RGeeProductions
05-27-2009, 10:29 AM
Saturday brings the biggest test yet for championship contenders.
This Saturday night you’ll hear the words that some drivers dread to hear and others just can’t say enough: “Double Points Night.” With each race giving twice as many points as normal, the points leaders are going to have to work twice as hard to maintain their positions – and their challengers will have twice the opportunity to take the lead for themselves.
In the Farm Bureau Insurance Modified Series, Michael Clifton’s win on Saturday boosts him from tenth in the points up to fifth. The Walkertown resident has literally come a few feet from winning the championship before, and he has declared his intention to vie for the crown in 2009.
Finishing right behind him in second on Saturday was three-time Champion Burt Myers of Walnut Cove. The performance moves him from fifth on the points ladder up to second – right behind points leader Tim Brown of Cana, Va. Brown finished right on the bumper of Myers on Saturday, maintaining his points lead and keeping Myers’ gains to a minimum.
For the 2007 championship, Tim Brown and Burt Myers were the top two competitors entering the final event. Burt Myers emerged victorious as the 2007 Champion. Myers and Brown again were one and two entering the final 2008 event – although then Tim Brown was the one leaving with the title.
So it’s not completely unexpected to see Myers and Brown on top of the points ladder again this season. Myers, however, is surely not pleased with the 36 point gap separating the two. The gap is due almost solely to mechanical problems which prematurely took Myers out of the season-opening Tucson 200. Without that event, Myers would only be a mere two points under Brown. In fact, had Myers gone on to claim the victory for that event – which he believes he would have – he would be tied with Brown or even leading the points race right now.
For the last few events, Myers has been gradually whittling away at Brown’s points lead. This Saturday will give him the greatest chance yet to gain some serious ground.
Other competitors will be bringing their “A” game too, including Stadium veteran Alfred Hill of Jonesville. Hill entered Saturday’s event at second in the points, but involvement in a collision relegated him to a 17th place finish. He drops down to fifth in the points.
Randy Butner of Pfafftown enters this Saturday in the third spot on the points ladder, only one point under Myers. Jason Myers of Walnut Cove remains fourth in the points.
In the Webb Heating & A/C Co. Sportsman Series, Gary Ledbetter of Lexington ran into a little misfortune on Saturday. First, he got caught in an incident in the first Sportsman race, finishing in 11th. Ledbetter’s bad luck continued when the rain storms caused the cancellation of the second Sportsman race after only a few laps had been completed. Ledbetter was leading at the time and may have gone on to win – instead, the race was cancelled and no points were awarded. Ledbetter drops out of the points lead into second on the points ladder.
Barry Edwards of Pinnacle was there to take advantage of the situation. The former Sportsman champ finished fourth and claimed the points lead. However, Edwards has a scant two point lead over Ledbetter, so this Saturday will be a huge deciding factor in the race.
And that’s doubly true this Saturday, since the Sportsman competitors will race in the MESCO Building Solutions Sportsman 100. It’s the longest and most prestigious race of the season for the Sportsman Division, and for the first time ever the Double File “Choice” Restart Rule will be in effect for the Sportsman Series.
Doug Wall of Pfafftown stays on top of the points ladder for the 104.1 WTQR Street Stock Series. The #12 car of Wall spun early in the race, but Wall was able to remain focused and power himself back into a seventh place finish. Matt Cotner of Rural Hall maintains his second place points ranking, with Johnny Arnder of Mount Airy moving up to tie Joseph “Bobo” Brown of Winston-Salem for third in the points.
In the Time Warner Cable Stadium Stock Series, rain forced the cancellation of the two 15-lappers that were scheduled for last Saturday. Therefore, the points standings remain unchanged for the Stadium Stock competitors.
In addition to the MESCO Building Solutions Sportsman 100, this Saturday will also feature a full bill of racing for the Modifieds, Street Stock, and Stadium Stock Divisions. And the night will conclude with another exciting 109 U-Pull-It Chain Race. Gates open at 6:00 for practice, qualifying begins at 6:50, and the first race begins at 8:00 PM – this Saturday night. Ticket prices, directions, and more information can be found online at www.bowmangrayracing.com or by calling (336) 723-1819.
