Southern Modified News & Notes: Charlotte
Seuss Eyes Second Straight Title Amid Plenty Of Challengers
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Andy Seuss is one race away from history.
The Hampstead, New Hampshire, driver enters the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour finale on the quarter-mile oval at Charlotte Motor Speedway with a 10-point lead on the field as he looks to become the third driver in tour history to win back-to-back championships.
The Southern Slam 150 is slated for Thursday night, where Seuss can match Junior Miller (2005-06) and George Brunnhoelzl III (2011-13). Seuss holds a 10-point lead over brothers Burt and Jason Myers and 13-point cushion on four-time champion Brunnhoelzl.
While Seuss enters with the points lead, he will have to keep an eye on Burt Myers. The third-generation driver enters as a three-time winner of this race including the last two in a row.
Burt Myers is no stranger to making up ground in this final event. He entered the Southern Slam 150 in 2010 in fourth place. Myers won the race as the other challengers had trouble and he was able to vault his way to the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour championship.
Seuss finished fifth last year en route to his title and has three top-five finishes in five starts on the flat track at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
| RACE: | Southern Slam 150 |
|---|---|
| PLACE: | Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, N.C. |
| DATE: | Thursday, October 8 |
| TIME: | 8:40 p.m. ET (Approximately) |
| TRACK LAYOUT: | .25-mile asphalt oval (Front stretch of CMS) |
| 2014 WINNER: | Burt Myers |
| 2014 POLE SITTER: | Ryan Preece |
| EVENT SCHEDULE: | First Practice 11:15 a.m. – Noon; Final practice 12:30 – 1:15 p.m.; Two-Lap Qualifying 5 p.m.; Autograph Session 6:15 p.m. (On Track) |
| TRACK CONTACT: | Scott Cooper (704) 455-3209 ; scooper@charlottemotorspeedway.com |
| TRACK TWITTER: | @CLTMotorSpdwy |
| EVENT HASHTAG: | #SouthernSlam150 |
| NASCAR CONTACT: | Tim Southers, 386-235-3634; tsouthers@nascar.com, Twitter: @tsouth1968 |
Fast Facts
The Race: The Southern Slam is the 10th and final race on the 2015 schedule for the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour, now in its 11th season. It will be the sixth time the series has competed on the .25-mile track along the front stretch at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The Procedure: The maximum starting field is 26 cars, including provisionals. The first 23 cars will qualify through two-lap time trials. The remaining three spots will be awarded through the provisional process. The race is scheduled for 150 laps (37.5 miles) with teams having an opportunity to pit and change one tire during the event.
The Track: Built in 1960, the 1.5-mile track has hosted NASCAR events ever since it’s opening. The track was designed and built by Bruton Smith and Curtis Turner. The track has gone through various upgrades through the years and a state-or-the-art lighting system was installed in 1992, allowing Charlotte Motor Speedway to be the first modern superspeedway to host night stock car racing. The Whelen Southern Modifieds compete on the quarter-mile track constructed along the front stretch of the speedway.
Race Winners: Burt Myers won the inaugural event at the track in 2010 and again in 2013 and 2014. Brunnhoelzl is the only other active driver to win at the track capturing a checkered flag in 2012.
The Records: Qualifying: Preece holds the quarter-mile track qualifying record at 14.612 seconds and 61.593 mph, set last year on October 9, 2014. Race: Tim Brown owns the race record speed of 45.455 mph set on October 13, 2011.
Southern Slam 150 Notes
Preece Returns To Charlotte: Ryan Preece, who is tied with Doug Coby for the lead in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour standings as he goes after his second championship in that series, will also make his fourth consecutive start at Charlotte driving for veteran car owner Mike Curb. Preece set a track record in qualifying last season and led the first 64 laps of the event before brake troubles ended his chance for a win. Preece visited Victory Lane on the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour earlier this season at Virginia’s South Boston Speedway.
Jason Myers Still Searching For First Title: After finishing seventh at South Boston, Jason Myers has been in the top three for most of the season in the point standings as he goes after his first tour crown. Despite not having a win this season, Myers is the only driver to finish in the top-10 in every race in 2015.
