Rick Kluth, a veteran of Modified racing who has served as a competitor, crew chief, and car owner, is returning to the North-South Shootout in a new capacity this November. Kluth will be fielding a Tour-Type Modified for Harvard, Massachusetts driver Matt Swanson, marking a shift from his previous roles in the long-running tradition.
Kluth has a deep history with the event, having competed in the SK Modified and Tour-Type Modified divisions in its early years. His involvement has spanned decades, including serving as crew chief for Sean Verwys in 2025. For this year, Kluth is focused solely on the ownership side, pairing his experience with Swanson's talent.
The 24th Annual John Blewett III Memorial North-South Shootout in Memory of Charles Kepley takes place November 6–7, 2026, at Southern National Motorsports Park in Lucama, North Carolina. The event, which features a 125-lap Tour-Type Modified main event on Saturday, will be held at the four-tenths-mile oval known for its 17-degree banking.
Kluth and Swanson are set to compete in this longstanding event, which continues its tradition of bringing together Modified competitors from across the country, regardless of the changing venues or participants.
Source: RaceDayCT