Farm Bureau Insurance Modified Series Current Points Standings
RANK CAR DRIVER POINTS GAINED LAST EVENT
1 83 Tim Brown 236 46
2 1 Burt Myers 200 48
3 5 Randy Butner 199 40
4 4 Jason Myers 192 34
5 50 Michael Clifton 178 50
70 Alfred Hill 178 18
7 53 Jonathan Brown 174 28
8 40 Brad Robbins 172 36
9 69 Junior Miller 163 44
10 77 Lee Jeffreys 155 14
11 13 Chris Fleming 146 0
12 72 Brent Elliott 136 32
13 31 Gene Pack 127 16
14 75 Robert Jeffreys 126 20
15 45 Lee Stimpson 112 26
Webb Heating & A/C Co. Sportsman Series Current Points Standings
RANK CAR DRIVER POINTS GAINED LAST EVENT
1 50 Barry Edwards 172 22
2 70 Gary Ledbetter 170 15
3 77 Keith McMichael 160 14
4 05 Kyle Edwards 151 21
5 18 Kenny Bost 150 19
6 86 Taylor Branch 147 12
7 66 Ronnie Clifton 143 24
8 30 Mike Evans 140 9
9 79 Steven Berrier 139 25
21 Tommy Neal 139 17
11 68 Robbie Brewer 138 13
12 19 Michael Adams 136 3
13 02 Derek Stoltz 135 11
14 13 Luke Fleming 129 18
15 23 Scott Hall 122 20
104.1 WTQR Street Stock Series Current Points Standings
RANK CAR DRIVER POINTS GAINED LAST EVENT
1 12 Doug Wall 224 38
2 27 Matt Cotner 200 40
3 25 Johnny Arnder 180 36
69 Joseph Brown 180 22
5 15 Jerry Helms 156 34
6 1 David Sumner 152 46
14 Randy Larimore 152 44
8 99 John McNeal 144 0
2 Willie Wall 144 28
10 11 Richard Reeves 142 26
11 16 Allen Henkel 134 42
12 81 Zack Clifton 130 16
13 13 Kevin Gilbert 126 20
14 18 Tim Vaden 120 50
44 Daniel Fishel 120 14
Time Warner Cable Stadium Stock Series Current Points Standings
RANK CAR DRIVER POINTS
1 24 A.J. Sanders 198
2 22 Dale Barneycastle 180
23 Kenny Dixon 180
39 Jimmy Absher 180
5 44 Michael Wells 176
6 1 Rob Young 174
7 99 Matt Hill 164
8 11 Wayne Hill 160
9 68 Glenn Hamilton 150
10 21 Kevin L. Neal 148
70 D.J. Moore 148
12 01 Jason Keaton 146
13 0 Adam Baker 136
14 26 Derek Taylor 132
15 60 Ted Mickalowski 124
Loren Pinilis
This Saturday night you’ll hear the words that some drivers dread to hear and others just can’t say enough: “Double Points Night.” With each race giving twice as many points as normal, the points leaders are going to have to work twice as hard to maintain their positions – and their challengers will have twice the opportunity to take the lead for themselves.
In the Farm Bureau Insurance Modified Series, Michael Clifton’s win on Saturday boosts him from tenth in the points up to fifth. The Walkertown resident has literally come a few feet from winning the championship before, and he has declared his intention to vie for the crown in 2009.
Finishing right behind him in second on Saturday was three-time Champion Burt Myers of Walnut Cove. The performance moves him from fifth on the points ladder up to second – right behind points leader Tim Brown of Cana, Va. Brown finished right on the bumper of Myers on Saturday, maintaining his points lead and keeping Myers’ gains to a minimum.
For the 2007 championship, Tim Brown and Burt Myers were the top two competitors entering the final event. Burt Myers emerged victorious as the 2007 Champion. Myers and Brown again were one and two entering the final 2008 event – although then Tim Brown was the one leaving with the title.
So it’s not completely unexpected to see Myers and Brown on top of the points ladder again this season. Myers, however, is surely not pleased with the 36 point gap separating the two. The gap is due almost solely to mechanical problems which prematurely took Myers out of the season-opening Tucson 200. Without that event, Myers would only be a mere two points under Brown. In fact, had Myers gone on to claim the victory for that event – which he believes he would have – he would be tied with Brown or even leading the points race right now.
For the last few events, Myers has been gradually whittling away at Brown’s points lead. This Saturday will give him the greatest chance yet to gain some serious ground.
Other competitors will be bringing their “A” game too, including Stadium veteran Alfred Hill of Jonesville. Hill entered Saturday’s event at second in the points, but involvement in a collision relegated him to a 17th place finish. He drops down to fifth in the points.
Randy Butner of Pfafftown enters this Saturday in the third spot on the points ladder, only one point under Myers. Jason Myers of Walnut Cove remains fourth in the points.
In the Webb Heating & A/C Co. Sportsman Series, Gary Ledbetter of Lexington ran into a little misfortune on Saturday. First, he got caught in an incident in the first Sportsman race, finishing in 11th. Ledbetter’s bad luck continued when the rain storms caused the cancellation of the second Sportsman race after only a few laps had been completed. Ledbetter was leading at the time and may have gone on to win – instead, the race was cancelled and no points were awarded. Ledbetter drops out of the points lead into second on the points ladder.
