15 YEAR-OLD PROVES HE'S THE REAL DEAL IN WARRIOR 100 AT CARAWAY
Carson Loftin Opens 2024 with Back-To-Back Victories with SMART Mods
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sophia, NC (March 11, 2024) - He’s the youngest winner in the history of the SMART Modified Tour powered by Pace-O-Matic, and now he’s gone back-to-back to open the 2024 season. 15 year-old Carson Loftin was victorious in the Warrior 100 on Sunday (March 10) at Caraway Speedway in Sophia, NC.
The Lexington, NC driver took the lead during a restart on lap 64 and held off Ryan Newman and Bobby Labonte, during a couple of late-race restarts, to pick up his second-career victory in as many weeks.
“Mr. Newman is a phenomenal racer. I can’t thank him enough for running me clean,” said Loftin, who drives the L&R Transmissions / LeBleu Bottled Water number-23 Modified. “I used him up a little more than I wanted to going into (turn) one, so I’m glad he kept it classy there. That was fun. I’m just glad we could race hard and get another win.”
“Carson did an excellent job,” said Newman, who drives the SHITI Coolers / Aggressive Hydraulics / Montrose Molders / Capitol Auto Group number-2 for Coulter Motorsports. “I told him, ‘You did exactly what you were supposed to do.’ He said, ‘Sorry about running you up’ and I said, ‘No, you can run me up because you had position.’ He’s a good kid doing a good job; now we gotta try to beat him again.”
In addition to Loftin’s consecutive victories, Newman, from South Bend, IN, now has two podium finishes (third at Florence and second at Caraway). Both drivers are unofficially first and second in the point standings.
Newman was one of the biggest movers in the Warrior 100. He advanced 8 positions after qualifying 10th.
Jimmy Blewett, from Howell, NJ, was another driver with a strong run to the front. After finishing sixth at Florence (SC) last week, Blewett gained 10 spots from his 14th-place starting position to end up fourth at the checkered flag in the Jamie Tomaino owned number-99.
The Pace-O-Matic Hard Charger of the Race was Walnut Cover, NC driver Jason Myers. The Greg Butcher Trucking number-4 started 20th and by the end of 100 laps, Myers advanced 14 positions to finish sixth.
Two-time, Tour-Type Modified winner at Caraway, Danny Bohn, was strong in the Ameri-Fast Supply number-24. The Freehold, NJ native rounded out the top-five finishers.
Jake Crum, from Statesville, NC, was the Pace-O-Matic Pole Award winner in qualifying. Early in the race, Crum’s number-12pa was in the top-5 until engine problems ended his day.
Now drivers from all over the country will converge on a small town in southern Virginia for a chance to be crowned King of the Modifieds. On Saturday, March 23, at South Boston Speedway, the SMART Modified Tour will compete in the Pace-O-Matic King of the Modifieds presented by Dominion Energy.
The King of the Modifieds is one of the richest purses in Modified racing, thanks in part to many sponsors, including Vista Installations and the Stanley Law Group. In addition to the $20,000 first place prize, it was announced that the second-place finisher will score $10,000. If you are one of the 36 starters for the event, you will be guaranteed to take home at least $1,200.
A total of 32 cars will lock in from qualifying on Saturday, March 23, at South Boston Speedway. The tally will be made up of the top-18 in current SMART Tour owners points that have participated in the first two events of the season, as well as 14 other starters from time trials. That group will be lined up via their qualifying time for the starting order of the race. An additional four cars will earn their way through a last-chance race, which will bring the total to 36 starters. The series reserves the right of an optional provisional starting spot.
A tech day for SMART Modified teams will occur on Friday, March 22. Registration will open at 10am. There will be no practice for SMART Modifieds on Friday.
Race day, on Saturday, March 23, will see registration open at 7am, qualifying at approximately Noon and the Dominion Energy Last Chance Race for SMART Modifieds to begin shortly after 2pm ET.
