North-South Shootout Is All About Family
Story By: NORTH / SOUTH SHOOTOUT MEDIA Photos By: DICK AYERS / RACERSGUIDE.COM
CONCORD, NC- October 26, 2016- While the $10,000 purse for the tour-type modified division during the 14th annual John Blewett III Memorial North-South Shootout in Memory of Charles Kepley at Concord Speedway on Nov. 3-5 is incentive enough, for modified driver Jimmy Blewett of Hopewell Township, N.J., it’s more about family and friends.
“Being in honor of Charles and my brother means a lot to make a run for it,” said Blewett. “Charles was a good friend of my brother, and a friend to all of us and started a really great race that a lot of people have come out to support over the years.”
John Blewett III was the older brother of Jimmy and enjoyed considerable success racing first in his home state of New Jersey and ultimately throughout the eastern United States. In all, Blewett scored 96 victories between 1993 and 2007 and track championships at Flemington (N.J.) Speedway, Wall Township (N.J.) Speedway, New Egypt (N.J.) Speedway as well at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Tragically in 2007, at just 33 years old, Blewett lost his life in a racing accident at Thompson (Conn.) Motor Speedway. Blewett won the inaugural North-South Shootout in 2003 and scored his second career victory in the race in 2005. The North-South Shootout was named in honor of Blewett by event founder Charles Kepley starting in 2007.
Kepley loved racing, and in particular the open-wheeled asphalt modifieds. In the late 1990s he had the dream of an unsanctioned modified race that would bring the best drivers from the North and South together. The goal was for them to all compete in a single showcase event and in 2003 an amazing 63 cars showed up at the first North South Shootout.
The North-South Shootout quickly grew into the premier unsanctioned open wheel modified event of each year and a “who’s-who” of drivers would show up to compete in the race that was held at Concord Speedway.
In May of 2011, at 57 years of age, Kepley died and the North-South Shootout has been competed in his memory since. From 2011 through 2014 the event was held at Caraway Speedway in Asheboro, N.C. but last year the event to Concord Speedway.
“I think this year it’s going to be better than ever,” said Blewett. “We got it back at Concord last year, and now coming back again this year is going to be a special event for all of us.”
Blewett is one of the top modified drivers in America, recently finishing sixth in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour standings. He scored one victory this season on the tour, which came in August at Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway. He has more than 80 victories during his career.
The John Blewett III North South Shootout in Memory of Charles Kepley is headlined by 125-lap, $10,000-to-win features for the tour-type modifieds and PASS super late models. The SK modifieds, limited late models, vintage racers, street stocks and mini stocks will all be in racing throughout the weekend.
Nov. 3 is a day of practice and Nov. 4 is qualifying for all divisions and race day for the street stock, mini stock and vintage classes. On Nov. 5 the headline features will hit the track, including the tour-type modifieds, PASS super late models, SK modifieds, limited late models and vintage racers.
