South Rises Again ... Myers Wins NSS
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"The South Has Risen Again"
Concord, NC ~ To people in the Northern states, Modifieds are a way of life. At nearly every track above Pennsylvania, the mods are the featured division or at least one of the classes run. And the fans come out in droves to see them. Down South we have the Nascar Whelen Southern Tour, the ASA mods, and only one track running the mods as their featured class, Bowman Gray Stadium. For years the Northern teams have "whipped-up" on the Southerners at the 2 combinations events they run, Martinsville and the North South Shootout. Burt Myers pulled off the upset at Martinsville this year, only to have the win stripped for rules infractions. At the 6th running of the North South Shootout Saturday, Burt let them know the south was alive and well, tech was run after the race and Burt Myers can honestly say he "whipped-up" on the entire field.
The SK modifieds ran before the main event, and we didn't know if the main event would take place on Saturday night or Sunday morning. 29 drivers started the event, and it turned into a total crashfest. The race was only 50 laps long, but numerous cautions and 4 red flags turned it into a marathon. After 4 cautions in the first 7 laps, the actually racing story was Keith Rocco, who missed qualifying because he was at the NASCAR banquet in Vegas the night before. Rocco started in 29th, and by lap 7 he was 6th, luck and a fast car were getting the job done. Rocco would ultimately take himself out though on lap 20, as the tried to force his way around Ronnie Silk for second coming off turn 1, running hard into the outside wall. the same exact thing he did the previous year in this event.
Meanwhile up front it was all Ted Christopher. He did get a challenge from Doug Coby at various times when they hit lapped traffic, but T.C. had the field covered until a caution with 2 to go set up some possible fireworks. Jimmy Blewett was able to get around Coby for second 2 laps before, and everybody knows Blewett and Christopher will duel to the death. After the restart Blewett drives into turn 3 extremely hard, giving T.C. a hard shot exiting the corner, but Christopher hangs on and takes the win in one of the most expensive races Concord has ever seen. Luckily no drivers were injured in the 50 lap derby, and I say "luckily" because some of the crashes were horrendous.
"By The Grace Of God and 600 Horsepower" the tour mods were up next for the 125 lap feature event. Burt Myers had set fast time, but all eyes were on the 4th place starter, Matt Hirschman. Matt is the 2-time and defending champion of the event, and everybody knew he was going to be the car to beat once more. He didn't disappoint either, as the green flag dropped he jumped into the second position, and on lap 19 he took the lead from Eric Rudolph. It looked like we were going down the same road once more.
A caution on lap 30 turned out to be one of the major turning points of the race. At the Shootout, all cars must pit during the event at some point, you don't have to do anything to your car, but it must be jacked off the ground. All the leaders took advantage of the caution, but a few stayed out including Myers and Ronnie Silk.
As the race progressed, some breathtaking moves were being displayed. If you've ever been to Concord you know 3 wide is out of the question, but the mods proved that theory wrong as they did it on more than one occasion. The cars that pitted were coming through the field and Burt Myers was pulling away like no car has done in the past. Numerous cautions were put out, but still the cars of Myers and Silk stayed put. Was the strategy of staying out till late going to work? Myers tried the same thing the previous year and ran out of laps on his quest for the front.
Laps were winding down, and for once a caution didn't look apparent. Ted Christopher and Hirschman had already gotten back into the top 5 by lap 50, and we started to approach the 100 lap mark and Myers and Silk still hadn't pitted, it looked as if their plan had failed. But alas, a caution was displayed on lap 98 for a air cleaner on the track and Myers and Silk made their way down pit road, picking up some new right side rubber for the finish, but would they have enough time?
27 laps to go, and Silk rolls off 15th with Myers 16th, and all the cars in front of them were top-notch rides. It didn't seem to matter to Myers, as he put on one of the most legendary charges to the front in modified history. Picking them off as he came to them, by lap 107 he had followed Silk into the top 6. A lap later he follows him into 5th.Lap 113 comes and Myers gets by Silk sideways for 4th and sets his sight on the 3rd place car of Ryan Preece. He gets him on lap 15, but there is a new problem in front of him. Matt Hirshman and Eric Beers are long gone.
It turned out that luck would be on Burt's side this night. With the leaders riding off into the sunset, a caution flies 7 laps from the finish, and another a lap later. He only has 6 laps to get the job done, and 2 of the best in the business to do it against. Green flies and Beers pulls to the inside with electrical problems, ending his great run and giving Myers the time he needs with the leader. Only one car and still 6 laps between him and victory, Myers sets sail against the #60 of Hirschman, hounding him around the track. With 4 to go he dives hard to the inside in turn 3 and takes the lead, the only thing Hirschman can do is watch. Another caution flies with 3 to go, but Myers drives off into the distance, giving the Southern Modifieds their first major race win over the Northerners since 1985.
Once again the Shootout didn't fail us, it is still the most exciting race of the year. From the 175 mph dogleg speeds of the Supermodifieds, to the crashfest of SK mods, onto the main event for the tour mods, it is still one of the best shows of the season. Thanks to all that make this event happen, and to the drivers who drive the "fastest of the fast" putting on shows that will be talked about for decades. See ya next year.
