RGeeProductions
05-16-2016, 09:54 PM
A grieving Chris Fleming of Mount Airy entered Saturday’s Kevin Powell Motorsports 100 as a man on a mission at Bowman Gray Stadium. “It was going to be hard to deny me, because I had
one thing on my mind – and that was winning,” said Fleming.
The veteran Brad’s Golf Cars Modified Series driver was still reeling over the news that his pastor had suffered the previous night from the loss of a child. Fleming set out to take the win in his honor – and that’s just what he did.
After qualifying fifth fastest, Fleming plucked the pole as his start when the full field randomly drew for starting position. But he had his work cut out for him: Starting on the outside front row was fourth fastest qualifier Burt Myers of Walnut Cove.
On the initial start, Fleming surged forward to leap out to an early lead. In short order, Brandon Ward of Winston-Salem had moved up from fifth to knock on Fleming’s bumper. Ward tried the outside in two double-file restarts, pushing Fleming to the limit – but the #16 of Fleming held strong.
The second restart put Ward in a vulnerable outside-row position. Myers capitalized to take over second place around the halfway point of the race, but that was as close as Myers got. Fleming coasted ahead during a clean-and-green final 50 laps, leaving Myers trailing behind.
A combination of a brand new car and an unusually cool track handicapped Myers as he tried to challenge Fleming. “We set it up just like we did last week, and the track was just different tonight. The car was way too free. The 16 [of Fleming] had a good car. He had a good race. We just came up a little short,” said Myers. “The track was way off. His car was tight, so that helped him at the end of the race - where my car was neutral early, so I got loose.”
Fleming, on the other hand, had his machine dialed in. “I went with a new setup on my car this year, and I think I came up on something,” said Fleming. “The car just kept getting faster and faster and faster.”
“Everybody drove me clean tonight,” said Fleming. “We ran hard, we raced like men, and hopefully the crowd loved it.”
It was the first victory for Fleming since 2014. “Everybody wants to win at Bowman Gray Stadium,” said Fleming. “This place has been mean to me - but when it’s sweet, it’s the sweetest place in the world.”
Myers finished in second, Brandon Ward took third, and Joseph “Bobo” Brown of Lewisville came in fourth.
Dean Ward of Winston-Salem was the only top four qualifier to accept the Fans’ Challenge. Unfortunately he was forced to pit early in the race and missed out on winning the $3,000 prize pool. That amount will roll over to the next 100-lapper, leading to a Fans’ Challenge prize pool of $6,000.
In the Yates Grading & Paving Sportsman Series, Zack Clifton of Belews Creek took the checkered for the second week in a row. Zack Ore of Winston-Salem won the second Sportsman race.
The crowd was on their feet in the Q104.1 New Country Street Stock Series as Taylor Robbins of Winston-Salem claimed her first ever Stadium victory. The daughter of Modified driver Brad Robbins, Taylor is the first female winner at Bowman Gray Stadium in decades.
In the McDowell Heating & Air Stadium Stock Series, A.J. Sanders of Mocksville and Bryan Sykes of Lexington each won a 15-lap race.
Brad’s Golf Cars Modified Series
Kevin Powell Motorsports 100: 100 laps completed
FINISH CAR DRIVER HOMETOWN
1 16 Chris Fleming Mount Airy, NC
2 1 Burt Myers Walnut Cove, NC
3 04 Brandon Ward Winston-Salem, NC
4 2 Joseph Brown Lewisville, NC
5 22 Jonathan Brown Winston-Salem, NC
6 77 Lee Jeffreys Winston-Salem, NC
7 87 Mike Speeney King, NC
8 27 Joe Ryan Osborne Kannapolis,NC
9 83 Tim Brown Tobaccoville, NC
10 4 Jason Myers Walnut Cove, NC
