Story by: Corey Latham ~ corey@RACE22.com

Concord, NC(November 5, 2009) -- Concord Speedway is the place for Modifieds and Super Late Models this weekend, as the 7th annual North-South Shootout rolls off this Friday and Saturday.

This is always one of the biggest events in this entire region for auto racing and the entire East coast for that matter, as teams come from all over and the fans follow as hundreds of RV's and campers will be on the Speedway grounds. This year should be bigger than ever with the addition of the Super Late Models and TBARA Sprint Cars, and with the Southern crowd coming in droves to watch Burt Myers defend his 2008 crown, you had better get your seats early.

As usual, the main event for the Shootout, the 125 lap Tour Modified feature, looks as strong as ever. Burt Myers is looking to defend his title from a year ago, after he took a dramatic win getting tires in the late going and charging through the field in the final 25 laps to win, the first victory for the Southern charge in the history of the event. Burt will be alongside some great competition in the form of his Southern competitors, Brian Loftin and the 2009 series champion George Brunnhoelzl III.

Andy Seuss is another tough driver on the entry list, but it looks as if he'll be in his family owned #70 ride, as his team owner Jeff Riggs has never been a fan of the "shootout" style races. Throw in Frank Fleming, Jonathon Brown and Jason Myers with his Roush powered Ford, and the Southern cars have a good chance to rise to the top once more.

On the other side of the coin, you have the domination of the Northern drivers. In the six years of the shootout, only eight Southern drivers have finished in the top ten, and if you count Super Late Model legend Freddie Query in 04' making his second ever mod start, that number jumps to nine. The Northern guys have owned the Concord track, and this year they are coming fully loaded as they always do, with the big names of the sport at the top of the list.

Of the Northern drivers entered, the favorite going in has to be Matt Hirshman. Matty and the late John Blewett III are the only two-time winners of the event, with Matt's coming back-to-back in 06' and 07'. He hasn't been racing as much as he has wanted on the NASCAR Whelen tour in 09' for lack of funding, but looks to be coming to the Shootout as hungry as ever, bringing his winning #60 ride in tow.

He'll have his work cut out for him as Ted Christopher in the "Brady Bunch" #00 will be there, along with the likes of Chuck Hossfeld, Bobby Grigas, James Civali, Woody Pitkat, Rowan Pennick, Whelen tour runner-up Ryan Preece, and my pick for the event in 09' Eric Beers. It will be as exciting as ever, and the winner of this one will have earned it for sure.

An addition to the event this year will be the Super Late Models, having their own 125 lapper under the direction of the CRA series. This event is shaping up to be the biggest Super event at Concord since the "Big 10" series days, when the likes of Query, Sprague, Purvis and Irvan graced the super-fast speedplant. With the addition of drivers who were previously entered in the All-American 400 at the now closed Nashville Speedway, eyes are starting to get bigger staring at the Super event itself.

The race also has some local Late Model Stock Car flair to it as well as three-time LMSC winner this season at Lonesome Pine and Newport Speedway, Dylan Presnell will be driving the same car as he piloted to a win at Newport Speedway in his only other Super Late Model start. Presnell is hoping for similar results this weekend, but will certainly be going up against the top Super Late Model drivers in this region including Chase Eliiott, Johanna Long, Cassius Clark, Max Gresham, Jeff Choquette, Ryan Blaney, Clay Jones, Preston Peltier and Brian Ickler in the Kyle Busch owned #51, just to name a few.

Another Late Model Stock Car driver who's going to be there this weekend is David Latour, Jr., who will be making his Super Late Model debut in the same car that won the track championship this season at Concord Speedway. Daniel Johnson, who won the title this season is giving up his seat to let Latour make his first Super Late Model start. Latour, who consistently runs in the top ten in Late Model Stock Cars is hoping to take some great equipment and make the most of his first start.

The Super Modifieds will not be making a return this year, but have been replaced by the lightning quick TBARA Sprint Cars, led by legend Dave Steele, a multi-time winner of the Copper World Classic at the Phoenix international Raceway and the 2009 "Little 500" winner at Anderson Speedway. Along with the Sprints will be the SK modifieds and the popular Vintage cars, bringing back memories of races past.

The entire weekend is packed with excitement, starting with time trials and heat races Friday night, and concluding with the 7th annual John Blewett III Memorial North/South Shootout on Saturday starting at 11:30 am with the pit party and features immediately after. Be sure to be there, It's an event that you'll never miss after the first visit.