Concord, NC ~ To people in the Northern states, Modifieds are a way of life. At nearly every track above Pennsylvania, the mods are the featured division or at least one of the classes run. And the fans come out in droves to see them. Down South we have the Nascar Whelen Southern Tour, the ASA mods, and only one track running the mods as their featured class, Bowman Gray Stadium. For years the Northern teams have "whipped-up" on the Southerners at the 2 combinations events they run, Martinsville and the North South Shootout. Burt Myers pulled off the upset at Martinsville this year, only to have the win stripped for rules infractions. At the 6th running of the North South Shootout Saturday, Burt let them know the south was alive and well, tech was run after the race and Burt Myers can honestly say he "whipped-up" on the entire field.
The SK modifieds ran before the main event, and we didn't know if the main event would take place on Saturday night or Sunday morning. 29 drivers started the event, and it turned into a total crashfest. The race was only 50 laps long, but numerous cautions and 4 red flags turned it into a marathon. After 4 cautions in the first 7 laps, the actually racing story was Keith Rocco, who missed qualifying because he was at the NASCAR banquet in Vegas the night before. Rocco started in 29th, and by lap 7 he was 6th, luck and a fast car were getting the job done. Rocco would ultimately take himself out though on lap 20, as the tried to force his way around Ronnie Silk for second coming off turn 1, running hard into the outside wall. the same exact thing he did the previous year in this event.
Meanwhile up front it was all Ted Christopher. He did get a challenge from Doug Coby at various times when they hit lapped traffic, but T.C. had the field covered until a caution with 2 to go set up some possible fireworks. Jimmy Blewett was able to get around Coby for second 2 laps before, and everybody knows Blewett and Christopher will duel to the death. After the restart Blewett drives into turn 3 extremely hard, giving T.C. a hard shot exiting the corner, but Christopher hangs on and takes the win in one of the most expensive races Concord has ever seen. Luckily no drivers were injured in the 50 lap derby, and I say "luckily" because some of the crashes were horrendous.
"By The Grace Of God and 600 Horsepower" the tour mods were up next for the 125 lap feature event. Burt Myers had set fast time, but all eyes were on the 4th place starter, Matt Hirschman. Matt is the 2-time and defending champion of the event, and everybody knew he was going to be the car to beat once more. He didn't disappoint either, as the green flag dropped he jumped into the second position, and on lap 19 he took the lead from Eric Rudolph. It looked like we were going down the same road once more.
A caution on lap 30 turned out to be one of the major turning points of the race. At the Shootout, all cars must pit during the event at some point, you don't have to do anything to your car, but it must be jacked off the ground. All the leaders took advantage of the caution, but a few stayed out including Myers and Ronnie Silk.
As the race progressed, some breathtaking moves were being displayed. If you've ever been to Concord you know 3 wide is out of the question, but the mods proved that theory wrong as they did it on more than one occasion. The cars that pitted were coming through the field and Burt Myers was pulling away like no car has done in the past. Numerous cautions were put out, but still the cars of Myers and Silk stayed put. Was the strategy of staying out till late going to work? Myers tried the same thing the previous year and ran out of laps on his quest for the front.
Laps were winding down, and for once a caution didn't look apparent. Ted Christopher and Hirschman had already gotten back into the top 5 by lap 50, and we started to approach the 100 lap mark and Myers and Silk still hadn't pitted, it looked as if their plan had failed. But alas, a caution was displayed on lap 98 for a air cleaner on the track and Myers and Silk made their way down pit road, picking up some new right side rubber for the finish, but would they have enough time?
27 laps to go, and Silk rolls off 15th with Myers 16th, and all the cars in front of them were top-notch rides. It didn't seem to matter to Myers, as he put on one of the most legendary charges to the front in modified history. Picking them off as he came to them, by lap 107 he had followed Silk into the top 6. A lap later he follows him into 5th.Lap 113 comes and Myers gets by Silk sideways for 4th and sets his sight on the 3rd place car of Ryan Preece. He gets him on lap 15, but there is a new problem in front of him. Matt Hirshman and Eric Beers are long gone.
It turned out that luck would be on Burt's side this night. With the leaders riding off into the sunset, a caution flies 7 laps from the finish, and another a lap later. He only has 6 laps to get the job done, and 2 of the best in the business to do it against. Green flies and Beers pulls to the inside with electrical problems, ending his great run and giving Myers the time he needs with the leader. Only one car and still 6 laps between him and victory, Myers sets sail against the #60 of Hirschman, hounding him around the track. With 4 to go he dives hard to the inside in turn 3 and takes the lead, the only thing Hirschman can do is watch. Another caution flies with 3 to go, but Myers drives off into the distance, giving the Southern Modifieds their first major race win over the Northerners since 1985.
Once again the Shootout didn't fail us, it is still the most exciting race of the year. From the 175 mph dogleg speeds of the Supermodifieds, to the crashfest of SK mods, onto the main event for the tour mods, it is still one of the best shows of the season. Thanks to all that make this event happen, and to the drivers who drive the "fastest of the fast" putting on shows that will be talked about for decades. See ya next year.
