Reigning Southern Modified Racing Series champion Burt Myers scored his first two victories of the 2017 season on Friday with a trip to Victory Lane in both halves of the Twin-50s at Caraway Speedway in Sophia, North Carolina.
While the results were the same for the driver from Walnut Cove, the races were drastically different.
Myers began the evening by winning the Precision Built Spindle pole position, which earned him the front starting spot in the first feature. While he was challenged early by Tim Brown and survived a couple of late-race restarts, it was a flawless run for Myers as he led every lap to victory.
Danny Bohn, Jeremy Gerstner, Tim Brown and Gary Putnam followed Myers across the line.
In a blind draw in victory lane, Myers drew an inversion of six cars putting him on the outside of the third row for the start of the second 50-lap feature.
Bobby Measmer Jr. started on the pole and led the first eight laps before yielding the top spot to Gerstner, closely followed to the front by Myers. By the mid-point in the race Gerstner opened a margin and appeared to be enroute to his second-career series win; that was until Myers charged late.
With 10 laps remaining Myers was all over Gerstner and with four laps to go he charged to the outside into turn three. Off turn four Myers was in the top spot and never looked back. Gerstner settled for second, Measmer was third with Brown and Brandon Ward completing the top five.
We came here yesterday and tested for about five hours, simulating this time of night and getting the car dialed in for short spurts,” said the elated winner after the second victory. “The car was phenomenal.
“We had to make several adjustments for the second race because I knew I would have to drive through the field. I waited as long as I could to pass Jeremy, his car was getting tight; he ran me hard and ran me clean and I got past him.”
The wins were Myers third and fourth career victories in the SMRS — all at Caraway. With Friday night’s races, there have now been 18 features events in the tour now in its second year.
The Southern Modified Racing Series returns to Caraway on August 26 for the eighth race of the 12-race 2017 season.
Southern Modified Racing Series Twin-50s – Race 1
1. Burt Myers, Walnut Cove, N.C.
2. Danny Bohn, Freehold, N.J.
3. Jeremy Gerstner, Wesley Chapel, Fla.
4. Tim Brown, Tobaccoville, N.C.
5. Gary Putnam, Concord, N.C.
6. Bobby Measmer Jr., Concord, N.C.
7. Brandon Ward, Winston-Salem, N.C.
8. Brian Loftin, Lexington, N.C.
9. Mike Norman, Lewisville, N.C.
10. Dan Clatterbuck, Montpelier, Va.
11. Jason Myers, Walnut Cove, N.C.
12. Jason Tutterow, Winston-Salem, N.C.
Southern Modified Racing Series Twin-50s – Race 2
1. Burt Myers, Walnut Cove, N.C.
2. Jeremy Gerstner, Wesley Chapel, Fla.
3. Bobby Measmer Jr., Concord, N.C.
4. Tim Brown, Tobaccoville, N.C.
5. Brandon Ward, Winston-Salem, N.C.
6. Gary Putnam, Concord, N.C.
7. Jason Myers, Winston-Salem, N.C.
8. Dan Clatterbuck, Montpelier, Va.
9. Mike Norman, Lewisville, N.C.
10. Danny Bohn, Freehold, N.J.
11. Brian Loftin, Lexington, N.C.
