by Loren Pinilis(Bowman Gray Stadium, Winston-Salem, NC) It was so close that Bobby Hutchens could taste it. With only two laps to go in the Whelen 100, Hutchens was leading the race and on his way to a strong points lead in the Farm Bureau Insurance Modified Series. But until the checkered flag waves at Bowman Gray Stadium, you never know what will happen.
Hutchens, a resident of Lexington, claimed the lead early in the race after passing Luke Fleming of Mt. Airy. He then dominated the pack until a double-file restart gave Junior Miller of Danbury the opportunity to get door to door with Hutchens. The two battled for the lead: Hutchens was ahead, then Miller claimed the front spot, then Hutchens took back the lead with a tap to the bumper of Miller. The #69 car of Miller spun out of control.
“I didn’t mean to do it, but it happens when you’re racing tight at Bowman Gray,” said Bobby Hutchens about the incident. Hutchens only had two laps until he took the win – but Miller had other plans. Miller fell off the pace and waited for Bobby Hutchens to pass by. As Hutchens drove towards the white flag, Miller drove him into the wall.
“I started 10th and went into the lead. I passed Bobby and didn’t touch him,” said Miller, who went on to say that the score is now even between them.
NASCAR Race Director John Horton issued a one race-meet suspension to Junior Miller after his retaliatory actions against Hutchens.
Now the points lead belongs to Tim Brown of Cana, Va., who climbed from a 13th place start to a 2nd place finish. Burt Myers of Walnut Cove, who was the points leader entering the Whelen 100, was forced to pit early due to mechanical problems. Myers finished next to last, dropping him back to fourth in the points. Lee Jeffreys of High Point moves up to third in the points.
In the Webb Heating & A/C Co. Sportsman Series, Kenny Bost of Kernersville seemed to be in a promising position to further his points lead. Bost managed to take the checkered flag in the first 20-lap race, while points challengers Ronnie Clifton and Derek Stoltz, both residents of Walkertown, finished 13th and 14th.
When the “Madhouse Scramble” shook up the field for the start of the second race, Bost started 10th with Clifton and Stoltz a few positions behind him. But unfortunately for Bost, involvement in a wreck relegated him to a 19th place finish in the second Sportsman race.
Despite this disappointment, Bost still managed to maintain the points lead. Robbie Brewer of Winston-Salem, who finished 4th and 5th in the two races, rockets into the second place spot on the points ladder. Ronnie Clifton falls back to third and Derek Stoltz drops to fourth in the points.
Ryan Nelson of Winston-Salem claimed victory in the race for the 104.1 WTQR Street Stock Series on Saturday, extending his points lead. David Sumner moves up into second and Tim Vaden jumps up to third in the points.
In the Time Warner Cable Stadium Stock Series, Matt Hill’s win in the first Stadium Stock race boosts him from 9th to 3rd in the points. Dale Barneycastle stays in the points lead with a third place finish. Shaun Cockerham maintains the second spot in the points rankings.
This Saturday night is the Baity Tire Sportsman 100, the longest and most prestigious race of the year for the Sportsman Division. There will be another always-exciting Davidson Auto Salvage Chain Race, plus a full-bill of racing for the Modified, Street Stock, and Stadium Stock Divisions. Ticket gates open at 6 PM for practice runs, qualifying is at 6:50 PM, and the first race is at 8:00 PM this Saturday night. For directions, schedules, and other information, log on to www.bowmangrayracing.com.
2008 Current Points Standings
Farm Bureau Insurance Modified Series
Rank Car # Driver Points Gained Last Event Rank Change
1 83 Tim Brown 174 48 +2
2 14 Bobby Hutchens 160 30 0
3 77 Lee Jeffreys 156 44 +1
4 1 Burt Myers 154 20 -3
5 75 Robert Jeffreys 152 50 +1
6 81 Brian Pack 138 36 0
7 40 Brad Robbins 136 34 -1
8 47 Andrew Durham 132 38 +1
9 4 Jason Myers 128 40 +1
10 20 Jeremy Stoltz 126 18 -5
11 5 Randy Butner 124 42 0
12 70 Al Hill 102 46 +2
13 50 Michael Clifton 98 22 -1
14 69 Junior Miller 88 28 -1
15 49 Scott Rigney 80 24 -1
Webb Heating & A/C Co. Sportsman Series
Rank Car # Driver Points Gained Last Event Rank Change
1 18 Kenny Bost 205 32 0
2 68 Robbie Brewer 203 43 +2
3 66 Ronnie Clifton 202 30 -1
4 02 Derek Stoltz 198 30 -1
5 9 David Adams 195 44 0
6 05 Kyle Edwards 191 44 +1
7 30 Mike Evans 187 39 -1
8 79 Steven Berrier 164 42 0
9 1 Gene Pack 150 43 2
10 21 Tommy Neal 146 28 -1
11 26 Jim Shoaf 142 42 +4
12 50 Barry Edwards 138 30 -2
13 38 Mitch Gales 129 23 -1
14 86 Taylor Branch 116 11 -1
15 7 Ronnie Barron 106 30 +1
104.1 WTQR Street Stock Series
Rank Car # Driver Points Gained Last Event Rank Change
1 31 Ryan Nelson 190 50 0
2 1 David Sumner 168 44 +1
3 18 Tim Vaden 162 48 +2
4 12 Doug Wall 158 40 0
5 69 Joseph Brown 150 42 +2
6 99 John McNeal 146 14 -4
7 27 Matt Cotner 144 36 0
8 00 Donnie Martin 142 38 +1
9 60 Ethan Stoltz 134 46 +1
10 25 Johnny Arnder 132 20 -4
11 04 Reggie Doub 118 34 +1
12 8 K.J. Stimpson 116 30 -1
13 74 Leon Hutchens 94 12 +1
11 Richard Reeves 94 32 +3
15 14 Randy Larimore 86 22 0
Time Warner Cable Stadium Stock Series
Rank Car # Driver Points Gained Last Event Rank Change
1 22 Dale Barneycastle 188 46 0
2 99 Shaun Cockerham 178 40 0
3 98 Matt Hill 164 50 +6
4 23 Kenny Dixon 162 42 +2
5 11 Wayne Hill 160 40 +1
6 39 Jimmy Absher 156 48 +4
56 Johnny Burke 156 32 -1
8 81 Chuck Wall 150 16 -5
9 01 Jason Keaton 142 26 -1
10 4 Andrew Sanders 140 50 +10
72 Gerald Robertson 140 44 +4
12 21 Kevin L. Neal 134 30 0
13 33 Gary Brewer 132 46 +9
14 68 Glenn Hamilton 128 22 -3
12 Paul Wark 128 2 -10
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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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