BOBBY LABONTE BACK IN PACE-O-MATIC VICTORY LANE WITH SMART MODS
NASCAR Hall of Famer Takes Lead Late In The Cardinal 99 at Tri-County Speedway
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Fairlawn, VA (October 10, 2023) - Bobby Labone is back. The NASCAR Hall of Famer scored his first SMART Modified Tour powered by Pace-O-Matic victory of the season in The Cardinal 99, Saturday (October 7), at Tri-County Speedway in Hudson, NC. It was his third overall win with the SMART Mods.
Labonte dominated the event. His Pace-O-Matic | Cookout | Units Moving & Portable Storage number-18 paced the field for 81 of 99 laps, but it wasn’t until lap 85 that the former NASCAR Cup Series champion took the lead for good. Labonte outdueled defending race winner Brian Loftin for the victory.
“This feels good because it’s been a tough week; last week knocked the crap out of me,” claimed Labonte, who hit the wall hard the week prior at Pulaski County Motorsports Park in Virginia. “We didn’t plan for this (a win) to take this long; we thought we’d be here sooner, but I have to thank these guys because they never gave up.
“We threw some stuff at it; it qualified pretty good and it was on rails during the race. This is Ryan’s car (Newman) because I wiped mine out last weekend. He will not be getting this back,” said Labonte, from Corpus Christi, TX, with a laugh. “Brian Loftin is so good. I turned down under him and it stuck for a lap. That was a great battle and I wasn’t sure I could do it, but this car was just so hooked up.”
Labonte, who drives for SS Racing (owned by Hermie Sadler and Bill Stanley) swept several awards at Tri-County Speedway, including the Bell Helmets Stage One winner (at lap 30), the Bankers Lift Halfway Leader (lap 50) and the Jostens Lap Leader award (81 laps led).. Loftin, who is battling to get into the SMART 3 to compete for the championship, finished third. Loftin led 18 laps during The Cardinal 99.
Many eyes were on the 14 of Bobby Measmer Jr. late in the race. His stellar charge to the runner-up spot at race's end was one for the ages. He advanced 15 positions from his starting spot to earn the Pace-O-Matic Hard Charger award.
“I would have liked about five more laps; then it would have been a different Bobby in victory lane,” said Measmer, who recorded his best career finish in SMART competition. “This is like a win for us. We started 17th, so I think that’s some extra money in my pocket (from Pace-O-Matic). Everyone wanted to run that top lane, but hell, I found something down there on the bottom.”
Burt Myers, in the Citrusafe Grill Cleaners number-1, continues to lead the Pace-O-Matic point standings with two races left in the season. He finished fifth at Tri-County Speedway. Jason Myers won the Pace-O-Matic Pole Award during qualifying. He finished eighth in the race.
The MJ Printing & Graphics fastest lap of the race was turned by Gary Young Jr. (14.990) on lap two.
Jake Crum won the Carolina Drilling Blast To the Front Award. His fourth place run was the highest for a driver who has yet to win a Tour-Type Modified Series event.
This Saturday, October 14, will be the penultimate race of the year for the SMART Modified Tour. The Pace-O-Matic 99 will take place at South Boston Speedway in Virginia. Crate Modifieds and the Southern Ground Pounders are also on the racing card. Please visit the South Boston Speedway website for more information on the event.
