Trackside Now: 5th Annual North-South Shootout

Trackside Now: The 5th Annual North-South Shootout - Saturday

It's Raceday for All Sorts of Mods at Concord Motorsport Park (NC)

Saturday, 10:25pm ET - Ricky "Rocketman" Knapp has hit the wall in SK Modified practice. His #1 struck the styrafoam in turns three-and-four. It was Knapp's first time in the racecar this weekend and was his first laps around the tricky 1/2 mile oval. Burt Myers had practiced and qualified the car for Knapp who was a crew member last night for Germain Racing's Craftsman Truck efforts at Texas Motor Speedway.

North-South Shootout Officials said that they will be allowing both JR Bertuccio and Rowan Pennink to compete in their consolation races to try to make the field for the North-South Shootout.

Saturday, 10:20pm ET - Practice has concluded for the Tour-Type Modifieds at the North-South Shootout at Concord Motorsport Park (NC). 23 Modifieds took to the track under sunny skys. It's a little chilly this morning but the forcast looks good with clear blue skies. Many teams opted not to run the Saturday "Happy Hour" session. Chuck Hossfeld's #22 was one of them. "After practice on Thursday and Friday we should have the car dialed in," said the New York driver.

North-South officials have told Speed51.com Friday night that JR Bertuccio will not be competing in today's consilation race after his on-track incident with Rowan Pennick and the massive pit-fight that followed. The Long Island driver and his team were not pleased with the ruling. Pennick's #93 was on track for Happy Hour practice.We will have more on this later in the week in our "Leftovers" section.

Brian Loftin's Hauler sits on pit road locked up. The team looked over the #23 Mod after their heat race crash and determined that the front clip was indeed bent on the car. "We basically brought the backup car just for parts," said Loftin. After a tough 2007 season, the team said that they are looking forward to finding luck somewhere for 2008.

Click Here for Friday's Trackside Now Coverage of the North-South Shootout

Click Here for Friday's coverage

Saturday, 1:57pm ET - The Consi races are on the track. Here's the scoop. Two Consis - three cars transfer from each.

Saturday, 1:57pm ET - Austin Beers won his second consecutive Pedal Car race for the kids on the frontstretch. Austin is the son of Mod driver Eric Beers. As track announcer Derek Pernesiglio said "the checkered flag is as big as him."

"He's got a better record down here than I do," said Beers of his son's win.

The Pit Party has concluded. A ton of fans got autographs and candy from their favorite drivers in the Mods, Super Mods, SKs, Crate Mods, and Vintage Mods. One car not on the track for the Pit Party was the #18 of Donny Lia. The team has gone over the entire setup of the car after not running up to par on Friday. Lia did make the field in the heat race.

Word around the ISMA pits is that Super Mod driver Michael Barnes is on the mend after his horrific crash during yesterday's time trial session. Although their is no official word on his condition, an ISMA official told us that the New York driver may have suffered a punctured lung and a lacerated liver in the incident. If we learn anything else we will try post it here. Everyone in the pit area has been talking about the incident. Thoughts and prayers are with Barnes, his team and family.

Saturday, 1:45pm ET - The Pit Party has concluded. A ton of fans got autographs and candy from their favorite drivers in the Mods, Super Mods, SKs, Crate Mods, and Vintage Mods.

Word around the ISMA pits is that Super Mod driver Michael Barnes is on the mend after his horrific crash during yesterday's time trial session. Although their is no official word on his condition, an ISMA official told us that the New York driver may have suffered a punctured lung and a lacerated liver in the incident. If we learn anything else we will try post it here. Everyone in the pit area has been talking about the incident. Thoughts and prayers are with Barnes, his team and family.

The Pit Party at the Shootout is always poplular.

Barnes crash on Friday was certainly vicious. (Jamie Williams/51 Photo)

Saturday, 2:20pm ET - Ted Christopher makes his way into the field by winning the first of two consi races. Billy Pauch, Jr and "underdog" Long Island racer Johnny Bush take the other transfer spots. Frank Fleming nearly wrecked with two to go after contact from the bumper of JR Bertuccio.

Todd Szegedy and Bobby Grigas III will lead the field to green for consi race two.

Saturday, 2:15pm ET - John Manno spins in turn two. The leaders had to pass the car as it sat in the middle of the track. The yellow flag was never thrown. The leaders slowed in turn three because they assumed the yellow was out. This caused a log-jam that nearly resulted in a multi-car chain reaction crash.

