| Hutchens Takes Checkered in Wild Race at Bowman Gray |  by Loren Pinilis
(Bowman Gray Stadium, Winston-Salem, NC) When asked to share his thoughts on winning the Carolina Wood Floors 100 on Saturday, Bobby Hutchens could sum it up well.
“Wow,” said Hutchens.
The Farm Bureau Insurance Modified Series at Bowman Gray Stadium is using a new double-file “choice” restart rule for 100-lap races - giving competitors the chance to choose to take the inside or outside lane before the green is thrown after cautions. Fans and drivers knew it would create some interesting racing, but Saturday night’s Carolina Wood Floors 100 was the first chance to see the rule in action.
Luke Fleming of Mount Airy drew the pole as his starting position - and after a rough false start that took out several cars, Fleming found himself in the lead with Brad Robbins of Winston-Salem on his tail. It wasn’t long though before the more experienced Robbins took over the lead.
Meanwhile, the field was constantly being scrambled as cars shuffled positions back and forth. The #1 car of Burt Myers slowly worked towards the front.
On a double-file restart, Myers, a resident of Walnut Cove, moved up to the outside beside race leader Robbins. “I knew if I could get to the outside of the front row, I had a good enough car I could probably get on out there. And if not I could get in line in second again and just try to go from there,” said Myers. As the green fell, Myers beat Robbins into turn one to claim the lead.
Myers then found himself having to deal with the threat of an outside row car stealing the lead away from him, but he was able to fend off all challengers. After winning the championship last season and also winning the season-opening race last week, Myers looked to be in a commanding position to take the checkered yet again on Saturday.
Then disaster struck for Myers. With less than 15 laps to go, Myers sputtered to a stop due to motor problems. “We made all the right decisions; we made all the right calls. The car was perfect. We just got bit by bad luck tonight and there’s nothing you can do about that,” said Myers.
Bobby Hutchens of Lexington moved into the lead after Myers’ misfortune. Hutchens himself is no stranger to losing the lead due to last-minute motor problems. “I hate Burt had the trouble he had, but we lost two like that last year so we know how he feels,” said Hutchens.
Hutchens went on to take the checkered in what he says is the toughest race he’s ever run. “We may have lucked into this a little bit, but we worked for it. It wasn’t like somebody gave it to us. I was back to 4th or 5th at some point and worked my way back into second,” said Hutchens.
Brad Robbins of Winston-Salem finished in second with Lee Jeffreys of High Point taking third.
In the Webb Heating & A/C Co. Sportsman Series, Jim Shoaf of Lexington took the checkered for the first race with Derek Stoltz of Walkertown and Kenny Bost of Lexington finishing second and third. David Adams of Yadkinville won the second race, with Tommy Neal of Walkertown taking second and Barry Edwards of Pinnacle claiming third.
John McNeal of Winston-Salem took home the win in the 104.1 WTQR Street Stock Series after a wild last-lap pass for the lead. Matt Cotner of Rural Hall ended up in second. Ryan Nelson of Winston-Salem finished in third.
In the Time Warner Cable Stadium Stock Series, Kenny Dixon of Pfafftown and Matt Hill of Yadkinville split victories in the two 15-lap races.
Farm Bureau Insurance Modified Series
Carolina Wood Floors 100 - 100 laps
FINISH CAR DRIVER HOMETOWN
1 14 Bobby Hutchens Lexington, NC
2 40 Brad Robbins Winston-Salem, NC
3 77 Lee Jeffreys High Point, NC
4 03 Luke Fleming Mount Airy, NC
5 81 Brian Pack Walkertown, NC
6 47 Andrew Durham Roaring River, NC
7 99 Kevin Powell Winston-Salem, NC
8 1 Burt Myers Walnut Cove, NC
9 75 Robert Jeffreys Winston-Salem, NC
10 78 Susan Harwell Elkin, NC
11 4 Jason Myers Walnut Cove, NC
12 83 Tim Brown Cana, VA
13 50 Michael Clifton Walkertown, NC
14 69 Junior Miller Danbury, NC
15 15 Mike Herman Kannapolis, NC
16 20 Jeremy Stoltz Walkertown, NC
17 33 Matt Caldwell Lexington, NC
18 49 Scott Rigney Mount Airy, NC
19 5 Randy Butner Pfafftown, NC
Webb Heating & A/C Co. Sportsman Series
1st Sportsman: 20 laps
FINISH1 CAR DRIVER HOMETOWN
1 26 Jim Shoaf Lexington, NC
2 02 Derek Stoltz Walkertown, NC
