Brown Takes Checkered; Holleman Works Hard to Win Second Race at Bowman Gray - Speedway Digest

Tim Brown picked up his first win of the season and John Holleman IV won his first race in two years Saturday night at Bowman Gray in the Thunder Road Bar & Grill Modified Twin Fifties on Father’s Day weekend.

Brown qualified fourth for the first race in the Brad’s Golf Cars Modified Series, and the top six qualifiers redrew for position. Brown drew the pole and led from start to finish.

“First off, I’ve got to thank my God and Savior for giving me the opportunity to do this. All the soldiers that came to (fight) for this country,” Brown said. “I want to thank all the dads. I wish all the dads here Happy Father’s Day, and my dad up in Heaven and my grandpa. It’s kind of bittersweet here. My wife and kids are at the ballgame, not here. So, my brother, he’s at home sick. I love you, Ben. Wish you was here.”

It was also Brown’s 99th career win.

“We kind of got that monkey off our back,” Brown said. “Our guys found some speed this morning and man, it shows tonight.”

The magic 100 victory mark could come at any point in the next couple weeks.

“Ninety nine’s big,” Brown said. “Just getting a win this year is big for my team and my sponsors and my family. A hundred’s going to be special. You know, it’s just another number because I’m not quitting after I win 100. But 100 will be special for sure.”

Brandon Ward finished runner-up, followed by Mike Speeney, Burt Myers, and Jason Myers.

Brown drew 18 in the “Madhouse Scramble” after the first 50-lap Modified race, which inverted the second race at the 18^th position.

Brandon Butner sat on the pole for the second race, but he elected to go to the rear. That meant that his father, Randy Butner, started on the pole for the second race.

There was a caution on lap 15, which moved Brian Loftin into the lead, a position he held until lap 35 when Holleman took the lead.

Holleman, who last won on June 18, 2022, withstood a serious charge by Burt Myers for his fifth win of his career.

“It was an insane race,” Holleman said. “From challenging longtime teammate Brian Loftin to holding back people like Burt Myers. And Burt was so fair and respectful to me.”

Brown, who is the lone Modified driver to have won both races in the same night, was in second place behind Holleman with 15 laps to go, but three laps later, Brown spun out and moved toward the rear. He finished ninth in the second race.

“I should’ve had two of them there tonight,” Brown said. “I just got run over. You know, team cars doing what they’ve got to do to win. It’s just unfortunate. It is what it is. We’ve got a great racecar and we’ll be back next week.”

Burt Myers moved to second, just behind Holleman, but Holleman kept holding Myers back.

“John knew what he was doing,” Burt Myers said. “He knew his car was bad enough he had to just put it in park. I was trying to move him. I had him moved and then he cut back. Then, he about wrecked himself. And then, I checked up enough to let him come back square.”

Burt Myers was attempting a pass with one lap left, but Holleman, who swerved a little coming around turn 1, held his ground and maintained first place over Burt Myers.

“I definitely used (Burt Myers) from the front, but I hadn’t won in a while. And I was just doing whatever it took to win the race,” Holleman said. “He raced me very fair and respectful, and I’ll remember that for sure. But man, we were fighting tooth and nail and I can’t believe we won.”

Holleman, a native of Winston-Salem, now lives in Knoxville, Tenn., but he said he leaves home each Saturday at 4 a.m. and gets back to Knoxville about 4 a.m. on Sunday.

“(Burt Myers) did a good job of moving me up cleanly,” Holleman said. “Going into 3, I mean he got to be inside of me, you know, just like he should. Very systematic as a veteran racer is. Man, he was to the inside. I ain’t going to lie, I turned left. I turned left and said, ‘We’re going to hold on. Either we’re going to wreck or I’m going to win this race.’ And I won the race.”

Speeney finished third behind Burt Myers, Loftin was fourth, and Riley Neal was fifth.

Wins have been hard to come by for Holleman since has last won two years ago.

“It feels pretty awesome,” he said. “I haven’t won. It’s still kind of sitting in. It’s unbelievable. First time I’ve won since I became a father, to win on Father’s Day for my dad, my grandfather, myself, it’s a pretty cool feeling, man.”

In the first 20-lap race in the Law Offices of John Barrow Sportsman Series, Sterling Plemmons took the lead on the eighth lap and led the rest of the way for the win.

Plemmons started second behind Brandon Brendle, but Brendle was sent to the back of the field after bumping Tommy Neal on lap 11.

There was another caution with three laps left, but Plemmons fended off runner-up Chase Robertson.

“I appreciate Chase running me clean,” Plemmons said. “He always has, a good kid, and a good friend.”

Mitch Gales finished third, followed by Michael Adams and Wesley Thompson.

