By: Ron Burt
Last weekend was the North vs South Shootout at Garaway Speedway for the big block ISMA/MSS Supermodifieds. The drivers, crews and fans took the drive to Sophia, North Carolina. Caraway Speedway is a .455 mile asphalt short track located near Asheboro that runs weekly races and several series. They also run several Whelen Southern Modified Series events for asphalt UMP type mods. Last week the big boys came to play and made sure it was an action packed weekend for everyone attending.
Twenty 22 Supermodifieds made the haul down to North Carolina. Jon McKennedy drove the John Nicotra Racing No. 79 to a $10,000 victory in Supermodified racing’s return to the North-South Shootout Saturday, Nov. 9. The Massachusetts driver scored the win by a 0.730-second margin over Oswego, New York’s Josh Sokolic in the No. 98. McKennedy, who qualified fastest Friday afternoon for the non-sanctioned event running under ISMA-MSS rules, passed Dave Shullick Jr. for the lead on lap 13 and never looked back. Shullick, who started on the pole in No. 95, would hold P2 until Sokolic overtook him for the runner-up position during the second half of the race. Shullick would complete the podium in P3.
Former NASCAR Truck Series champion Johnny Benson Jr. had his best run of the ISMA-MSS season to finish P4. Oswego’s Dave Danzer rounded out the top five.
The win was McKennedy’s second of the year in ISMA-MSS racing, following up his score in August at Claremont Motorsports Park. The win will go down as an ISMA-MSS non-points victory and the 19th of McKennedy’s career in the series, which is eighth on the all-time list.
McKennedy’s win caps an incredible late season stretch for Nicotra Racing. Since July, Nicotra drivers Otto Sitterly and McKennedy have won the Sandusky Hy-Miler, Oswego’s Mr. Supermodified feature, the Oswego International Classic pole award, the Star Classic, both features at the Evans Mills John Burr Classic, the ISMA-MSS championship, and now the North-South Shootout.
If you enjoy the big block Supermodifieds, Sandusky Speedway just announced the 48th Annual Hy-Miler will be July 23rd-26th 2025. They will be releasing more details soon.
The Outlaw 350 Supermodified Sprint Series just released their 2025 schedule last week. Missing from the 12 race schedule is Plymouth Motor Speedway west of Fort Wayne. Tracks already set in stone include Sandusky, Lorain, Midvale and Shady Bowl Speedway in De Graff, Ohio. With the high banking at Shady Bowl these crate motor lightening bolts will fly around that oval.
The Outlaw 350 Supermodified Series has done something I’ve never seen but it would be something other series should look at. November 15th was the deadline for a 48-hour comment period for the proposed set of rules. This period was intended to allow the competitors and potential competitors an opportunity to provide feedback, raise concerns, and suggest improvements. The directors of competition in the series value all input; however, each suggestion will be carefully considered, but final decisions will be made based on a variety of factors, including overall impact, feasibility, and alignment with series objectives in mind. This is a great idea.
Until next week, keep your wheels down. Ron out!
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