NSS Friday Night Report
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The heats were tame to say the least, as most of them turned out to be single-file affairs. In heat #1, another boy from the South, Brian Loftlin took home the win with Todd Szegedy right on his heels, the two drivers were in a class of their own. Frank Fleming came home with a great finish of 3rd, and Tommy Ferrell took 4th for the final transfer spot in the heat. Ed Flemke who used to drive for Roger Hill a few years ago, is in the backup Hill car to Ronnie Silk. Ed made it exciting, as he beat and banged on Jason Myers until Myers was spun in turn 3. Ed's charge to the front came up just short as he finished 5th, and will have to try and advance through the "last chance" race on Saturday.
Heat #2 was led flag to flag by George Brunnhoelzl III, Ryan Preece, Rowan Pennick and Ronnie Silk followed him to the line. the cars toward the back did get a little racy in the early going, as Daren Sherer and Kenny Horton got together off turn 1 and went for a lazy spin. Well, I guess at a track as fast as Concord, no spin is really "lazy". Both cars would continue and will be ready to go for the last chance race.
The 3rd heat race rolled off with "Showtime" Jimmy Blewett leading the field to the green. Blewett led the entire race, but not without Eric Beers pestering him the whole way. Beers didn't take his car out for the final practice, saying he hadn't changed much at all on the car all day, which is opposite to what 90% of the cars here have said. Beers looked to be just riding behind Blewett to his 2nd place finish, followed by Glen Reen and Earl Paules.
The final heat race was completely and totally dominated by the master, Ted Christopher. TC had them covered the entire race, getting a lead of nearly 4 seconds, he just checked out. The 2008 Whelen Modified Tour Champion chased to the checkereds by Chuck Hossfield, Les Hinckley, and Bobby Santos III. Santos, who is also wheeling a super modified this weekend, had one of the more exciting drives of the night, getting around Woody Pitkat with 2 to go taking the final transfer spot.
The modifieds were done for the night, but there was one race to go, the 50 lap Street Stock main event. At 4:30 that afternoon a trailer rolled through the parking lot, it was two familiar faces, A.J. Sanders and his father Archie. They had brought their 4-cylinder mini-stocks to race against the big V-8's. "Is this gonna work?" I asked. "We'll see, I think I can beat'em". I just laughed, but I really had no idea at the show I was about to witness.
All night had been tame to say the least, but A.J. Sanders had the crowd jumpin, as he took his little ministock from shotgun on the field and ran through the pack twice. He was sent to the rear for spinning 3rd place out with 15 to go, and still came back and nearly won, but settled for second. The V-8 was just too much power through the dogleg, but everywhere else the mini-stock was a rollin. Congrats to Jeff Melton on the win, but thanks to A.J. for putting on a show for the fans, it was something to see.
Come on out to Concord Motorsports park, we'll have the features for the Vintage, Supermodifieds, SK modifieds and the tour mods all on Saturday after the autograph session at 11:30 am. If you've never been, please try it, you'll come back every year, if ya don't you need professional help.
Burt Myers(1) took the pole for the North South Shootout, a victory for the South.
Two-time and defending North-South Shootout Champion, Matt Hirschman looks for three in a row tonight.
Brian Loftin(23) won heat number one, but had Todd Szegedy all over him.
Jason Myers(4) and Ed Flemke(79) race in a tight pack just before contact between the two.
George Brunnhoezl III(28) took the second heat race win.
Jimmy Blewett(19) won heat number three, but Eric Beers(9) gave him a hard run for it.
Bobby Santos III(98) got around Woody Pitkat(88) for the transfer spot late in the race.
AJ Sanders(24) had his four cylinder competing in the Street Stock Feature race.