Huntington, NY — Sometimes no matter what obstacles are thrown in the way, one will find a way to succeed. 2007 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Champ Donny Lia experienced that first hand at the Fifth Annual North-South Shootout at Concord Motorsport Park (NC) on Saturday night.
Lia, a former winner of the Shootout, had his hands full all weekend, running his family-owned LMI Racing #18 for only the second time this season. But his hands were never as full all weekend as they were in the closing laps of the 100-lap Modified Shootout. While battling for fifth position with only a handful of laps to go, Lia was put into the turn-one wall. The contact would have sent most into the pit area, but Lia held on and continued to wheel his bent racecar to an impressive fifth-place finish.
Concord, NC — Matt Hirschman of Northampton, PA, drove to his second straight John Blewett III Memorial North-South Shootout victory in front of a record crowd at ConcordMotorsportPark on Saturday night. Hirschman joins the race’s namesake John Blewett III as a two-time winner. Pit strategy played a role in Matt Hirschman’s win, who short pitted and went the distance on tires. Neighbor Eric Beers, also of Northampton, PA, continued his string of strong Shootout runs with a runner-up finish. Bobby Santos of Franklin, MA, completed the podium.
It was a healthy payday for Hirschman who took home a grand total of $12,480 in cash and contingencies including the $6,000 winners take and $4,930 in lap sponsorship money after leading 73 laps and never running outside of the top-three.
Lexington, NC -- It was announced recently that C&C Racing Promotions has secured backing for the 5th Annual John Blewett III Memorial North-South Shootout from two very prominent corporations. Town & Country Ford, a subsidiary of Sonic Automotive, Inc., has signed on as the presenting sponsor of the Modified portion of the prestigious event. A similar agreement has been reached with Wirtgen America, Inc. of Nashville, TN, for the accompanying East-West Supermodified Shootout.
The 5th Annual John Blewett III Memorial North-South Shootout presented by Town & Country Ford is scheduled for November 2&3, 2007 at ConcordMotorsportPark in Concord, NC. The best Modified drivers from both north and south of the Mason-Dixon will do battle in 100-laps of green flag racing on the famed half-mile tri-oval while the best Supermodified competitors in North America will vie for prominence in the inaugural 50-lap Wirtgen America East-West Supermodified Shootout. The popular SK-Type Modifieds will be part of the excitement with a 50-lapper of their own. The format for the fifth annual event will also include time trials, heat races, consolation race(s) and non-qualifiers event(s) for the Modifieds, Supermodifieds and SK-Type Modifieds. Support divisions include Crate SK-Type Modifieds, Four-Cylinder stock cars, and Vintage Modifieds. A complete schedule of events is available at www.north-southshootout.com.
Lexington, NC — It is not often that fans of short track racing can find a single event with as diverse and talented a line-up as that being presented by C&C Racing Promotions on Friday and Saturday, November 2 & 3, 2007. An incredible group of racing talent will be competing in this year’s John Blewett III Memorial North-South Shootout at the ultra-fast tri-oval of ConcordMotorsportPark in Concord, NC. The roster for the John Blewett III Memorial North-South Shootout featuring the East-West Supermodified Shootout is shaping up to be one of the most noted in short-track racing history.
On hand for the prestigious event will be the stars of the major Modifieds tours on the East Coast. They are being joined by the tenacious racers from Supermodified racing associations nationwide and from weekly race tracks in the northeast. The rosters for the Shootout’s ‘big three’ will include a collection of championship drivers and a host of rising stars.
Lexington, NC — Early this year when C&C Racing Promotions announced the addition of the Supermodifieds to the already-exciting race card of the 5th Annual John Blewett III Memorial North-South Shootout, the decision was quickly made to appoint Chuck Handley of Oswego, NY to the post of Director. The choice already has proven to be an effective one.
After working tirelessly with the various Supermodified groups that will be represented at the East-West Supermodified Shootout, a fair and equitable set of rules were developed. Handley worked with officials and competitors from the International Supermodified Association (ISMA), the Midwest Supermodified Association (MSA), the Western States Supermodified Racing League (WSSRL) and the Englewood Racing Association (ERA). Further, Handley has assembled an elite group of professionals to serve as the officiating staff for the November 2nd & 3rd event. With the same cooperative spirit, the race procedure has been set for the inaugural East-West Supermodified Shootout portion of the 5th Annual North-South Shootout.
