8/4/2007
BURT MYERS SCORES ADVANCE AUTO PARTS 199 WIN
WITH LAST LAP SATURDAY NIGHT AT BOWMAN GRAY STADIUM
NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour driver Burt
Myers scored what seemed to be a nearly impossible victory on Saturday
night in the Advance Auto Parts 199 at Bowman Gray Stadium.
Myers was running fourth with five laps remaining when the
battle for the lead between Frank Fleming – who had led every lap – and
John Smith got into a wreck with Brian Loftin who was trying to use a
lapped car to gain the top spot. Loftin made it to the inside of Fleming
coming off the fourth turn, and the cars banged against one another
before both slammed into the first turn wall.
That gave the lead to John Smith with the race going into
overtime with a green-white-checkered finish with Burt Myers lurking
behind in second. As the field thundered into the third turn on the last
lap, Myers nudged Smith a bit before going on to score his second
Advance Auto Parts 199 victory in the last three years.
Myers’ victory – which gave him the Whelen Southern Modified
Tour championship lead by eight points over Junior Miller – was the
110th career victory for the Myers family at Bowman Gray Stadium dating
back to 1949.
“I gave John a shove, but I was also getting shoved from
behind so I had to go and sometimes that’s what you have to do,” Myers
said. “Getting into somebody’s back bumper is what it takes to get the
job done sometimes. I knew the No. 25 (of Smith) was really loose on the
restarts and I was really good so that green-white-checkered suited us
just perfect. It’s been a while since I’ve won a Whelen Southern
Modified race so this means a lot.”
Smith finished second, followed by the respective top-five of
Junior Miller, Tim Brown and Brian Pack.
Smith, naturally, was disappointed with his runner-up effort.
“It’s heartbreaking to lose the lead on the last corner of
the last lap,” Smith said. “That last restart killed me because I
couldn’t get going like I needed to. I tried to block the track but Burt
just shoved me out of the way. That’s just the way it goes.”
There were 11 cautions that slowed the field for 57 laps.
It didn’t take long for the close-quarters action that Bowman
Gray is well known for to take place. On the first lap, L.W. Miller –
who held the Southern Modified championship lead entering the night –
was sent for a spin after the cars got jumbled up in the second turn.
That wasn’t the end of the troubles for L.W. Miller as he was also in
two different spins in the early stages en route to a 10th place finish.
Unofficial NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour
Advance Auto Parts
199 Results
Saturday At Bowman Gray Stadium
Winston-Salem , NC
Lap length: 0.25 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (6) Burt Myers, Walnut-Cove , N.C. , Chevrolet, 202 laps,
43.091 mph, $2,000.
2. (4) John Smith, Mount Airy, N.C., Chevrolet, 202, $1,500.
3. (5) Junior Miller, Pine Hall , N.C. , Dodge, 202, $1,125.
4. (7) Tim Brown, Cana , VA. , Chevrolet, 202, $1,300.
5. (9) Brian Pack, Walkertown , N.C. , Chevrolet, 202,
$1,200.
6. (13) George Brunnhoelzl, Babylon , N.Y. , Dodge, 202, $850.
7. (18) Brian King, Burlington , N.C. , Chevrolet, 202, $750.
8. (21) Zach Brewer, Winston-Salem , N.C. , Ford, 202, $940.
9. (3) Jason Myers, Walnut Cove, N.C., Chevrolet, 202, $590.
10. (8) L.W. Miller, Mooresville , N.C. , Pontiac, 202,
$550.
11. (2) Brian Loftin, Lexington , N.C. , Chevrolet, 202,
$525.
12. (11) Bobby Hutchens, Lexington , N.C. , Chevrolet, 201, $500.
13. (14) Gene Pack, Myrtle Beach , S.C. , Chevrolet, 199, $485.
14. (12) Kevin Powell, Winston-Salem , N.C. , Ford, 202, $460.
15. (15) Rich Kuiken, Jr., Staffordville , N.J. , Chevrolet, 195, $545.
16. (1) Frank Fleming, Mount Airy , N.C. , Pontiac , 194,
accident, $430.
17. (10) AL Hill, Jonesvillle , N.C. , Chevrolet, 194, accident, $420.
18. (17) Earl Baker, Winton-Salem , N.C. , Chevrolet, 193, $410.
19. (20) Brandon Hire, Winston-Salem , N.C. , Chevrolet, 186, $400.
20. (24) Randy Butner, Pfaffton , N.C. , Chevrolet, 140, engine, $390.
21. (16) Johnathon Brown, Winston-Salem , N.C. , Dodge, 120, brakes,
$380.
22. (22) Alex Hoag, Bath , N.Y. , Ford, 73, accident, $360.
23. (23) Wesley Swartout, Stroudsburg , Penn. , Ford, 68, carburetor,
$340.
24. (19) Thomas Stinson, Chester , VA. , Chevrolet, 32, accident, $320.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 1 hour 10 minutes 19 seconds
Margin of Victory: .219 seconds
Caution Flags: 11 for 57 laps.
Lead Changes: 2 among 3 drivers.
Lap Leaders: F. Fleming 1-194; J.Smith 195-201; B.Myers 202.
Standings: 1. B. Myers, 953; 2. J. Miller, 945; 3. L. Miller,
935; 4. T. Brown, 885; 5. J. Myers, 826; 6. B. King, 825; 7. G.
Brunnhoelzl, 798; 8. B. Pack, 794; 9. B. Hutchens, 785; 10. F. Fleming,
752.
Source: Jason
Mitchell/NASCAR WSMT PR
Posted:
August 4, 2007 |