Modified’s Myers Brothers Making Way To “Mason-Dixon Meltdown”

The inaugural “Mason-Dixon Meltdown” is being run on one of the most legendary short tracks in the entire country, South Boston Speedway. So with a legendary track, the race needs some legendary names. And when it comes to Modified racing in the south, there are few more legendary names the Myers. So it comes as no surprise that Burt and Jason Myers will be among those representing the drivers from south of the Mason-Dixon Line in the Modified portion of inaugural “Mason-Dixon Meltdown.” In fact, neither of the brothers ever considered not coming to the race, which will take place Thanksgiving weekend, November 24-25, 2006.

“If it’s a race, we’re gonna run it,” said Burt, a former champion at Bowman-Gray Stadium and a regular with the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour. “Those are kind of bonus races for us. It’s like an All-Star game for basketball and like the All-Star races in (Nextel) Cup. It’s kind of a step out from what we’re used to and I think that makes it more exciting.”

“Our initial reaction was ‘hey, another race,’” said Jason, who won his first-career NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified race earlier this year. “I don’t think we ever even questioned going. It’s cool that PASS South and everyone associated with them comes in and puts this show on. It’s neat for us drivers.

“You race down here with these guys for so long and you race with the same people. It’s interesting just racing with people you’re not used to racing with. You get down here to where you know all the drivers and you know their driving styles. I mean, I’ll definitely race Burt different than I race Junior Miller, but with the Yankees I’m going to run them all the same, because they’re going to race me the same”

Jason also pointed out that there are some major differences between Southern modified racing and Northern modified racing.

“It’s a different style of racing. We went to Hickory and ran 150 laps without a caution. If they would have had a Northern race at Hickory, they wouldn’t have been able to go five laps without a caution. So when you take all those guys and you take us and you put them on the racetrack together, it’s definitely not good for us, because we’re not used to racing with people that don’t even have any regards for their own equipment. You know, ‘Oh if we tear it up, we’ve got another car in the trailer over here. We’ll go get it.’ We don’t race like that.”

Differences in racing styles don’t bother Burt at all.

“Any time we go to a track we’ve never raced at I kind of get anxious and I get excited like a little kid at Christmas,” said Jason. “Not knowing exactly what it’s going to be until you get there.

“At Martinsville, we can’t run with (the Northern modifieds). There’s so much straightaway and you’ve got to have so much motor. At Concord, it’s kind of the same way. I don’t think South Boston’s going to be one of those tracks where, if you’re down on motor, you’re not going to be able to keep up.”

All in all, both brothers just want to win, but it’s hard to forget about the $12,500 top prize.

“When we go up there we’ll be prepared to do all we can to win,” said Burt. “It’s a little different just because it’s a big race, it’s a big money race I guess you can say. That has to entice you a little bit, doesn’t it?”

For more information on the “Mason Dixon Meltdown,” please contact Jeremy Troiano at (704) 455-2051 and check out www.masondixonmeltdown.com. For more information on the PASS South Series be sure to visit www.racewithpass.com. For more information on the PASS North Series, contact Mike Twist at DSG by calling (207) 590-1786 and be sure to visit the official website of PASS North, www.proallstarsseries.com.