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Myers Wins GMAC Insurance 200 at Bowman Gray
A well-timed pit stop gives the defending champ a good start to the 2011 season.

Burt Myers celebrating in Winner’s Circle after winning the GMAC Insurance 200. photo by Eric Hylton Photography

(Bowman Gray Stadium, Winston-Salem, NC) A few weeks ago, Burt Myers of Walnut Cove was lying in a hospital bed. But on Saturday at Bowman Gray Stadium, Myers was standing in Winner’s Circle.
            Myers took the checkered in the season-opening GMAC Insurance 200, the longest and most prestigious race of the season for the GMAC Insurance Modified Series.
            A recent accident in competition outside of the Bowman Gray Stadium racing season left Myers with broken ribs and a potentially ruined 2011 championship. But after some quick healing and clearance from doctors, Myers is back at the Stadium to defend his Modified title. “The stuff I’ve been through in the last couple weeks, it’s just been overwhelming,” said Myers.
            The 200-lapper started off with Tim Brown of Cana, VA on the pole after a blistering lap in qualifying sessions. Brown traded the lead back and forth with Lee Jeffreys of High Point during the early double-file restarts.
            Brian Loftin of Lexington used the outside lane in restarts to climb his way up from a seventh place start, challenging Jeffreys for the lead on lap 47. The two battled side-by-side for almost two laps until Loftin was able to complete the pass and slip by Jeffreys.
            John Smith of Mount Airy took to the outside during a restart to make his own claim for the top spot. Smith got ahead of Loftin but lost control as the cluttered cars at the front of the pack bumped him coming out of the turn.
            At about the 150-lap mark, Burt Myers made the decision that led to his victory: he pitted to put on a pair of fresh tires. “We had about 50 to go, and I said ‘You know what - let’s get two,” said Myers. “It set me on fire.”

Burt Myers (1) taking over the lead from Brian Loftin (23 – outside row. photo by Eric Hylton Photography

            Myers took advantage of the double-file restarts to race back towards the front, giving Loftin a good fight for the lead. The 23 car of Loftin’s held off Myers the first time, but Myers’s fresh tires allowed him to pull ahead a few laps later.
            “It was a little frustrating giving up a win like that,” said Brian Loftin. “I felt like we had the best car. The tires fell right for Burt, and he was able to get back up there quickly. Our car was great. I don’t know anything we could’ve done to make it better.”
            Jonathan Brown of Winston-Salem moved up to put the heat on the bumper of Myers. The number 53 of Brown delivered a few good shots to Myers but was unable to grab the win.
            Myers took the checkered with Jonathan Brown finishing in second. Brian Loftin claimed third, and John Smith took fourth. Tim Brown, who qualified on the pole, finished 11th after a last-lap confrontation with Jason Myers.
            In the Webb Heating & A/C Co. Sportsman Series, Luke Fleming of Mount Airy won the 40-lap race. Pole qualifier Tommy Neal of Walkertown finished second, with Kenny Bost of Kernersville finishing in third.
            David Sumner of Trinity brought home the victory in the 20-lapper for the 104.1 WTQR Street Stock Series. John McNeal of Winston-Salem and Randy Larimore of Walkertown finished second and third.
            In the Freeman’s Auto Center Stadium Stock Series, Wesley Thompson of Mocksville took the checkered in the first race. The second race was postponed due to curfew.

Race Results

GMAC Insurance Modified Series
GMAC Insurance 200 : 202 laps completed (race extended due to caution)

FINISH	CAR	DRIVER	HOMETOWN
1	1	Burt Myers	Walnut Cove, NC
2	53	Jonathan Brown	Kernersville, NC
3	23	Brian Loftin	Lexington, NC
4	25	John Smith	Mount Airy, NC
5	77	Lee Jeffreys	High Point, NC
6	50	Michael Clifton	Walkertown, NC
7	81	Austin Pack	Walkertown, NC
8	13	Chris Fleming	Mount Airy, NC
9	5	Randy Butner	Pfafftown, NC
10	4	Jason Myers	Walnut Cove, NC
11	83	Tim Brown	Cana, VA
12	27	Jeremy Stoltz	Walkertown, NC
13	59	Danny Bohn	Huntersville, NC
14	75	Robert Jeffreys	Winston-Salem, NC
15	04	Kevin Powell	Winston-Salem, NC
16	48	Brad Robbins	Winston-Salem, NC
17	6	Kevin Wilson	Elkin, NC
18	69	Junior Miller	Danbury, NC
19	28	Joseph Brown	Winston-Salem, NC
20	12	Mike Norman	Lewisville, NC
21	71	Dean Ward	Winston-Salem, NC
22	72	Brent Elliott	Denton, NC
23	7	Bobby Reed	Clemmons, NC
24	66	Ronnie Clifton	Walkertown, NC

