SMART Modified Tour Has Stout Driver Lineup Set For Season Opener at Florence

Photo: Phil Cavali/SMART Modified Tour

Story by Kyle Souza

Modified racing may have already started for 2023 with the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna Speedway earlier in February, but the official start towards a championship in the Southeast begins this week.

The SMART Modified Tour opens their 14-race schedule at Florence Motor Speedway on Saturday, March 4 -- the first of three races during the month of March to get the season underway. With their entry list posted early on Monday morning, the top talent in the south -- and even some from the North -- are planning to compete in the 99-lap opening race.

NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Labonte returns to the SMART Modified Tour again this season, driving the No. 18VA. He's joined by Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) winner and former NASCAR Cup Series regular Ryan Newman, who teams with Hermie Sadler again this season to wheel the No. 39 in select events. Newman will also run selected NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour events in the car.

Coming off a clean sweep of the five races at New Smyrna Speedway during the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing, Matt Hirschman heads south looking to double-down at Florence. Hirschman opened the SMART Modified Tour season in Victory Lane in 2022 at the track -- and is no stranger to winning success across all Modified tracks and divisions.

Caleb Heady, driving the famed 7NY for Tommy Baldwin Racing, begins his SMART Modified Tour title defense at Florence. Heady picked up one victory last season,  but was the master of consistency on the competitive tour, winning the title. He's coming off a week at New Smyrna filled with a learning experience and will be excited to get back to work at Florence on the SMART Modified Tour, looking for another year of glory. Heady's goals are to win another title -- but more checkered flags along the way would be a major positive.

Ten-time Bowman Gray Stadium champion Burt Myers and his brother Jason Myers, along with 12-time Bowman Gray champion Tim Brown are all expected at Florence. Known as some of the dominant factors at Bowman Gray and many tracks across the Southeast, watch for these three drivers to flex their muscles. 

The entry list also continues southern modified talent like Brandon Ward, Brian Loftin, Carson Loftin, Bobby Measmer Jr., Jeremy Gerstner, Gary Putnam, Jonathan Brown and more. Spencer Davis, a former NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver who has returned to his racing roots with the Modifieds, is also registered. 

A full entry list (25 cars) is published at the bottom of this story. Racing begins with pole qualifying on Saturday at 1:30 p.m., followed by the drop of the green flag in the Low Country 99 around 5 p.m. The race will air live on FloRacing.TV, along with all of the SMART Modified Tour races in 2023. 

For more information on the SMART Modified Tour, visit SMARTModTour.com.

Entry List:
01 -- Brian Weber
02 -- Joey Coulter
07N -- Riley Neal
07VA -- Dennis Holdren
1 -- Burt Myers
2 -- Brandon Ward
4 -- Jason Myers
7NY -- Caleb Heady
14 -- Bobby Measmer Jr.
15 -- Brian Loftin
17 -- Michael Ritch
18VA -- Bobby Labonte
21 -- Jimmy Wallace
21NC -- Dwight Sauls
22 -- James Tutterow
23 -- Carson Loftin
24 -- Jonathan Brown
25 -- Tim Brown
29 - Spencer Davis
39 -- Ryan Newman
45 -- Gary Young Jr
55 -- Jeremy Gerstner
60 -- Matt Hirschman
77 -- Gary Putnam
79 -- Zach Brewer