The
entry list to-date for the North-South Shootout includes the likes of Matt
Hirschman of Northampton, PA, the only three-time winner of the event, and
two-time winner Burt Myers of Walnut Cove, NC. It also includes a diverse
collection of drivers, who compete up-and-down the east coast.
For the first time in many years, New England’s Modified Racing Series will
have strong representation. Series top-guns Les Hinckley of Windsor Locks,
CT, and Kirk Alexander of W. Swanzey, NH, who have made multiple North-South
Shootout starts with modest results, will look for career bests at Caraway.
Fellow MRS competitor Max Zachem of Preston, CT, will also be making the
trek to Caraway.
Jimmy Blewett, of Howell, NJ, a sentimental favorite, will pilot the
family-owned car looking to follow in the footsteps of his brother, who was
a two-time winner. Blewett, too, has had modest results with one (1) top-ten
finish and four (4) top-15 finishes in six starts.
The 2011 Sunoco Race of Champions event winner Zane Zeiner of Bath, PA,
hopes to add to his dream season with a North-South Shootout victory. The
Gary Cretty led team will be among the most competitive teams in attendance
at Caraway. Tommy Cloce of Canton, NY, had a solid season on the Race of
Champions Asphalt Modified Tour during the 2011 season. He will join Zeiner
in competition on November 3-5, 2011.
Ryan Preece of Berlin, CT, was in the thick of the battle in 2010 before
being eliminated in an incident. He is certainly considered a favorite to
score a victory. L.W. Miller, Mooresville, NC, is making his first
appearance in the North-South Shootout since 2004. After a strong 2011
season on the Whelen Southern Modified Tour including two (2) victories,
three (3) top-five and nine (9) top-ten finishes in 14 starts, Miller, too,
will likely be in the hunt for victory.
Pennsylvania weekly racing hot shoe Earl Paules, Jr., Palmerton, PA, has
been a Shootout regular in both the Tour-Type and SK-Type Modified ranks.
Aboard his Tour Mod, Paules has struggled in recent years with finishes of
25th or worse. He has not been without successes; however, back in 2006,
Paules posted a fourth-place finish. The veteran competitor knows what to
expect from the competition at the North-South Shootout and should be
considered a dark horse for the victory.
Wall Stadium regular Shawn Carrig, Little Falls, NJ, was a surprise in 2010;
running strong in the late stages of the event. Fellow NJ racer, Steven Reed
of Freehold, NJ, will look to bounce back in North-South Shootout
competition at Caraway in 2011. Last year, Reed took one of the wildest
rides even seen at the Shootout in his SK-Type Modified. Wheeling a
Tour-Type Modified in 2011 at Caraway, Reed looks to have another
spectacular showing, this time by virtue of his finish.
There will be a host of newcomers to this year’s shootout including Robert
Ellis, Jr., and Daniel Hemric in the Hillbilly Racing #79.
With the assortment of talented drivers on hand, the 2011 North-South
Shootout is anyone’s race to win. The likes of former champs, Hirschman and
Myers, would like nothing better than to have another familiar face in
victory lane.
It all shakes out on Friday and Saturday, November 4&5, 2011 with the
running of the ninth annual John Blewett III Memorial North-South Shootout
held in loving memory of Charles Kepley. The Tour-Type Modifieds will run
the headliner with 125-laps of green flag racing. A star-studded field of
Late Model competitors is expected for the 100-lap CRA Super Late Model main
event. SK-Type Modifieds, USA Modifieds, Sportsman, and Legends will also be
part of the excitement.
For a complete schedule for the North-South Shootout can be found on
northsouthshootout.com and
carawayspeedway.com.
Visit
heartofnorthcarolina.com for area information. To learn more about
the CRA Late Models visit
craracing.net. |