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View Full Version : 06/09/10 - Hard Night for Brown at Bowman Gray



RGeeProductions
06-09-2010, 05:02 PM
After taking the championship last season, Tim Brown of Cana , VA started his 2010 season with one major goal in mind: to take the championship again this season. The accomplishment would give him nine Modified titles, breaking the record for most championships ever in Bowman Gray Stadium’s Bill Plemmons RV World Modified Series.

Although Brown’s year started off strongly with a victory in the Tucson 200, he quickly began to suffer from a string of poor finishes and involvement in wreck after wreck. He found himself uncharacteristically low on the points ladder.

With Saturday being a Double Points Night, Brown was hoping that this fateful night would be when his luck would turn around. And it seemed like everything was going perfectly at first. Brown qualified on the pole, led every lap, and claimed the win in the first 25-lap race for the Modifieds.

Burt Myers of Walnut Cove and Lee Jeffreys of Wallburg, who were first and second in the points entering the event, finished well behind Brown in 10th and 11th. When the Four Season Home Improvement “Madhouse Scramble” determined the field for the start of the second race, Brown drew an “eight” in a further stroke of good luck. This would put Myers and Jeffreys behind him in the second race lineup, giving Brown a major opportunity to gain serious ground in the points race.

Brown quickly climbed up to fourth place. But Stadium newcomer James Civali of Meriden , CT delivered a thunderous shot to the bumper of Brown, spinning Brown out of fourth place in a cloud of smoke. In a split second, the entire field had passed by Brown – and his hopes of a strong points finish evaporated. A few laps later, Brown retaliated by shoving Civali into the fence, ending the night for both race teams.

To add to his win in the first race, Brown finished 20th in the second race – keeping him fourth in the points but increasing the gap that separates him from the lead.

Burt Myers, despite a mediocre qualifying lap for the first race, finished 10th and fourth, strengthening his points lead. Lee Jeffreys finished right on the bumper of Myers in both races, maintaining his close second place spot in the points.

Zach Brewer of Winston-Salem keeps the third spot on the points ladder. Brewer was far up in the field for the start of the second race, but an entanglement during the opening lap dropped him back to a 21st place finish.

The winner of the second Modified race on Saturday, Brian Loftin of Lexington, moves from eighth up to fifth in the points as a result of his win – just one point under Tim Brown.

In the Webb Heating & A/C Co. Sportsman Series, Derek Stoltz of Walkertown had a rough night of his own. In addition to being a Double Points Night, Saturday was the Center for Clinical Research Sportsman 100 – the longest and most prestigious race of the season for the Sportsman cars. Stoltz had a run-in with the guard rail as he fought for position, damaging his car and forcing him to pit. He finished a disappointing 23rd, dropping him from the points lead down to seventh.

Ryan Robertson of Winston-Salem moves up to the points lead to take over the spot formerly held by Stoltz. Robbie Brewer of Winston-Salem finished second, moving up to second in the points – just one point under Robertson.

The stage was set for fireworks in the 104.1 WTQR Street Stock Series on Saturday as points rivals Matt Cotner of Rural Hall and John McNeal of Winston-Salem started on the front row together. McNeal, who was second in the points entering the event, fought hard to pass by Cotner – but the two ended up colliding. McNeal fell back to an 11th place finish, dropping him from second to fifth in the points.

Cotner’s car was damaged after the incident, but he was able to barely hold on to the lead and take the win. The victory strengthened his points lead, putting him 48 points ahead of second-place Doug Wall of Pfafftown.

In the Time Warner Cable Stadium Stock Series, it wasn’t a good night for points leader Gerald Robertson. Involvement in an on-track incident gave him a finish towards the back of the pack. Although the official results are still forthcoming, inevitably Robertson has taken a severe drop in the points race.

This Saturday is the longest and most prestigious race of the season for the Time Warner Cable Stadium Stock Series – it’s the Craftsman Stadium Stock 50. Plus there will be racing for the Modified, Sportsman, and Street Stock Divisions.

Gates open at 6:00 for practice, qualifying begins at 6:00, 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 (http://www.bowmangrayracing.com) or by calling (336) 723-1819.

Loren Pinilis