By Chuck Corder
Stan Narrison couldn’t wrap his head around this revelation.
A few years ago, shortly after Narrison had assumed promoter duties for Montgomery (Ala.) Motor Speedway, he was inundated with requests from drivers and fans to host more shows featuring open-wheel modifieds.
This, despite the car turnout for modifieds events being paltry at best. Some races would only see three or four compete.
A perplexed Narrison began investigating reasons why the supply didn’t meet the demand. He quickly discovered that modified drivers felt disrespected.
“They never felt like the track was committed to them,” said the 55-year-old Narrison, who entered the promotion ranks in 2000. “When I took over, I told them if they came out for that first race, I’d guarantee them we’d run five the next year.
“Our first time, we had 22 open wheel modifieds come in. I told them right then, they were on the schedule for next year.”
And so the foundation was laid for the Modifieds of Mayhem, a touring series that features 50 lappers and hits some of the southeast’s legendary tracks from Pensacola to South Alabama Speedway in Opp.
It is somewhat modeled after the Southern Super Series for Super Late Models.
“We wanted to do something that didn’t burden the racer and didn’t make it so costly to travel to these other tracks,” Narrison said. “That’s why we don’t have a lot of back-to-back races.
“In some ways, I think we’re exceeding my expectations. In other ways, I think we’re just beating them. These guys aren’t used to traveling yet. But I think that’ll change as people understand the tour and get more comfortable with traveling.”
In their inaugural season, the Modifieds of Mayhem will make their second trip to Pensacola this Friday on a blockbuster night for Five Flags Speedway.
The track plays host to its annual Demolition Derby in addition to staging features for Super Stocks, Sportsmen and Bombers when the gates open at 4 p.m. Friday. Admission is only $5 for all fans while children 6 and under still get in for free.
Donnie Hamrac, the reigning Modifieds Snowball Derby champion and two-time track champion at Five Flags, won the first 50-lap race at the famed half-mile asphalt oval in June.
The 43 year old from Semmes, Ala., currently leads the Modifieds of Mayhem points standings by just 24 points over 31-year-old Ryan Paul.
“We’ve got a little bit of a target on us over there,” Hamrac said. “Every race, we’re just trying to stay ahead of Ryan Paul. It’s no surprise. Ryan Paul can wheel a racecar.”
In six races for the fledgling series this season, there have been four different winners. Only Hamrac and Donald Crocker have been repeat victors.
“I love this format — running 50 laps every week,” Hamrac said. “After watching Bubba Pollard and Chase Elliott over the years, I’ve learned a lot about tire management. Pensacola is rough on tires. The reason we do so well there is we save our stuff for the end.”
Paul hopes to rip a page out of Hamrac’s playbook this weekend and hoist his first checkered flag of the year.
Paul drives the Jimmy Hammond No. 07, which Five Flags fans are used to seeing in Victory Lane in recent years when Bubba Pollard was in the seat.
“I’ve raced a lotta stuff, and drove a lotta stuff,” Paul said, “and I’ve never driven anything like these modifieds. I absolutely love them and this series. They are under-tired and overpowered beasts and I friggin’ love them.”
A ship superintendent at the Mobile docks in Mobile, Paul has been racing since he was 6 and driving earlier than that.
The west Mobile native, who now lives just over the state line in Hurley, Miss., was a national champion go-kart driver — dueling against the likes of future NASCAR stars Brian Vickers and Aric Almirola — before going on to win a state championship in a Legends car.
“Man, those days were awesome!” Paul exclaimed. “Just me and my dad on the road. I had to learn everything from how to read a map to calling and checking on our hotel rooms.”
It’s those type of grassroots connections for Paul and so many more Modifieds of Mayhem drivers that strikes a chord for Narrison.
“When they come to the track now, they’re the show,” he said. “They’re not just a support division. They’re a big part of what will happen on Friday night in Pensacola. They’re the big dogs.”
