The sixth-annual North-South Shootout drew the top Modified racers from across the country to Concord Motorsport Park (NC) for 125 laps of hardcore racing action.  Woody Pitkat, who is known as a contender every time he shows up at the track, was ready to drive the #88 Modified to victory lane, but circumstances throughout the event relegated Pitkat to a 15th-place finish.

"We struggled all weekend," said Pitkat.  "Thursday we unloaded the car and we were pretty decent.  We tried to make it better and it got worse.  We were real bad Thursday night.  We came back Friday and worked on it.

"We did pretty good in time trials.  I was pretty happy with it.  I had to go to the heat because I missed the transfer spot by one spot, but we were pretty confident that would be alright because we gained on time."

The good news is that Pitkat was able to avoid major damage during the event, but the bad was he was involved in issues outside of his control that kept him trying to drive his way from the back to the front.

"I was happy that the car was good and it lasted.  It just seemed that I would get up to the top 10 and I would get spun and have to go to the back.  We tried to short pit to get an advantage, but everyone else pitted too.  We got back up to 12th and something else happened.  We needed to conserve the right rear, but we just kept battling our way up from the back."

Woody Pitkat at speed.  (Rick Ibsen photo)

Pitkat Survives North-South Shootout With "Never Give Up" Attitude

After Multiple Issues, Woody Pitkat Finishes 15th at Concord Motorsport Park

Despite the trouble on the track, Pitkat drove his car to the conclusion of the race.  Why?  It isn't his style to be a quitter.

"You just can't give up," said Pitkat.  "You have to keep battling."