Ted Christopher leads the race over Billy Pauch, Jr. Johnny Bush has hopped into the transfer spot with the packed house at Concord on their feet watching his charge.

Saturday, 2:10pm ET - Billy Pauch, Jr leads Ted Christopher. Right now Brian Pack holds on to the final transfer spot.

Editors Note: We are experiencing technical difficulties with the Internet connection at Concord Motorsport Park. We apologize for the delay in updates. We will be trying as hard as we can to continue to give you updates as the action happens at the John Blewett Memorial North-South Shootout

Saturday, 7:40pm ET - "The Rawley Rocket" Chris Perley hunted down AJ Russell but couldn't get around Russell as he took the lead in the lengthy 50-lap "East West Shootout".

Top-Five Finishers

1) Perley 2) Russell 3) Schultz 4) Lanborn 5)Reid

Saturday, 7:40pm ET - The Super Mod “East West Showdown is under a red flag for a nasty three-car crash. A few major crashes have made the race length seem like an eternity. California’s AJ Russell is in the lead but the “Rawley Rocket” Chris Perley is on the move through the field.

Saturday, 6:40pm ET - Ted Christopher tore through the field and caught Blewett on the final lap. TC didn’t have time as Showtime stole the show winning the SK Mod feature. TC was not happy after the race and let his feelings be known to his crew and Speed51.com. “He’s Showtime and it’s his Show,” said TC as he walked to his hauler. Speed51.com will have more on this story in the “Leftovers” section later this week.

Top-Five Finishers

Blewett 2) Christopher 3) Farrell 4) Malave 5) Janovic

Saturday, 6:20pm ET - Ted Christopher took the lead from Jimmy Blewett but when Blewett got back underneath TC, the two cars made contact with Christopher spinning coming out of turn-one. The crowd was buzzing anticipating a similar ruling to the Pitkat/Rocco contact. Officials did not penalize Blewett.

Saturday, 6:10pm ET - Woody Pitkat was sent to the rear of the field after making contact with Keith Rocco. Pitkat, who led the early stages of the SK race was later taken out when he was collected in a restart jam-up.

Saturday, 5:45pm ET - Glenn Reen walked away with the SK-Light (Crate Mod) feature event.

Carl Pasteryak wins the Non-Qualifiers event for the second year in a row. Rick Kuiken, Jr finished second. JR Bertuccio and Rowan Pennink did not run the non-qualifier race though they were slated to start on the front row.

DNQ’s for the North-South Shootout

Rowan Pennink

JR Bertuccio

Rich Kuiken, Jr.

Jay Hedgecock

Greg Butcher

Josh Nichols

Brandon Hire

John Manno

Chris Whitenight, Jr

Ken Heagy

Brian Loftin

Jay Mize

Saturday, 4:00pm ET - Concord Motorsport Park just announced that the crowd for the 2007 North-South Shootout is the largest in the history of the North Carolina track.

Saturday, 3:55pm ET - Randy Freeze froze the competition by winning the four-cylinder (Mini-stock) feature event.

Saturday, 3:50pm ET - North Carolina Modified Legend Johnny Johnson took the popular win in his #99 Mod in the Vintage Flat-Head Modified race. The fans were treated to some good-old fashioned racing by the cars of yester-years. Johnson took the lead and then lost it and re-took the top spot on the final lap of the event.

Saturday, 3:38pm ET - Randy Smith wins the Vintage Mod feature event during the North-South Shootout.

The Super Modified Consi race was cut short by a crash on the frontstretch. Utah driver Jim Pasquin wrecked his #12 on the frontstretch. It took safety workers about 15-minutes to get Pasquin out of the car. He was put in the ambulance and we have learned will not be transfered to a local hospital and is being checked out on Speedway grounds. Good news after a tough crash.

Saturday, 2:58pm ET - The second Consi is complete. Bobby Grigas III won, Todd Szegedy crossed the line in second followed by Darren Scherer, who got the final transfer spot.

A non-qualifier’s race will take place later. The winner will have a choice to take the final spot in the Shootout or take the winner’s money.

Saturday, 2:25pm ET - Mountain Speedway (PA) regular Chris Whitenight hits the wall hard to bring out another caution after getting tangled with Ken Wooley, Jr.

Saturday, 2:25pm ET - Todd Szegedy jumps out to a big lead pulliing away with Grigas and Daren Scherer in tow. Jason Myers sits fourth with Ronnie Silk in the Chase Racing #77 fifth. Gene Pack spins to cause a caution on lap-one.

