April 25

Tim Brown Shatters Qualifying Record at Bowman Gray  
Brown on pole for Tucson 200, Myers outside pole.  
     Last night at Bowman Gray Stadium, the stage was set for some fireworks. 
With a new tire compound being used for the Farm Bureau Insurance Modified Series, many drivers thought that the softer tires would allow for faster times – some even predicted that speed records would be broken. 
Tim Brown of Cana, Va. wasn’t one to disappoint. Brown turned a blistering time of 12.966 seconds, breaking the Stadium’s previous record of 13.069 and making Brown’s lap the fastest in the 60-year history of Bowman Gray Stadium. 
“These things have a lot of grip,” said Brown. “You can throw it in the corner just as much as your nerve will let you.” 
But looking forward to the Tucson 200 tonight, Brown and the rest of the Stadium drivers have questions about the new tires’ durability. “I’m still a little concerned about how they’re going to last in the 200-lap race,” said Brown. “But if my tires burn off, then the next man’s tires are going to burn off – it’s just going to be a pit stop battle.” 
Some drivers believe that a set of tires will last for the duration of the 200-lap race, while others have said that each car will need to make multiple pit stops. But every driver agrees that no one will know for sure until the Tucson 200 tonight. 
Starting on the outside front row is Burt Myers of Walnut Cove. Myers and Brown were championship contenders last season, and Myers nudged Brown out of the way during the final laps of the season-ending event to claim the 2007 Championship. The fans will find out tonight if any remaining bad blood resurfaces during the 2008 season. 
Brian Loftin of Lexington starts third, Jeremy Stoltz of Walkertown starts fourth, and Robert Jeffreys of Winston-Salem rounds out the top five. 
  The top 10 qualifiers locked in their starting position on Friday night. There will be another round of qualifying Saturday night to determine positions 11 through 24. Competitors may choose to stand on their times from Friday night or scrap their time and requalify on Saturday. 
  Ticket gates open at 6:00 for practice. The first race starts at 8:00.