SMART MODS HAS ITS FIRST REPEAT WINNER OF 2023
Burt Myers Scores Win in Revolutionary 99 at Caraway Speedway
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sophia, NC (July 3, 2023) - The streak is over, but now a new streak has begun. The SMART Modified Tour powered by Pace-O-Matic had five winners in its first five races. Now the rising Tour has its first repeat winner of 2023.
Burt Myers, of Walnut Cove, NC, has scored his second straight win. The two-time SMART Modified Tour champ took the victory in the Revolutionary 99 on Saturday (July 1) as part of the Rusty Harpe Memorial event at Caraway Speedway in Sophia, NC. He also won the Kenny Minter Classic at Franklin County Speedway (VA) in May.
Myers took the lead at Caraway Speedway from fellow championship contender Joey Coulter on lap 17 and led the rest of the way for his 10th victory on the SMART Modified Tour powered by Pace-O-Matic.
Myers was challenged late in the race by Tim Brown, of Tobaccoville, NC.
“We didn’t have enough stagger after changing the right rear tire on that pitstop. I knew it was going to be tough and Tim (Brown) was giving me all I could handle,” explained Myers, who drives the Citrusafe Grill Cleaners / Backyard Leisure / PSR Chassis number-1 Modified. “I was trying to keep it on the bottom in one and two so he couldn’t get under me. That’s where we struggled tonight.
“I told you (announcer Bob Dillner) that once we broke the ice and won the race at Franklin County, maybe we could get on a streak and we’ve done it. This team works so hard and we couldn’t do this without all our sponsors. Man, this is awesome. Happy 4th of July to everyone!”
Myers continues to lead the championship standings for the SMART Modified Tour powered by Pace-O-Matic. By virtue of that, and the starting line-up being determined by owners points, Myers also won the Pace-O-Matic pole award at Caraway. He started third due to a redraw of the top six before the event.
Myers also won Bell Helmets Stage One by leading the race at the end of 30 laps and scored the Jostens Lap Leader award by being in front of the field for 82 laps. To top off his laurels, Burt Myers also was the Bankers Life Halfway Lap Leader at lap 50.
For Tim Brown, the runner-up finish was his best of the season for the Jerry Hunt Supercenter number-25 team.
“We caught Burt there and he just guarded the bottom. It made for an exciting race; I just wish we didn’t have all those lapped cars,” said Brown, who started 10th. “They are a great race team and we are a great race team, so I hope it was a good race for the fans.
“We started the season off pretty dismal and couldn’t finish a race. Then we went to Franklin County and we had the best car there. I feel like we had the best car here tonight; we just didn’t win,” added Brown.
The Pace-O-Matic Hard Charger of the Race was Ronnie Williams of Tolland, CT, who was driving for 1990 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Jamie Tomaino. Due to rain washing out qualifying and the field set by owners points, Williams, in his first SMART Mods race of the season, charged from his 24th-place starting position to finish third at the end of 99 laps.
Rounding out the top-five in the finishing order were Coulter of Miami Springs, FL and South Boston Speedway (VA) winner, Brian Loftin, of Lexington, NC. Loftin is also the recipient of the MJ Printing & Graphics Fast Lap of the Race award with a time of 16.537 on lap six.
The Carolina Drilling Blast To the Front Award is given to the highest-finishing driver who had yet to win a Tour-Type Modified event in a touring series. Rookie Carson Loftin, who scored his third-straight top-10 finish, is the recipient of this honor with his seventh place result.