3 13 Kenneth Bost Lexington, NC
4 1 Gene Pack Walkertown, NC
5 66 Ronnie Clifton Walkertown, NC
6 68 Robbie Brewer Winston-Salem, NC
7 30 Mike Evans King, NC
8 05 Kyle Edwards King, NC
9 21 Tommy Neal Walkertown, NC
10 50 Barry Edwards Pinnacle, NC
11 9 David Adams Yadkinville, NC
12 23 Ryan Robertson Winston-Salem, NC
13 79 Steven Berrier Germanton, NC
14 86 Taylor Branch Lewisville, NC
15 38 Mitch Gales Lexington, NC
16 70 James Triplett Clemmons, NC
17 19 Michael Adams Yadkinville, NC
18 81 Stephen Angel Walnut Cove, NC
19 48 Justin Collins Pilot Mountain, NC
20 7 Ronnie Barron Lexington, NC
21 33 Kevin Thomas Winston-Salem, NC
22 93 Tim McGlamery Winston-Salem, NC
23 31 Jay Charles Walkertown, NC
24 10 Tate Henley Winston-Salem, NC
2nd Sportsman: 20 laps
FINISH CAR DRIVER HOMETOWN
1 9 David Adams Yadkinville, NC
2 21 Tommy Neal Walkertown, NC
3 50 Barry Edwards Pinnacle, NC
4 05 Kyle Edwards King, NC
5 66 Ronnie Clifton Walkertown, NC
6 68 Robbie Brewer Winston-Salem, NC
7 13 Kenneth Bost Lexington, NC
8 30 Mike Evans King, NC
9 1 Gene Pack Walkertown, NC
10 26 Jim Shoaf Lexington, NC
11 79 Steven Berrier Germanton, NC
12 86 Taylor Branch Lewisville, NC
13 02 Derek Stoltz Walkertown, NC
14 38 Mitch Gales Lexington, NC
15 7 Ronnie Barron Lexington, NC
16 93 Tim McGlamery Winston-Salem, NC
17 23 Ryan Robertson Winston-Salem, NC
18 31 Jay Charles Walkertown, NC
19 48 Justin Collins Pilot Mountain, NC
20 70 James Triplett Clemmons, NC
21 81 Stephen Angel Walnut Cove, NC
22 19 Michael Adams Yadkinville, NC
23 33 Kevin Thomas Winston-Salem, NC
104.1 WTQR Street Stock Series: 20 laps
FINISH CAR DRIVER HOMETOWN
1 99 John McNeal Winston-Salem, NC
2 27 Matt Cotner Rural Hall, NC
3 31 Ryan Nelson Winston-Salem, NC
4 69 Joseph Brown Winston-Salem, NC
5 25 Johnny Arnder Mount Airy, NC
6 74 Leon Hutchens Winston-Salem, NC
7 00 Donnie Martin Wallburg, NC
8 1 David Sumner Trinity, NC
9 12 Doug Wall Pfafftown, NC
10 14 Randy Larimore Walkertown, NC
11 07 Shane Tuttle Pinnacle, NC
12 8 K.J. Stimpson Lewisville, NC
13 11 Richard Reeves Cooleemee, NC
14 13 Kevin Gilbert Mocksville, NC
15 04 Reggie Doub Germanton, NC
16 88 Marty Freedle Lexington, NC
17 33 Matt Fletcher Walkertown, NC
18 6 Adam Snow Winston-Salem, NC
19 18 Tim Vaden Kernersville, NC
Time Warner Cable Stadium Stock Series
1st Stadium Stock: 15 laps
FINISH CAR DRIVER HOMETOWN
1 23 Kenny Dixon Pfafftown, NC
2 12 Paul Wark Winston-Salem, NC
3 22 Dale Barneycastle Mocksville, NC
4 99 Shaun Cockerham East Bend, NC
5 01 Jason Keaton Mocksville, NC
6 70 D.J. Moore Germanton, NC
7 39 Jimmy Absher Rural Hall, NC
8 11 Wayne Hill Kernersville, NC
9 41 Bobby Yountz Clemmons, NC
10 24 A.J. Sanders Mocksville, NC
11 1 Rob Young Winston-Salem, NC
12 79 Chris Allison Mocksville, NC
13 5 Justin Emory Winston-Salem, NC
14 7 James Allison Mocksville, NC
15 37 Steve Smith Kannapolis, NC
16 48 J.R. Pendleton Rural Hall, NC
17 18 Travis Brewer Germanton, NC
18 74 Todd Myers Winston-Salem, NC
19 15 April Hopkins Walnut Cove, NC
20 2 Amanda Bennett Walkertown, NC
21 25 Tony Black Lexington, NC
22 4 Andrew Sanders Mocksville, NC
23 68 Glenn Hamilton Winston-Salem, NC
2nd Stadium Stock: 15 laps
FINISH CAR DRIVER HOMETOWN
1 98 Matt Hill Yadkinville, NC
2 21 Kevin L. Neal Walkertown, NC
3 77 Randy McElveen Winston-Salem, NC
4 72 Gerald Robertson Germanton, NC
5 83 A.J. Quakenbush Winston-Salem, NC
6 81 Chuck Wall Clemmons, NC
7 64 Steven Truell Midway, NC
8 56 Johnny Burke Welcome, NC
9 00 Adam Baker Winston-Salem, NC
10 8 V.L. Richardson Pilot Mountain, NC
11 27 Darren Cotner King, NC
12 47 Kevin C. Neal Danbury, NC
13 44 Charlie Curry Winston-Salem, NC
14 75 Donny Little Winston-Salem, NC
15 33 Gary Brewer Germanton, NC
16 42 Phillip Wright King, NC
17 95 Billy Cameron Jr Salisbury, NC
18 35 Stephen Myers Pfafftown, NC
19 05 Brandon Keller Advance, NC
20 14 Ken Bridges King, NC
21 16 Scott Gordon Clemmons, NC
22 60 Ted Mickalowski Winston-Salem, NC
23 36 William Chilton Eden, NC
24 19 Tommy Stewart Winston-Salem, NC
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Legendary Bowman Gray Stadium is NASCAR’s longest running weekly race track. Known as “The Home of the Hot Modifieds,” Bowman Gray continues its 60 year tradition of providing exciting racing action at family friendly prices.
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