Some of the young fans show how much they enjoy the Classic racecars of the Shootout.

Bobby Grigas leads Todd Szegedy to the checkered flag in consi-two.

How fast are the Super Mods at Concord? The USG Sheetrock Banner coudln't withstand the breeze made by the powerful machines.

Jimmy Blewett scored the popular win in the SK feature. It was popular to everyone but Ted Christopher.

North-South Shootout Tour-Type Mod Lineup

Jimmy Blewett

Matt Hirschman

Burt Myers

Erick Rudolph

Les Hinckley

Chuck Hossfeld

Charlie Pasteryak

Eric Beers

Pete Brittain

Ryan Preece

Andy Seuss

Woody Pitkat

James Civali

Rick Kluth

Donny Lia

Dale Quarterley

Bobby Santos III

Ted Christopher

Bobby Grigas III

Billy Pauch Jr

Todd Szegedy

Johnny Bush

Darren Scherer

Brian King

Josh Nichols

Randy Butner

Jamie Tomaino (prov)

Brian Pack (prov)

Kenny Wooley (prov)

Jason Myers (prov)

Frank Fleming (prov)

Gene Pack (prov)

Ronnie Silk (prov)

Jimmy Blewett told Speed51.com that he really wanted to race on dirt someday. He showed why he might be good on dirt during practice. "Showtime" will lead the field to green.

Matt Hirschman will try to get by Blewett from the outside of the front row. Hirschman is the defending champ of the Shootout.

Saturday, 9:03pm ET - Jason Myers spins to bring out the caution on lap-32. Nearly the entire field (besides three cars) comes in to pit. Ryan Preece stays out to take the lead. Matt Hirschman comes out second. Pete Brittain gained with his stop and sits third followed by Blewett, Beers and Christopher.

Saturday, 9:00pm ET - Erick Rudolph tried to duck under leader Matt Hirschman in traffic. The move cost him second-spot as Jimmy Blewett pounced to take the position.

Saturday, 8:50pm ET - The Green Flag is out and Matt Hirschman jumps out to the lead with youngster Erick Rudolph in tow. Blewett settles in in third followed by Burt Myers and Chuck Hossfeld.

Saturday, 8:45pm ET - John Blewett IV, the son of fallen driver John Blewett III, gave the command to start the engines. The race is about to get underway. C & C Racing Promotions presented a check to the Blewett family for 10-thousand dollars that they raised for the family since John's death in August.

One man stands alone for the South, Burt Myers of North Carolina, as he is the only Southern starter in the top-20.

Here are the complete results for all of the division at this year's race:

5th Annual John Blewett III Memorial North-South Shootout presented by Town & Country Ford (100 laps): 1. Matt Hirschman, Northampton, PA (100); 2. Eric Beers, Northampton, PA (100); 3. Bobby Santos, Franklin, MA (100); 4. Burt Myers, Walnut Cove, NC; (100); 5. Donny Lia, Jericho, NY (100); 6. Eric Rudolph, Ransomville, NY (100); 7. Les Hinckley, Windsor Locks, CT (100); 8. Dale Quaterley, Westfield, MA (100); 9. Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs, CT (100); 10. Ryan Preece, Kensington, CT (100); 11. Pete Brittain, Oakhurst, NJ (100); 12. Brian Pack, Walkertown, NC (100); 13. Johnny Bush, Huntington Station, NY(100); 14. Ronnie Silk, Norwalk, CT(100) 15. Jimmy Blewett, Howell, NJ(100) 16. Jamie Tomaino, Howell, NJ(100) 17. Chuck Hossfeld, Ransomville, NY(100) 18. Billy Pauch, Frenchtown, NJ(100) 19. Charlie Pasteryak, Lisbon, CT(100) 20. Brian King, Gibsonville, NC(100) 21. Darren Scherer, Binghampton, NY99) 22. Gene Pack, Walkertown, NC(99) 23. Andy Suess, Hampstead, NH(99) 24. Ken Wooley, Jr.,Brick,NJ(99) 25. Frank Fleming, Mt. Airy,NC(98) 26. Randy Butner, Pfafftown, NC(94) 27. James Civali, Meriden, CT(83) 28. Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield, CT(76) 29. Rick Kluth, Brockport, NY(73) 30. Jason Myers, Walnut Cove, NC(68) 31. Bobby Grigas, Marshfield, MA(58) 32. Ted Christopher, Plainville, CT(58) 33. Josh Nichols. Cleveland, NC(51)