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 - Twitter: @ShortTrackLife_ Media Group
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 Race #6
Official Race Results for the Revolutionary 99 - 07/01/2023
Caraway Speedway - Sophia, NC - 0.455 mile
Race Length: 99L - 45.045 M - 72.468 KM
Fin - Str - Car - Driver - Laps
P1 - P3 - 1 - Burt Myers - 99
P2 - P10 - 25 - Tim Brown - 99
P3 - P24 - 99NC - Ronnie Williams - 99
P4 - P4 - 02 - Joey Coulter - 99
P5 - P6 - 15 - Brian Loftin - 99
P6 - P9 - 18VA - Bobby Labonte - 99
P7 - P7 - 23 - Carson Loftin - 99
P8 - P8 - 14 - Bobby Measmer Jr. - 99
P9 - P18 - 21 - Jimmy Wallace - 99
P10 - P20 - 5 - Tom Buzze - 99
P11 - P21 - 07NC - John Smith - 99
P12 - P12 - 4 - Jason Myers - 99
P13 - P23 - 2PA - Jake Crum - 99
P14 - P15 - 18 - Daniel Yates - 99
P15 - P1 - 39VA - Jonathan Cash - 98
P16 - P2 - 2 - Brandon Ward - 98
P17 - P17 - 48 - Jonny Kay - 97
P18 - P13 - 55FL - Jeremy Gerstner - 97
P19 - P22 - 75 - Jason Poole - 96
P20 - P25 - 41 - Bussy Beavers - 93
P21 - P11 - 24 - Jonathan Brown - 91
P22 - P14 - 07VA - Dennis Holdren - 55
P23 - P5 - 7NY - Caleb Heady - 49
P24 - P16 - 79 - Zach Brewer - 31
P25 - P19 - 22 - Jason Tutterow - 30
P26 - P26 - 01 - Brittney Zamora - 2
Time of Race: 0h:45:24 | Cautions: 2 for 12 Laps
Lap Leaders: B. Myers 82, Coulter 17
Pace-O-Matic Pole Award: Burt Myers
(Qualifying Rained Out - Start by Owners Points)
Bell Helmets Stage Winner: Burt Myers
Jostens Lap Leader: Burt Myers
Bankers Life Halfway Leader: Burt Myers
Pace-O-Matic Hard Charger Award:
Ronnie Williams (+22 Positions)
Carolina Drilling Blast to the Front: Carson Loftin
MJ Printing & Graphics Fastest Lap:
Brian Loftin - 16.573 seconds (Lap 6)
Pace-O-Matic Hard Luck Award:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sophia, NC (July 3, 2023) - The streak is over, but now a new streak has begun. The SMART Modified Tour powered by Pace-O-Matic had five winners in its first five races. Now the rising Tour has its first repeat winner of 2023.
Burt Myers, of Walnut Cove, NC, has scored his second straight win. The two-time SMART Modified Tour champ took the victory in the Revolutionary 99 on Saturday (July 1) as part of the Rusty Harpe Memorial event at Caraway Speedway in Sophia, NC. He also won the Kenny Minter Classic at Franklin County Speedway (VA) in May.
Myers took the lead at Caraway Speedway from fellow championship contender Joey Coulter on lap 17 and led the rest of the way for his 10th victory on the SMART Modified Tour powered by Pace-O-Matic.
Myers was challenged late in the race by Tim Brown, of Tobaccoville, NC.
“We didn’t have enough stagger after changing the right rear tire on that pitstop. I knew it was going to be tough and Tim (Brown) was giving me all I could handle,” explained Myers, who drives the Citrusafe Grill Cleaners / Backyard Leisure / PSR Chassis number-1 Modified. “I was trying to keep it on the bottom in one and two so he couldn’t get under me. That’s where we struggled tonight.
“I told you (announcer Bob Dillner) that once we broke the ice and won the race at Franklin County, maybe we could get on a streak and we’ve done it. This team works so hard and we couldn’t do this without all our sponsors. Man, this is awesome. Happy 4th of July to everyone!”
Myers continues to lead the championship standings for the SMART Modified Tour powered by Pace-O-Matic. By virtue of that, and the starting line-up being determined by owners points, Myers also won the Pace-O-Matic pole award at Caraway. He started third due to a redraw of the top six before the event.
Myers also won Bell Helmets Stage One by leading the race at the end of 30 laps and scored the Jostens Lap Leader award by being in front of the field for 82 laps. To top off his laurels, Burt Myers also was the Bankers Life Halfway Lap Leader at lap 50.
