Competitors Prepare for Double Points at Bowman Gray
Saturday brings the biggest test yet for championship contenders

(Bowman Gray Stadium, Winston-Salem, NC) This Saturday night you’ll hear the words that some drivers dread to hear and others just can’t say enough: “Double Points Night.” With each race giving twice as many points as normal, the points leaders are going to have to work twice as hard to maintain their positions – and their challengers will have twice the opportunity to take the lead for themselves.
            In the Farm Bureau Insurance Modified Series, Michael Clifton’s win on Saturday boosts him from tenth in the points up to fifth. The Walkertown resident has literally come a few feet from winning the championship before, and he has declared his intention to vie for the crown in 2009.
            Finishing right behind him in second on Saturday was three-time Champion Burt Myers of Walnut Cove. The performance moves him from fifth on the points ladder up to second – right behind points leader Tim Brown of Cana, Va. Brown finished right on the bumper of Myers on Saturday, maintaining his points lead and keeping Myers’ gains to a minimum.
            For the 2007 championship, Tim Brown and Burt Myers were the top two competitors entering the final event. Burt Myers emerged victorious as the 2007 Champion. Myers and Brown again were one and two entering the final 2008 event – although then Tim Brown was the one leaving with the title.
            So it’s not completely unexpected to see Myers and Brown on top of the points ladder again this season. Myers, however, is surely not pleased with the 36 point gap separating the two. The gap is due almost solely to mechanical problems which prematurely took Myers out of the season-opening Tucson 200. Without that event, Myers would only be a mere two points under Brown. In fact, had Myers gone on to claim the victory for that event – which he believes he would have – he would be tied with Brown or even leading the points race right now.
            For the last few events, Myers has been gradually whittling away at Brown’s points lead. This Saturday will give him the greatest chance yet to gain some serious ground.
            Other competitors will be bringing their “A” game too, including Stadium veteran Alfred Hill of Jonesville. Hill entered Saturday’s event at second in the points, but involvement in a collision relegated him to a 17th place finish. He drops down to fifth in the points.
            Randy Butner of Pfafftown enters this Saturday in the third spot on the points ladder, only one point under Myers. Jason Myers of Walnut Cove remains fourth in the points.
            In the Webb Heating & A/C Co. Sportsman Series, Gary Ledbetter of Lexington ran into a little misfortune on Saturday. First, he got caught in an incident in the first Sportsman race, finishing in 11th. Ledbetter’s bad luck continued when the rain storms caused the cancellation of the second Sportsman race after only a few laps had been completed. Ledbetter was leading at the time and may have gone on to win – instead, the race was cancelled and no points were awarded. Ledbetter drops out of the points lead into second on the points ladder.
            Barry Edwards of Pinnacle was there to take advantage of the situation. The former Sportsman champ finished fourth and claimed the points lead. However, Edwards has a scant two point lead over Ledbetter, so this Saturday will be a huge deciding factor in the race.
            And that’s doubly true this Saturday, since the Sportsman competitors will race in the MESCO Building Solutions Sportsman 100. It’s the longest and most prestigious race of the season for the Sportsman Division, and for the first time ever the Double File “Choice” Restart Rule will be in effect for the Sportsman Series.
            Doug Wall of Pfafftown stays on top of the points ladder for the 104.1 WTQR Street Stock Series. The #12 car of Wall spun early in the race, but Wall was able to remain focused and power himself back into a seventh place finish. Matt Cotner of Rural Hall maintains his second place points ranking, with Johnny Arnder of Mount Airy moving up to tie Joseph “Bobo” Brown of Winston-Salem for third in the points.
            In the Time Warner Cable Stadium Stock Series, rain forced the cancellation of the two 15-lappers that were scheduled for last Saturday. Therefore, the points standings remain unchanged for the Stadium Stock competitors.

In addition to the MESCO Building Solutions Sportsman 100, this Saturday will also feature a full bill of racing for the Modifieds, Street Stock, and Stadium Stock Divisions. And the night will conclude with another exciting 109 U-Pull-It Chain Race. Gates open at 6:00 for practice, qualifying begins at 6:50, and the first race begins at 8:00 PM – this Saturday night. Ticket prices, directions, and more information can be found online at www.bowmangrayracing.com or by calling (336) 723-1819.

Farm Bureau Insurance Modified Series Current Points Standings

RANK	CAR	DRIVER	POINTS	GAINED LAST EVENT
1	83	Tim Brown	236	46
2	1	Burt Myers	200	48
3	5	Randy Butner	199	40
4	4	Jason Myers	192	34
5	50	Michael Clifton	178	50
	70	Alfred Hill	178	18
7	53	Jonathan Brown	174	28
8	40	Brad Robbins	172	36
9	69	Junior Miller	163	44
10	77	Lee Jeffreys	155	14
11	13	Chris Fleming	146	0
12	72	Brent Elliott	136	32
13	31	Gene Pack	127	16
14	75	Robert Jeffreys	126	20
15	45	Lee Stimpson	112	26

Webb Heating & A/C Co. Sportsman Series Current Points Standings

RANK	CAR	DRIVER	POINTS	GAINED LAST EVENT
1	50	Barry Edwards	172	22
2	70	Gary Ledbetter	170	15
3	77	Keith McMichael	160	14
4	05	Kyle Edwards	151	21
5	18	Kenny Bost	150	19
6	86	Taylor Branch	147	12
7	66	Ronnie Clifton	143	24
8	30	Mike Evans	140	9
9	79	Steven Berrier	139	25
	21	Tommy Neal	139	17
11	68	Robbie Brewer	138	13
12	19	Michael Adams	136	3
13	02	Derek Stoltz	135	11
14	13	Luke Fleming	129	18
15	23	Scott Hall	122	20

104.1 WTQR Street Stock Series Current Points Standings

RANK	CAR	DRIVER	POINTS	GAINED LAST EVENT
1	12	Doug Wall	224	38
2	27	Matt Cotner	200	40
3	25	Johnny Arnder	180	36
	69	Joseph Brown	180	22
5	15	Jerry Helms	156	34
6	1	David Sumner	152	46
	14	Randy Larimore	152	44
8	99	John McNeal	144	0
	2	Willie Wall	144	28
10	11	Richard Reeves	142	26
11	16	Allen Henkel	134	42
12	81	Zack Clifton	130	16
13	13	Kevin Gilbert	126	20
14	18	Tim Vaden	120	50
	44	Daniel Fishel	120	14

Time Warner Cable Stadium Stock Series Current Points Standings

RANK	CAR	DRIVER	POINTS
1	24	A.J. Sanders	198
2	22	Dale Barneycastle	180
	23	Kenny Dixon	180
	39	Jimmy Absher	180
5	44	Michael Wells	176
6	1	Rob Young	174
7	99	Matt Hill	164
8	11	Wayne Hill	160
9	68	Glenn Hamilton	150
10	21	Kevin L. Neal	148
	70	D.J. Moore	148
12	01	Jason Keaton	146
13	0	Adam Baker	136
14	26	Derek Taylor	132
15	60	Ted Mickalowski	124