Timing is everything. The Whelen Modified race at Martinsville is just days away as the SMART Modified Tour turned up the heat just down the road at South Boston Speedway. For race fans, the laps at South Boston wasn’t so much a preview as it was an event on its own standing. The SMART run at SoBo was joined by Late Model, Pure Stock and Hornets racing. The afternoon did not fall short on the show which the track is known for.
The Late Model race started the ticket for the Pocono Organics’ CBD Race Day and the action ran with a chase to lead by South Boston local Trey Crews. Crews took it away from Jacob Borst a third of the way in and pushed the lead to the win. It wasn’t for lack of trying but Borst just couldn’t manage to grab a pass back and crossed the checkers in the second slot. Peyton Sellers, a dual winner at SoBo at the opener in March, lost a tire and raced back to third.
Short as the race may be, the Budweiser Pure Stock 15 lap sprint continued the show with Nathan Crews leading the others start to finish. Crews had also won the opener at SoBo. Justin Dawson and Bruce Mayo came across two and three.
The SMART Tour Modifieds rolled out with some well known names in the seats. Well known Modified brother drivers Burt and Jason Myers were on tap. JTG Daugherty NASCAR Cup Driver Ryan Preece was racing with hist short track record. NASCAR Cup Champion (2000) Bobby Labonte was ready to go. We even caught a glimpse of FOX Broadcaster Mike Joy lingering about…
The current Cup driver, Ryan Preece, quickly took control of the field. Labonte had late race trouble and was out of it. Preece was there to take advantage of the restart with seven laps to go and kept Chuck Hossfeld in the mirrors for the win. It was a second win for Ryan Preece at SoBo (2015). Burt Myers ran third and brother Jason came across fifth. Dennis Holden split the Myers in fourth.
A mid-point wreck at the entrance to turn three held the race for quite a while. A multiple car incident had the #83 of Tim Brown nose first in the wall. Brown was removed from the car by Emergency Crews. At the time he was reported to be responsive and aware. Brown was taken to the hospital and the latest is that he is being treated and does not have serious or life-threatening injuries. His status for getting back on track is unknown and best thoughts are there for family, team and friends.
The closing event, as the SMART teams were loading up, ran with the Budweiser Hornets. Josh Dawson managed the pass of Jared Dawson with five to go for the win. Kevin Currin rolled through in third.
Next up is a NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series Late Model Stock Car Division double header in a six race event set for April 17th.