Plemmons drew 8 in the “Madhouse Scramble,” which put Neal on the pole. Neal led each lap and won his 57th race of his career.

“Don’t say the old guys can’t get it done because I’m 53, baby, and I’m still getting it done,” Neal said.

Zack Ore was runner-up, followed by Robertson, Adams, and Plemmons.

Andy Southern started second but won the 20-lap race in the QRC HVAC & Refrigeration Street Stock Series. It was Southern’s second win of the season.

“I lost my grandfather early in the year,” Southern said. “Having a baby girl. This year has had its ups and downs, but this one feels pretty (darn) good.”

Nick Wall finished runner-up, followed by Brad Lewis, Bryan Sykes, Jr., and Kevin Gilbert.

Tyler McDonald sat on the pole for the first 15-lap race in the Q104.1 Stadium Stock Series and took it for the win.

McDonald was leading, but Chuck Wall, who was second in the points standings, had an issue with his car and had to be pushed into the pits. There was one more caution, but McDonald maintained his lead.

Brad Mickalowski finished runner-up, followed by points-leader A.J. Sanders, Connor Keaton, and Grayston Keaton.

In the second 15-lap Stadium Stock race, Isaac Harris held off Ricky Wall for the win.

Stephen Sanders was third, D.J. Dean was fourth, and Matt Goodwin was fifth.

Next week’s racing will be highlighted by the Market USA 100 in the Brad’s Golf Cars Modified Series.

Before the 100-lap race, there will be qualifying, and there will be a full-field redraw. The top four qualifiers have the option to go to the back of the field before the redraw with a chance at going for the Fans’ Challenge. If a driver who elects to go to the back of the field ends up finishing the race in the top four, they will win the $6,000 Fans’ Challenge prize pool.

In addition to the 100-lap Modified race, there will be two 20-lap races in the Law Offices of John Barrow Sportsman Series with the “Madhouse Scramble.” There will also be a 20-lap race in the QRC HVAC & Refrigeration Street Stock Series, and either one or two 15-lap races in the Q104.1 Stadium Stock Series.

Race Results

Brad’s Golf Cars Modified Series

1^st Modified Race: 50 laps

FINISH	CAR	DRIVER	HOMETOWN
1	83	Tim Brown	Tobaccoville, NC
2	04	Brandon Ward	Winston-Salem, NC
3	10	Mike Speeney	Tobaccoville, NC
4	1	Burt Myers	Kernersville, NC
5	4	Jason Myers	Walnut Cove, NC
6	16	Chris Fleming	Mount Airy, NC
7	9	Kyle Southern	Walnut Cove, NC
8	75	Lee Jeffreys	Wallburg, NC
9	07	Riley Neal	Walkertown, NC
10	69	John Holleman IV	Winston-Salem, NC
11	6	Slate Myers	Walnut Cove, NC
12	5	Randy Butner	Pfafftown, NC
13	00	Danny Propst	Monroe, NC
14	99	William Smith	Mount Airy, NC
15	23	Brian Loftin	Clemmons, NC
16	35	Brandon Butner	Lewisville, NC
17	8	Kevin Hughes	Concord, NC
18	77	Susan Harwell	Jonesville, NC
19	41	Cory Lovette	Winston-Salem, NC

2nd Modified Race: 50 laps

FINISH	CAR	DRIVER	HOMETOWN
1	69	John Holleman IV	Winston-Salem, NC
2	1	Burt Myers	Kernersville, NC
3	10	Mike Speeney	Tobaccoville, NC
4	23	Brian Loftin	Clemmons, NC
5	07	Riley Neal	Walkertown, NC
6	16	Chris Fleming	Mount Airy, NC
7	4	Jason Myers	Walnut Cove, NC
8	04	Brandon Ward	Winston-Salem, NC
9	83	Tim Brown	Tobaccoville, NC
10	5	Randy Butner	Pfafftown, NC
11	75	Lee Jeffreys	Wallburg, NC
12	00	Danny Propst	Monroe, NC
13	99	William Smith	Mount Airy, NC
14	9	Kyle Southern	Walnut Cove, NC
15	6	Slate Myers	Walnut Cove, NC
16	35	Brandon Butner	Lewisville, NC
17	77	Susan Harwell	Jonesville, NC
18	8	Kevin Hughes	Concord, NC
19	41	Cory Lovette	Winston-Salem, NC

