Myers Stays in Points Race at Bowman Gray
A little luck keeps Myers from suffering major damage to his championship hopes.

(Bowman Gray Stadium, Winston-Salem, NC) At Bowman Gray Stadium on Saturday night, the racing action in the Farm Bureau Insurance Modified Series was a roller-coaster ride of ups and downs.
            At first, it seemed like Tim Brown of Cana, VA and Burt Myers of Walnut Cove – both contenders for champion – were as evenly matched as you can get. They tied for the fastest lap in qualifying, each turning a lap of 13.302 seconds. They started the race side by side on the front row.
            But as they entered turn one, Myers’ night took a turn for the worse. As the two fought for position, they collided briefly – and Myers was knocked into the guard rail.
            As the crowd cheered and booed, fans of Tim Brown were sure that he would be able to gain enough ground on Myers to end Myers’ championship hopes in one night. Myers fans looked on in horror as the #1 car of Myers went from the front row to the rear of the field in one lap.
            Brown took the checkered in the first race, while Myers finished 14th. Chances were that the “Madhouse Scramble” would place Brown far in front of Myers for the start of the second race, allowing him to gain 20 or more points on Myers.
            Instead, a lucky draw in the “Madhouse Scramble” sent Myers to the pole. Myers and his team knew that they had a shot at redemption, and they didn’t falter. Myers took the checkered for the second race. Brown finished in 11th.
            What could have been a disaster for Myers ended up being only a very minor loss in points. Brown earned 40 points, while Myers earned 37.
            Brown stays in the points lead, reinforcing his position with a slightly wider points margin. Myers’ win keeps him second in the points, 49 points behind Brown.
            Randy Butner of Pfafftown finishes right behind Brown in each race, maintaining third place in the points. Butner, who was two points behind Myers entering the event, moved up to only one point under Myers. Jonathan Brown of Kernersville finished sixth and seventh to stay in the fourth place spot on the points ladder.
            The opening lap incident between Myers and Brown caused a stir among fans and drivers. Myers was angered at Brown’s aggressive move, and Brown became upset at fans who thought that he drove Myers into the guard rail intentionally. In Victory Lane after Brown’s victory, Brown was riled by the booing fans and launched into a verbal tirade against his critics.
            Officials have penalized Tim Brown as a result of his comments made on the P.A. system. Brown has been placed on probation for the remainder of the 2009 season at Bowman Gray Stadium as per Section 12-4 A of the NASCAR Rule book, which allows for penalties for “Any Member who performs an act or participates in actions deemed by Track Officials as detrimental to stock car racing or to NASCAR.” The probation will apply only to comments and public addresses made by Brown and not to actions in the midst of on-track racing competition.
            “We strive to maintain a family-friendly atmosphere, and we hope this penalty sends a message to drivers and crews that we are serious about doing so,” said Gray Garrison, promoter of Bowman Gray Stadium, who adds that this one incident should not overshadow a decades-long legacy of family-friendly entertainment.
            In the Webb Heating & A/C Co. Sportsman Series, points leader Gary Ledbetter of Lexington crossed the finish line in second place during the first 20-lap race. Ledbetter was later penalized for failing to report in a timely manner to the weigh-in scales for routine post-race inspection. He was dropped back to a last place finish for the first race. Ledbetter finished in fifth for the second race, keeping him in the points lead but evaporating much of the points margin that separated him from the field.
            Derek Stoltz of Walkertown was second in the points entering the event. Stoltz looked to be in a strong position to gain some ground on Ledbetter in the points race. But instead, Stoltz was black-flagged for jumping a start late in the second race. Stoltz finished 8th and 16th, dropping him down to third in the points.
            Defending Champion Ronnie Clifton of Walkertown finished ninth and third to leap up to second in the points. Clifton is 35 points behind Ledbetter.
            Matt Cotner of Rural Hall maintains the points lead in the 104.1 WTQR Street Stock Series, but David Sumner of Trinity finished in second during the 20-lapper on Saturday – keeping Sumner in second and reducing Cotner’s points lead to a mere eight points.
            In the Time Warner Cable Stadium Stock Series, A.J. Sanders of Mocksville was leading the way on Saturday. Sanders was on course to possibly reclaiming the points lead, but instead he was involved in a collision as he tried to pass lapped traffic. Sanders plummets down to third in the points, with Jimmy Absher of Rural Hall moving up to second to take Sanders’ place. Dale Barneycastle of Mocksville maintains the points lead with a second place finish.
            This Saturday is Bowman Gray Gear One Dollar Ladies’ Night, where all female fans get in to see the racing action for only one dollar. There will be racing for all four divisions, plus the season’s final 109 U-Pull-It Chain Race. Gates open at 6:00 for practice, qualifying begins at 7:20, 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	583	40
2	1	Burt Myers	534	37
3	5	Randy Butner	533	38
4	53	Jonathan Brown	521	39
5	4	Jason Myers	479	39
6	13	Chris Fleming	437	36
7	50	Michael Clifton	433	40
7	70	Alfred Hill	433	40
9	40	Brad Robbins	425	23
10	69	Junior Miller	412	38
11	75	Robert Jeffreys	387	38
12	77	Lee Jeffreys	370	41
12	72	Brent Elliott	370	40
14	31	Gene Pack	355	20
15	45	Lee Stimpson	235	0

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

RANK	CAR	DRIVER	POINTS	GAINED LAST EVENT
1	70	Gary Ledbetter	514	24
2	66	Ronnie Clifton	479	40
3	02	Derek Stoltz	470	28
4	50	Barry Edwards	459	38
5	18	Kenny Bost	453	32
6	21	Tommy Neal	435	36
7	68	Robbie Brewer	403	38
8	79	Steven Berrier	398	43
9	30	Mike Evans	392	8
10	23	Scott Hall	390	33
11	77	Keith McMichael	388	35
12	13	Luke Fleming	369	37
13	44	Daniel Beeson	358	37
14	86	Taylor Branch	340	6
15	05	Kyle Edwards	317	41
16	3	Jeff Garrison	313	28

104.1 WTQR Street Stock Series Current Points Standings

RANK	CAR	DRIVER	POINTS	GAINED LAST EVENT
1	27	Matt Cotner	580	40
2	1	David Sumner	572	48
3	69	Joseph Brown	550	38
4	25	Johnny Arnder	512	42
5	15	Jerry Helms	500	46
6	12	Doug Wall	478	22
7	11	Richard Reeves	452	18
8	00	Donnie Martin	404	32
9	2	Willie Wall	400	24
10	44	Daniel Fishel	378	26
10	13	Kevin Gilbert	378	20
12	16	Allen Henkel	362	36
13	04	Reggie Doub	354	50
14	81	Zack Clifton	344	34
15	18	Tim Vaden	342	30
16	3	Michael Nichols	304	10
17	14	Randy Larimore	286	12

Time Warner Cable Stadium Stock Series Current Points Standings

RANK	CAR	DRIVER	POINTS	GAINED LAST EVENT
1	22	Dale Barneycastle	558	48
2	39	Jimmy Absher	534	44
3	24	A.J. Sanders	510	14
4	21	Kevin L. Neal	470	40
5	1	Rob Young	446	36
6	11	Wayne Hill	408	50
7	00	Adam Baker	404	30
7	68	Glenn Hamilton	404	0
9	44	Michael Wells	396	46
10	4	Andrew Sanders	370	42
11	23	Kenny Dixon	358	22
12	56	Johnny Burke	356	18
13	70	D.J. Moore	346	34
14	72	Gerald Robertson	338	38
15	99	Matt Hill	316	0