Mother nature was not welcoming to the participants at the opening of the NASA Mid South 2025 season. Seven 944 Spec racers battled the elements at NASA Mid South’s Summer in February event at Nashville Superspeedway.
After qualifying, Chris Simmons was on pole for Saturday’s race one in wet conditions with light rain at the start. At the end, Simmons won from the pole, Michael Morris finished second, with Shawn Taylor completing the podium. Bruce Hulsart finished fourth with Parker Bursk and Jeremy Pohlman closing out the field. Comp-schooler Garrett Daniels did not make the grid due to engine issues.
Race one at the NASA Mid South 944 Spec season opener saw Chris Simmons take the race win, followed by Michael Morris in second and Shawn Taylor in third.
With snow flurries in the air, the grid for Sunday’s race two was set based on the finishing order in race one. At the start, Simmons took the lead into Turn 2, but could not stop his car and went off track. Morris and Taylor, along with the rest of the field, made it through and Morris and Taylor battled for the lead for the next several laps with Taylor finally completing a pass on lap five. They continued to fight for the lead, which allowed Jeremy Pohlman to catch them to make it a three-way tussle. Late in the race with all three nose-to-tail going into Nashville’s tight Turn 4-5 complex, Morris tapped Pohlman, which caused both to spin allowing Taylor to pull away for the win. Pohlman finished second with Morris third.
No. 47 Shawn Taylor took the win in race two at the NASA Mid South season opener at Nashville Superspeedway.
Although cold but mostly dry, race three at NSS was a 25-lap Aussie Pursuit race, which is a handicap race that sets the grid based on average times throughout the weekend. There are both in-class contingencies as well as an overall winner. If everything works out, all competitors, no matter the class, should finish at the same time. The most consistent racer usually wins.
The first 944 Spec car to launch from the hot pits was Parker Bursk. He was followed roughly 15 seconds later by Michael Morris, who was immediately followed by Shawn Taylor. Jeremy Pohlman was 5 seconds behind him with Chris Simmons launching right behind Pohlman. In clean air, Bursk was able to click off consistent laps with Morris/Taylor and the other duo of Pohlman/Simmons fighting hard to clear each other. Due to the battles being waged behind him, Bursk was able to keep his lead running the perfect race to win his first ever 944 Spec race. Morris held off Taylor for secpmd, with Pohlman able to keep Simmons behind him for 4th.
Parker Bursk took advantage of his first-place start in the Aussie Pursuit and carried first place all the way to a win.
Way to go, ST!