ANDERSON >> The 2018 opening night for the North State Modified Series is Saturday at Shasta Speedway, which is located at the Shasta County Fairgrounds in Anderson.
The series made a tire change for 2018 and Hoosier Tire West is donating four Hoosier tires to each car competing in Saturday’s feature events. This should guarantee a full field of modifieds for the opener on the well-prepared 3/8-mile paved oval.
The NSMS 2017 visit to Shasta saw Eric Johnson of Kelseyville set fast time over the 22-car field while 2016 rookie of the year Darrin Sullivan, also from Kelseyville, beat Oregon’s Randy Houston of Medford by inches to claim the second annual Lloyd Burton Against-the-Wind Challenge. All three of these contenders are back to run in this first of two events slated for Shasta Speedway this season.
Other drivers expected to compete are three-time-defending NSMS champion Darrin Knight of Kelseyville, 2016 Shasta winner Jason Philpot of Sacramento, Cloverdale’s Dustin DeRosier, Adrianna Strugnell of Kelseyville, 2017 Rookie of the Year Simi Tour of Potter Valley, Roseville driver Terry Deal, brothers Eric and Kris Price from Rio Linda, Oregon driver Rich Cobb, and many-time Shasta Speedway champion Guy Young of Redding.
Racing action on the 3/8-mile track also includes bombers, hornets, Legends Cars and Vintage Open Wheel Super Modifieds and sprint cars. Racing gets started Friday with practice at 2 p.m. On Saturday the pit gate opens at 10 a.m. Practice, qualifying, and racing follows.
The North State Modified Series is presented by Protect the Harvest, Lucas Oil, Ward Land Management, Hoosier Tire West, Sunoco Race Fuels, Naake Suspension, Five Star Bodies, Racer Bling, Keyser Racing Products, and Scribner Plastics.
