Wild Move Takes Clifton to the Win at Bowman Gray
Clifton goes fourth to first in one lap, then holds off repeated challenges.

(Bowman Gray Stadium, Winston-Salem, NC) The Modified 100-lappers at Bowman Gray Stadium are known for being some of the most exciting racing you’ll see anywhere. And on Saturday, the Whelen 100 for the Farm Bureau Insurance Modified Series didn’t disappoint.
            When the competitors randomly drew for starting position, Dean Ward of Winston-Salem plucked the pole with Brad Robbins of Winston-Salem starting beside him on the outside front row.
            As the green flag waved, Ward jumped into the lead while the third place car of Walnut Cove resident Burt Myers challenged Robbins for second. After an extended battle, Myers finally completed the pass. Then it was relatively smooth sailing until the first caution on lap 50.
            With the caution came the first Double-File “Choice” Restart. Second place Burt Myers chose the outside lane, putting him door to door with race leader Dean Ward. Third place Randy Butner of Pfafftown chose to stay inside, and fourth place Michael Clifton of Walkertown took a risk and went to the outside row.
            “Randy Butner was having trouble. His tires had gone away – I could tell. I figured I could at least fall into third and improve a spot - and maybe on next restart I could get better,” said Clifton.
            Clifton’s chance to improve his position came earlier than expected. As Dean Ward and Burt Myers battled side by side for the lead, Ward was able to use the inside groove to clear Myers – but as a result of his effort, Ward got a little loose and slipped slightly to the outside. Clifton passed the ailing car of Randy Butner – and then in one fell swoop, he dashed to the inside to get by both Myers and Ward to claim the lead.
            “I went down to the corner, and there they go into the guard rail,” said Clifton. “I went to the inside, and I had to drive it up in the dirt – but I made it stick.”
            It was only two laps later that the second caution came out, giving the #1 car of Myers a chance to go outside for the restart. For an entire lap, Myers and Clifton fought side-by-side for the lead. Defending Champion Tim Brown of Cana, Va. was right on the bumper of Clifton – hoping that Myers would be find himself caught on the outside groove, allowing Brown to claim second. Although Myers didn’t get past Clifton, Myers was able to squeeze back into the inside groove in front of Brown.
            Another restart gave Myers another shot at the lead – Clifton fought him back. Yet another caution on lap 72 put Clifton and Myers on the front row again. Once again, Clifton defended his lead. Myers, however, lost position after Tim Brown moved up to second.
            The final caution came on lap 79, and this time Clifton had to protect his turf against Tim Brown. Not only did Clifton keep the lead, but Myers was able to return the favor and retake second place from Brown.
            Clifton went on to claim his first checkered of the 2009 season. Myers took second, Brown third, and Junior Miller of Danbury claimed fourth.
            Ironically, Clifton owes part of his success to mechanical problems with his car. “The motor started missing there at the end. I think I have a header gasket leaking,” said Clifton. “I think it helped us a little out of the corner. It didn’t spin the tires quite as bad.”
            In the Webb Heating & A/C Co. Sportsman Series, Steven Berrier of Germanton flew from 11th up to the front to take the checkered in the 20-lap race on Saturday. Defending Champion Ronnie Clifton of Walkertown finished second, with Chad Brooks of Winston-Salem claiming third.
            In the 104.1 WTQR Street Stock Series, Tim Vaden of Kernersville brought home the win in the 20-lap race. Billy Gregg of Winston-Salem and David Sumner of Trinity finished in second and third.
            Another 20-lap race for the Sportsman cars was on the schedule for Saturday, as well as two 15-lappers for the Time Warner Cable Stadium Stock Series. But Mother Nature had different plans: rain showers caused the cancellation of those final races on Saturday.

Race Results

Farm Bureau Insurance Modified Series
Whelen 100: 100 laps

FINISH	CAR	DRIVER	HOMETOWN
1	50	Michael Clifton	Walkertown, NC
2	1	Burt Myers	Walnut Cove, NC
3	83	Tim Brown	Cana, VA
4	69	Junior Miller	Danbury, NC
5	28	Mike Adams	Winston-Salem, NC
6	5	Randy Butner	Pfafftown, NC
7	14	Bobby Hutchens	Lexington, NC
8	40	Brad Robbins	Winston-Salem, NC
9	4	Jason Myers	Walnut Cove, NC
10	72	Brent Elliott	Denton, NC
11	71	Dean Ward	Winston-Salem, NC
12	53	Jonathan Brown	Kernersville, NC
13	45	Lee Stimpson	Lewisville, NC
14	97	Bryan Dauzat	Midland,NC
15	51	Stan Welborn	Germanton, NC
16	75	Robert Jeffreys	Winston-Salem, NC
17	70	Alfred Hill	Jonesville, NC
18	31	Gene Pack	Walkertown, NC
19	77	Lee Jeffreys	High Point, NC

 

Webb Heating & A/C Co. Sportsman Series
1st Sportsman Race: 20 laps

FINISH	CAR	DRIVER	HOMETOWN
1	79	Steven Berrier	Germanton, NC
2	66	Ronnie Clifton	Walkertown, NC
3	75	Chad Brooks	Winston-Salem, NC
4	50	Barry Edwards	Pinnacle, NC
5	5	Kyle Edwards	King, NC
6	23	Scott Hall	Walkertown, NC
7	18	Kenny Bost	Kernersville, NC
8	13	Luke Fleming	Mount Airy, NC
9	21	Tommy Neal	Walkertown, NC
10	38	Mitch Gales	Lexington, NC
11	70	Gary Ledbetter	Lexington, NC
12	77	Keith McMichael	Belews Creek, NC
13	68	Robbie Brewer	Winston-Salem, NC
14	86	Taylor Branch	Lewisville, NC
15	02	Derek Stoltz	Walkertown, NC
16	44	Daniel Beeson	Kernersville, NC
17	30	Mike Evans	King, NC
18	72	Bryant Robertson	Lexington, NC
19	64	Steve Truell	Midway,NC
20	0	Steve Holleman	Winston-Salem, NC
21	00	Shaun Cockerham	East Bend, NC
22	3	Jeff Garrison	Winston-Salem, NC
23	19	Michael Adams	Yadkinville, NC
24	12	Brad Smith	Winston-Salem, NC

2nd Sportsman Race: CANCELLED DUE TO RAIN

 

104.1 WTQR Street Stock Series: 20 laps

FINISH	CAR	DRIVER	HOMETOWN
1	18	Tim Vaden	Kernersville, NC
2	99	Billy Gregg	Winston-Salem, NC
3	1	David Sumner	Trinity, NC
4	14	Randy Larimore	Walkertown, NC
5	16	Allen Henkel	Trinity, NC
6	27	Matt Cotner	Rural Hall, NC
7	12	Doug Wall	Pfafftown, NC
8	25	Johnny Arnder	Mount Airy, NC
9	15	Jerry Helms	Winston-Salem, NC
10	98	Jody Fritts	Winston-Salem, NC
11	3	Michael Nichols	Trinity, NC
12	2	Willie Wall	Winston-Salem, NC
13	11	Richard Reeves	Cooleemee, NC
14	21	Justin Taylor	King, NC
15	69	Joseph Brown	Winston-Salem, NC
16	13	Kevin Gilbert	Mocksville, NC
17	06	Leon Hutchens	Winston-Salem, NC
18	81	Zack Clifton	Walkertown, NC
19	44	Daniel Fishel	Greensboro, NC
20	20	Donnie Martin	Wallburg, NC

 

Time Warner Cable Stadium Stock Series
Two 15-lap races scheduled; both races cancelled due to rain