| Junior Miller Takes Checkered But Fleming Was Winner at Bowman Gray |
Penalty gives the Tucson 100 victory to Chris Fleming.
 by Loren Pinilis(Bowman Gray Stadium, Winston-Salem, NC) Junior Miller was especially pleased to take the checkered in the Tucson 100 on Saturday – it was the 69th time that the driver of the number 69 car had won at the Stadium.
Or at least he thought he won.
Miller’s car was formally protested by Chris Fleming of Mt. Airy, who finished in second right behind Junior. Technical inspection revealed that Miller’s engine had improper heads, and he was taken from the lead down to a last-place finish. Fleming was declared the winner.
The race started off on a good note for Danbury resident Junior Miller, who drew the pole as his starting position in the Tucson 100 for the Farm Bureau Insurance Modified Series. Miller led start to finish, defending the top spot against several challenges.
The performance was a welcome change for Miller, who has had his fair share of bad luck in 2008. He missed one event after wrecking in practice and had been unable to break into the top 5 entering Saturday’s race. “It’s just one thing after another, it seems,” said Miller.
The greatest challenge to his lead, ironically, came from the one rule change that Miller has been passionately advocating – the new double-file restart rule for Modified 100-lappers. The rule, new in 2008, allows competitors to choose whether they will start in the inside or outside lane after a caution. “Every time there was a double-file restart, anybody can choose to jump up there beside you. You’ve just got to be on your toes and make sure you can get on the gas just right to beat them down the straightaway,” said Miller.
Miller had such a situation on his hands when Mike Herman of Kannapolis pulled to the outside during a restart to challenge Miller for the lead. Herman was holding his own against “The King of the Modifieds” – a feat that is especially difficult from the outside lane. The noise from the crowd could be heard over the cars as Herman came inches from passing Miller. But as Herman pushed hard to get by Miller, he flew too fast into the turn – causing him to almost lose control and spin. Miller stayed in the lead.
The number 69 car of Junior Miller continued to maintain the lead despite a few taps to the bumper from the second place car of Chris Fleming. Another fan of the double-file restart rule, Fleming went to the outside nearly every chance he could get. “I come over there to put on a show. I wasn’t going to stay in line,” said Fleming. The risky strategy paid off, eventually moving Fleming from a 17th place start up to 2nd.
But Fleming evidently felt that something was amiss with Junior Miller’s motor. He lodged a formal protest, Miller was found to have improper engine heads, and Fleming was awarded the win. “It’s a long time coming,” said Fleming, whose last win came in 2002. Saturday’s Tucson 100 was Fleming’s second victory at the Stadium.
Tim Brown of Cana, Va. finished in second with Brian Pack of Walkertown taking third.
In the Webb Heating & A/C Co. Sportsman Series, Ronnie Clifton of Walkertown claimed victory in the first 20-lap race, his first win of 2008. Kyle Edwards of King finished second and Robbie Brewer of Winston-Salem took third. In the second 20-lapper, Taylor Branch of Lewisville took the checkered with Gary Ledbetter of Lexington and Mitch Gales of Lexington finishing second and third.
Matt Cotner of Rural Hall was the winner of the 20-lap race for the 104.1 WTQR Street Stock Series. It was Cotner’s first win ever at the Stadium. Tim Vaden of Kernersville claimed second place. Doug Wall of Pfafftown was third.
In the Time Warner Cable Stadium Stock Series, A.J. Sanders of Mocksville claimed victory in the first 15-lapper, with Chris Allison of Mocksville taking the win in the second 15-lap race.
Farm Bureau Insurance Modified Series - Tucson 100: 100 laps
FINISH CAR DRIVER HOMETOWN
1 13 Chris Fleming Mount Airy, NC
2 83 Tim Brown Cana, VA
3 81 Brian Pack Walkertown, NC
4 1 Burt Myers Walnut Cove, NC
5 40 Brad Robbins Winston-Salem, NC
6 20 Jeremy Stoltz Walkertown, NC
7 77 Lee Jeffreys High Point, NC
8 5 Randy Butner Pfafftown, NC
9 70 Alfred Hill Jonesville, NC
10 50 Michael Clifton Walkertown, NC
11 75 Robert Jeffreys Winston-Salem, NC
12 53 Jonathan Brown Winston-Salem, NC
13 47 Andrew Durham Roaring River, NC
14 14 Bobby Hutchens Lexington, NC
15 99 Kevin Powell Winston-Salem, NC
16 92 Brody Jones Statesville, NC
17 51 Stan Welborn Germanton, NC
