After getting off to a less than sterling start in the Whelen Modified Series at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2009, Ryan Newman has since refused to lose in the UNOH Perfect Storm 150.
Newman’s initial race in the series at the World’s Fastest Half-Mile was deflating, to say the least, after a first-lap incident took him out of action. Undeterred, he returned to take the checkers in 2010, and doubled up with another victory last August.
Newman always looks forward to racing at BMS, but is even more anxious to hit the track Aug. 22. The UNOH Perfect Storm 150 is the first race to take place on the revamped BMS surface. After the March NASCAR events, the variable banking in the upper groove of the track was erased through a milling process designed to tighten up racing space.
“Well, I haven’t been on the track yet so I don’t really know how it’s going to be,” he said. “The tires we’ll be using are different from what they tested for the Cup car there. But I look forward to it.
“Bristol’s always a fun place for me to race. We put on a heck of a show there with the Modifieds. It’s fun driving those cars. The way they’re built — they have a lower center of gravity, a fatter tire. It’s a lighter car but similar horsepower so it’s more of a challenge and the car’s a little bit more on edge.”
George Brunhoelzl, III comes into the UNOH Perfect Storm 150 with four wins in six starts this season. He is atop the Southern tour point standings with 267, followed by Jason Myers with 222 points and L.W. Miller with 221. Other winners in the series this year are Brian Loftin and Brandon Ward. Doug Coby leads the Northern tour points with 350 points and four wins in eight starts. Ron Silk is second with one win and 309 points and Ryan Preece is third with 295 points and one win. Other winners are Donny Lia and Mike Stefanik.
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