 8,
2008. A complete schedule is available online at
northsouthshootout.com.
For more information on the John Blewett III Memorial
North-South ShootoutTM, please call 336-250-4383. For
more information on the North-South ShootoutTM events
being held at the Quarter Mile Track, please contact Chad Kepley
at 336-250-4385. Visit the official website for a comprehensive
look at the entire 2008 North-South ShootoutTM.
The North-South ShootoutTM and East-West
Supermodified ShootoutTM are registered trade marks
of C&C Racing Promotions.
Source:
racinpr@aol.com/North-South Shootout PR
Posted:
September 28, 2008
