Burt Myers from Walnut Cove, NC returned to the Southern Modified Racing series with one thing on his mind last night at Orange County Speedway and that was to lay claim to being the only driver left standing in a battle for the chance to win a $5,000.00 bonus at the North-South Shootout in November.
Promoters for the North-South Shootout event at Concord Speedway posted $500.00 in bonus money for any driver competing at the OCS and Concord events and a whopping 5K bonus if a driver won both races and after the dust settled last night, Burt Myers was the only one with that opportunity.
Burt Myers charged from the rear of the field to take a thrilling victory in the Prelude to the North-South Shootout at Orange County Speedway on Saturday night. The 100-lap race was the final event of the 2018 Southern Modified Racing Series season and Jeremy Gerstner clinched the season point title with a fourth-place finish.
Polesitter Tim Brown and Gerstner took turns at the point before Myers made his winning charge. Myers used the low groove to make his way to the front and held off Bobby Measmer, Jr. for his second consecutive win at the 3/8 mile paved oval. He also won the 2017 SMRS finale at Orange County.
James Civali survived a lost wheel to finish third. Rounding out the top five behind Gerstner was Jason Myers. Jon McKennedy and Tom Buzze were racing in the top five until they tangled in turn one with 19 laps to go. Both cars were eliminated.
In Other Divisions:
Josh Lowder was the winner of a 40-lap Limited Late Model race. Lowder was the fastest qualifier but started from the rear after an invert. He took the lead from Cory Purnell after 25-laps and was never challenged again. Eric Winslow passed Purnell late and took second with Purnell finishing third.
Robbie Brewer also charged from the rear to win the final 602 Tour Modified race of the season. Rock Harris outran his son Austin to take the finale of the 602 Super Limited slate.
Jeff Melton won an exciting 40 lap Street Stock race surviving a race-long battle with Gary Ledbetter Jr. and Jeff Sparks. Ledbetter spun in turn three with less than two laps to go and was crashed into by another car. Sparks also suffered damage but was able to return to the race to finish second. Randy Clark took third.
Other winners on the Prelude to the North-South Shootout support card included A.J. Sanders in Mini Stock along with Brett Suggs and Matthew Davey in the Allison Legacy Series twin races.
Story by: Rob Staley with additional info from the SMRS Press Release.
SMRS Results:
1. Burt Myers
2. Bobby Measmer Jr.
3. James Civali
4. Jeremy Gerstner
5. Jason Myers
6. Brandon Ward
7. Tim Brown
8. Andy Seuss
9. John Smith
10. Mike Norman
11. Tom Buzze
12. Jon McKennedy