11 53 John Smith Mount Airy, NC
12 50 Michael Clifton Walkertown, NC
13 18 Daniel Yates Lexington, NC
14 66 Ronnie Clifton Walkertown, NC
15 11 Junior Miller Winston-Salem, NC
16 5 Randy Butner Pfafftown, NC
17 71 Dean Ward Winston-Salem, NC
Yates Grading & Paving Sportsman Series
1st Sportsman Race: 20 laps
FINISH CAR DRIVER HOMETOWN
1 81 Zack Clifton Belews Creek, NC
2 3 Jeff Garrison Clemmons, NC
3 28 Billy Gregg Lexington, NC
4 4 John Holleman Winston-Salem, NC
5 68 Robbie Brewer Winston-Salem, NC
6 21 Tommy Neal Rural Hall, NC
7 07 Kevin Neal Walkertown, NC
8 55 Zack Ore Winston-Salem, NC
9 7 Dylan Ward Winston-Salem, NC
10 12 Justin Taylor King, NC
11 26 Michael Tilley Winston-Salem, NC
12 0 Michael Adams Yadkinville, NC
13 70 Noah Triplett Lexington, NC
14 31 Mike Robertson Winston-Salem, NC
15 72 Bryant Robertson Lexington, NC
16 11 Wayne Hill Winston-Salem, NC
17 92 Kyle Southern King, NC
18 14 Darren Jordan Winston-Salem, NC
19 41 Terry Thompson Winston-Salem, NC
20 19 Rob Dixon Winston-Salem, NC
2nd Sportsman Race: 20 laps
FINISH CAR DRIVER HOMETOWN
1 55 Zack Ore Winston-Salem, NC
2 07 Kevin Neal Walkertown, NC
3 4 John Holleman Winston-Salem, NC
4 81 Zack Clifton Belews Creek, NC
5 68 Robbie Brewer Winston-Salem, NC
6 0 Michael Adams Yadkinville, NC
7 28 Billy Gregg Lexington, NC
8 3 Jeff Garrison Clemmons, NC
9 12 Justin Taylor King, NC
10 31 Mike Robertson Winston-Salem, NC
11 26 Michael Tilley Winston-Salem, NC
12 11 Wayne Hill Winston-Salem, NC
13 7 Dylan Ward Winston-Salem, NC
14 70 Noah Triplett Lexington, NC
15 92 Kyle Southern King, NC
16 21 Tommy Neal Rural Hall, NC
17 72 Bryant Robertson Lexington, NC
Q104.1 New Country Street Stock Series;
19 of 20 laps completed (race ended earlier due to time limit expiration)
FINISH CAR DRIVER HOMETOWN
1 40 Taylor Robbins Winston-Salem, NC
2 20 Derrick Rice Kernersville, NC
3 19 Tom Zachary Yadkinville, NC
4 97 Jeremy Warren Winston-Salem, NC
5 50 Austin Edwards Winston-Salem, NC
6 30 Blake Shupe Mount Airy, NC
7 7 Jamie Byrd Mount Airy, NC
8 13 Kevin Gilbert Mocksville, NC
9 14 Aaron Hylton Kernersville, NC
10 69 Gerald Robertson Jr Winston-Salem, NC
11 2 Willie Wall Lexington, NC
12 12 Doug Wall Pfafftown, NC
13 22 Brian Wall Lexington, NC
14 29 Bradley Potts Clemmons, NC
15 49 Phillip Jones Lexington, NC
16 24 Chris Thomas East Bend, NC
17 5 Spencer Martin Winston-Salem, NC
18 16 Brad Lewis Winston-Salem, NC
19 1 Jasper Sumner Trinity, NC
20 10 Zach Linville Kernersville, NC
21 52 Fletcher Whaley Advance, NC
22 0 Kirk Sheets Hornytown, NC
23 17 Jeremiah Simonis Germanton, NC
McDowell Heating & Air Stadium Stock Series
1st Stadium Stock Race: 15 laps
FINISH CAR DRIVER HOMETOWN
1 24 A.J. Sanders Mocksville, NC
2 10 David Hopkins Winston-Salem, NC
3 17 Andy Southern Lexington, NC
4 62 Kevin Hedgecock Thomasville, NC
5 76 Billy Cameron Jr Salisbury, NC
6 38 Christopher Joyce Winston-Salem, NC
7 48 Junior Smith Lexington, NC
8 68 Tyler Bush Clemmons, NC
9 22 Adam Thomas Winston-Salem, NC
10 23 Andy Spears Lexington, NC
11 27 Austin Cates Tobaccoville, NC
12 83 Shane Tuttle Tobaccoville, NC
13 54 Justin Owens Walnut Cove, NC
2nd Stadium Stock Race: 15 laps
FINISH CAR DRIVER HOMETOWN
1 97 Bryan Sykes Lexington, NC
2 77 Randy McElveen Winston-Salem, NC
3 71 Auston McElveen Winston-Salem, NC
4 30 Stephen Sanders Lexington, NC
5 02 Wesley Thompson Advance, NC
6 81 Chuck Wall Lexington, NC
7 09 Tim Evans Clemmons, NC
8 7 Barry Wilson Stokesdale, NC
9 06 Derek Sheets Walkertown, NC
10 14 Ken Bridges King, NC
11 88 Ronnie Cranfill Mocksville, NC
12 31 Zack Staley Lexington, NC
13 29 Cody Arrington Mount Airy, NC
14 40 Brandon Brendle Winston-Salem, NC
Loren Pinilis
one thing on my mind – and that was winning,” said Fleming.