For the full SMART Modified Tour powered by Pace-O-Matic schedule, plus driver profiles and other 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 - Short Track Life Media Group - Twitter: @shorttracklife_
SMART Modified Tour Race #10
Official Race Results for the Cardinal 99 - 10/7/2023
Tri-County Motor Speedway - Granite Falls, NC - 0.400 mile
Race Length: 99L - 39.6 M - 63.756 KM
Fin - Str - Car - Driver - Laps
1 - 2 - 18VA - Bobby Labonte - 99
2 - 17 - 14 - Bobby Measmer Jr. - 99
3 - 10 - 15 - Brian Loftin - 99
4 - 12 - 12PA - Jake Crum - 99
5 - 4 - 1 - Burt Myers - 99
6 - 15 - 23 - Carson Loftin - 99
7 - 19 - 5 - Tom Buzze Jr. - 99
8 - 1 - 4 - Jason Myers - 99
9 - 6 - 39VA - Jonathan Cash - 99
10 - 5 - 25 - Tim Brown - 99
11 - 3 - 7NY - Caleb Heady - 99
12 - 9 - 2 - Brandon Ward - 99
13 - 20 - 77 - Gary Putnam - 99
14 - 7 - 24 - Danny Bohn - 99
15 - 11 - 21 - Jimmy Wallace - 99
16 - 23 - 18 - Daniel Yates - 99
17 - 14 - 48 - Jonny Kay - 99
18 - 24 - 44NC - Spencer Martin - 98
19 - 16 - 55 - Jeremy Gerstner - 98
20 - 21 - 34 - Eric Zeh - 98
21 - 13 - 07VA - Dennis Holdren - 98
22 - 8 - 02 - Joey Coulter - 96
23 - 22 - 01 - Brian Weber - 95
24 - 18 - 45 - Gary Young Jr. - 23
Time of Race: 0h:52:47 | Cautions: 3 for 16 Laps
Lap Leaders: Labonte 81, B. Loftin 18
Pace-O-Matic Pole Award: Jason Myers (14.635)
Bell Helmets Stage Winner: Bobby Labonte
Jostens Lap Leader: Bobby Labonte
Bankers Life Halfway Leader: Bobby Labonte
Pace-O-Matic Hard Charger Award: Bobby MeasamerJr. (+15 Positions)
Carolina Drilling Blast to the Front: Jake Crum
MJ Printing & Graphics Fastest Lap: Gary Young Jr. - 14.990 seconds (Lap 2)
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 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 14-race schedule in 2023. This year will mark the third full-season of SMART Modified Tour racing. 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, Wyoming, Kentucky, Illinois and Texas, 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.
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 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 14-race schedule in 2023.
This year will mark the third full-season of SMART Modified Tour racing. 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, Wyoming, Kentucky, Illinois and Texas, 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
Fairlawn, VA (October 10, 2023) - Bobby Labone is back. The NASCAR Hall of Famer scored his first SMART Modified Tour powered by Pace-O-Matic victory of the season in The Cardinal 99, Saturday (October 7), at Tri-County Speedway in Hudson, NC. It was his third overall win with the SMART Mods.
Labonte dominated the event. His Pace-O-Matic | Cookout | Units Moving & Portable Storage number-18 paced the field for 81 of 99 laps, but it wasn’t until lap 85 that the former NASCAR Cup Series champion took the lead for good. Labonte outdueled defending race winner Brian Loftin for the victory.
“This feels good because it’s been a tough week; last week knocked the crap out of me,” claimed Labonte, who hit the wall hard the week prior at Pulaski County Motorsports Park in Virginia. “We didn’t plan for this (a win) to take this long; we thought we’d be here sooner, but I have to thank these guys because they never gave up.
“We threw some stuff at it; it qualified pretty good and it was on rails during the race. This is Ryan’s car (Newman) because I wiped mine out last weekend. He will not be getting this back,” said Labonte, from Corpus Christi, TX, with a laugh. “Brian Loftin is so good. I turned down under him and it stuck for a lap. That was a great battle and I wasn’t sure I could do it, but this car was just so hooked up.”
Labonte, who drives for SS Racing (owned by Hermie Sadler and Bill Stanley) swept several awards at Tri-County Speedway, including the Bell Helmets Stage One winner (at lap 30), the Bankers Lift Halfway Leader (lap 50) and the Jostens Lap Leader award (81 laps led).. Loftin, who is battling to get into the SMART 3 to compete for the championship, finished third. Loftin led 18 laps during The Cardinal 99.
Many eyes were on the 14 of Bobby Measmer Jr. late in the race. His stellar charge to the runner-up spot at race's end was one for the ages. He advanced 15 positions from his starting spot to earn the Pace-O-Matic Hard Charger award.
