08/22/2007
MYERS LOOKING FOR
IMPROVEMENT IN
MADE IN AMERICA WHELEN 300
Even though he’s only 31 years old, Burt Myers
has a pretty impressive Modified racing resume. He’s won
championships at storied Bowman-Gray Stadium. He’s poised to capture
his first NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified championship this season
and has four tour victories in two seasons.
But there’s a hole in that resume. He doesn’t have a
Martinsville Speedway win. In fact, he doesn’t even have a top 10 to
his credit.
He hopes, though, that he can change all of that in the Made In
America Whelen 300 at Martinsville on Saturday, Sept. 1.
“This year we’re more prepared than in a long time,” said
Myers. “We’ve got a real good motor program right now, we’ve got a
new crew this year and we’ve got a new shock package for
Martinsville.
“We’ve been on a little hot streak and we’re going to try to
keep that going into Martinsville .”
Myers comes into the Made In America Whelen 300 with an
eight-point point lead over Junior
Miller in the Whelen Southern Modified championship chase. Myers
hasn’t finished out of the top 10 in six tour races this season. He
has three top five finishes and one win. He also won the Bowman-Gray
Stadium Modified championship this season.
“I really thing we’ve got a good shot at qualifying well and
a good shot at running well and ultimately try to win the race,”
Myers said of his Martinsville chances.
He hasn’t always been so confident at Martinsville . In fact,
he remembers being awestruck during his first trip to race at the
historic half-mile.
“This is only about my fourth or fifth time coming to
Martinsville to race,” said Myers. “I remember the first time I came
and remember everything flashing through my mind … the drivers that
had been there and the races I had seen in the stands and watched.
“My family goes pretty far back in racing and I like the
history of racing and where it’s come from and Martinsville is one
of the places where it originated. Racing there means a lot to me.”
The Made In America Whelen 300 is the only time each season
when the entire Whelen Southern Tour gets to go head-to-head with
their counterparts from the New England-based NASCAR Whelen Modified
Tour. The combination race could make for an interesting evening
Myers said.
“The thing about it is, the Yankees are hardnosed
racers…people laugh when we say that, but we are the southerners and
they are the Yankees and that’s the way it is,” said Myers. “And
they are hard nosed. They use their bumpers and they lay on you and
lean on each other.
“I don’t mind doing that. It seems like a lot of guys in the
south, when you do that, they take offense to it. I don’t mind it.
When we get up to Martinsville and start banging and the sparks are
flying, I’m sure it will be a good night.”
The Made In America Whelen 300 is set to take the green flag
at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 1. Gates will open at noon, practice
will be at 1 p.m., followed by qualifying at 5 and an open autograph
session in the pits at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $5 for children 6 to 12, and
children under 6 will be admitted free. Tickets may be purchased by
calling 877.RACE.TIX or visiting
www.racetickets.com on
line.
Source Mike Smith/Martinsville Speedway PR
Posted:
August 22, 2007 |