News & Notes: Brunnhoelzl Hopes For Another Victory At Lanier

George Brunnhoelzl III (No. 28 Fibrwrap/Oval Speed/PT Ford) created a lasting memory in his young NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour career after he scored his first career victory last year at Lanier National Speedway. The West Babylon, N.Y., native hopes to create more new memories this weekend when he returns to the “Peach State” for the Lanier 150.

It wouldn’t be a shock to anyone if Brunnhoelzl does make it back to Victory Lane, as he has been one of the hottest drivers on the Tour during the first three events of the season. Brunnhoelzl has already won two Coors Light Pole Awards, highlighted by setting a track record last weekend at Caraway.

He appeared to be the fastest car on the track and was challenging eventual race winner Ted Christopher for the lead late in the race before the two bumped wheels coming out of Turn 2, which sent Brunnhoelzl spinning.

Brunnhoelzl won from the pole position last season at Lanier and said while qualifying is important, you don’t necessarily have to start on the front row to win at Lanier.

“Lanier is definitely a track you can pass and race on, if your car is set up the right way,” said Brunnhoelzl. “It is also a track that requires the driver to be smooth and hit your marks every lap. If you are not smooth or get loose, it will take you a couple of laps to get back where you were.”

Brunnhoelzl enters this weekend leading the points standings and has been out front since South Boston. He enters this weekend with a six-point lead (465-459) over Burt Myers (No. 1 Capital Bank Ford).

“We are really excited about how well we have started the season but I honestly never think about the points,” said Brunnhoelzl. “We go to the track to win races and run up front and if we do that, the points will take care of themselves.”

Andy Seuss (No. 47 Advance Auto Parts/Q Racing Oil/Stuart Automotive Dodge) was also close to getting the win last week and enters Lanier with a win from April 4 at South Boston, and is ready for another one this weekend.

“I think if we would have had about five or so more laps, we could have gotten around Ted (Christopher) and got our second win,” said Seuss. “I know we are going to do all we can to put on a great show for the fans and hopefully they can all help us celebrate in Victory Lane.”

Seuss sits in third place in the standings, just six points behind Myers.

Action for the Lanier 150 will begin Saturday afternoon with practice for the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour competitors scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. and Coors Light Pole Award qualifying scheduled for 5:45 p.m. The green flag for the Lanier 150 will drop at approximately 9 p.m.

For more information, please contact Lanier National Speedway (770) 967-8600 or visit the official website for Lanier at  www.lanierspeedway.com or visit www.nascarhometracks.com.

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Lanier Hosts Whelen All-American Series

Lanier National Speedway features an 11-month schedule of racing action and is the lone NASCAR-sanctioned track in the “Peach State.”

Shawn Simpson won the Pro Late Model Division in 2008, earning the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Georgia state championship. Michael Antley (Super Truck), Bryan Jones (Sportsman), Joey Love (Open Wheel Model) and Mike Childers (Street Stock) also won Lanier titles.

The track held events last week as part of its NASCAR Whelen All-American Series schedule.

Jason Bates was able to pass Alex Roberts on a late restart to win the 20-lap feature for the local Modified division. Paul Antley led from flag to flag to win the Super Truck race. Steve Hill won the first Mini Stock race to be held at the track since 2007 and Bryan Buckner passed Mike Childers with one lap remaining to win the Street Stock feature. In the Sportsman class, Mike Davidson won the 20-lap feature.

News & Notes

The Race …. The Lanier 150 will be the fourth of 16 races on the 2009 NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour Schedule and the only visit to the state of Georgia.

The Procedure …. Starting positions 1-24 will be determined from time trails (two laps). The remaining two starting positions will be determined through the provisional process. The race will be 150 laps (56.25 miles).

The Track …. A semi-banked, .375-mile oval, Lanier National Speedway  is located in Braselton, Ga., and is located directly across the street from Road Atlanta. The track holds weekly racing action in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series and various special events throughout the season.

Records … The NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour made its first stop at Lanier last year. George Brunnhoelzl set the initial track record in qualifying at 13.543 seconds (98.353 mph) and in the race at 43 minutes, 41 seconds (average speed of 76.230).

History … The track opened in 1982 and was originally built as a dirt track and was paved during its renovation in the mid 1980s. The track is the only NASCAR-sanctioned track in the state of Georgia.

Final Notes From Caraway Speedway

Defending champion collects podium finish … After finishing a disappointing 15th in the season opener, the 2008 NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour Champion has found his groove again. Brian Loftin (No. 23 L&R Transmissions Chevrolet) has collected back-to-back top-five finishes and appears to have gotten rid of the gremlins from the opening race. Loftin will attempt to grab his third consecutive top-five finish this weekend at Lanier, where he finished fourth in last season’s race.

Fleming enjoys top-five finish … Mount Airy, N.C., driver Frank Fleming (Pro Health Center/Lewisville Motor Co. Pontiac) enjoyed his first top- five finish since last September. Fleming finished fifth in the Caraway Speedway 150 and was earned the Featherlite Most Improved Driver Award with his run.

Fleming sits in sixth place in the points standings.

Season-high car count welcomes fans … A total of 25 cars started the Caraway Speedway 150 last Saturday night  for the largest field of the season.

Christopher leads Northern invasion … Ted Christopher (No. 00 Sherm’s Towing Chevrolet) became the first repeat winner of the year winning at Caraway and at the season opener in Concord. Fellow NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour competitors Ron Silk, Erick Rudolph and Rowan Pennink also made the trip to North Carolina. Silk (No. 79 Hill Enterprises / Coors Light / Sunoco Pontiac) was the only other driver to finish in the top five, coming home fourth.

Frustrations continue for Miller … L.W. Miller (No. 36 John Baker Plumbing and Utilities Pontiac), the 2007 NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour champion, finished outside of the top five for the third consecutive race.

Miller finished 15th at Caraway after being forced to make numerous pit stops during the Caraway Speedway 150.

The finish dropped Miller from third in the points standings to seventh.

Back-to-back sixth-place finishes propel Bertuccio … J.R. Bertuccio (No. 2 Gershow Recycling Dodge) finished sixth for his second consecutive top-10 finish. Bertuccio enters this weekend’s Lanier 150 in fifth place.

Ward earns Rookie of the Race despite short day … Dean Ward (No. 71 Mike Feezer Enterprises/Alamance Mufflers Chevrolet) was involved in a three-car accident that ended his night on Lap 87 at Caraway. However, there was a little good news for the veteran as he collected the Sunoco Rookie of the Race Award for the second time this season.

 Sources: Tim Southers/NASCAR WSMT PR

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