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Friday at New River All-American and Saturday at Carteret Up Next for SMART Tour
Martinsville, VA (August 27, 2024) – The Baldwin family’s roots are firmly planted in the Modified racing world, but this weekend they will also be planted at the beach as well. Brothers Luke and Jack Baldwin, third-generation Modified racers, will both compete in the SMART Modified Tour Beach Trip.
The Coastal North Carolina doubleheader weekend will feature the Pace-O-Matic 99 on Friday, August 30, at New-River All-American Speedway in Jacksonville, and on Saturday, August 31, the “Carteret Clash” at Carteret County Speedway in Swansboro.
“My brother and I already love going to the beach, so throwing two days of racing in, makes it even better. I’m definitely super excited for this weekend,” said Luke Baldwin, 18, who is second in the SMART Modified Tour point standings.
“I’m a huge beach guy, not so much for the ocean, because of sharks and stuff, but I enjoy sitting on the beach and playing games all day with family and friends,” admitted Jack, 21, who is racing his father, Tommy’s 7ny Modified.
That race car was made famous by the brothers’ grandfather, “The Tiger” Tom Baldwin Sr, who lived a stone’s throw from the beach on Long Island, NY. Their dad, Tommy Jr, wrenched many of the best Modified drivers to victory lane, and is also a former Daytona 500 winning crew chief in the NASCAR ranks.
Now, the boys are the ones owning the spotlight. While they have competed together in Crate Modifieds on many occasions, this will only be the second time racing against each other in Tour-Type Modifieds.
“I raced my brother (Luke) in a big Modified for the first time two weeks ago at Riverhead,” explained Jack. “It was a tough outing for me. He beat me pretty badly, but I am pumped to get in my Dad’s car. I think once we get settled with other cars on the track, we’ll be able to run with Luke and everyone else. I know Grandpa will be up there watching all of us go at it for one of the first times.”
“It will be really cool to finally see Jack in a Tour-Type Modified, and even cooler to race against him again,” Luke said. “It should be pretty surreal to see the 7ny and 7va going head to head.”
Luke Baldwin’s Pace-O-Matic 7va for Sadler-Stanley Racing has been near the front of the field for the entire 2024 season, including a big win in the King of the Modifieds at South Boston Speedway (VA).
The last time the Baldwins raced at New River All-American and Carteret County Speedways was June of last year, in Crate Modifieds. Jack won both of those races with Luke finishing runner-up in each.
So, that begs the question, who is going to be on top this time?
“It’s hard to say,” said Jack. “Luke has a ton more experience than me, so that makes me want to say he’s gonna beat me. But, I’m optimistic, and the competitor in me is definitely gonna say me.
“I’ll plead the fifth on that one,” Luke began saying. But he ended with one word, “Me.”
The Baldwins and a strong field of Modifieds will converge on the SMART Beach trip this weekend. The first stop will be Friday, August 30 at New River All-American Speedway. Pit gates open at 2pm ET, with practice slated to begin at 3:45pm. Pace-O-Matic Pole Award qualifying happens at 6pm and the 99-lap main event goes green at 8pm. For a full race schedule, click here.
Just down the road, on Saturday, August 31, the SMART Modified Tour will visit Carteret County Speedway. Pit gates open at 1:30pm ET, with practice at 3:15, qualifying at 5:15 and racing scheduled to begin at 7pm.
As a whole, SMART fans will be treated to 15 races at 13 different facilities in the tri-state region of North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The season commences at the famed North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina on Saturday, October 19.
All races can also be seen on FloRacing, the official streaming broadcast partner of the SMART Modified Tour powered by Pace-O-Matic.
To see the entire schedule for the SMART Modified Tour powered by Pace-O-Matic, as well as all the latest news and information, please visit the series website at www.smartmodtour.com, and be sure to follow the series on social media (Facebook: SMART Modified Tour| Twitter: @SMARTMods_ | IG: @smartmods_).
By Bob Dillner – X: @shorttracklife_
