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8/1/2009
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LUKE FLEMING
SCORES UPSET WIN
Gets win in first start of
season |
Luke Fleming asked his dad, Chris, earlier in the month if he could drive
his car in the Advance Auto Parts 199. Good thing his dad, who runs in the
weekly Modified division at Bowman Gray Stadium, said yes.
Luke Fleming’s No. 13 Jerry Hunt Auto Sales Chevrolet survived a
wreck-filled race and the 22-year-old Mount Airy, N.C., driver held off
George Brunnhoelzl III to record the win in his first career start in the
NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour.
“I can’t believe this has happened,” said an emotional Fleming in
Victory Lane. “I asked my dad a couple of weeks ago if I could drive his
car in this race and here we are. We were just able to avoid the wrecks late
and be in a position to win.”
Luke Fleming is the nephew of NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour
regular Frank Fleming, and runs in Bowman Gray NASCAR Whelen All-American
Series on a weekly basis.
Brunnhoelzl held on with damage to his No. 28 Oval Speed/Fibrwrap/PT
Ford get second while third-place Gene Pack recorded his best finish since
second at Martinsville in 2006.
The final 20-lap sprint to the finish was set up after L.W. Miller
spun in Turn 2 to bring out the last of 10 cautions given to the field.
The race was a typical action-packed race as several contenders
suffered tough luck after being involved in incidents on the track.
Andy Seuss was the first contender involved as he hit the outside
wall on a restart on lap 27. Seuss came into the weekend second in points
and just 17 points back of Brunnhoelzl. He finished the race 58 laps down in
14th. Brunnhoelzl now leads Seuss by 66 points after six events.
The next incident involving a contender occurred on Lap 79 when
Luke Fleming and Jason Myers got together in Turn 1, collecting Bobby
Hutchens and Burt Myers.
The accident ended the night for Jason Myers, who had been eighth
in points. Burt Myers’ car suffered damage but he was able to continue. Luke
Fleming lost a lap, but was able to get it back when he was the beneficiary
on a later caution.
John Smith, who took over the lead on lap 28, remained out front
with Brunnhoelzl as the duo brought the near-capacity crowd to its feet
exchanging the lead 10 times between laps 38 to 144 with Burt Myers leading
one lap on Lap 29 before he suffered his bad luck.
Smith appeared to have a winning car until bad luck hit him. While
leading on Lap 144, his car lost power suddenly ending his night and chances
for a first career win on the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour.
“We don’t really know what happened,” said a frustrated Smith. “We
think it is some kind of pick-up problem. This is the second time we have
been in position to race for the win here and something happen to us. It is
tough to take.”
Brunnhoelzl, who suffered damage to his left front wheel in an
early incident, took over the top spot and raced with Miller for the lead.
On a restart on Lap 168, Miller and Brunnhoelzl make contact racing
for the lead in Turn 2 and the incident in front of the field collected four
cars driven by Bobby Hutchens sitting partially on the top of Frank
Fleming’s car. Both drivers walked away from the incident.
Miller was able to continue and eventually finish fourth and Bryan
Dauzat scored his best career finish in fifth. Brian Loftin won the Coors
Light Pole Award during qualifying on Friday but was involved in one of the
on-track incidents and finish ninth.
Completing the top 10 were Dean Ward, Frank Fleming, Randy Butner,
Loftin and Hutchens.
The race was slowed 10 times for caution for 53 laps.
Following Brunnhoelzl (985 points) and Seuss (919), defending
champion Loftin is third in points with 891. Frank Fleming is fourth with
877, while Miller is fifth with 862. Burt Myers, in sixth, also has 862.
Jason Myers, Pack, Smith and Buddy Emory round out the top 10.
The Whelen Southern Modified Tour will join the Whelen Modified
Tour competitors at Bristol Motor Speedway on Wednesday, Aug. 19 for the
running of the UNOH Perfect Storm 150.