Barry Edwards of Pinnacle was there to take advantage of the situation. The former Sportsman champ finished fourth and claimed the points lead. However, Edwards has a scant two point lead over Ledbetter, so this Saturday will be a huge deciding factor in the race.
And that’s doubly true this Saturday, since the Sportsman competitors will race in the MESCO Building Solutions Sportsman 100. It’s the longest and most prestigious race of the season for the Sportsman Division, and for the first time ever the Double File “Choice” Restart Rule will be in effect for the Sportsman Series.
Doug Wall of Pfafftown stays on top of the points ladder for the 104.1 WTQR Street Stock Series. The #12 car of Wall spun early in the race, but Wall was able to remain focused and power himself back into a seventh place finish. Matt Cotner of Rural Hall maintains his second place points ranking, with Johnny Arnder of Mount Airy moving up to tie Joseph “Bobo” Brown of Winston-Salem for third in the points.
In the Time Warner Cable Stadium Stock Series, rain forced the cancellation of the two 15-lappers that were scheduled for last Saturday. Therefore, the points standings remain unchanged for the Stadium Stock competitors.
In addition to the MESCO Building Solutions Sportsman 100, this Saturday will also feature a full bill of racing for the Modifieds, Street Stock, and Stadium Stock Divisions. And the night will conclude with another exciting 109 U-Pull-It Chain Race. Gates open at 6:00 for practice, qualifying begins at 6:50, and the first race begins at 8:00 PM – this Saturday night. Ticket prices, directions, and more information can be found online at www.bowmangrayracing.com or by calling (336) 723-1819.
Farm Bureau Insurance Modified Series Current Points Standings
RANK CAR DRIVER POINTS GAINED LAST EVENT
1 83 Tim Brown 236 46
2 1 Burt Myers 200 48
3 5 Randy Butner 199 40
4 4 Jason Myers 192 34
5 50 Michael Clifton 178 50
70 Alfred Hill 178 18
7 53 Jonathan Brown 174 28
8 40 Brad Robbins 172 36
9 69 Junior Miller 163 44
10 77 Lee Jeffreys 155 14
11 13 Chris Fleming 146 0
12 72 Brent Elliott 136 32
13 31 Gene Pack 127 16
14 75 Robert Jeffreys 126 20
15 45 Lee Stimpson 112 26
Webb Heating & A/C Co. Sportsman Series Current Points Standings
RANK CAR DRIVER POINTS GAINED LAST EVENT
1 50 Barry Edwards 172 22
2 70 Gary Ledbetter 170 15
3 77 Keith McMichael 160 14
4 05 Kyle Edwards 151 21
5 18 Kenny Bost 150 19
6 86 Taylor Branch 147 12
7 66 Ronnie Clifton 143 24
8 30 Mike Evans 140 9
9 79 Steven Berrier 139 25
21 Tommy Neal 139 17
11 68 Robbie Brewer 138 13
12 19 Michael Adams 136 3
13 02 Derek Stoltz 135 11
14 13 Luke Fleming 129 18
15 23 Scott Hall 122 20
104.1 WTQR Street Stock Series Current Points Standings
RANK CAR DRIVER POINTS GAINED LAST EVENT
1 12 Doug Wall 224 38
2 27 Matt Cotner 200 40
3 25 Johnny Arnder 180 36
69 Joseph Brown 180 22
5 15 Jerry Helms 156 34
6 1 David Sumner 152 46
14 Randy Larimore 152 44
8 99 John McNeal 144 0
2 Willie Wall 144 28
10 11 Richard Reeves 142 26
11 16 Allen Henkel 134 42
12 81 Zack Clifton 130 16
13 13 Kevin Gilbert 126 20
14 18 Tim Vaden 120 50
44 Daniel Fishel 120 14
Time Warner Cable Stadium Stock Series Current Points Standings
RANK CAR DRIVER POINTS
1 24 A.J. Sanders 198
2 22 Dale Barneycastle 180
23 Kenny Dixon 180
39 Jimmy Absher 180
5 44 Michael Wells 176
6 1 Rob Young 174
7 99 Matt Hill 164
8 11 Wayne Hill 160
9 68 Glenn Hamilton 150
10 21 Kevin L. Neal 148
70 D.J. Moore 148
12 01 Jason Keaton 146
13 0 Adam Baker 136
14 26 Derek Taylor 132
15 60 Ted Mickalowski 124
Loren Pinilis