Story By: SMART MODIFIED TOUR – TIMMONSVILLE, SC – The old phrase, “The Apple Didn’t Fall Far from the Tree,” could certainly apply to 9-time SMART winner Brian Loftin and his son, Carson.
In just his 16th-career series start, the 15-year-old driver won his first race in a Tour-Type Modified. It came Saturday (March 2), in the Peanut Patch 99 at Florence Motor Speedway (SC), which marked the season opener for the SMART Modified Tour powered by Pace-O-Matic.
Carson Loftin passed on of the best in the business, Matt Hirschman, to take the lead on lap 81. He then held off Burt Myers and Ryan Newman for the victory.
“All of them are great drivers. When I was behind Hirschman, I knew it was going to be tough to get by him. But, these guys gave me a great car and I was able to do it. Man, this feels good,” said Loftin, who drives the number-23 Modified sponsored by L&R Transmissions and LeBlue Bottled Water.
With Carson’s victory, he and his father, Brian, become the third, father-son combination in SMART history, to win races. At 15 years, 11 months and 3 days, Carson Loftin is the youngest winner in SMART history.
“This means a lot. People don’t know how much goes into putting these race cars together. It’s been a lot of late nights in the shop and it paid off,” continued Loftin. “I’m trying to make racing a career and I gotta win races. I can’t thank these guys enough for sticking behind me. It sure feels good.”
Defending series champion Burt Myers led 25 laps enroute to a runner-up finish.
“We just lacked overall grip,” said Myers, who drives the Citrusafe Grill Cleaners | Peanut Patch number-1 Modified. “We knew this was coming; Carson is a real talent. He’s smooth and on a track like this, that matters. We were just a little off, but we still led laps, won the stage (Bell Helmets Stage One Dt) and still finished second.”
The Jostens Lap Leader of the Race was Hischman, who led 43 circuits. The SMART Chevy number-60 was involved in an intense battle with Myers and Luke Baldwin (finished 5th), which led to his car spinning late in the race. Hirschman also won the Pace-O-Matic Pole Award in qualifying.
The Pace-O-Matic Hard Charger of the Race was Joey Coulter, who started 12th and advanced eight positions to finish fourth.
In 2024, SMART fans will be treated to 15 races at 13 different facilities in the tri-state region of North and South Carolina, as well as Virginia.
The season continues when the 600-horsepower Modifieds tackle the Warrior 100 at Caraway Speedway in Sophia, NC on Sunday, March 10.
The SMART Mods will also host one of the biggest Modified races in all of America, on Saturday, March 23, with the Pace-O-Matic King of the Modifieds at South Boston Speedway in Virginia. The season commences at the famed North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina on Saturday, October 19.
All races can also be seen on FloRacing, the official streaming broadcast partner of the SMART Modified Tour powered by Pace-O-Matic.
Burt Myers captured the 2023 championship for the SMART Modified Tour in the season’s final race in October. The contest at Orange County Speedway in Rougemont, NC was won by Pace-O-Matic driver Bobby Labonte. OCS will host a race with the SMART Modified Tour powered by Pace-O-Matic on Saturday, April 6.
SMART Modified Tour Race #1
Official Race Results for the Peanut Patch 99 – 03/02/2024
Florence Motor Speedway – Timmonsville, SC – 0.4 mile
Race Length: 99L – 39.6 M – 63.756 KM
Fin – Str – Car – Driver – Sponsors – Laps
1 – 5 – 23 – Carson Loftin – L&R Transmissoins – 99
2 – 3 – 1 – Burt Myers – Peanut Patch / Citrusafe – 99
3 – 4 – 2 – Ryan Newman – Shiti Coolers – 99
4 – 12 – 02 – Joey Coulter – TORCH Eyewear – 99
5 – 2 – 7va – Luke Baldwin – Pace-O-Matic – 99
6 – 9 – 99 – Jimmy Blewett – 99
7 – 13 – 24 – Danny Bohn – Ameri-Fast Supply – 99
8 – 11 – 77L – Will Lambros – Skip Barber – 99
9 – 8 – 04 – Brandon Ward – Q-104.1 / KevinSaysYes.com – 99
10 – 16 – 4 – Jason Myers – QRC HVAC / Greg Butcher Trucking – 99
11 – 7 – 15 – Brian Loftin – Steve’s Transmission & Automotive – 99
12 – 1 – 60 – Matt Hirschman SMART Chevy – 99
13 – 18 – 79 – Anthony Bello – Sun Drop – 99
14 – 17 – 25 – Tom Buzze Jr. – UNITS Moving & Storage – 99
15 – 10 – 27 – Blake Barney – Amazing Graphics – 99
16 – 14 – 16va – Jonathan Cash – Pace-O-Matic – 99
17 – 21 – 40 – Frank Fleming – Simmons Powersports – 99
18 – 22 – 0 – Randall Richard – Ringaquared – 99
19 – 19 – 45 – Gary Young Jr. – PSR Products – 99
20 – 23 – 22 – Jason Tutterow – Carolina Drilling – 98
21 – 6 – 23NY – Bryce Bailey – K2 BBQ Sauces – 44
22 – 15 – 77 – Gary Putnam – CURB Records – 29
23 – 20 – 21 – Jimmy Wallace – Carolina Drilling – 29
24 – 24 – 48 – Tovia Grynewicz – A-Best Forklift – 10
Time of Race: 1h:21:50 | Margin of Victory: 1.423 seconds | Cautions:
Lap Leaders: Hirschman 43, C. Loftin 31, B. Myers 25
Pace-O-Matic Pole Award: Matt Hirschman – 17.053 seconds (84.442 mph)
Bell Helmets Stage Winner: Burt Myers
Jostens Lap Leader: Matt Hirschman – 43 Laps Led
Halfway Leader: Matt Hirschman
Pace-O-Matic Hard Charger Award: Joey Coulter (+8 Positions)
Carolina Drilling Blast to the Front: Luke Baldwin
MJ Printing & Graphics Fastest Lap: Tovia Grynewicz – 17.912 seconds (Lap 5)
