The SMART Modified Tour powered by Pace-O-Matic is set to begin its fifth season in the modern era of the Tour since Chris WIlliams re-birthed the tour in 2021.  Fans attending Saturday's Florence Motor Speedway’s season opening Zach Brewer Memorial, or watching live on FloRacing will notice a lot of changes to the driver roster.  

BURT IS BACK IN BLACK

Three-time SMART Modified Tour champion Burt Myers heads into the season with a new look on his famed No. Modified.  Yes, he’s keeping his trademark orange bumper but the car switches to a black, blue and silver scheme inspired by Detroit Lions football team colors. Myers also welcomes new sponsor Pinnacle, who along with longtime Modified supporter Cirtrusafe, helped sponsor his NASCAR Cup Series endeavors at the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium.

SLATE MYERS GOING FOR ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

15-year old Slate Myers will join the Tour full time in 2025. He made his SMART debut at Caraway last year and ran a full season in Modifieds in the highly-competitive NASCAR Modified division at Bowman Gray Stadium. The fourth generation driver has been racing Crate Modifieds in the southeast for two seasons. Slate was a hot topic in the rumor mill during the entire off-season with possible pairings with notable teams in the pit area. But in the end, the Myers family will bring the Triad Baptist Christian Academy student into his rookie season in the famed  No. 4 typically raced by his uncle Jason Myers for the 2025 season. The Myers four car has competed in about every race the SMART Tour has ever had dating back to the Tour’s creation in 1989.

Jason Myers, a long-time competitor in the SMART ranks, will be busy as Slate’s crew chief. Have no fear Myers fans, the 41-time Bowman Gray Stadium winner will still be a regular behind the wheel of a Mod at the Madhouse. 

CARTER MCMURRAY JOINS SS RACING

Carter McMurray will join SS Racing owned by former NASCAR star Hermie Sadler and Virginia Senator Bill Stanley for a full-time assault on the tour in 2025 chasing top-rookie honors. The son of Daytona 500 Champion Jamie McMurray has been tearing up the Legends Car ranks in recent years. He will drive a No. 40 sponsored by Bass Pro Shops. 

MORE BALDWIN!

While Luke Baldwin announced he would be back at SS Racing in 2025 to defend his Championship, another Baldwin will join SMART to race full-time. Luke’s older brother Jack will compete in the Tommy Baldwin Racing No. 7 in 2025. The team won the SMART title in 2022 with driver Caleb Heady in the seat.

JAKE CRUM TAKES OVER FOR BLEWETT IN THE 99

With Jimmy Blewett sidelined for the season for medical reasons, Jake Crum has been tabbed to take over Jamie Tomain’s potent No. 99 ride. Crum has competed part-time in Paul French’s No. 12 car in SMART Competition and looks to compete for his first tour title in the full-time effort led by crew chief Trey Tomaino. The 2009 winner of the Martinsville Speedway Valley Star Credit Union 300 has made 14 career SMART Mod starts and is still hunting his first trophy on the Tour. 

LIL' PUMPKINHEAD GOES FULL-TIME

14-year old Paulie Hartwig III plans on racing full-time on the SMART Modified Tour in 2025. Although he did compete in SMART competition at Caraway Speedway in 2022, scoring an eighth-place finish, he has not been able to compete on the tour since because of age restrictions. The Galloway, NJ driver recently won two Crate 602 Sportsman Modified races at All-Tech Speedway as a part of the Short Track Super Series Sunshine Swing during Speedweeks. 

In 2023, as a 12-year old, Hartwig shocked the Tour-Type Modified world, scoring the pole for the Islip 300 at Long Island, New York’s Riverhead Raceway. He also swept both 40-lap Crate Modified races during North Wilkesboro Speedway’s Revival weekend in 2022.  Hartwig and his family were recently featured in an all-access documentary on FloRacing prior to Speedweeks. 

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VIDEO: Watch The Racing Hartwigs all-access documentary now on FloRacing. 

BRYCE BAILEY TEAMS UP WITH SHADY GRADY

Bryce Bailey will race full-time in the Shady Grady Racing No. 15 owned by Grady Jeffreys during the 2025 season. The popular ride was driven by Modified veteran Brian Loftin for the last few seasons. The Waverly, New York native will add his name to the impressive list of young guns aiming to take the Racing Electronics Rookie of the Year title. The 19-year old has competed on asphalt and dirt in various seasons during his career and raced in three SMART races of 2024 in his own car with a top-finish of 19th in the Hickory Hundred.

WHAT ABOUT THE LOFTINS?

Last year Carson Loftin finished second in points with five SMART Tour wins and moves to concentrate on the fender side of racing as he competes full-time on in the CARS Tour Late Model Stock Cars in the Barry Nelson owned No. 22. Carson hinted to us of the possibility of running a few SMART Mod shows in 2025 in his family-owned team when it doesn’t conflict with his Late Model efforts. Brian Loftin may run a few shows in the family ride as well but does not plan to compete full-time on the Tour.

MIA WILL BE TEAM 25 AND DANNY BOHN

Danny Bohn, who finished fifth in the standings in 2024 is noticeably absent from the entry list.  Bohn doesn’t have solid plans to run the SMART Tour full-time in 2025 but is still working on putting together a part-time effort, possibly with the Buddy Ellis owned No. 24 Amerifast team that he raced for last season. Due to family matters, Ellis' team has taken some time away from full-time competition. 

The rumor mill has been swirling throughout the Modified scene about Team 25.  Last season the Michael “Andretti” Smith owned car was piloted by Tom Buzze Jr. Buzze will return to his family-owned ride in 2025 in a part-time effort while Team 25 will likely miss the season-opener. When they return, the question will be with what driver behind the wheel? While many drivers have been linked to the ride, none have come into fruition. 

BRINGING THE BRAUN TO THE HILLBILLIES

Joey Braun is another rookie that will be getting his feet wet in Tour-Type Modifieds during 2025. The Long Island, New York native will be the driver of the famed Hillbilly Racing No. 79 ride and plans to compete for Top-Rookie honors. The 21-year old has been competing in everything from Legends Cars and Late Models to 600cc Micro Sprints on the dirt at North Carolina’s Millbridge Speedway. The 21-year old has won 17-times in Legends Car  competition at his home track Riverhead Raceway where he broke through to score his first Crate Modified win in 2025. He’s fifth on the all-time win-list at Riverhead in the Legends division.

SMART Modified Tour Entry List For Florence