“I would have liked about five more laps; then it would have been a different Bobby in victory lane,” said Measmer, who recorded his best career finish in SMART competition. “This is like a win for us. We started 17th, so I think that’s some extra money in my pocket (from Pace-O-Matic). Everyone wanted to run that top lane, but hell, I found something down there on the bottom.”
Burt Myers, in the Citrusafe Grill Cleaners number-1, continues to lead the Pace-O-Matic point standings with two races left in the season. He finished fifth at Tri-County Speedway. Jason Myers won the Pace-O-Matic Pole Award during qualifying. He finished eighth in the race.
The MJ Printing & Graphics fastest lap of the race was turned by Gary Young Jr. (14.990) on lap two.
Jake Crum won the Carolina Drilling Blast To the Front Award. His fourth place run was the highest for a driver who has yet to win a Tour-Type Modified Series event.
This Saturday, October 14, will be the penultimate race of the year for the SMART Modified Tour. The Pace-O-Matic 99 will take place at South Boston Speedway in Virginia. Crate Modifieds and the Southern Ground Pounders are also on the racing card. Please visit the South Boston Speedway website for more information on the event.
For the full SMART Modified Tour powered by Pace-O-Matic schedule, plus driver profiles and other 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 - Short Track Life Media Group - Twitter: @shorttracklife_
SMART Modified Tour Race #10
Official Race Results for the Cardinal 99 - 10/7/2023
Tri-County Motor Speedway - Granite Falls, NC - 0.400 mile
Race Length: 99L - 39.6 M - 63.756 KM
Fin - Str - Car - Driver - Laps
1 - 2 - 18VA - Bobby Labonte - 99
2 - 17 - 14 - Bobby Measmer Jr. - 99
3 - 10 - 15 - Brian Loftin - 99
4 - 12 - 12PA - Jake Crum - 99
5 - 4 - 1 - Burt Myers - 99
6 - 15 - 23 - Carson Loftin - 99
7 - 19 - 5 - Tom Buzze Jr. - 99
8 - 1 - 4 - Jason Myers - 99
9 - 6 - 39VA - Jonathan Cash - 99
10 - 5 - 25 - Tim Brown - 99
11 - 3 - 7NY - Caleb Heady - 99
12 - 9 - 2 - Brandon Ward - 99
13 - 20 - 77 - Gary Putnam - 99
14 - 7 - 24 - Danny Bohn - 99
15 - 11 - 21 - Jimmy Wallace - 99
16 - 23 - 18 - Daniel Yates - 99
17 - 14 - 48 - Jonny Kay - 99
18 - 24 - 44NC - Spencer Martin - 98
19 - 16 - 55 - Jeremy Gerstner - 98
20 - 21 - 34 - Eric Zeh - 98
21 - 13 - 07VA - Dennis Holdren - 98
22 - 8 - 02 - Joey Coulter - 96
23 - 22 - 01 - Brian Weber - 95
24 - 18 - 45 - Gary Young Jr. - 23
Time of Race: 0h:52:47 | Cautions: 3 for 16 Laps
Lap Leaders: Labonte 81, B. Loftin 18
Pace-O-Matic Pole Award: Jason Myers (14.635)
Bell Helmets Stage Winner: Bobby Labonte
Jostens Lap Leader: Bobby Labonte
Bankers Life Halfway Leader: Bobby Labonte
Pace-O-Matic Hard Charger Award: Bobby MeasamerJr. (+15 Positions)
Carolina Drilling Blast to the Front: Jake Crum
MJ Printing & Graphics Fastest Lap: Gary Young Jr. - 14.990 seconds (Lap 2)
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 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 14-race schedule in 2023. This year will mark the third full-season of SMART Modified Tour racing. 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, Wyoming, Kentucky, Illinois and Texas, 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.
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 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 14-race schedule in 2023.
This year will mark the third full-season of SMART Modified Tour racing. 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, Wyoming, Kentucky, Illinois and Texas, 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.