“I didn’t think this was going to happen,” said Burt Myers about Saturday’s racing at Bowman Gray Stadium. Myers claimed the checkered in the 100-lapper for the Brad’s Golf Cars Modified Series after battling forward from a ninth place start.
When the competitors randomly drew for starting position, points contender Tim Brown of Tobaccoville was placed on the pole. He shot out past Brian Loftin to take over the initial lead but was quickly challenged by Bobby Measmer of Concord. Measmer powered past Brown on the outside during a double-file restart to take over the top spot.
Brown quickly returned the favor on the next double-file restart and reclaimed the lead by passing Measmer on the outside. Measmer tried his chances again on the next restart to motor past Brown. The two battled side by side for laps until Measmer fell back on the outside row and Burt Myers of Walnut Cove moved up to second place.
The #83 car of Tim Brown appeared to struggle as well as the #1 car of Myers. Myers tried a move on the outside but was unsuccessful. But on a second attempt, Myers was able to get a nose ahead of Brown when the caution flag flew – putting Myers in the lead.
“We made changes – some shocks and springs changes right before the race,” said Burt Myers. “And the car wasn’t great, but I don’t think anybody’s was. It’s so hot and so greasy. The tires have been sitting in these tire trucks and they’re hardening up. Everybody’s fighting for everything they’ve got.”
Tim Brown gave some stout shots to the bumper of Burt Myers, but Brown was unable to shake him out of the lead. “I knew Tim was really tight, but it gave him a really good drive off the corner,” said Myers. “When we got down and kept logging laps in, I just tried to protect the bottom – and it seemed like I was creeping away from him.”
While Brown, Myers, and Measmer battled for the checkered – another battle was taking place throughout the field. Lee Jeffreys of Wallburg, Chris Fleming of Mount Airy, Jonathan Brown of Winston-Salem, and Jason Myers of Walnut Cove were the fastest four qualifiers on Saturday – and each accepted the Fans’ Challenge. They dropped to the rear for a chance to win $9,000 if they made it back up to a top-four finish.
Jason Myers broke into the top four at around the halfway point in the race, but staying there is the real challenge. Jonathan Brown was right on Myers’s tail throughout the race, passing by him with less than 20 laps to go. That put Jonathan Brown in the position to grab the $9,000 all for himself unless Jason Myers could make a move into the top four. The #4 car of Jason Myers gave a shot to the bumper of Jonathan Brown, spinning him out and sending him to the rear. Jason Myers moved up to third. Chris Fleming took over fourth, putting him in position to split the $9,000 with Myers.
With a little over 10 laps to go, Brown flew through the field to take over fifth place. He began to put the pressure on Chris Fleming in an attempt to move back into the top four. He nudged Fleming during the final laps, getting Fleming off the pace enough to attempt a pass on the white flag lap. But with the checkered flag waving, Fleming was still able to beat Brown to the line by inches. Jason Myers and Chris Fleming each won $4,500, while Brown finished fifth and lost his chance at the prize money.
In the Texas Steak & Tap House Sportsman Series, Kevin Neal of Walkertown and Zack Ore of Winston-Salem each claimed the checkered. Taylor Robbins of Winston-Salem held on to win in the Law Offices of John Barrow Street Stock Series. And there was cause for a family celebration as father James Allison and son Chris Allison of Mocksville each won in the Q104.1 Stadium Stock Series.
BGS Racing PR
