Stacked Entry List Set for SMART Modified Season Opener

Sunday afternoon at Caraway Speedway is essentially a homecoming party for 2000 NASCAR Cup Series champion Bobby Labonte.

It’s also the highly anticipated season opener for the Southern Modified Auto Racing Teams.

There are a growing number of other Tour Type Modified drivers currently poised to challenge Labonte in his first race back as a full-time driver and at his home track. Labonte first took a green flag at Caraway in 1980 in a Sportsman Division race ultimately won by Dale Earnhardt.

Labonte claimed the track’s 1987 championship and now seeks a competitive run in his pursuit of the SMART Modified championship.

Standing in his way will be southern Tour Type Modified regulars Jeremy Gerstner, Brian Loftin, Tim Brown, Jason and Burt Myers, Tom Buzze, Jr., Frank Fleming and Mike Norman. John Smith will debut a new car owned by Buddy Ellis.

The early favorite has to be defending World Series of Asphalt champion Matt Hirschman. Other veteran outsiders include Jeff Fultz, Ronnie Williams and Caleb Heady in the 7NY owned by Tommy Baldwin. CARS Tour Super Late Model champion Jared Fryar will also race alongside Dennis Holdren, Gary Putnam and Daniel Beeson.

It’s a legitimately strong field for the first race of the new season.

The card also includes 602 Modifieds, Mini Stock and Charger Late Models. Racing begins at 3 p.m. on Sunday at Caraway.

1. 04 Brandon Ward
2. 07 Dennis Holdren
3. 1 Burt Myers
4. 3 Danny Propst
5. 4 Jason Myers
6. 5 Tom Buzze, Jr.
7. 7NY Caleb Heady
8. 8 Darin Redmon
9. 12 Mike Norman
10. 14 Bobby Messmer
11. 15 Brian Loftin
12. 17 Chuck Hossfeld
13. 18 Daniel Yates
14. 22 Jimmy Wallace
15. 24 John Smith
16. 24 Andrew Harrah
17. 25 Bobby Labonte
18. 39 Carlos Gray
19. 40 Frank Fleming
20. 44 Daniel Beeson
21. 44 Jared Fryar
22. 50 Michael Clifton
23. 55 Jeremy Gerstner
24. 75 Lee Jeffries
25. 77 Gary Putnam
26. 79 James Civali
27. 83 Tim Brown
28. 92 Brodie Jones
29. 99 Ronnie Williams

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