Brunnhoelzl Returning to Concord Seeking North-South Shootout Win
Four-Time NASCAR Southern Modified Champion Eager for Concord Return
Concord, North Carolina — The last time George Brunnhoelzl, III raced at North Carolina’s daunting Concord Speedway tri-oval was the last time the North-South Shootout was held there in 2010. He finished third that day and now he’s looking to go a couple spots better when he heads back to Concord for the 13th Annual John Blewett III North-South Shootout Tour-Type Modified event on November 7.
After the 2010 season, the North-South Shootout was moved to Sophia, North Carolina’s Caraway Speedway. Now that the race is back to its original home of Concord in 2015, Brunnhoelzl has his eyes solely focused on the $10,000 winner’s prize.
“I love Concord,” said Brunnhoelzl. “That’s my favorite track and the fact that they moved the race there is the reason we are going to run it. There’s no race track like it. It’s fast, it’s different, it’s fun, there’s multiple grooves and you can pass. It’s just an all-around awesome track.”
The four-time NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour champion has never won the North-South Shootout before, nor has he ever won any Modified event at Concord. Whether he’s had a tire issue or something else happen, Brunnhoelzl is aware that he’s never been to victory lane at the Concord half mile. That goose egg in the win column is fueling his competitive fire in this year’s North-South Shootout.
“We’ve had winning cars multiple times,” he said. “We’ve just always had problems late in the race like flat tires and whatnot. It’s definitely a goal of ours to go there and try to win it. We should be more than capable of it. In our past, we’ve definitely lost a couple so hopefully we can get one back.”
Brunnhoelzl said he’s hoping to make the short trip south from Mooresville where his shop is located to Concord to do some testing in advance of the big race.
“I’d definitely like to go run some laps before we get there,” said Brunnhoelzl. “I think it’s been a few years since we’ve been there. We’d definitely like to run laps and get a head start. I know some of the southern guys ran the KOMA race a few months ago, but we didn’t, so that gives them a little bit of a notebook.”
One of the reasons why Brunnhoelzl wants to win this race is to claim a win for the south. Sure, Brunnhoelzl is originally a northern guy, from Long Island, New York, but he wants to show that the Southern Tour teams can compete with the northern guys like Matt Hirschman, Doug Coby, and Ryan Preece.
“If you go to Concord you’ll have the north guys be good,” said Brunnhoelzl, “but you’ll have Burt Myers and us and some of the southern guys that will be just as good. It’s the point now where the southern guys are just as strong. It’s always just great to beat anybody. Especially when you beat a full field of northern and southern guys.”
Entry forms for the $10,000-to-win John Blewett III Tour-Type Modified North-South Shootout event, as well as the $5,000-to-win Mr. Rooter SK Modified event, are currently available by visiting www.northsouthshootout.net.
Practice day kicks off the 13th Annual North-South Shootout on Thursday, November 5. Additional practice and qualifying will take place on Friday, November 6, with the North-South Shootout main events taking the green flag on Saturday, November 7.
For more on the 13th Annual North-South Shootout, visit www.northsouthshootout.net.
Sources: 51 Sports/North-South Shootout PR