At the midpoint of the racing season at Bowman Gray Stadium, it appears that Lee Jeffreys and Jonathan Brown have just hit their stride. They both won on Saturday night – each claiming their second win in a row.
Lee Jeffreys turned the fastest lap in qualifying sessions for the Brad’s Golf Cars Modified Series, giving him three total poles this season – more than any other competitor. He drew fourth as his start when the top six redrew for position. Randy Butner of Pfafftown drew the pole, with points leader Burt Myers of Walnut Cove starting on the outside front row.
Myers took over the lead when the green flag waved, with Butner falling back to second. For four double-file restarts, Lee Jeffreys took to the outside to challenge – but he couldn’t make the pass stick. Then disaster struck for Jeffreys as he collided with Butner, sending both of them spinning.
The wreck opened up the door for Jonathan Brown to move up to the outside row to challenge Burt Myers in a double-file restart. Brown pushed hard on the outside, battling with Myers for nearly a full lap before finally clearing him and taking over the lead. Myers immediately gave a stiff shot to Brown to try and defend his position, but Brown was able to steer back into the groove and hold on to the top spot.
Myers had a chance to reclaim the lead in a later restart, but Brown closed the door. The #22 of Brown went on to take the checkered – his fourth win of the 2018 season. “I got a really good restart. Burt and me went down the front stretch wheel to wheel. I rolled out past him getting into one – almost rolled in too hard. I got into loose stuff but got it turned, aimed it up off two,” said Brown. “I guess it took me about a lap to get by Burt. The spotter yelled ‘clear’ twice, but I didn’t turn down – because I knew he was there. I knew he was hungry and he was aggressive just like me.”
“He got me in the left rear a little bit,” said Brown about the contact with Myers. “I race everybody as hard as I can go. Burt and I have had a past, but I don’t even think about that. I just think of him as another driver – another car to get by.”
“I think I’ve got them talking about this car now,” said Brown. “I made the prediction of seven wins this season – and, knock on wood, we’re going to surpass that.”
The “Madhouse Scramble” draw gave Jeffreys a chance at redemption after he started on the outside front row for the start of the second race. He bolted out into the lead – but then the real work began as Jeffreys had to defend his position in restart after restart. Through seven cautions, Jeffreys tangled with George Brunnhoelzl III of Mooresville, John Smith of Mount Airy, Jonathan Brown, and Burt Myers.
He held on to take the checkered. “To hold off Burt, that’s tough. And I saw Tim behind me. John was out there,” said Jeffreys. “Jonathan got up there – he’s a rocket on the outside. And then Burt got up there. I’m thinking that I had led the whole race and the #1 car pulls up out there – this isn’t good.”
“But I’m just glad we can do it,” said Jeffreys. “I hope we’re on a roll, and I hope it’ll keep rolling.”
In the Texas Steak & Tap House Sportsman Series, Dylan Ward of Winston-Salem and Zack Ore of Winston-Salem each claimed the checkered. Blake Shupe of Mount Airy won a caution-filled 20-lapper for the Law Offices of John Barrow Street Stock Series. Grayson Keaton of Mocksville and father Jason Keaton of Mocksville both claimed the checkered in the Q104.1 Stadium Stock Series.
BGS Racing PR
