Drivers fight for position during the 2017 edition of the North-South Shootout at Concord Speedway. The event is scheduled for Saturday at Caraway Speedway. (Adam Fenwick Photo)
Drivers fight for position during the 2017 edition of the North-South Shootout at Concord Speedway. The event is scheduled for Saturday at Caraway Speedway. (Adam Fenwick Photo)
Asphalt Modifieds

Caraway Hosts North-South Shootout Saturday

November 4, 2021

ASHEBORO, N.C. – The best tour-type modified drivers from up and down the East Coast will invade Caraway Speedway for the 19th annual John Blewett III Memorial North-South Shootout presented in memory of Charles Kepley this Saturday.

Race teams and drivers from Connecticut to Florida will compete for 150 laps in the main event of the day, with every lap being broadcast by Pit Row TV, with syndication on CarawaySpeedway.TV and SPEED SPORT TV.

Among the Southern stars expected to compete are recently crowned SMART Modified Tour champion and two-time North-South Shootout winner Burt Myers, his brother Jason Myers, Brandon Ward, Brian Loftin and Jeremy Gerstner.

The invaders from the Northeast will include six-time North-South Shootout winner Matt Hirschman, Tommy Catalano, Chris Pasteryak, Craig Lutz and Ronnie Williams. Jimmy Blewett, the brother of the late John Blewett III, is also expected to participate. 

George Brunnhoelzl III, a four-time champion of the now defunct NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour, is also expected to return to modified racing for the North-South Shootout. Cayden Lapcevich, the 2015 NASCAR Pinty’s Series champion, is also set to compete in a car fielded by Kevin Orlando.

Max McLaughlin, son of modified legend Mike McLaughlin, won the North-South Shootout for the first time in his career last year. This year will be the sixth time the event has been held at Caraway. It was held at Caraway from 2011 to ’14 before returning to the track last year.

It was previously held at the defunct Concord (N.C.) Speedway from 2003 to ’10 and again from 2015 to ’18. Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway also hosted the event in 2019. 

Previous North-South Shootout winners include Hirschman, John Blewett III, Donny Lia, Burt Myers, Ryan Preece, Justin Bonsignore, Jon McKennedy, Andy Seuss and McLaughlin.

In addition to the headlining tour-type modifieds, 602 modifieds, pro late models, mini stocks and Legend cars are also on the docket Saturday at Caraway Speedway.

Opening ceremonies are scheduled to begin at 1:10 p.m. ET, with racing slated to start shortly thereafter at 1:30 p.m. ET