Measmer Jr. Honors Mother With Paint Scheme: Bobby Measmer Jr. has enjoyed a recent run of success as the Concord, North Carolina driver is coming off of his career-best finish of third and his first Coors Light Pole Award at South Boston on Sept. 19. He has painted his No. 14 modified pink to honor his mother who is battling breast cancer. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Trey Hutchens III Closes In On Rookie Honor: Trey Hutchens III will simply need to start the Southern Slam 150 to capture Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors. The second-generation driver has scored a pair of top-10 finishes at South Boston this season in his seven previous starts in 2015.
Sources: Tim Southers, NASCAR
NWSMT Charlotte 10/8/15 Schedule
Whelen Southern Modified Tour
Time Event
7 a.m. Haulers Enter
7:30 a.m. Garage Opens
7:45 a.m. Crew Chief Meeting
10 a.m. Rookie Driver/Spotter Meeting
11:15 a.m. – Noon First Practice
12:30 – 1 p.m. Final Practice
4:05 p.m. Qualifying (2 Laps)
6 p.m. Driver/Crew Chief Meeting
6:30-7:30 p.m. Driver Autograph Session
8:40 p.m. (Approximately) Southern Slam 150
* – Schedule Subject To Change
NWSMT Charlotte 10/8/15 Entry List
Whelen Southern Modified Tour
Series: Whelen Southern Modified Tour
CAR DRIVER/HOMETOWN TEAM OWNER CREW CHIEF
1 Burt Myers, Walnut Cove, N.C. Citrisafe /Remington SCT/Speedway Auto Auc. Ford Kim Myers Matt Cromer
4 Jason Myers, Walnut Cove, N.C. Adams Towing & Recovery Ford Gary Myers Mike Queen
5 Kyle Ebersole, Hummelstown, Pa. Ebersole Excavating Ford Bob Ebersole Bob Ebersole
8 Dalton Baldwin, Dunedin, Fla. * ChildrensDreamRacer.com Chevrolet Bobby Baldwin Bobby Baldwin
11 Andy Seuss, Hampstead, N.H. Northeast Race Cars/Ideal Finance Chevrolet Eddie Harvey Eddie Harvey
12 Mike Norman, Lewisville, N.C. Gastonia Chrysler/Speedway Auto Auc./Go Aero Chevrolet Donna Norman Reggie Ruggerio
14 Trey Hutchens, III, Winston-Salem, N.C. * Hayes Jewelers Chevrolet Bobby Hutchens, Jr. Bobby Hutchens Jr.
15 Jeremy Gerstner, Wesley Chapel, Fla. GMR Lawncare/Shady Grady Racing Chevrolet Grady Jeffreys, Jr. Grady Jeffreys Sr.
25 John Smith, Mount Airy, N.C. Rick’s Home Improvement/Mumy Financial Chevrolet Misty Smith Jody Utt
28 George Brunnhoelzl, III, West Babylon, N.Y. Dunleavy Trk & Trailer Repair/Composite Tech. Chevrolet George Brunnhoelzl, Jr. George Brunnhoelzl Jr.
40 Frank Fleming, Mt. Airy, N.C. Autos By Nelson/Lewisville Mtrs/Smith Trk./NC Granite Copr. Chevrolet Gina Fleming Chris Fleming
43 David Calabrese, Toms River, N.J. Diamond Back Towing Chevrolet Michael Calabrese Bobby Foley
65 Danny Bohn, Freehold, N.J. Rustoleum/Cedar Peaks Ent. /Ray Evernham Ent. Chevrolet Eddie Bohn Eddie Bohn
74 Bobby Measmer, Jr., Concord, N.C. Powerhouse Recycling/Lead 2 Real Estate Chevrolet Kevin Hughes Bobby Measmer Sr.
77 Gary Putnam, Vernon, Conn. Curb Records Chevrolet Mike Curb Don Tarantino
79 James Civali, Meriden, Conn. Coors Light /Hillbilly Racing Pontiac Susan Hill David Hill
95 Cale Gale, Mobile, Ala Rheem, Gale Force Chevrolet Bubba Gale Jason Keaton
98 Ryan Preece, Berlin, Conn. Curb Records/Menards Chevrolet Mike Curb Jeff Preece
* – Denotes Sunoco Rookie of the Year Contender