With their eyes focused on success in one of the most anticipated Modified racing events in years, Bobby Measmer Jr. and the PSR Racing team with Hughes Motorsports racked up a pair of hard-earned podium finishes on September 21 and 22.
Measmer’s No. 17 PSR Products Modified was researching and developing some suspension and setup options for the upcoming Commonwealth Classic at Richmond Raceway in the 40-lap Ace Speedway Modified feature Friday night. A third-place finish in a caution-free race at Ace set the bar for another strong run the following night in the Southern Modified Racing Series event at Hickory Motor Speedway.
At Hickory, Measmer started third and was fighting his way towards a victory when he was spun twice by the same driver in the latter stages of the event. Undeterred and understandably frustrated, Measmer rallied back for another third-place run at the drop of the checkered flag.
“The main thing we talked about after the race at Hickory is that even though were mad about all that happened, but we still finished third,” said Measmer. “The car wasn’t on the wrecker and we knew we were fast. We passed the most cars there. All in all it was still a good night. Plus we were right there with a shot to win Friday night, we just needed a caution that never came. We can’t be upset with having two fast race cars that had a shot to win two races in two nights considering all that happened.”
Friday night at Ace Speedway, Measmer was looking for his fourth win of the season at the North Carolina track. The No. 17 Modified started from the third position and was on the bumper for second place most of the race, but without a caution to try to maneuver around the leaders, Measmer was forced to settle for third.
“You could put a blanket over the top three cars. We just needed a caution,” added Measmer. “I was better than Gary (Young Jr.), but the new package we were running, the front end of the car was a staying down lower than normal, so I didn’t want to force an issue by trying to move him. I’d rather finish third with everyone’s car in one piece.”
Then Saturday night, a competitive field of Modifieds gathered at one of the most historic racing facilities in the country, Hickory Motor Speedway. Measmer timed the PSR Products ride in the fifth position and started third following a redraw. Once the green flew, however, Measmer was a busy driver inside the cockpit of his car.
“I felt confident after practice that we’d have a car to contend for the win. I fell back to fourth right away, just riding and saving my stuff. Around lap 50 I started picking the pace up and gradually started to close the gap that the leaders, who weren’t saving, had opened up. We caught a lapped car and stacked up. The 19 (Ward) got into me, but he said someone got into the back of him, which could have been possible. I went around and was upset. I went to the back and drove right back up through up to fourth. Then on a restart into turns one and two, my car was good and hung the high lane. The top two guys pushed up and I was in line with the 5 (Tom Buzze) coming off the turn and the 19 pushed up again and got into my left rear and sent me around again.”
“From there I just had to stay patient. We were able to get all the way back up again up to fifth when a caution came out again. The two cars in front of me got together and I got around both of those to get up to third, right behind Brandon on the restart. The green came out and I feel like we still had a car good enough to win the race, but we just ran out of laps.”
Even with the circumstances that kept Measmer and the No. 17 team out of victory lane through the course of the weekend, the PSR team left with a setup book full of notes to take to the Commonwealth Classic Modified event at Richmond Raceway, one of the most anticipated races of the year, as well as other big events to come.
“Since I started driving with Phil (Stefanelli, PSR team owner) last year, it’s been a hell of a ride,” said Measmer. “It’s been great so far and I hope it keeps getting better and better. Everywhere we go we’re contending for a win and everyone is aware of what we bring to the track. I hope we can continue this momentum into Richmond and into the North-South Shootout and at Myrtle Beach. I definitely look forward to building on what we have going right now.”
The Commonwealth Classic Modified event at Richmond Raceway is the next event on the team’s schedule on October 20.
For more information on PSR Products or to become a dealer for PSR’s full line of race-proven racing components, call 704-888-3874.