Modified Non-Qualifiers Feature Event Finish (25-Laps): 1. Carl Pasteryak, Lisbon, CT; 2. Rich Kuiken, Jr., Staffordville, NJ; 3. Johnny Sutton, Harrisburg, NC; 4. Chris Whitenight, Jr., Berwick, PA; 5. Brandon Hire, Winston-Salem, NC; 6. Jay Mize, Clemmons, NC; 7. Greg Butcher; 8. John Manno, Sherrills Ford, NC; 9. Ken Heagy, Mocksville, NC; DNS-Rowan Pennink, Huntington Valley, PA; DNS-JR Bertuccio, Centereach, NY; DNS-Jay Hedgecock, High Point, NC; DNS-Brian Loftin, Lexington, NC.

Wirtgen America East-West Supermodified Feature Finish (50-Laps): 1. A.J. Russell, Clovis, CA; 2. Chris Perley, Rowley, MA; 3. Charlie Schultz, Lorain, OH; 4. Mike Litchey, Innerkip, Ontario; 5. Rich Reid, New London, OH; 6. Dale Lamborn, Carson City, NV; 7. Mike Ordway, Jr., Fremont, NH; 8. Mark Sammut, London, ONT, 9. Scott Martel, Bradford, MA; 10. Brad Noffsinger, Concord, NC; 11. Joey Payne, Jr., Fairlawn, NJ; 12. Ray Graham, Jr., Ankeny, OH, 13. John Torrese, Miami, FL; 14. Brandon Bellinger, Fulton, NY; 15. Ernie Coppo, Jr., Fresno, CA; 16. Justin Belfoire, Ipswich, MA; 17. Moe Lilje, Middleburg Heights, OH; 18. Jim Birges, Fresno, CA; 19. Joe Gosek, Oswego, NY; 20. Howie Page, Mexico, NY; 21. Sean Sauer, Wellington, OH; 22. Doug Didero, Moorseville, NC; 23. Tim Jedrezejek, Independence, OH; 24. Harry Stone, Bloomfield, CO; 25. Rob Summers, Jr., Vernon, CT; 26. Lou Cicconi, Jr., Aston, PA; 27. Bobby Dawson, S. Amherst, OH; 28. Bobby Dalton, San Martin, CA; 29. Jim Shirey, Oberlin, OH; 30. Rich Castor, Bennett, CO; 31. Larry Lehner, New London, OH; 32. Kelly Miller, Mexico, NY; 33. Brandon Fisher, Amherst, OH; 34. Martin McKeefery, Milpitas, CA.

SK-Type Modified Feature Finish (50-Laps): 1. Jimmy Blewett, Howell, NJ; 2. Ted Christopher, Plainville, CT; 3. Tommy Farrell III, Neptune, NJ; 4. Jeff Malave, S. Windsor, CT; 5. Rob Janovic, Waterford, CT; 6. Joe Lemay, Millville, MA; 7. Steven Reed, Freehold, NJ; 8. Donnie Fowler, Clinton, CT; 9. Glenn Griswold, Vernon, CT; 10. Rick Kluth, Brockport, NY; 11. Sherri Hogan, Belwood, Ont,; 12. Dave Flammia, Jr., Waterbury, CT; 13. Tony Hanbury, Owego, NY; 14. Patti Pruitt, Oswego, NY; 15. Keith Rocco, Wallingford, CT; 16. Rob Summers, Vernon, CT; 17. Jeff Ruddy, Caledonio, ONT; 18. Dave Cranmer, N. Hanover, NJ; 19. Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs, CT; 20. Doug Coby, Milford, CT; 21. Shaun Carrig, Little Falls, NJ; 22. Richie Evans, Jr., Charlotte, NC; 23. Josh Steeves, Webster, MA; 24. Kerry Malone, Needham, MA; 25. Kenny Horton, New Haven, CT; 26. J.R. Roth, Jim Thorpe, PA; 27. Ronnie Silk, Norwalk, CT; DNS Richard Knapp.

Crate SK-Modified Feature Finish (30-laps): 1. Glen Reen, Wilbraham, MA; 2. Chris Matthews, Stafford Springs, CT; 3. Robert Geibel, Brick, NJ; 4. Marc Nappi, Howell, NJ; 5. Gary Young, Jr., Burlington, NC; 6. Scott Riggleman, Manchester, NJ.

