MCKENNEDY HOLDS TYLER SHULLICK AT BAY TO WIN SECOND STRAIGHT NORTH-SOUTH SHOOTOUT AT CARAWAY

November 9, 2025 by ISMA PR

SOPHIA, N.C. — Jon McKennedy drove to his second consecutive North-South Shootout feature win Saturday afternoon at Caraway Speedway, claiming the $10,000 top prize in the 60-lap ISMA-MSS Supermodified main event.

Oswego Speedway regulars Dave Danzer and Tyler Thompson led the 21-car field to the green flag just past 1 p.m. on a warm fall afternoon in the North Carolina Piedmont. Thompson jumped to the early lead while Trent Stephens quickly advanced from fourth to second.

Danzer settled into third before mechanical issues forced him to retire on lap 9.

From there, McKennedy began his charge to the front, picking off cars from the onset. The Chelmsford, Mass., driver worked past 2025 ISMA-MSS champion Mike McVetta and Dave Shullick Jr. early as Thompson led Stephens and Matt Swanson up front.

By lap 14, the leaders had caught lapped traffic. McKennedy engaged in a spirited battle with Tyler Shullick just outside the top five, the two racing side by side multiple times as they worked past Kyle Edwards. McKennedy eventually cleared both Shullick and Edwards to move into the top five behind Thompson, Stephens, Swanson, and Johnny Benson Jr.

The first yellow waved on lap 24 for McVetta’s No. 22 stopped in turn four.

On the restart, Thompson chose the outside lane, allowing Stephens to edge ahead into turn one and briefly take over the lead before another caution flew for A.J. Lesiecki’s spin in turn two.

The second caution produced a single-file restart with Thompson leading Stephens back to green. After several laps of pressure, Stephens dove to the inside entering turn three to challenge for the lead. In the race’s pivotal moment, contact between the two sent both spinning in turn four — bringing out the third caution and handing the top spot to New Englander Matt Swanson in the Howie Lane-owned No. 97.

Swanson led Benson, McKennedy, Tyler Shullick, and Edwards to the next restart. McKennedy wasted little time, driving past both Swanson and Benson to take command, with Tyler Shullick following through into second. Meanwhile, Dave Shullick Jr. moved into the top five past Edwards.

Just past halfway, the running order was McKennedy, Tyler Shullick, Swanson, Benson, and Dave Shullick.

Shullick briefly threatened for the lead with an outside move exiting turn two, appearing poised to pass the defending winner. But McKennedy responded, turning up the pace to fend off the challenge and stretch his lead to several car lengths.

The final caution came on lap 39 when Brandon Bellinger spun in turn four after contact with another car. Bellinger’s No. 02 was towed to the pits, setting up one last restart showdown between McKennedy and Shullick.

Once again, McKennedy controlled the restart and quickly opened a five-car-length advantage, maintaining it to the checkered flag for his second straight North-South Shootout triumph.

Tyler Shullick settled for runner-up honors, with Swanson finishing a strong third. Benson and Dave Shullick completed the top five.

Rounding out the top ten were Mike Ordway Jr. in sixth, Mark Sammut seventh, Anthony Nocella eighth, Russ Wood ninth and Stephens 10th.

A special thanks to Randy Myers and Caraway Speedway for including the ISMA-MSS Supermodified Series on your 2025 calendar.

The North-South Shootout concludes the 2025 ISMA-MSS season. The 2026 series schedule will be released soon. Series officials again congratulate Mike McVetta and team on their 2025 series championship, and a very special thank you to all the teams that supported the series throughout the year.

Jim Feeney race photos —

ISMA-MSS Caraway Speedway

November 7-8, 2025 • Sandusky, Ohio

ISMA-MSS North-South Shootout — 1. JON MCKENNEDY (79), 2. Tyler Shullick (96), 3. Matt Swanson (97), 4. Johnny Benson Jr. (74), 5. Dave Shullick Jr. (95), 6. Mike Ordway Jr. (61), 7. Mark Sammut (78), 8. Anthony Nocella (11M), 9. Russ Wood (53), 10. Trent Stephens (19), 11. Rich Reid (55), 12. Josh Sokolic (6), 13. AJ Lesiecki (14), 14. Kyle Edwards (11E), 15. Mike Lichty (84), 16. Dave Duggan (54), 17. Brandon Bellinger (02), 18. Tyler Thompson (98), 19. Mike McVetta (22), 20. Sawyer Stout (49), 21. Dave Danzer (52), DNS. Dan Connors Jr. (41).