The veteran Brad’s Golf Cars Modified Series driver was still reeling over the news that his pastor had suffered the previous night from the loss of a child. Fleming set out to take the win in his honor – and that’s just what he did.
After qualifying fifth fastest, Fleming plucked the pole as his start when the full field randomly drew for starting position. But he had his work cut out for him: Starting on the outside front row was fourth fastest qualifier Burt Myers of Walnut Cove.
On the initial start, Fleming surged forward to leap out to an early lead. In short order, Brandon Ward of Winston-Salem had moved up from fifth to knock on Fleming’s bumper. Ward tried the outside in two double-file restarts, pushing Fleming to the limit – but the #16 of Fleming held strong.
The second restart put Ward in a vulnerable outside-row position. Myers capitalized to take over second place around the halfway point of the race, but that was as close as Myers got. Fleming coasted ahead during a clean-and-green final 50 laps, leaving Myers trailing behind.
A combination of a brand new car and an unusually cool track handicapped Myers as he tried to challenge Fleming. “We set it up just like we did last week, and the track was just different tonight. The car was way too free. The 16 [of Fleming] had a good car. He had a good race. We just came up a little short,” said Myers. “The track was way off. His car was tight, so that helped him at the end of the race - where my car was neutral early, so I got loose.”
Fleming, on the other hand, had his machine dialed in. “I went with a new setup on my car this year, and I think I came up on something,” said Fleming. “The car just kept getting faster and faster and faster.”
“Everybody drove me clean tonight,” said Fleming. “We ran hard, we raced like men, and hopefully the crowd loved it.”
It was the first victory for Fleming since 2014. “Everybody wants to win at Bowman Gray Stadium,” said Fleming. “This place has been mean to me - but when it’s sweet, it’s the sweetest place in the world.”
Myers finished in second, Brandon Ward took third, and Joseph “Bobo” Brown of Lewisville came in fourth.
Dean Ward of Winston-Salem was the only top four qualifier to accept the Fans’ Challenge. Unfortunately he was forced to pit early in the race and missed out on winning the $3,000 prize pool. That amount will roll over to the next 100-lapper, leading to a Fans’ Challenge prize pool of $6,000.
In the Yates Grading & Paving Sportsman Series, Zack Clifton of Belews Creek took the checkered for the second week in a row. Zack Ore of Winston-Salem won the second Sportsman race.
The crowd was on their feet in the Q104.1 New Country Street Stock Series as Taylor Robbins of Winston-Salem claimed her first ever Stadium victory. The daughter of Modified driver Brad Robbins, Taylor is the first female winner at Bowman Gray Stadium in decades.
In the McDowell Heating & Air Stadium Stock Series, A.J. Sanders of Mocksville and Bryan Sykes of Lexington each won a 15-lap race.
Brad’s Golf Cars Modified Series
Kevin Powell Motorsports 100: 100 laps completed
FINISH CAR DRIVER HOMETOWN
1 16 Chris Fleming Mount Airy, NC
2 1 Burt Myers Walnut Cove, NC
3 04 Brandon Ward Winston-Salem, NC
4 2 Joseph Brown Lewisville, NC
5 22 Jonathan Brown Winston-Salem, NC
6 77 Lee Jeffreys Winston-Salem, NC
7 87 Mike Speeney King, NC
8 27 Joe Ryan Osborne Kannapolis,NC
9 83 Tim Brown Tobaccoville, NC
10 4 Jason Myers Walnut Cove, NC
11 53 John Smith Mount Airy, NC
12 50 Michael Clifton Walkertown, NC
13 18 Daniel Yates Lexington, NC
