Myers Chips Away at Brown’s Points Lead
Can Myers do enough damage to take the championship?

(Bowman Gray Stadium, Winston-Salem, NC) Burt Myers of Walnut Cove and his team are grinning ear to ear over the results their new Ford motor has brought them. Myers has notched a win in each of the last three weeks, giving him six total wins in the 2009 season – more than any other competitor at the Stadium.
            Yet, some wonder if Myers’ new horsepower will be too little, too late in his quest for the Farm Bureau Insurance Modified Series championship. The three-time champ has had a relatively strong season but has had a few poor finishes early in the season when mechanical problems and plain old bad luck plagued the #1 team.
            Myers continued his recent winning streak, taking the checkered on Saturday in the first Modified race. Unfortunately for Myers, right behind him in second was Tim Brown of Cana, VA – the current points leader and last year’s defending champion. Brown made sure that Myers’ points gain was kept to a minimum.
            In the second Modified race, the “Madhouse Scramble” inversion put Myers behind Brown for the start of the race. Myers delivered some stout taps to the bumper of Brown, eventually passing him to climb up one more valuable position.
            At the end of the night, Myers had gained two points on Brown.
            “We still want to come back and win this championship,” said Myers. “That’s the plan. We’re going to have to chip away more than two points a week to do it, but we’re starting in the right direction. On these 25-lappers, if you can get a handful of points, you’re doing something. That’s two more we won’t have to get later.”
            Randy Butner of Pfafftown stays in the third spot on the points ladder, close on the heels of Myers. Jonathan Brown of Kernersville held his own to maintain fourth in the points.
            With only three weeks left, there’s not much time for points contenders to try and overtake Brown. But with a double points night and also a double-file “choice” restart race left on the schedule, Brown will still have his work cut out for him as he defends his points lead.
            In the Webb Heating & A/C Co. Sportsman Series, points leader Gary Ledbetter of Lexington encountered some bad luck on Saturday. Involvement in a collision in the second race ate away much of his points lead – leaving him only 16 points ahead of the rest of the pack.
            Defending Champion Ronnie Clifton of Walkertown had a consistent performance on Saturday, keeping him in second in the points and moving him closer to taking the championship again this season. Derek Stoltz of Walkertown also finished well, maintaining his third place standing.
            David Sumner of Trinity finished in fifth in the 20-lap race for the 104.1 WTQR Street Stock Series on Saturday. Sumner moves up to tie Matt Cotner of Rural Hall for the points lead. Joseph “Bobo” Brown of Winston-Salem is not far behind in the third place spot on the points ladder.
            In the Time Warner Cable Stadium Stock Series, points contender A.J. Sanders of Mocksville took the checkered on Saturday. However, points leader Dale Barneycastle of Mocksville finished right behind him in second – keeping Barneycastle in the points lead for another week. Jimmy Absher’s fifth place finish maintains his second place standing, and Sanders, unable to capitalize on the win, stays in third.
            After Luke Fleming claimed victory in the second Sportsman race of last event, another competitor lodged a formal technical protest against Fleming’s car. Post-race technical inspection of the car has revealed that the engine was illegally modified. Fleming’s motor was a “crate” motor – a style of motor that is supposed to remain unmodified and sealed to prevent tampering. Altering the engine, therefore, is a serious infraction.
            Fleming has been disqualified from both Sportsman races on Saturday and stripped of his win in the second Sportsman race. Kyle Edwards of King has been declared the winner.
            Additionally, Fleming and his car have been suspended from the remaining events in the 2009 season at Bowman Gray Stadium. Fleming’s car owner has been fined $500.00 which will be added to the point fund distributed to drivers at the season’s conclusion.
            This weekend is Advance Auto Parts Weekend: a two-day event with racing on both Friday and Saturday. Friday is Advance Auto Parts Night, with racing for the Modifieds, Stadium Stocks, Legends, Bandoleros, and Classic Modifieds. There will also be qualifying for Saturday night’s Advance Auto Parts 199 for the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour. You can see all the action on Friday for only $1.99 with a ticket from area Advance Auto Parts locations.
            On Saturday, it’s the Advance Auto Parts 199 for the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour, plus racing for the Sportsman, Street Stock, and Stadium Stock Divisions. Gates open on both nights at 6:00 for practice, qualifying begins at 7:20, and the first race begins at 8:00 PM – this Friday and 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	626	43
2	1	Burt Myers	579	45
3	5	Randy Butner	574	41
4	53	Jonathan Brown	565	44
5	4	Jason Myers	513	34
6	40	Brad Robbins	468	43
7	70	Alfred Hill	465	32
8	69	Junior Miller	454	42
9	50	Michael Clifton	444	11
10	13	Chris Fleming	443	6
11	75	Robert Jeffreys	429	42
12	77	Lee Jeffreys	414	44
13	72	Brent Elliott	390	20
14	31	Gene Pack	362	7
15	45	Lee Stimpson	253	18

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

RANK	CAR	DRIVER	POINTS	GAINED LAST EVENT
1	70	Gary Ledbetter	532	18
2	66	Ronnie Clifton	516	37
3	02	Derek Stoltz	509	39
4	18	Kenny Bost	495	42
5	50	Barry Edwards	490	31
6	21	Tommy Neal	464	29
7	23	Scott Hall	430	40
8	68	Robbie Brewer	424	21
9	79	Steven Berrier	416	18
10	30	Mike Evans	413	21
11	77	Keith McMichael	412	24
12	44	Daniel Beeson	386	28
13	13	Luke Fleming	369	0
14	86	Taylor Branch	363	23
15	05	Kyle Edwards	358	41

104.1 WTQR Street Stock Series Current Points Standings

RANK	CAR	DRIVER	POINTS	GAINED LAST EVENT
1	27	Matt Cotner	614	34
	1	David Sumner	614	42
3	69	Joseph Brown	598	48
4	15	Jerry Helms	546	46
5	25	Johnny Arnder	544	32
6	12	Doug Wall	490	12
7	11	Richard Reeves	468	16
8	00	Donnie Martin	440	36
9	2	Willie Wall	426	26
10	44	Daniel Fishel	402	24
11	13	Kevin Gilbert	400	22
12	18	Tim Vaden	392	50
13	81	Zack Clifton	388	44
14	04	Reggie Doub	382	28
15	16	Allen Henkel	372	10

Time Warner Cable Stadium Stock Series Current Points Standings

RANK	CAR	DRIVER	POINTS	GAINED LAST EVENT
1	22	Dale Barneycastle	606	48
2	39	Jimmy Absher	576	42
3	24	A.J. Sanders	560	50
4	21	Kevin L. Neal	484	14
5	1	Rob Young	476	30
6	11	Wayne Hill	448	40
7	00	Adam Baker	442	38
8	44	Michael Wells	440	44
9	4	Andrew Sanders	416	46
10	68	Glenn Hamilton	406	2
11	23	Kenny Dixon	394	36
12	56	Johnny Burke	380	24
13	72	Gerald Robertson	360	22
14	70	D.J. Moore	358	12
15	26	Derek Taylor	318	32