11th — Travis Swaim #21
Travis Swaim is one of North Carolina’s most succesful racers through the last couple of years and while last fall was his first trip to Myrtle Beach for the Myrtle Beach 400, he was impressive right from the start. This year in his second trip he’ll be looking to complete the journey as he looks to take the checkered flag in the big race after missing out on a win at his home track in the biggest race of the season.
10th — Marty Ward #38
Marty Ward hasn’t made a whole lot of trips to Myrtle Beach Speedway, but it wasn’t but just two years ago that he found himself leading the race late in the going of the Myrtle Beach 400. Though he didn’t win, he might just have learned the key to getting to victory lane in this race as this will be his first trip back to the big slick trick for Myrtle Beach’s biggest race of the season.
9th — Rick Smith #28
Rick Smith is this decades best Late Model Stock Car racer at Myrtle Beach Speedway taking over for his predecessor, Robert Powell, who used to dominate Myrtle Beach and also used to drive for the same car owner that Smith competes for Tommy Byrd. Smith can attribute a lot of his success to Byrd for putting him behind the wheel and what better way to pay him back than to put him victory lane for the biggest race.
8th — Tommy Lemons, Jr. #27
Tommy Lemons, Jr. is about as hit and miss as mediocre basketball player, but when it comes to Myrtle Beach Speedway, Lemons always has the speed and usually has one of the cars to beat. Just two years ago he had the car to beat, but used up his equipment racing a lapped car and faded toward the end. Last fall he crashed out early, so this season he’ll be looking for the ultimate prize to redeem his mediocre season.
7th — BJ Mackey #11
BJ Mackey isn’t a likely name for the Myrtle Beach 400, but this year he’s poised to get himself into victory lane and with just one last shot, he’ll have to do it at Myrtle Beach. BJ usually also calls the shots from the drivers seat, but this year he’s got the benefit of having top name crew chief, Nick Hutchins turning the wrenches on his car, allowing BJ to just focus on getting the job done behind the wheel.
6th — Jonathan Cash #2
Jonathan Cash has seen only flashes of brillance throughout his Late Model Stock Car career, but we knew he could drive from his days in Limited Late Models at South Boston. He proved that once again at Ace in the FallOut Invitational as he put his car out front for much of the race before crashing out late with Matt McCall while racing for the lead. Jonathan should be back and primed to complete the job at the Beach.
5th — Andy Mercer #10
Andy Mercer is this era’s top dog at Hickory Motor Speedway as he’s claimed 22 wins in the last two seasons there and also taken home the championship. He also turned in an impressive performance leading the most laps in the Myrtle Beach 400 last year before fading to finish third. Also this year he turned in a solid performance in the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300, which bodes well for his chances this weekend.
4th — Lucas Ransone #00
Lucas Ransone quickly burst onto the scene at Myrtle Beach Speedway in the Myrtle Beach 400 two years ago and last year he took his car to victory lane. Lucas knocked Frank Deiny out of the lead last year and asserted himself as one of the cars to beat last fall and no doubt he’ll be good again this year. The only question for Lucas is him being out of the seat this year for the most part and the no coilbinding rule.
3rd — Jamey Caudill #50
Jamey Caudill is one of Late Model Stock Car racing’s all-time greats and he added the Myrtle Beach 400 to his list of big race wins two years ago when he slipped by Frank Deiny, Jr. in the final laps to take an emotional victory. The veteran now has 97 Late Model Stock Car wins and with his proven ability to win at Myrtle Beach, he could just add a 98th victory to his total this weekend.
2nd — Frank Deiny, Jr. #4
Frank Deiny, Jr. has been the dominator of the Myrtle Beach 400 over the years and has found himself in contention or collecting trophies from the event. The last two years straight he’s been leading on the final lap and not picked up the win and after that he’s got to be hungry for the win. After his top five run at Caraway and his crash in qualifying at Ace, he’ll look to take his car to victory lane to prove he’s back.
1st — Matt McCall #23
There’s not a driver hotter in Late Model Stock Car racing than that of Matt McCall. Philip Morris comes close, but he simply isn’t willing to venture out to tracks outside of Motor Mile, South Boston and Martinsville, but McCall isn’t afraid to go anywhere and he isn’t afraid to lay the smack down on the locals either. I look for him to be just as good this weekend as he continues his domination now that he’s in the Fat Head Racing entry.
