EUREKA — After having their scheduled season opener rained out last month at Shasta Speedway in Anderson, the North State Modified Series kicks off its 10th year Saturday at Redwood Acres Raceway in Eureka with the running of the Dave McMurray Sr. Memorial.
McMurray Sr., a longtime racer, fan and sponsor of “the acres” as well as a strong supporter of the North State Modifieds will be honored. The race card features the newly formed Upstate Modified Series.
McMurray raced super stocks on the dirt in the 1960s and 70s. He also made a couple of starts in the NASCAR Sportsman races at Riverside in the early 70s. He was instrumental in bringing the Thunder Roadsters to Redwood Acres Raceway in 2006 and competed in that division several years, including making several road course starts.
“Dad loved NASCAR and would always drive the coast like he was competing,” said McMurray’s daughter Heidi. “He drove stock car No. 12, which he housed in our basement back in the day, then moved on to midgets and loved vintage sports cars. Dad lived 80 vibrant years and carried our family business, McMurray & Sons Roofing & Construction, to its 100-year anniversary in 2019.”
In addition to the 60 -lap Dave McMurray Sr. Memorial feature event, which pays $2,000 to the winner, Saturday’s racing program consists of O’Reilly Auto Parts qualifying and the Sunoco Dash for Cash. All trophies and plaques are courtesy of Mark Baldwin, district manager of the O’Reilly stores.
Pit gates open at 9 a.m., practice is from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. qualifying starts at 4 p.m. and racing begins at 5:30 p.m. The grandstands open at 4 p.m.
Joining the modifieds for this special event are the local roadrunners, mini-stocks, Legends, bombers and Late Models.
The North State Modified Series would not be possible without the support of Hoosier Tire West, Sunoco Race Fuels, Anderson Logging, Naake Suspension, Racer Bling, Mark & Sharon Baldwin, Doyce Eaton, Scribner Plastics, McMurray & Sons Roofing, Frank’s Radios and O’Reilly’s Auto Parts.
— Submitted by Nadine Strauss