Discounted tickets for the Pace-O-Matic King of the Modifieds are available though the South Boston Speedway website. General admission tickets are available now for $17. That price will be $20 on race day, Saturday, March 23. Children 12 and under are free for this event. The Sentara Health Late Models and the VSP HEAT Hornets will also be in action.
In 2024, SMART fans will be treated to 15 races at 13 different facilities in the tri-state region of North and South Carolina, as well as Virginia. 15 year-old Carson Loftin won the first event of the season, the Peanut Patch 99, on Saturday, March 2, at Florence Motor Speedway in South Carolina.
The season commences at the famed North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina on Saturday, October 19.
All races can also be seen on FloRacing, the official streaming broadcast partner of the SMART Modified Tour powered by Pace-O-Matic.
To see the entire schedule for the SMART Modified Tour powered by Pace-O-Matic, as well as all the latest news and information, please visit the series website at www.smartmodtour.com, and be sure to follow the series on social media (Facebook: SMART Modified Tour| Twitter: @SMARTMods_ | IG: @smartmods_).
By Bob Dillner - Twitter: @shorttracklife_
SMART Modified Tour Race #2
UNOFFICIAL Race Results for the Warrior 100 - 03/10/2024
Race Length: 100L - 45.5 M - 63.756 KM
Fin - Car - Driver - Sponsors
1. 23 - Carson Loftin - L&R Transmissions
2. 2 - Ryan Newman - SHITI Coolers / Aggressive Hydraulics
3. 18L - Bobby Labonte - Cookout
4. 99 - Jimmy Blewett - Sponsor Wanted
5. 24 - Danny Bohn - Ameri-Fast Supply
6. 4 - Jason Myers - Greg Butcher Trucking
7. 7VA - Luke Baldwin - Pace-O-Matic
8. 27 - Blake Barney - D-Mac Pools
9. 60 - Matt Hirschman - SMART Chevy
10. 02 - Joey Coulter - TORCH Eyewear
11. 77R - Will Lambrose - Skip Barber Racing School
12. 79 - Anthony Bello - Sun Drop
13. 66 - Austin Kochenash - LOI Kits
14. 16 - Jonathan Cash - Pace-O-Matic
15. 21 - Jimmy Wallace - Carolina Drilling
16. 04 - Brandon Ward - KevinSaysYes.com
17. 1 - Burt Myers - Citrusafe / Peanut Patch
18. 15 - Brian Loftin - L&R Transmissions
19. 77 - Gary Putnam - CURB Records
20. 18 - Daniel Yates - Yates Grading & Paving
21. 25 - Tommy Buzze - Mark III Financial / UNITS
22. 12PA - Jake Crum - Cherokee Unlimited
23. 22 - Jason Tutterow - Carolina Drilling
24. 31 - Cody Norman - Jerry Hunt Supercenter
25. 48 - Jonny Kievman - A-Best Forklift of Millbridge
26. 45 - Gary Young Jr. - Ideal Comfort Heating & Air
SMART Modified Tour
The SMART Modified Tour captures the essence of one of the most legendary forms of racing in America, pavement Modifieds. Born in 1988, these ground-pounding, 600-horsepower missiles for the SMART Tour are a must-see for any racing fan.
In 2020, Chris Williams brought SMART Modifieds back to prominence after a brief hiatus. Due to the overwhelming popularity from its fan base, a four-race schedule in its initial year has given birth to an adventurous 15-race schedule in 2024.
This year will mark the fourth full-season of SMART Modified Tour racing since its return. Many of Modified racing’s best drivers, from all over the country, will compete with the series, which visits 13 different racetracks in three different states in the Mid-Atlantic - North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.
SMART Modifieds compete on grueling asphalt oval short tracks, embedded in quaint local communities, each spring, summer and fall.