NWSMT Bowman Gray 8/01/09 Unofficial Results
Whelen Southern Modified Tour
Race: NWSMT August 1, 2009 Bowman Gray
Fin / Str / Car / Driver / Team /
Laps / Points / Total / Award / Status
1. 19 13 Luke Fleming Jerry Hunt Auto & Truck Sales Chevrolet 199
180 $2,000 Running
2. 1 28 George Brunnhoelzl III Oval Speed/ Fibrwrap/PT
Ford 199 170 1,500 Running
3. 15 31 Gene Pack Clubhouse/Wings-N-Things Chevrolet 199 165 1,125
Running
4. 14 36 L.W. Miller John Baker Plumbing & Utilities Pontiac 197
160 1,050 Running
5. 20 97 Bryan Dauzat O.B. Builders Chevrolet 192 155 1,550 Running
6. 16 71 Dean Ward * Bibs Dowtown Restaurants Chevrolet 189 150
1,000 Running
7. 7 40 Frank Fleming Jerry Hunt Auto/Pro Health Center
Pontiac 169 146 800 Accident
8. 5 5 Randy Butner Tucson/Angel Clean
Chevrolet 168 142 730 Accident
9. 3 23 Brian Loftin L & R Transmissions/QMF Metal
Solutions 167 138 990 Accident
10. 4 14 Bobby Hutchens Team Texas Driving School
Chevrolet 167 134 600 Accident
11. 12 49 Scott Rigney Scott's Custom Cab./BAM Enterprises Chevrolet
160 130 575 Accident
12. 2 1 Burt Myers Capital Bank Ford 151 127
550 Running
13. 10 25 John Smith Tutterow Surveying/Rick's Home Improvement 145
124 540 Fuel Pump
14. 8 47 Andy Seuss Advance Auto Parts/Q Racing Oil/Stuart
Auto 141 121 535 Running
15. 18 21 Tommy Neal Hunter Motorsports/Affordable Septic Chevrolet
116 118 530 Radiator
16. 17 44 Rich Kuiken Jr. Flowmasters Testing & Balancing Chevrolet 96
115 525 Accident
17. 6 4 Jason Myers Capital Bank/Moorefield &
Trantham Ent. Ford 80 112 520 Accident
18. 11 02 Buddy Emory RCS Construction Chevrolet 69 109 510
Transmission
19. 9 18 Zach Brewer DMC Auto Exchange Chevrolet 27 106
500 Handling
20. 13 72 Brent Elliott Back Country Water Stoves Chevrolet 21 103 490
Accident
RACE STATISTICS
Fastest Qualifier: Brian Loftin, Time: 13.597 Seconds, Speed: 66.191
mph
Time of Race: 1 hrs., 16 mins, 10 secs Average Speed: 39.190 mph
Margin of Victory: .397 Seconds
Caution Flags: Laps 22-25 (72 spins in Turn 2); 28-34 (47 hits wall
in Turn 1); 56-63 (97 & 44 spins in Turn 2); 72-76 (02 stalls on track);
80-87 (13,1 get together in Turn 2; 14 & 4 also involved); 125-127 (97 spins
in Turn 3); 146-149 (25 falls off pace); 162-166 (49 & 71 got together in
Turn 4); 168-173 (14, 5, 40, 44 all got together on the backstretch);
176-178 (36 spins in Turn 2). 10 for 53 laps.
Lap Leaders: George Brunnhoelzl III 1-27, John Smith 28, Burt Myers
29, John Smith 30-34, George Brunnhoelzl III 35-38, John Smith 39-63, George
Brunnhoelzl III 64, John Smith 65-72, George Brunnhoelzl III 73, John Smith
74-75, George Brunnhoelzl III 76-77, John Smith 78-83, George Brunnhoelzl
III 84, John Smith 85-87, George Brunnhoelzl III 88, John Smith 89-127,
George Brunnhoelzl III 128, John Smith 129-144, George Brunnhoelzl III
145-166, L.W. Miller 167, Luke Fleming 168-199.
Total Laps Led: John Smith 105, George Brunnhoelzl III 60, Luke
Fleming 32, L.W. Miller 1, Burt Myers 1. 20 changes involving 5 drivers.
CONTINGENCY AWARDS
COCA-COLA MOVE OF THE RACE: Bryan Dauzat, 97 O.B. Builders Chevrolet
COORS LIGHT POLE AWARD: Brian Loftin, 23 L & R Transmissions/QMF
Metal Solutions Chevrolet
FEATHERLITE "MOST IMPROVED DRIVER": Bryan Dauzat, 97 O.B. Builders
Chevrolet
SUNOCO ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Dean Ward *, 71 Bibs Dowtown Restaurants
Chevrolet
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Source: Tim Southers /
NASCAR PR
Posted: August
1, 2009 |
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