|
To Concord, North Carolina for the North South Shootout. Celebrating the 4th annual event for C&C promotions this open-wheel modified event is fast becoming a location for quality teams to show off their talent. Highlighting the big modifieds of Nascar’s Whelen Tour, Race of Champions, ASA SMRT Tour, and home tracks crossing the Eastern seaboard. This was also along with the combination Sk/SST modified divisions highlighting the True Value modified machines and a growing contingent of SST modifieds.
For the sportsman type (Sk/SST) modified, this is only the second season of competitions at Concord. The first season, many teams representing SST felt and unfair disadvantage to their Sk counterpart. This season, the SST representatives faired a bit better. SST/ROC driver, Earl Paules #8 qualified the best of the SST representatives and continued on to finish 4th overall in both feature events. Young Eric Rudolf #12 (WCIS) qualified well, just out of the top 10, in his inaugural visit and first ever time trial session. Kid Rudolf went on to finish 24th after a mid-race alteration.
Dick Kluth #27, Rich Petrucco #88, and Sheri Hogan #74 also represented SST along with their SST home track, Wyoming County International Speedway (Kluth), Chemung Speedrome (Petcrucco), and Lancaster Motorsports Park (Hogan).
ROC/SST representatives included ‘Pistol Pete’ Brittain #99 who sustained a possibled broken wrist after an early, hard impact into the turn one wall. Brittain continued on to start the 100 lap modified feature event even with the injury. Eric Beers #9 piloted the old 2ak Racing #68. After a few adjustments, Beers started 24th and climbed back to 12th .
Most of the ROC drivers did double duty in both the SST/Sk race as well as the modified competition. This was also the case for Southern-tier driver Daren Scheerer #3 who started 30th and made his way back to 22nd. Rick Kluth #44 of 2Kwik Chassis dropped out with engine trouble during the SST/Sk feature but was able to make p for the short fall with a stellar charge in the modified main event. R. Kluth drover to a strong 3rd place position holding off top drivers like John Blewett and Ted Christopher. With at least 15 laps to go, Kluth’s tires began to fade, and the #44 fell just out the top 10.
The Concord Motor Speedway is a ˝ mile tri-oval highlighting a ‘dogleg’ turn harvesting speeds of 150 mph. A tunnel joins the parking area to the infield pits and VIP suites stand high above the front straight away. SST representatives Chris Zacharias and myself, Jim Majchrzak, were also down for the visit. Zak used his charm with the microphone calling out the play-by-play and boasting the SST teams. As for myself, without a race to direct or a track to repair or bathrooms to clean, I simply took pictures…shook hand…and kissed babies.
#StartFinish
9E. Beers2412
88R. Petrucco1918
3D. Scheerer3022
12E. Rudolf1324
74S. Hogan3225
27D. Kluth3326
44R. Kluth2728
99P. Brittain1732
Congratulations to all and thank you for proudly representing the SST Modified Series.
Jim Majchrzak
SST Director
|