Pace-O-Matic
Pace-O-Matic develops, produces, and licenses fun and entertainment in the form of skill games in various states, including Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kansas, South Carolina, Texas and Wyoming, among others. Since its founding in 2000, the organization has built a talented leadership team and a culture defined by integrity, innovation, and compliance. Learn more at www.paceomatic.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sophia, NC (March 11, 2024) - He’s the youngest winner in the history of the SMART Modified Tour powered by Pace-O-Matic, and now he’s gone back-to-back to open the 2024 season. 15 year-old Carson Loftin was victorious in the Warrior 100 on Sunday (March 10) at Caraway Speedway in Sophia, NC.
The Lexington, NC driver took the lead during a restart on lap 64 and held off Ryan Newman and Bobby Labonte, during a couple of late-race restarts, to pick up his second-career victory in as many weeks.
“Mr. Newman is a phenomenal racer. I can’t thank him enough for running me clean,” said Loftin, who drives the L&R Transmissions / LeBleu Bottled Water number-23 Modified. “I used him up a little more than I wanted to going into (turn) one, so I’m glad he kept it classy there. That was fun. I’m just glad we could race hard and get another win.”
“Carson did an excellent job,” said Newman, who drives the SHITI Coolers / Aggressive Hydraulics / Montrose Molders / Capitol Auto Group number-2 for Coulter Motorsports. “I told him, ‘You did exactly what you were supposed to do.’ He said, ‘Sorry about running you up’ and I said, ‘No, you can run me up because you had position.’ He’s a good kid doing a good job; now we gotta try to beat him again.”
In addition to Loftin’s consecutive victories, Newman, from South Bend, IN, now has two podium finishes (third at Florence and second at Caraway). Both drivers are unofficially first and second in the point standings.
Newman was one of the biggest movers in the Warrior 100. He advanced 8 positions after qualifying 10th.
Jimmy Blewett, from Howell, NJ, was another driver with a strong run to the front. After finishing sixth at Florence (SC) last week, Blewett gained 10 spots from his 14th-place starting position to end up fourth at the checkered flag in the Jamie Tomaino owned number-99.
The Pace-O-Matic Hard Charger of the Race was Walnut Cover, NC driver Jason Myers. The Greg Butcher Trucking number-4 started 20th and by the end of 100 laps, Myers advanced 14 positions to finish sixth.
Two-time, Tour-Type Modified winner at Caraway, Danny Bohn, was strong in the Ameri-Fast Supply number-24. The Freehold, NJ native rounded out the top-five finishers.
Jake Crum, from Statesville, NC, was the Pace-O-Matic Pole Award winner in qualifying. Early in the race, Crum’s number-12pa was in the top-5 until engine problems ended his day.
Now drivers from all over the country will converge on a small town in southern Virginia for a chance to be crowned King of the Modifieds. On Saturday, March 23, at South Boston Speedway, the SMART Modified Tour will compete in the Pace-O-Matic King of the Modifieds presented by Dominion Energy.
The King of the Modifieds is one of the richest purses in Modified racing, thanks in part to many sponsors, including Vista Installations and the Stanley Law Group. In addition to the $20,000 first place prize, it was announced that the second-place finisher will score $10,000. If you are one of the 36 starters for the event, you will be guaranteed to take home at least $1,200.
A total of 32 cars will lock in from qualifying on Saturday, March 23, at South Boston Speedway. The tally will be made up of the top-18 in current SMART Tour owners points that have participated in the first two events of the season, as well as 14 other starters from time trials. That group will be lined up via their qualifying time for the starting order of the race. An additional four cars will earn their way through a last-chance race, which will bring the total to 36 starters. The series reserves the right of an optional provisional starting spot.
A tech day for SMART Modified teams will occur on Friday, March 22. Registration will open at 10am. There will be no practice for SMART Modifieds on Friday.
Race day, on Saturday, March 23, will see registration open at 7am, qualifying at approximately Noon and the Dominion Energy Last Chance Race for SMART Modifieds to begin shortly after 2pm ET.
Discounted tickets for the Pace-O-Matic King of the Modifieds are available though the South Boston Speedway website. General admission tickets are available now for $17. That price will be $20 on race day, Saturday, March 23. Children 12 and under are free for this event. The Sentara Health Late Models and the VSP HEAT Hornets will also be in action.