18 2 Bobby Foley Winston-Salem, NC
19 15 Mike Herman Kannapolis, NC
20 72 Brent Elliott Denton, NC
21 69 Junior Miller Danbury, NC
Webb Heating & A/C Co. Sportsman Series – Race 1: 20 laps
FINISH CAR DRIVER HOMETOWN
1 66 Ronnie Clifton Walkertown, NC
2 05 Kyle Edwards King, NC
3 68 Robbie Brewer Winston-Salem, NC
4 71 Bryant Robertson Lexington, NC
5 26 Jim Shoaf Lexington, NC
6 02 Derek Stoltz Walkertown, NC
7 18 Kenny Bost Kernersville, NC
8 23 Scott Hall Walkertown, NC
9 21 Tommy Neal Walkertown, NC
10 1 Gene Pack Walkertown, NC
11 7 Ronnie Barron Lexington, NC
12 79 Steven Berrier Germanton, NC
13 30 Mike Evans King, NC
14 38 Mitch Gales Lexington, NC
15 70 Gary Ledbetter Lexington, NC
16 86 Taylor Branch Lewisville, NC
17 50 Barry Edwards Pinnacle, NC
18 75 Chad Brooks Winston-Salem, NC
19 19 Michael Adams Yadkinville, NC
20 77 Keith McMichael Belews Creek, NC
21 48 Justin Collins Pilot Mountain, NC
22 44 Daniel Beeson Kernersville, NC
23 9 David Adams Yadkinville, NC
24 10 Tate Henley Winston-Salem, NC
Webb Heating & A/C Co. Sportsman Series – Race 2: 20 laps
FINISH CAR DRIVER HOMETOWN
1 86 Taylor Branch Lewisville, NC
2 70 Gary Ledbetter Lexington, NC
3 38 Mitch Gales Lexington, NC
4 21 Tommy Neal Walkertown, NC
5 18 Kenny Bost Kernersville, NC
6 1 Gene Pack Walkertown, NC
7 26 Jim Shoaf Lexington, NC
8 66 Ronnie Clifton Walkertown, NC
9 23 Scott Hall Walkertown, NC
10 02 Derek Stoltz Walkertown, NC
11 77 Keith McMichael Belews Creek, NC
12 9 David Adams Yadkinville, NC
13 68 Robbie Brewer Winston-Salem, NC
14 79 Steven Berrier Germanton, NC
15 19 Michael Adams Yadkinville, NC
16 71 Bryant Robertson Lexington, NC
17 7 Ronnie Barron Lexington, NC
18 44 Daniel Beeson Kernersville, NC
19 30 Mike Evans King, NC
20 10 Tate Henley Winston-Salem, NC
21 50 Barry Edwards Pinnacle, NC
22 05 Kyle Edwards King, NC
23 75 Chad Brooks Winston-Salem, NC
24 48 Justin Collins Pilot Mountain, NC
104.1 WTQR Street Stock Series: 20 laps
FINISH CAR DRIVER HOMETOWN
1 27 Matt Cotner Rural Hall, NC
2 18 Tim Vaden Kernersville, NC
3 12 Doug Wall Pfafftown, NC
4 1 David Sumner Trinity, NC
5 10 Jody Fritts Winston-Salem, NC
6 04 Reggie Doub Germanton, NC
7 33 Matt Fletcher Walkertown, NC
8 8 K.J. Stimpson Lewisville, NC
9 31 Ryan Nelson Winston-Salem, NC
10 13 Kevin Gilbert Mocksville, NC
11 69 Joseph Brown Winston-Salem, NC
12 60 Ethan Stoltz Walkertown, NC
13 16 Allen Henkel Trinity, NC
14 11 Richard Reeves Cooleemee, NC
15 44 Daniel Fishel Greensboro, NC
16 3 Michael Nichols Trinity, NC
17 74 Leon Hutchens Winston-Salem, NC
18 6 Adam Snow Winston-Salem, NC
19 98 David Conner Sandy Ridge, NC
20 99 John McNeal Winston-Salem, NC
21 15 Jerry Helms Winston-Salem, NC
22 00 Donnie Martin Wallburg, NC
Time Warner Cable Stadium Stock Series – Race 1: 15 laps
FINISH CAR DRIVER HOMETOWN
1 24 A.J. Sanders Mocksville, NC
2 56 Johnny Burke Midway, NC
3 39 Jimmy Absher Rural Hall, NC
4 33 Gary Brewer Germanton, NC
5 83 A.J. Quakenbush Winston-Salem, NC
6 23 Kenny Dixon Pfafftown, NC
7 72 Gerald Robertson Germanton, NC
8 44 Charlie Curry Winston-Salem, NC
9 18 Travis Brewer Germanton, NC
10 14 Ken Bridges King, NC
11 64 Steven Truell Midway, NC
12 48 J.R. Pendleton Rural Hall, NC
13 98 Matt Hill Yadkinville, NC
14 99 Shaun Cockerham East Bend, NC
15 27 Darren Cotner King, NC
16 4 Andrew Sanders Mocksville, NC
17 70 D.J. Moore Germanton, NC
18 01 Jason Keaton Mocksville, NC
19 68 Glenn Hamilton Winston-Salem, NC
20 21 Kevin L. Neal Walkertown, NC
21 00 Adam Baker Winston-Salem, NC
22 11 Wayne Hill Kernersville, NC
Time Warner Cable Stadium Stock Series – Race 2: 15 laps
FINISH CAR DRIVER HOMETOWN
1 79 Chris Allison Mocksville, NC
2 74 Todd Myers Winston-Salem, NC
3 77 Randy McElveen Winston-Salem, NC
4 67 Jason Asbury King, NC
5 31 Wesley Thompson Mocksville, NC
6 42 Phillip Wright King, NC
7 71 David Hopkins Winston-Salem, NC
8 95 Billy Cameron Jr Salisbury, NC
9 35 Steve Myers Pfafftown, NC
10 47 Kevin C. Neal Danbury, NC
11 36 William Chilton Eden, NC
12 16 Scott Gordon Clemmons, NC
13 73 April Myers Lexington, NC
14 37 Steve Smith Kannapolis, NC
15 60 Ted Mickalowski Mocksville, NC
16 2 Nolan Marshall Tobaccoville, NC
17 1 Rob Young Winston-Salem, NC
18 05 Brandon Keller Advance, NC
19 8 V.L. Richardson Pilot Mountain, NC
20 62 Kevin Hedgecock Thomasville, NC
21 32 Tony Teague Winston-Salem, NC
22 15 April Hopkins Walnut Cove, NC
###
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.
Have an opinion on
this story? Post a message on
The Southern Motor Racing Forum OR Send the Editor an E-mail!
|
