Southern Modified Series

Decker Dooms Elliott in NCRA Southern Mod Opener

By David Smith, Jr.

Elk City, Oklahoma (MARCH 13, 2010) - “You never want to be leading a race in lapped traffic.” Unknown who originated that quote but many seasoned racers will tell you this time and time again, especially those leaders who do reach lapped traffic while leading, only to come out losing a position more times than naught. This was the case Saturday night as Todd Decker caught race long leader Robert Elliott coming out of turn four on the last lap to take the Hard Rock Hotel-Casino victory as the O’Reilly/NCRA southern modifieds opened their second season Saturday night at Elk Citys I-40 Speedway in Elk City, Oklahoma.

Clinton native Elliott started on the pole for the 20 lap feature and quickly jumped out front with outside front row starter Justin North in pursuit. Greg Deterding, sixth starting Decker and Kevin Snow gave chase while the leader opened up a six car length advantage by lap three.

Near the races midway point it looked as though Elliott, who finished third in the final point standings last year, would begin to walk away from the field as he stretched his lead to a half stretch advantage. But behind him things were heating up as Decker began making his move, having moved up to third at the races midway point and by lap thirteen had caught second running North and passed him to take over the runner up position.

Five laps to go and Elliott’s fate was starting to play out as he encountered his first bit of lapped traffic, his lead now cut to a mere eight car lengths. After getting through the first couple of lapped cars with a bit of ease, more heavy traffic approached with three laps remaining. This allowed Decker and his DIRT Performance Parts and Tires sponsored southern mod to close on the leader. While battling lapped traffic on the white flag lap entering turns three and four and with the crowd now on its feet, Elliott, running the middle of the track coming out of turn four, got hung up behind two lapped cars allowing Decker to over take the lead down the front stretch and take the victory by one car length.

North settled for a strong third place finish with eleventh starting Dustin Buntin coming home fourth. Deterding settled with a fifth place finish.

Humberto Rocha, who started scratch in the first “B” feature due to arriving late at the track, finished in the fifth and final transfer position causing him to start 19^th in the Hard Rock Hotel-Casino feature. Humberto then worked his way up through the field to finish tenth to earn the DIRT Performance Parts and Tires hard charger of the race.

The eight lap heat races for the 29 car field were won by Snow, North, Decker and Deterding with Dustin Buntin and Randy Bohnstedt picking up victories in the twin “B” features.

The next event for the O’Reilly/NCRA southern modified division will be Saturday night, April 24^th, at Brill Motor Speedway in Meeker, Oklahoma.

The 2010 race season is the 40^th anniversary year for the O’Reilly Auto Parts National Championship Racing Association, sanctioning races for the late model, sprint car, modified north, modified south and southern modified divisions. For more information on the southern modifieds, contact steward Chris Smith (918) 625-6200. For information on the series including schedules, point standings, driver profiles and stats on the history of the series, check them out on the world wide web at www.ncraracing.org.

The National Championship Racing Association would like to thank the following for their contribution and involvement with the southern modifieds for 2010: O’Reilly Auto Parts, Hoosier Racing Tire, Sunoco Race Fuels, Hard Rock Hotel-Casino.

The series would like to thank the following contingency partners with the southern mods for the 2010 race season. Arizona Sports Shirts, Bassett Wheels, Billsbuilt Race Cars, DIRT Performance Parts and Tires, Hooker Harness, Pro Shocks, Racing Optics, Saldana Racing Products, Taylor Cable Products, The Joie of Seating and Ultra Shield.