Law Offices of John Barrow Sportsman Series

1^st Sportsman Race: 20 laps

FINISH	CAR	DRIVER	HOMETOWN
1	03	Sterling Plemmons	Winston-Salem, NC
2	31	Chase Robertson	Winston-Salem, NC
3	38	Mitch Gales	Thomasville, NC
4	19	Michael Adams	Yadkinville, NC
5	22	Wesley Thompson	Advance, NC
6	55	Zack Ore	Winston-Salem, NC
7	51	Austin Taylor	Winston-Salem, NC
8	21	Tommy Neal	Rural Hall, NC
9	12	Justin Taylor	King, NC
10	24	A.J. Bernys	Mooresville, NC
11	0	Kirk Sheets	Lewisville, NC
12	15	T. Dawson	Lexington, NC
13	37	Chris Massie	Pfafftown, NC
14	7	Connor Branch	Lewisville, NC
15	11	Chase Lewis	Wallburg, NC
16	43	Brandon Brendle	Tobaccoville, NC
17	9	Justin Cummings	Winston-Salem, NC
18	23	Gage Williams	Midway, NC
19	54	Braden Mills	Winston-Salem, NC

2^nd Sportsman Race: 20 laps

FINISH	CAR	DRIVER	HOMETOWN
1	21	Tommy Neal	Rural Hall, NC
2	55	Zack Ore	Winston-Salem, NC
3	31	Chase Robertson	Winston-Salem, NC
4	19	Michael Adams	Yadkinville, NC
5	03	Sterling Plemmons	Winston-Salem, NC
6	22	Wesley Thompson	Advance, NC
7	51	Austin Taylor	Winston-Salem, NC
8	38	Mitch Gales	Thomasville, NC
9	0	Kirk Sheets	Lewisville, NC
10	7	Connor Branch	Lewisville, NC
11	12	Justin Taylor	King, NC
12	15	T. Dawson	Lexington, NC
13	24	A.J. Bernys	Mooresville, NC
14	37	Chris Massie	Pfafftown, NC
15	11	Chase Lewis	Wallburg, NC
16	23	Braden Mills	Winston-Salem, NC
17	9	Justin Cummings	Winston-Salem, NC

QRC HVAC & Refrigeration Street Stock Series: 20 laps

FINISH	CAR	DRIVER	HOMETOWN
1	17	Andy Southern	Lexington, NC
2	12	Nick Wall	Pfafftown, NC
3	16	Brad Lewis	Winston-Salem, NC
4	25	Bryan Sykes Jr	Winston-Salem, NC
5	13	Kevin Gilbert	Mocksville, NC
6	1	Christian Joyce	Trinity, NC
7	10	Craig Hartless	Winston-Salem, NC
8	4	Emilee Lewis	Winston-Salem, NC
9	03	Cody Gum	Welcome, NC
10	2	Gabe Saavedra	Lexington, NC
11	8	Kyler Staley	Lexington, NC
12	30	Zachary Cogar	Clemmons, NC
13	32	Joey Miller	Kernersville, NC
14	7	Zack Staley	Lexington, NC
15	23	Jordan Atkins	Kernersville, NC
16	24	Austin Jones	Clemmons, NC
17	35	Andy Avery	Winston-Salem, NC
18	77	Jamie Byrd	Mt. Airy, NC
19	21	Wes Glascoe	Lewisville, NC

Q104.1 Stadium Stock Series

Stadium Stock “A” Race: 15 laps

FINISH	CAR	DRIVER	HOMETOWN
1	47	Tyler McDonald	Thomasville, NC
2	60	Brad Mickalowski	Boonville, NC
3	24	A.J. Sanders	Mocksville, NC
4	5	Connor Keaton	Mocksville, NC
5	1	Grayson Keaton	Mocksville, NC
6	27	Austin Cates	Tobaccoville, NC
7	74	Matt Alley	Walnut Cove, NC
8	2	Carson Reed	Advance, NC
9	36	Austin Long	High Point, NC
10	44	Blaze Sanders	Mocksville, NC
11	11	Sydney Sanders	Midway, NC
12	06	T.J. Gibson	Yadkinville, NC
13	51	Andrew Cates	Tobaccoville, NC
14	81	Chuck Wall	Lexington, NC

Stadium Stock “B” Race: 15 laps

FINISH	CAR	DRIVER	HOMETOWN
1	59	Isaac Harris	Yadkinville, NC
2	26	Ricky Wall	East Bend, NC
3	11	Stephen Sanders	Midway, NC
4	33	DJ Dean	Thomasville, NC
5	25	Matt Goodwin	Winston-Salem, NC
6	71	James Allison	Mocksville, NC
7	05	Victor Flores	Mount Airy, NC
8	97	Zack Cameron	Winston-Salem, NC
9	14	Ken Bridges	King, NC
10	01	Joel Stewart	Mocksville, NC
11	83	Michael Cates	Tobaccoville, NC
12	10	JB Lineberry	Clemmons, NC
13	28	Robert Mabe	Germanton, NC
14	32	William Smith	Walkertown, NC