Four-Cylinder Feature Finish (30-Laps): 1. Randy Freeze, Salisbury, NC; 2. A.J. Sanders, Mocksville, NC; 3. Michael Brown, Advance, NC; 4. Tony Black, Lexington, NC; 5. Andrew Sanders, Mocksville, NC; 6. Tracy Mullis (FWD), Indian Trail, NC; 7. Steve Truell, Winston-Salem, NC; 8. Ronnie Kinney, Lexington, NC; 9. Chad Miller (FWD), Concord, NC; 10. John Davis (FWD), Lexington, NC; 11. Debbie Hickman (FWD); 12. Ben Brown, Westfield, NC; 13. Billy Cameron, Jr., Salibury, NC; DNS-Michael Barr, Concord, NC; John Davis, Lexington, NC; Chris Gordon, Concord, NC;

Vintage Modified Feature Finish (25-Laps): 1. Randy Smith, Bassett, VA; 2. Darrel Lacks, Goode, VA; 3. Brian Janik, Russell, MA; 4. Dan Meservey, W. Chatham, MA; 5. Kenneth Deese, Monroe, NC; 6. Anthony Colosimo, Red Bank, NJ; 7. Johnny Gregory, Rural Hall, NC; 8. Tracy Mullins, Monroe, NC; 9. Donnie Lacks, Lynchburg, NC; 10. Willie Wall, Lexington, NC.

Saturday, 9:50pm ET - "Mr. November strikes again! Matt HIrschman wins the North-South Shootout for the second consecutive year.

Top-Ten Finishers: 1) Hirschman 2) Beers 3) Santos 4) Burt Myers 5) Lia 6) Rudolph 7) Hinckley 8) Quarterley 9) Pitkat 10) Preece.

We will have the full field results as soon as we are done gathering interviews and stories in the pit area. We'll be back!

Saturday, 9:50pm ET - Chuck Hossfeld makes contact with the back of Jimmy Blewett. Blewett spins. Hossfeld stops in the incident so goes to the rear. The Top-five will restart on lap 83 of 100. Hirschman leads, Beers, Santos, Lia and Pitkat.

Saturday, 9:43pm ET - Billy Pauch, Jr spins to bring out the caution. Hirschman leads Beers, Santos, Blewett, Hossfeld, Civali and Lia. Restart will be on lap 82.

Saturday, 9:36pm ET - James Civali passes Donny Lia for fifth. Lia fought back on the outside but Civali drifted high out of turn-one forcing Lia into the fence. Lia is not happy about the contact and has pulled up next to Civali to show his displeasure. Lia did not spin and will line up 7th. Todd Szegedy spun as a result of the jam-up. The restart will beon lap-76.

Saturday, 9:34pm ET - Back to green after a lengthy caution.

Saturday, 9:20pm ET - The caution is out on lap-73. The track is completly oiled down. Pit announcer Chris Zacharias is actually demonstrating how much the track is oiled by skating with his sneakers on the pavement. The red-flag has been thrown to clean up the mess. It appears that the cause of the oildown is the #44 of Rick Kluth

Top-Ten with 27-laps to go - 1) Hirschman 2) Beers 3) Santos III 4) Blewett 5) Lia 6) Civali 7) Pitkat 8) Szegedy 9) Rudolph 10) Hinckley

Saturday, 9:16pm ET - TC is done. Christopher's #36 appears to be overheating and is pulling behind the wall. Defending race winner Hirschman still leads. Lia, a former North-South champ now cracks the top-five.

Saturday, 9:10pm ET - Lap-58 the caution waves for the second-time. It's a crash off of turn-four involving Pete Brittain, Bobby Grigas III, Darren Scherer and Ronnie Silk.

Ryan Preece gives up the lead to make his manditory pit stop. Ted Christopher, Burt Myrs, Andy Seuss, Jamie Tomaino & Ricky Kluth are among the others to come in to pit as well.

Saturday, 9:06pm ET - At Halfway... it's Ryan Preece leading, Matt Hirschman, Eric Beers, Bobby Santos III, Jimmy Blewett, Teddy Christopher, Donny Lia, Woody Pitkat and James Civali. 50-laps in the books.

Burt Myers is getting shuffled to to back on the high-side and has slipped back to 10th. Preece has stretched out his lead on Matt Hirschman.