This week, C&C Racing Promotions, with the consent of the Blewett Family, formally announced that the North-South Shootout (TM) will be run annually as a tribute to John Blewett III. The race now will be perpetually known as the John Blewett III Memorial North-South Shootout™.
   It immediately became clear to the promoters of the North-South Shootout™ after the tragic and untimely death of Blewett at Thompson Speedway on August 16, 2007 that something meaningful needed to be done in his honor.
   “It is important that we keep his memory alive,” said promoter Charles Kepley. “And in a way that is deserving of the man and of the racer that he was. All of us at C&C Racing Promotions will work hard to ensure that the Shootout is that fitting tribute from now on.”
   A number of observances are being planned for the weekend of November 2-3, 2007 to celebrate the life of the two-time Shootout champion including poignant pre-race ceremonies, a special edition souvenir program, and many more. North-South Shootout™ apparel already carries the special dedication.
   Mike Norman, owner of DMC Auto Exchange, has named the John W. Blewett Scholarship Fund as the beneficiary of this year’s DMC Auto Exchange Charity Challenge at the fifth annual North-South Shootout ™. All competitors competing at this year’s Shootout will have the opportunity to purchase "DMC Auto Exchange Charity Challenge" decals for $10 each. The proceeds from the decal sales will go directly to the scholarship fund. DMC Auto Exchange guarantees a minimum donation of $500. A random drawing then will be held at the halfway marker of both the Modified 100 and the SK-Type Modified 50. Any competitor who has purchased and displayed a decal will be eligible to win one of the two $400 bonuses put up by DMC Auto Exchange.
   “We had hoped to be able to do this,” said Kepley, “because we were so proud of John and his accomplishments and honored by his level of commitment to our friendship and to this race. But we wanted to be respectful to John’s family and to the Wall Stadium racing family.”
   Kepley’s idea was very well received by everyone, making the decision to proceed with the John Blewett III Memorial a simple one.
   When Kepley announced plans for the inaugural North-South Shootout™ back in 2003, John immediately became an advocate of the race. His support helped bring immediate credibility to an unproven event. The memorable battle between John and Jerry Marquis at the end of the first-ever Shootout helped cement the event in the hearts and minds of racers and fans both North and South of the Mason Dixon.
   JBIII proudly wore his North-South Shootout™ champion’s helmet in Whelen Modified Tour races and at Wall Speedway. That helmet could be seen clearly from the cockpit of the TQ Midget that he raced at Atlantic City back in January and in the Supermodified that he ran so valiantly during his debut at Mansfield Motorsports Park in Ohio in August.
   These small gestures that came so naturally without even a second thought to John, were the things that made such a big difference to people like Kepley and his staff. It was these genuine acts of kindness that made John such a likeable person.
   “Unfortunately, John will never know what he meant to me,” continued an emotional Kepley. “I hope somehow the North-South Shootout will honor my friend.”
   Since his death, so many wonderful things have been said about John-as family member and as a friend. Countless laps of bench-racing have been run with stories of a talented and hard-nosed racer. It is the goal of C&C Racing that everyone who knew and admired John Blewett III will continue with those sentiments and stories for years to come-not only in November but with each passing day of the racing season and beyond.
   For more information on the John Blewett III Memorial North-South Shootout™ featuring the East-West Supermodified Shootout ™, log on to www.northsouthshootout.com.