Tour Returns to Fast Half Mile for First Time in Seven Years
Story By:TIM SOUTHERS / NASCAR SERIES MEDIA Photos By:GETTY IMAGES / NASCAR
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – March 16, 2016- For the first time since 2009, the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour will return to Concord Speedway for the Southern Sizzler 150 this Saturday in Concord, North Carolina.
Burt Myers enters the race on a hot streak after winning the season-opening Davis Roofing 150 last weekend to lead the standings, but he’ll face some tough competition – including the driver who won at Concord the last time the tour visited the track – Ted Christopher.
Christopher is a past champion of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and has made 18 starts in the southern tour, scoring six wins including the Concord victory. Christopher is one of seven drivers who raced there in 2009 that expected to return on Saturday.
Myers won the pole back in 2009 with a top speed of 118.569 mph, making the track one of the fastest on the southern tour. Christopher qualified third, took the lead on the opening lap and drove on to the win.
One driver who’s really looking forward to coming back to Concord is Bobby Measmer Jr. The Concord resident competed at the track when he drove late models several years ago. Measmer scored his career-best finish last week when he came home second behind Myers at Caraway. Fellow Concord resident Bryan Dauzat, who is originally from Louisiana, will also make a start in the Southern Sizzler 150.
Other drivers who competed at Concord in 2009 and plan on returning are defending tour champion Andy Seuss, four-time titlist George Brunnhoelzl III, J.R. Bertuccio and Jason Myers.
RACE: Southern Sizzler 150
PLACE: Concord (N.C.) Speedway
TIME: 7 p.m. ET
TRACK LAYOUT: .5-mile asphalt oval
2015 WINNER: New event
2015 POLE SITTER: New event
EVENT SCHEDULE: Driver/Crew Chief Meeting: 1:15 p.m.; Practice 1:45-2:45 p.m.: Qualifying: 3:45 p.m.
TRACK TWITTER: @ConcordSpeedway
EVENT HASHTAG: #SouthernSizzler150
TRACK CONTACT: Renee Hackett, (336) 629-5803; renee@carawayspeedway.com
Fast Facts
The Race: The Southern Sizzler 150 at Concord Speedway will be the second of 11 NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour championship events in 2016. This is the tour’s second visit to the unique oval, and the second of eight races this season in the state of North Carolina.
The Procedure: The maximum starting field is 26 cars, including provisionals. The first 23 cars will qualify through two-lap time trials while the remaining three starting spots will be awarded through the provisional process. The race is scheduled for 150 laps (75 miles) and teams have an opportunity to pit and change one tire during the event.
The Track: Concord Speedway is a half-mile mile banked asphalt oval located in Concord, North Carolina. The facility opened in 1982 originally with a dirt racing surface and was later paved. The track hosted the southern tour in 2009.
The Records: Burt Myers set the tour’s track qualifying record on March 21, 2009 with a mark of 15.181 seconds (118.569 mph).
Southern Sizzler 150 Notes
Bohn Impresses in New Ride: Danny Bohn brought immediate results to his new partnership with Fleming Family Racing in the season opener at Caraway Speedway. He won the Coors Light Pole in qualifying and led 49 laps in the race before finishing third.
Christopher Looks to Repeat: In the inaugural Concord race Ted Christopher held off Rowan Pennink after a late restart in a wire-to-wire victory. Christopher has averaged a win in every three starts on the southern tour throughout his career.
Pallai Jr. Scores Top-10 Finish in First Start: After suffering heavy right-front damage to his No. 79 Hill Enterprises Pontiac in practice it appeared Richie Pallai Jr.’s southern tour debut would end early. Crew chief David Hill and the Hillbilly Racing team went to work and fixed the car and Pallai was able to start at the rear of the field and came home ninth.
Myers Ready to Reach Career Mark: Jason Myers has started 133 of the 134 races held in the history of the tour to easily hold the record for most starts. He’s one top-10 finish away from joining his brother, Burt, as the only drivers in tour history to hit the century mark in top 10s.
NASCAR Hall of Famer to Serve as Grand Marshal: Newly inducted NASCAR Hall of Fame driver and modified racing legend Jerry Cook will serve as Grand Marshal of the race and will give the command to start the Southern Sizzler 150 on Saturday.
