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David Smith, Jr.

NCRA Press and Contingencies

(405) 740-4769

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(Photo credit: Mike Holloway of HMP Photo)

Morton Mauls NCRA Modified Field at Thunderbird Speedway in Muskogee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Muskogee, Oklahoma – September 25, 2010 - Brandon Morton took the lead on lap two and never looked back as he dominated racing action on the big fairgrounds half mile oval of Thunderbird Speedway in Muskogee, Oklahoma as the O'Reilly/NCRA modified south division made their first ever appearance at the speedway on Saturday night.

Earning the most passing and heat race finishing points in his heat race, Brett Henson started on the pole for the twenty lap feature finale and edged out front as the green flag fell. The race went under yellow rather quickly as Bixby, Oklahoma driver Chance Bishop spun in turn two.

On the complete restart, Henson again motored from the field and led lap one while behind him Morton, who started fifth, worked his way up into the runner up position Carl Conley, Cole Berkinble and Chad Davis settled in behind.

But Henson's lead would be short lived as Morton, aboard the Chris Theodore Construction sponsored/STK Race Engines powered machine powered his way underneath the leader coming out of turn four to take the lead on lap two, which he would never relinquish.

But while Morton was by far the class of the field, it didn't mean there was any lack of action behind him as Henson, Berkinble, Chad Davis and Matt French all battled each other for positions two through fifth with three wide racing action taking place at various moments atop the big half mile oval.

At the races midway point it was Morton still your leader while a full straight behind him was eighth starting Matt French, who finally over took Davis on lap nine after both drivers swapped the position a couple laps earlier.

The final caution flag would fall on lap eleven when Lawton driver Jason Hilliard came to a stop at the top of turn four. During the yellow Henson, who was running third behind French, would exit the race with mechanical gremlins.

Even with a double file restart behind Morton as the race went back green, there was still no catching the Broken Arrow driver as he motored away from the field and would go on to take his first ever O'Reilly Auto Parts National Championship Racing Association victory. "The car was fast here a couple weeks ago when I came here and we didn't change a thing when we got here," said Morton in victory lane. "I just felt I needed to keep out front and stay out of trouble and that's what we did."

On the last restart on lap eleven, Davis over took French for the runner up position and would go on to finish second while French and Bishop, who came from the rear of the field following his first lap caution, would wage battle for the third spot with Bishop taking that position for good with two laps to go. French settled for fourth with current series point's leader Mickey Lassiter of Piedmont working his way up from his ninth starting position to round out the top five.

Henson and Bishop notched victories in the two, eight lap heat races.

The next stop and final for the O'Reilly/NCRA modified south division will take place on Friday and Saturday night, October 16-17, as the series makes their only appearance on the 2010 race season at Brill Motor Speedway in Meeker, Oklahoma for a special $2000 to win season finale which will also decide who will become the series champion.

The National Championship Racing Association would like to thank the following for their contribution and involvement with the modified south division for 2010: O'Reilly Auto Parts, Hoosier Racing Tire and Sunoco Race Fuels,

Official 2010 Modified South Contingency Sponsors: Arizona Sports Shirts, Bassett Wheels, Belleville Motor Sports, C&E Performance, Hooker Harness, The Joie of Seating, On Another Level Designs, M&M Custom Graphics, Pro Shocks, Racing Optics, Rod End Supply, Saldana Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, Taylor Cable Products and Ultra-Shield Race Products.

A Feature: 1) Brandon Morton 2) Chad Davis 3) Chance Bishop 4) Matt French 5) Mickey Lassiter 6) Carl Conley 7) Thomas Tillison, Jr. 8) Alan Oliva 9) Colt Goodman 10) Chris Cole 11) Joel Hill 12) Cole Berkinble 13) Brett Henson 14) Jason Hilliard DNS: Chris Roach

1^st Heat: 1) Brett Henson 2) Cole Berkinble 3) Carl Conley 4) Alan Oliva 5) Colt Goodman 6) Chris Cole 7) Joel Hill DNS: Chris Roach

2^nd Heat: 1) Chance Bishop 2) Brandon Morton 3) Chad Davis 4) Matt French 5) Mickey Lassiter 6) Thomas Tillison, Jr. 7) Jason Hilliard

The Joie of Seating 2^nd Place – Davis

Saldana Racing Products 2^nd Place – Davis

Rod End Supply 3rd Place – Bishop

Belleville Motor Sports 4^th Place- French

Hooker Harness 8^th Place - Oliva

C&E Performance 12^th Place – Berkinble

David Smith Jr.
www.oklahomatidbits.com

Very disapointing to drive from Duncan to Muskogee to watch 14 cars. Not the tracks fault, I am sure they were more disapointed than me, they puton a great show and had everyone out by a descent time but I don't think I will travel that far for the NCRA again.

Can I change my name to ModifiedFanRob?

NCRA brought ten cars and then two cars showed up that don't run at Thunderbird. Bottom line, the locals didn't show up to support this event. NCRA did all they could.

David Smith Jr.
www.oklahomatidbits.com

David, I have to respectfully disagree with you. Though the local Mods did not support the NCRA show, bringing just 10 cars is not acceptable either. No way. If NCRA did they all could, that isn't enough for sure.

However, I did attend the show there and the Mods were really good even with a low car count.

Ok, DLee, since you RESPECTFULLY disagree. Then what would have been enough to you? Would like to here more of your oppinion.

Hey Dlee, I respect your opinion as this is what the message board here is for instead of bashing. Thank you for your imput.

NCRA has carried between ten and fourteen drivers all season but this was our lowest car count. AND it is not the owners of Thunderbird Speedways fault. We had averaged 36 cars per race with 31 the lowest I think it was so this was abnormal for an NCRA modified south event. Gene Weaver from Amarillo was going to come but blew a motor at his home track a week earlier and he is done for the year, Alan Sharpensteen was racing the BST/IMCA modifieds in Goodland, Kansas this past weekend. Jay Sale and John Webb dropped off the tour starting at the earlier Creek County show.

But I am proud of the guys who are supporting the division (as well as the southern modifeds) as that was the basis for me coming up with the idea in the first place. Giving those guys who want to travel but not all the time a place to race at different venues.

David Smith Jr.
www.oklahomatidbits.com

The mods were good. The guy that won ran away with it, but from second back was a great race all 20 laps. My only issue was the car count. It's very hard to talk my self (or my wife) into driving 3 1/2 hours to watch 14 cars. The race track did a great job and ran a good show. I don't know the reason for the low car count and I was not saying anything bad about the track or the NCRA, I was expecting the same thing everyone else was and was very dissapointed.

Can I change my name to ModifiedFanRob?

David, thanks for your post. You're a good guy and doing a great job. I meant no harm and I guess no matter what I would have said chris5 was going to have to line someone out. But chris5 since you wanted to "here" more of my "oppinion", I would liked to have seen at least 5 more cars from NCRA which would not be unreasonable. And as I said it was a good race regardless. On another night there may have been more local Mods or NCRA Mods show up. I know at Outlaw Motor Speedway earlier in the year for a MARS late model show they only had 15 cars show up of which close to half of those were area locals. So I didn't think either association would be pleased with those car counts because they could have trouble getting tracks to have their cars race there. And any race fan has a right to an opinion.

DLee I just asked a question, Thats it. Question 2, how do you get more cars to come to the race? wainting you reply!!!

david not only does a great job for ncra but he does a great job for racers and race tracks all over the state. if all the ncra officials were more like david smith then there series would be much better.