Oswego, NY — With anticipation building for the East-West Supermodified Shootout that will take place at Concord Motor Speedway on November 2 and 3 as part of the North-South Shootout action, A.J. Russell of Clovis, CA made a long trip to do some testing recently. Russell hauled his West Coast Super number 7 to Berlin Raceway on Sept. 29 to compete with the ISMA and MSA regulars. While not meeting his expectations finish wise, Russell none-the-less gained some insight into the east coast racing and he also enjoyed himself. So much so that he will also compete at Thompson Speedway’s World Series of Racing on Oct. 13-14.
Russell, used to running tracks like Meridian (ID), Rocky Mt. and Spokane (WA), Madera (CA), Douglas (OK) and TRP (AZ), brought the slick number 7 out of the hauler in Michigan and with the help of ISMA tech officials, made the car ready to race. While there are similarities between the West and East Coast built supermodifieds, there are differences – mainly that of the minimum weight. That may not be an issue at Concord.
Lexington, NC — The competitors at this year’s North-South Shootout (TM) featuring the East-West Supermodified Shootout(TM) will vie for over $124,000 in prize money. With the support of a several notable companies, the teams will also be eligible for over $11,000 in contingencies.
National companies like the Joie of Seating, PRO-formance Shocks and RH2Way, regional giants like Sherwood Racing Wheels and DMC Auto Exchange along with small businesses like Clean-Up Supply and Shadow’s Candle Company have all joined forces with C&C Racing Promotions to reward the teams competing in the annual North-South Shootout (TM)
Lexington, NC — 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(TM).
It immediately became clear to the promoters of the North-South Shootout(TM) 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.
Thompson, CT — It was a night of close finishes in the six NASCAR Whelen All-American Series on Thursday Night Thompson Thunder. Keith Rocco of Wallingford went the distance in the Sunoco Modified 50-lapper on Thursday night at Thompson International Speedway. Jeff Zuidema of N. Brookfield, MA made a long-anticipated return to Pro Stock victory lane while Tommy O’Sullivan of Springfield, MA, scored his second Late Model feature win of the season. Scott Sundeen of Douglas, MA edged Larry Barnett for the Limited Sportsman victory. Roger Larson, Jr. won the TIS Modified feature in tech while Brad Caddick of New London won a barnburner in the Mini Stocks.
Keith Rocco gave his car owner Don Bannister the best birthday gift by winning the 50-lapper for the Sunoco Modifieds. Rocco who is in the hunt for the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series National championship bested his rival Woody Pitkat to score the victory. Steve Masse jumped out from his front row starting spot to lead the opening lap of the event but it did not take long for Todd Ceravolo to take over command. Woody Pitkat gave up the third spot to a charging Kerry Malone while Tommy Cravenho had his hands full with Rocco.
Lexington, NC — C&C Racing Promotions recently announced the appointment of Chuck Handley of Oswego, NY as the Race Director of the first Annual East-West Supermodified Shootout™. The independent Supermodified race will be held in conjunction with the 5th Annual North-South Shootout™ on November 2&3, 2007 at ConcordMotorsportPark in Concord, NC. Handley will oversee the rules implementation and enforcement as well as many of the race day activities for the Supermodifieds.
“It is important for us to protect the integrity of the North-South Shootout™,” said Promoter Charles Kepley, “and the best way to do that is to have honest, hard working and dedicated people on our staff. It is an honor and a privilege to have Chuck Handley as part of our team.”
Lexington, NC — The Joie of Seating of Concord, NC, has once again pledged their support of the annual North-South Shootout™. The company’s involvement in the contingency program has helped promoter C&C Racing Promotions provide innovative safety products to the competitors of the prestigious racing event since 2005. This year, as the North-South Shootout™ celebrates its fifth anniversary, the Joie of Seating has increased their involvement to offer further protection to the drivers.
“We always get a good response from the North-South Shootout event,” said General Manager Joe Pelham. “More and more of the teams are using our stuff, which is good for us. But what is even more significant is that the drivers are paying attention to safety.”(more…)
Lexington, NC — It is not often that fans of short track racing can find a single event with as diverse and talented a line-up as that being presented by C&C Racing Promotions on Friday and Saturday, November 2 & 3, 2007. An incredible group of racing talent will be competing in this year’s John Blewett 
Lexington, NC — 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