14 66 Ronnie Clifton Walkertown, NC
15 11 Junior Miller Winston-Salem, NC
16 5 Randy Butner Pfafftown, NC
17 71 Dean Ward Winston-Salem, NC
Yates Grading & Paving Sportsman Series
1st Sportsman Race: 20 laps
FINISH CAR DRIVER HOMETOWN
1 81 Zack Clifton Belews Creek, NC
2 3 Jeff Garrison Clemmons, NC
3 28 Billy Gregg Lexington, NC
4 4 John Holleman Winston-Salem, NC
5 68 Robbie Brewer Winston-Salem, NC
6 21 Tommy Neal Rural Hall, NC
7 07 Kevin Neal Walkertown, NC
8 55 Zack Ore Winston-Salem, NC
9 7 Dylan Ward Winston-Salem, NC
10 12 Justin Taylor King, NC
11 26 Michael Tilley Winston-Salem, NC
12 0 Michael Adams Yadkinville, NC
13 70 Noah Triplett Lexington, NC
14 31 Mike Robertson Winston-Salem, NC
15 72 Bryant Robertson Lexington, NC
16 11 Wayne Hill Winston-Salem, NC
17 92 Kyle Southern King, NC
18 14 Darren Jordan Winston-Salem, NC
19 41 Terry Thompson Winston-Salem, NC
20 19 Rob Dixon Winston-Salem, NC
2nd Sportsman Race: 20 laps
FINISH CAR DRIVER HOMETOWN
1 55 Zack Ore Winston-Salem, NC
2 07 Kevin Neal Walkertown, NC
3 4 John Holleman Winston-Salem, NC
4 81 Zack Clifton Belews Creek, NC
5 68 Robbie Brewer Winston-Salem, NC
6 0 Michael Adams Yadkinville, NC
7 28 Billy Gregg Lexington, NC
8 3 Jeff Garrison Clemmons, NC
9 12 Justin Taylor King, NC
10 31 Mike Robertson Winston-Salem, NC
11 26 Michael Tilley Winston-Salem, NC
12 11 Wayne Hill Winston-Salem, NC
13 7 Dylan Ward Winston-Salem, NC
14 70 Noah Triplett Lexington, NC
15 92 Kyle Southern King, NC
16 21 Tommy Neal Rural Hall, NC
17 72 Bryant Robertson Lexington, NC
Q104.1 New Country Street Stock Series;
19 of 20 laps completed (race ended earlier due to time limit expiration)
FINISH CAR DRIVER HOMETOWN
1 40 Taylor Robbins Winston-Salem, NC
2 20 Derrick Rice Kernersville, NC
3 19 Tom Zachary Yadkinville, NC
4 97 Jeremy Warren Winston-Salem, NC
5 50 Austin Edwards Winston-Salem, NC
6 30 Blake Shupe Mount Airy, NC
7 7 Jamie Byrd Mount Airy, NC
8 13 Kevin Gilbert Mocksville, NC
9 14 Aaron Hylton Kernersville, NC
10 69 Gerald Robertson Jr Winston-Salem, NC
11 2 Willie Wall Lexington, NC
12 12 Doug Wall Pfafftown, NC
13 22 Brian Wall Lexington, NC
14 29 Bradley Potts Clemmons, NC
15 49 Phillip Jones Lexington, NC
16 24 Chris Thomas East Bend, NC
17 5 Spencer Martin Winston-Salem, NC
18 16 Brad Lewis Winston-Salem, NC
19 1 Jasper Sumner Trinity, NC
20 10 Zach Linville Kernersville, NC
21 52 Fletcher Whaley Advance, NC
22 0 Kirk Sheets Hornytown, NC
23 17 Jeremiah Simonis Germanton, NC
McDowell Heating & Air Stadium Stock Series
1st Stadium Stock Race: 15 laps
FINISH CAR DRIVER HOMETOWN
1 24 A.J. Sanders Mocksville, NC
2 10 David Hopkins Winston-Salem, NC
3 17 Andy Southern Lexington, NC
4 62 Kevin Hedgecock Thomasville, NC
5 76 Billy Cameron Jr Salisbury, NC
6 38 Christopher Joyce Winston-Salem, NC
7 48 Junior Smith Lexington, NC
8 68 Tyler Bush Clemmons, NC
9 22 Adam Thomas Winston-Salem, NC
10 23 Andy Spears Lexington, NC
11 27 Austin Cates Tobaccoville, NC
12 83 Shane Tuttle Tobaccoville, NC
13 54 Justin Owens Walnut Cove, NC
2nd Stadium Stock Race: 15 laps
FINISH CAR DRIVER HOMETOWN
1 97 Bryan Sykes Lexington, NC
2 77 Randy McElveen Winston-Salem, NC
3 71 Auston McElveen Winston-Salem, NC
4 30 Stephen Sanders Lexington, NC
5 02 Wesley Thompson Advance, NC
6 81 Chuck Wall Lexington, NC
7 09 Tim Evans Clemmons, NC
8 7 Barry Wilson Stokesdale, NC
9 06 Derek Sheets Walkertown, NC
10 14 Ken Bridges King, NC
11 88 Ronnie Cranfill Mocksville, NC
12 31 Zack Staley Lexington, NC
13 29 Cody Arrington Mount Airy, NC
14 40 Brandon Brendle Winston-Salem, NC
Loren Pinilis