Webb Heating and A/C Co. Sportsman Series:
Sportsman race: 40 laps

FINISH	CAR	DRIVER	HOMETOWN
1	13	Luke Fleming	Mount Airy, NC
2	21	Tommy Neal	Walkertown, NC
3	18	Kenny Bost	Kernersville, NC
4	05	Kyle Edwards	King, NC
5	50	Barry Edwards	Pinnacle, NC
6	02	Derek Stoltz	Walkertown, NC
7	72	Bryant Robertson	Lexington, NC
8	68	Robbie Brewer	Winston-Salem, NC
9	38	Mitch Gales	Thomasville,NC
10	19	Michael Adams	Yadkinville, NC
11	3	Jeff Garrison	Clemmons, NC
12	12	Evan Duggins	Rural Hall, NC
13	81	Zack Clifton	Walkertown, NC
14	79	John Lain	Germanton, NC
15	9	David Adams	Yadkinville, NC
16	30	Cody Evans	King, NC
17	86	Taylor Branch	Lewisville, NC
18	22	Todd Gray	Lexington, NC
19	7	Ronnie Barron	Lexington, NC
20	07	Danny Cornwell	Clemmons, NC
21	60	Jeff McCrary	Linwood, NC
22	17	Kevin Neal	Walkertown, NC
23	23	Justin Boyles	Winston-Salem, NC

104.1 WTQR Street Stock Series
Street Stock race – 20 laps

FINISH	CAR	DRIVER	HOMETOWN
1	1	David Sumner	Trinity, NC
2	99	John McNeal	Winston-Salem, NC
3	14	Randy Larimore	Walkertown, NC
4	25	Johnny Arnder	Mount Airy, NC
5	27	Matt Cotner	Rural Hall, NC
6	32	Craig West	Walkertown, NC
7	98	Billy Gregg	Winston-Salem, NC
8	21	Justin Taylor	King, NC
9	9	Darren Cotner	King, NC
10	22	Willie Wall	Lexington, NC
11	23	Kris Hoots	Mocksville, NC
12	66	Whitney Clifton	Walkertown, NC
13	4	John Holleman	Winston-Salem, NC
14	5	Austin Edwards	Winston-Salem, NC
15	12	Doug Wall	Pfafftown, NC
16	13	Kevin Gilbert	Pfafftown, NC
17	31	Brad Lewis	Stanleyville, NC
18	17	Brian Doty	Winston-Salem, NC
19	39	David Thomas	Walkertown, NC
20	15	Jerry Helms	Winston-Salem, NC
21	00	Donnie Martin	Wallburg, NC
22	05	Spencer Martin	Winston-Salem, NC
23	04	Reggie Doub	Germanton, NC
24	55	Stephen Baker	Kernersville, NC

Freeman’s Auto Center Stadium Stock Series
1st Stadium Stock race – 8 of 15 laps completed (race ended early due to curfew)

FINISH	CAR	DRIVER	HOMETOWN
1	02	Wesley Thompson	Mocksville, NC
2	24	A.J. Sanders	Mocksville, NC
3	22	Jason Tutterow	Advance, NC
4	17	Andy Southern	Winston-Salem, NC
5	81	Chuck Wall	Clemmons, NC
6	95	Billy Cameron Jr.	Salisbury, NC
7	77	Randy McElveen	Winston-Salem, NC
8	26	Derek Taylor	Yadkinville, NC
9	54	Jeremy Smith	Stuart, VA
10	6	Dale Patterson	Winston-Salem, NC
11	93	Robert Collins	Winston-Salem, NC
12	60	Ted Mickalowski	Mocksville, NC
13	01	Jason Keaton	Mocksville, NC
14	66	Eric Hockett	Thomasville, NC
15	74	Jose Gonzalez	Winston-Salem, NC
16	20	Dennis Weaver	East Bend, NC
17	19	Jeremy Stainback	Winston-Salem, NC
18	48	Bobby Smith	Lexington, NC
19	27	Joey Long	Midway, NC
20	05	Dave Surry	Winston-Salem, NC
21	46	Allan Lipford	Lexington, NC
22	4	Andrew Sanders	Mocksville, NC
23	37	Steve Smith	Kannapolis, NC
24	53	Kacey Phillips	Thomasville, NC

2nd Stadium Stock race – postponed until next event