In 2024, SMART fans will be treated to 15 races at 13 different facilities in the tri-state region of North and South Carolina, as well as Virginia. 15 year-old Carson Loftin won the first event of the season, the Peanut Patch 99, on Saturday, March 2, at Florence Motor Speedway in South Carolina.
The season commences at the famed North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina on Saturday, October 19.
All races can also be seen on FloRacing, the official streaming broadcast partner of the SMART Modified Tour powered by Pace-O-Matic.
To see the entire schedule for the SMART Modified Tour powered by Pace-O-Matic, as well as all the latest news and information, please visit the series website at www.smartmodtour.com, and be sure to follow the series on social media (Facebook: SMART Modified Tour| Twitter: @SMARTMods_ | IG: @smartmods_).
By Bob Dillner - Twitter: @shorttracklife_
SMART Modified Tour Race #2
UNOFFICIAL Race Results for the Warrior 100 - 03/10/2024
Race Length: 100L - 45.5 M - 63.756 KM
Fin - Car - Driver - Sponsors
1. 23 - Carson Loftin - L&R Transmissions
2. 2 - Ryan Newman - SHITI Coolers / Aggressive Hydraulics
3. 18L - Bobby Labonte - Cookout
4. 99 - Jimmy Blewett - Sponsor Wanted
5. 24 - Danny Bohn - Ameri-Fast Supply
6. 4 - Jason Myers - Greg Butcher Trucking
7. 7VA - Luke Baldwin - Pace-O-Matic
8. 27 - Blake Barney - D-Mac Pools
9. 60 - Matt Hirschman - SMART Chevy
10. 02 - Joey Coulter - TORCH Eyewear
11. 77R - Will Lambrose - Skip Barber Racing School
12. 79 - Anthony Bello - Sun Drop
13. 66 - Austin Kochenash - LOI Kits
14. 16 - Jonathan Cash - Pace-O-Matic
15. 21 - Jimmy Wallace - Carolina Drilling
16. 04 - Brandon Ward - KevinSaysYes.com
17. 1 - Burt Myers - Citrusafe / Peanut Patch
18. 15 - Brian Loftin - L&R Transmissions
19. 77 - Gary Putnam - CURB Records
20. 18 - Daniel Yates - Yates Grading & Paving
21. 25 - Tommy Buzze - Mark III Financial / UNITS
22. 12PA - Jake Crum - Cherokee Unlimited
23. 22 - Jason Tutterow - Carolina Drilling
24. 31 - Cody Norman - Jerry Hunt Supercenter
25. 48 - Jonny Kievman - A-Best Forklift of Millbridge
26. 45 - Gary Young Jr. - Ideal Comfort Heating & Air
SMART Modified Tour
The SMART Modified Tour captures the essence of one of the most legendary forms of racing in America, pavement Modifieds. Born in 1988, these ground-pounding, 600-horsepower missiles for the SMART Tour are a must-see for any racing fan.
In 2020, Chris Williams brought SMART Modifieds back to prominence after a brief hiatus. Due to the overwhelming popularity from its fan base, a four-race schedule in its initial year has given birth to an adventurous 15-race schedule in 2024.
This year will mark the fourth full-season of SMART Modified Tour racing since its return. Many of Modified racing’s best drivers, from all over the country, will compete with the series, which visits 13 different racetracks in three different states in the Mid-Atlantic - North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.
SMART Modifieds compete on grueling asphalt oval short tracks, embedded in quaint local communities, each spring, summer and fall.
Pace-O-Matic
Pace-O-Matic develops, produces, and licenses fun and entertainment in the form of skill games in various states, including Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kansas, South Carolina, Texas and Wyoming, among others. Since its founding in 2000, the organization has built a talented leadership team and a culture defined by integrity, innovation, and compliance. Learn more at www.paceomatic.com