For Tim Brown, the runner-up finish was his best of the season for the Jerry Hunt Supercenter number-25 team.
“We caught Burt there and he just guarded the bottom. It made for an exciting race; I just wish we didn’t have all those lapped cars,” said Brown, who started 10th. “They are a great race team and we are a great race team, so I hope it was a good race for the fans.
“We started the season off pretty dismal and couldn’t finish a race. Then we went to Franklin County and we had the best car there. I feel like we had the best car here tonight; we just didn’t win,” added Brown.
The Pace-O-Matic Hard Charger of the Race was Ronnie Williams of Tolland, CT, who was driving for 1990 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Jamie Tomaino. Due to rain washing out qualifying and the field set by owners points, Williams, in his first SMART Mods race of the season, charged from his 24th-place starting position to finish third at the end of 99 laps.
Rounding out the top-five in the finishing order were Coulter of Miami Springs, FL and South Boston Speedway (VA) winner, Brian Loftin, of Lexington, NC. Loftin is also the recipient of the MJ Printing & Graphics Fast Lap of the Race award with a time of 16.537 on lap six.
The Carolina Drilling Blast To the Front Award is given to the highest-finishing driver who had yet to win a Tour-Type Modified event in a touring series. Rookie Carson Loftin, who scored his third-straight top-10 finish, is the recipient of this honor with his seventh place result.
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 - Twitter: @ShortTrackLife_ Media Group
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 Race #6
Official Race Results for the Revolutionary 99 - 07/01/2023
Caraway Speedway - Sophia, NC - 0.455 mile
Race Length: 99L - 45.045 M - 72.468 KM
Fin - Str - Car - Driver - Laps
P1 - P3 - 1 - Burt Myers - 99
P2 - P10 - 25 - Tim Brown - 99
P3 - P24 - 99NC - Ronnie Williams - 99
P4 - P4 - 02 - Joey Coulter - 99
P5 - P6 - 15 - Brian Loftin - 99
P6 - P9 - 18VA - Bobby Labonte - 99
P7 - P7 - 23 - Carson Loftin - 99
P8 - P8 - 14 - Bobby Measmer Jr. - 99
P9 - P18 - 21 - Jimmy Wallace - 99
P10 - P20 - 5 - Tom Buzze - 99
P11 - P21 - 07NC - John Smith - 99
P12 - P12 - 4 - Jason Myers - 99
P13 - P23 - 2PA - Jake Crum - 99
P14 - P15 - 18 - Daniel Yates - 99
P15 - P1 - 39VA - Jonathan Cash - 98
P16 - P2 - 2 - Brandon Ward - 98
P17 - P17 - 48 - Jonny Kay - 97
P18 - P13 - 55FL - Jeremy Gerstner - 97
P19 - P22 - 75 - Jason Poole - 96
P20 - P25 - 41 - Bussy Beavers - 93
P21 - P11 - 24 - Jonathan Brown - 91
P22 - P14 - 07VA - Dennis Holdren - 55
P23 - P5 - 7NY - Caleb Heady - 49
P24 - P16 - 79 - Zach Brewer - 31
P25 - P19 - 22 - Jason Tutterow - 30
P26 - P26 - 01 - Brittney Zamora - 2
Time of Race: 0h:45:24 | Cautions: 2 for 12 Laps
Lap Leaders: B. Myers 82, Coulter 17
Pace-O-Matic Pole Award: Burt Myers
(Qualifying Rained Out - Start by Owners Points)
Bell Helmets Stage Winner: Burt Myers
Jostens Lap Leader: Burt Myers
Bankers Life Halfway Leader: Burt Myers
Pace-O-Matic Hard Charger Award:
Ronnie Williams (+22 Positions)
Carolina Drilling Blast to the Front: Carson Loftin
MJ Printing & Graphics Fastest Lap:
Brian Loftin - 16.573 seconds (Lap 6)
Pace-O-Matic Hard Luck Award: