RGeeProductions
05-18-2016, 09:37 PM
Bowman Gray Stadium is known for its rich history and the legacy of winners such as Richard Petty, Glen Wood, and Junior Johnson. And the history continues to be made in every event – such as last Saturday when Taylor Robbins of Winston-Salem became the first female to win a race since 1998.
Robbins had been close to a victory on several occasions before – once even losing the lead on a heart-breaking white flag lap. But in Saturday’s 20-lapper for the Q104.1 New Country Street Stock Series, she finally was able to hold on.
Drawing the outside front row as her start, Robbins shot out of the gate to beat pole-sitter Doug Wall of Pfafftown for the early lead. She pulled even further ahead of Wall as the laps ticked by. But it wasn’t long until last year’s champion, Derrick Rice of Kernersville, was closing in on Robbins’s bumper.
Rice waited patiently for Robbins to make a mistake, stalking her and looking for any opening or opportunity to pass. But 21-year-old Taylor gave him no chance. A caution on lap 19 pushed the race past the 20-minute time limit, and the checkered flag waved for Robbins.
Her father, Modified competitor Brad Robbins, is no stranger to Winner’s Circle, having won four times in the Brad’s Golf Cars Modified Series and even claiming victory in the season-opening 200-lapper in 2002. But the family’s excitement level for Taylor’s win eclipsed anything previous.
The crowd stood on their feet and cheered, perhaps filled with little girls inspired by seeing Taylor take on the men and come out victorious. “It’s awesome – just go for it,” said Robbins as a message to them all.
But Robbins wasn’t the only one who walked away on top on Saturday. Burt Myers of Walnut Cove moves into the Brad’s Golf Cars Modified Series points lead after a second place finish. Joe Ryan Osborne of Kannapolis came in eighth on Saturday, putting him right behind Myers with a second place ranking.
In the Yates Grading & Paving Sportsman Series, Zack Clifton of Belews Creek grabbed the checkered for the second week in a row – putting him into a strong points lead. “Tiger” Tommy Neal of Walkertown currently ranks second.
Last year’s champ in the Q104.1 New Country Street Stock Series, Derrick Rice, leads the way so far in the points standings this season. Relative newcomer Tommy Zachary of Yadkinville sits second on the points ladder.
And in the McDowell Heating & Air Stadium Stock Series, A.J. Sanders of Mocksville is the man to beat so far in 2016.
This Saturday, Taylor Robbins and her fellow Street Stock competitors face their biggest test of 2016: It’s the Whelen Street Stock 50. The Street Stock cars will qualify for position and duke it out in their longest race of the season.
Plus there will be racing for the Modifieds, Sportsman, and Stadium Stock Divisions – as well as another wild 109 U-Pull-It Chain Race.
Gates open at 6:00 for practice, 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.
Brad’s Golf Cars Modified Series Current Points Standings
RANK CAR DRIVER POINTS GAINED LAST EVENT
1 1 Burt Myers 92 48
2 27 Joe Osborne 84 36
3 53 John Smith 80 30
4 77 Lee Jeffreys 78 40
5 04 Brandon Ward 72 46
5 4 Jason Myers 72 32
7 2 Joseph Brown 66 44
8 50 Michael Clifton 58 28
9 16 Chris Fleming 56 50
9 87 Mike Speeney 56 38
11 83 Tim Brown 54 34
11 5 Randy Butner 54 20
11 18 Daniel Yates 54 26
14 22 Jonathan Brown 50 42
15 65 Danny Bohn 46 0
Yates Grading & Paving Sportsman Series Current Points Standings
RANK CAR DRIVER POINTS GAINED LAST EVENT
1 81 Zack Clifton 145 47
2 21 Tommy Neal 122 30
3 4 John Holleman 119 45
3 55 Zack Ore 119 43
5 26 Michael Tilley 116 30
6 31 Mike Robertson 112 28
7 28 Billy Gregg 110 42
8 07 Kevin Neal 109 43
9 0 Michael Adams 106 34
9 68 Robbie Brewer 106 42
11 7 Dylan Ward 94 30
12 70 Noah Triplett 89 25
13 3 Jeff Garrison 88 42
13 11 Wayne Hill 88 24
15 12 Justin Taylor 75 33
Q104.1 New Country Street Stock Series Current Points Standings
RANK CAR DRIVER POINTS GAINED LAST EVENT
1 20 Derrick Rice 98 48
2 19 Tom Zachary 94 46
3 40 Taylor Robbins 88 50
4 50 Austin Edwards 86 42
5 97 Jeremy Warren 84 44
6 7 Jamie Byrd 66 38
7 1 Jasper Sumner 60 14
8 22 Brian Wall 56 26
9 24 Chris Thomas 54 20
10 14 Aaron Hylton 52 34
11 30 Blake Shupe 48 40
11 69 Gerald Robinson Jr 48 32
13 52 Fletcher Whaley 46 10
13 29 Bradley Potts 46 24
15 58 Steven Berrier 42 0
McDowell Heating & Air Stadium Stock Series Current Points Standings
RANK CAR DRIVER POINTS GAINED LAST EVENT
1 24 A.J. Sanders 100 50
2 97 Bryan Sykes 96 50
3 17 Andy Southern 90 46
3 30 Stephen Sanders 90 44
5 81 Chuck Wall 88 40
6 76 Billy Cameron Jr 86 42
7 02 Wesley Thompson 82 42
8 48 Junior Smith 80 38
9 10 David Hopkins 76 48
9 62 Kevin Hedgecock 76 44
9 38 Christopher Joyce 76 40
12 40 Brandon Brendle 74 24
13 7 Barry Wilson 72 36
14 71 Auston McElveen 70 46
14 31 Zack Staley 70 28
Loren Pinilis
Robbins had been close to a victory on several occasions before – once even losing the lead on a heart-breaking white flag lap. But in Saturday’s 20-lapper for the Q104.1 New Country Street Stock Series, she finally was able to hold on.
Drawing the outside front row as her start, Robbins shot out of the gate to beat pole-sitter Doug Wall of Pfafftown for the early lead. She pulled even further ahead of Wall as the laps ticked by. But it wasn’t long until last year’s champion, Derrick Rice of Kernersville, was closing in on Robbins’s bumper.
Rice waited patiently for Robbins to make a mistake, stalking her and looking for any opening or opportunity to pass. But 21-year-old Taylor gave him no chance. A caution on lap 19 pushed the race past the 20-minute time limit, and the checkered flag waved for Robbins.
Her father, Modified competitor Brad Robbins, is no stranger to Winner’s Circle, having won four times in the Brad’s Golf Cars Modified Series and even claiming victory in the season-opening 200-lapper in 2002. But the family’s excitement level for Taylor’s win eclipsed anything previous.
The crowd stood on their feet and cheered, perhaps filled with little girls inspired by seeing Taylor take on the men and come out victorious. “It’s awesome – just go for it,” said Robbins as a message to them all.
But Robbins wasn’t the only one who walked away on top on Saturday. Burt Myers of Walnut Cove moves into the Brad’s Golf Cars Modified Series points lead after a second place finish. Joe Ryan Osborne of Kannapolis came in eighth on Saturday, putting him right behind Myers with a second place ranking.
In the Yates Grading & Paving Sportsman Series, Zack Clifton of Belews Creek grabbed the checkered for the second week in a row – putting him into a strong points lead. “Tiger” Tommy Neal of Walkertown currently ranks second.
Last year’s champ in the Q104.1 New Country Street Stock Series, Derrick Rice, leads the way so far in the points standings this season. Relative newcomer Tommy Zachary of Yadkinville sits second on the points ladder.
And in the McDowell Heating & Air Stadium Stock Series, A.J. Sanders of Mocksville is the man to beat so far in 2016.
This Saturday, Taylor Robbins and her fellow Street Stock competitors face their biggest test of 2016: It’s the Whelen Street Stock 50. The Street Stock cars will qualify for position and duke it out in their longest race of the season.
Plus there will be racing for the Modifieds, Sportsman, and Stadium Stock Divisions – as well as another wild 109 U-Pull-It Chain Race.
Gates open at 6:00 for practice, 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.
Brad’s Golf Cars Modified Series Current Points Standings
RANK CAR DRIVER POINTS GAINED LAST EVENT
1 1 Burt Myers 92 48
2 27 Joe Osborne 84 36
3 53 John Smith 80 30
4 77 Lee Jeffreys 78 40
5 04 Brandon Ward 72 46
5 4 Jason Myers 72 32
7 2 Joseph Brown 66 44
8 50 Michael Clifton 58 28
9 16 Chris Fleming 56 50
9 87 Mike Speeney 56 38
11 83 Tim Brown 54 34
11 5 Randy Butner 54 20
11 18 Daniel Yates 54 26
14 22 Jonathan Brown 50 42
15 65 Danny Bohn 46 0
Yates Grading & Paving Sportsman Series Current Points Standings
RANK CAR DRIVER POINTS GAINED LAST EVENT
1 81 Zack Clifton 145 47
2 21 Tommy Neal 122 30
3 4 John Holleman 119 45
3 55 Zack Ore 119 43
5 26 Michael Tilley 116 30
6 31 Mike Robertson 112 28
7 28 Billy Gregg 110 42
8 07 Kevin Neal 109 43
9 0 Michael Adams 106 34
9 68 Robbie Brewer 106 42
11 7 Dylan Ward 94 30
12 70 Noah Triplett 89 25
13 3 Jeff Garrison 88 42
13 11 Wayne Hill 88 24
15 12 Justin Taylor 75 33
Q104.1 New Country Street Stock Series Current Points Standings
RANK CAR DRIVER POINTS GAINED LAST EVENT
1 20 Derrick Rice 98 48
2 19 Tom Zachary 94 46
3 40 Taylor Robbins 88 50
4 50 Austin Edwards 86 42
5 97 Jeremy Warren 84 44
6 7 Jamie Byrd 66 38
7 1 Jasper Sumner 60 14
8 22 Brian Wall 56 26
9 24 Chris Thomas 54 20
10 14 Aaron Hylton 52 34
11 30 Blake Shupe 48 40
11 69 Gerald Robinson Jr 48 32
13 52 Fletcher Whaley 46 10
13 29 Bradley Potts 46 24
15 58 Steven Berrier 42 0
McDowell Heating & Air Stadium Stock Series Current Points Standings
RANK CAR DRIVER POINTS GAINED LAST EVENT
1 24 A.J. Sanders 100 50
2 97 Bryan Sykes 96 50
3 17 Andy Southern 90 46
3 30 Stephen Sanders 90 44
5 81 Chuck Wall 88 40
6 76 Billy Cameron Jr 86 42
7 02 Wesley Thompson 82 42
8 48 Junior Smith 80 38
9 10 David Hopkins 76 48
9 62 Kevin Hedgecock 76 44
9 38 Christopher Joyce 76 40
12 40 Brandon Brendle 74 24
13 7 Barry Wilson 72 36
14 71 Auston McElveen 70 46
14 31 Zack Staley 70 28
Loren Pinilis