Civali gets first ‘South’ win at SoBo
Conn. native takes over Whelen Southern Modified lead
S. Boston, VA — After starting the season winning the pole in Atlanta and finishing third in his most recent NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour race, James Civali felt his first win of the season was just around the corner.
Civali survived a late-race charge by L.W. Miller to win the South Boston 150 Saturday at South Boston Speedway.
Civali and Miller were out front for most of the race as the pair swapped the lead eight times with Miller getting past Civali for the final time on Lap 144. Civali was able to get back by on Lap 147 and hold on for the win.
Miller finished second, while Andy Seuss recovering from an early-race accident that took him out of the lead to finish third. Thomas Stinson was fourth. Zach Brewer, who won his first Coors Light Pole Award with a track record of 14.765 seconds (97.528 mph), finished fifth.
Civali has four wins on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, where he was the 2006 Sunoco Rookie of the Year. He was making his fifth start on the southern tour and plans to run both full time this season. He took over the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour lead by 18 points over Seuss (505-487). The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour kicks off next weekend.
Tim Brown finished sixth. He started on the point after drawing the pole in the post-qualifying redraw of the top eight spots, but was involved in the early accident with Seuss. John Smith, Burt Myers, Brian King and Brian Loftin completed the top 10.
The NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour is off until Friday, July 2 when it races at Caraway Speedway in Asheboro, N.C.
Sources: Tim Southers/NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour PR
RESULTS | LAP-BY-LAP RECAP | AUDIO OF POST-RACE INTERVIEW WITH RACE WINNER JAMES CIVALI | AUDIO OF POST-RACE INTERVIEW WITH SECOND- AND THIRD-PLACE FINISHERS
James Civali (79) and L.W. Miller (36) swapped the lead eight times over the course of the South Boston 150. Tom Whitmore/Getty Images for NASCAR
NWSMT South Boston 4/3/10 Results
Race: NWSMT South Boston 4/3/10
| Fin | Str | Car | Driver | Team | Laps | Points | B/Points | Total Award | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 79 | James Civali | Hill Enterprises/Coors Light/LeBleu Water | 150 | 190 | 10 | $2,000 | Running |
| 2 | 10 | 36 | L.W. Miller | John Baker Plumbing & Utilities Pontiac | 150 | 175 | 5 | 1,800 | Running |
| 3 | 2 | 47 | Andy Seuss | Q Racing Oil/Rockingham Boats/MUA Dodge | 150 | 170 | 5 | 1,125 | Running |
| 4 | 11 | 7 | Thomas Stinson | Cowardin Jewelers Chevrolet | 150 | 160 | 1,050 | Running | |
| 5 | 8 | 11 | Zach Brewer | The Berry Hill Resort/McDonald’s Chevrolet | 150 | 155 | 1,100 | Running | |
| 6 | 1 | 83 | Tim Brown | Hayes Jewelers/Triad Med. Billing Chevrolet | 150 | 150 | 850 | Running | |
| 7 | 3 | 25 | John Smith | Tutterrow Surverying/Rick’s Home Improvement | 150 | 146 | 750 | Running | |
| 8 | 7 | 1 | Burt Myers | Capital Bank/Patterson’s Brand Chili Ford | 150 | 142 | 690 | Running | |
| 9 | 13 | 17 | Brian King | Adams Towing & Recovery, LLC Chevrolet | 150 | 138 | 590 | Running | |
| 10 | 9 | 23 | Brian Loftin | QMF Metal & Electronic Solutions/L&R Trans. | 150 | 134 | 550 | Running | |
| 11 | 12 | 40 | Frank Fleming | Jerry Hunt Auto & Truck Center/Lewisville | 150 | 130 | 525 | Running | |
| 12 | 6 | 4 | Jason Myers | Wendell Edwards/Moorefield & Trantham Ent. | 150 | 127 | 800 | Running | |
| 13 | 21 | 98 | David Brigati * | WPW Grower/Integra Shocks/Oval Speed | 150 | 124 | 835 | Running | |
| 14 | 18 | 2 | Josh Nichols | Gershow Recycling/Pen Fair Service Chevrolet | 149 | 121 | 460 | Running | |
| 15 | 4 | 28 | George Brunnhoelzl III | Fibrwrap/Oval Speed/PT Ford | 149 | 118 | 445 | Running | |
| 16 | 22 | 48 | Brad Robbins | Tri-City Trading Chevrolet | 149 | 115 | 430 | Running | |
| 17 | 19 | 0 | Greg Butcher * | Butcher Racing Chevrolet | 148 | 112 | 420 | Running | |
| 18 | 25 | 77 | Gary Putnam * | Stock Car Steel Chevrolet | 148 | 109 | 410 | Running | |
| 19 | 24 | 12 | Mike Norman * | DMC Auto Exchange/B&G Pie Co. Ford | 146 | 106 | 400 | Running | |
| 20 | 17 | 31 | Gene Pack | B&J Builders/Comtech Solutions/Clayton Homes | 132 | 103 | 390 | Accident | |
| 21 | 20 | 97 | Bryan Dauzat | OB Builders, Inc. Chevrolet | 124 | 100 | 380 | Running | |
| 22 | 16 | 8 | Jonathan Kievman | A Best Forklift Chevrolet | 96 | 97 | 360 | Engine | |
| 23 | 23 | 15 | Darrel Krentz | Lucas Oil Pontiac | 76 | 94 | 340 | Accident | |
| 24 | 14 | 02 | Buddy Emory | T & C Motorsports Chevrolet | 76 | 94 | 320 | Accident | |
| 25 | 15 | 44 | Brandon Hire | Crane & Ripping,Linebach Machinery Chevrolet | 64 | 94 | 300 | Accident |
RACE STATISTICS
Fastest Qualifier: Zach Brewer, Time: 14.765 Seconds, Speed: 97.528 mph
Time of Race: 1 hrs., 3 mins, 54 secs Average Speed: 56.338 mph Margin of Victory: .752 Seconds
Caution Flags: Laps 7-9 (#83, #7 spin in Turn 2); 26-29 (#77 spins in Turn 4); 52-56 (#44spins in Turn 4); 64-74 (#44 hits frontstretch wall); 77-82 (#31, #15, #12, #02 spin in Turn 3); 133-138 (#0, #31 spin in frontstretch); 140-143 (#2 spins in Turn 2). 7 for 39 laps.
Lap Leaders: Andy Seuss 1-9, James Civali 10-74, L.W. Miller 75, James Civali 76-82, L.W. Miller 83-84, James Civali 85-138, L.W. Miller 139, James Civali 140-143, L.W. Miller 144-146, James Civali 147-150.
Total Laps Led: James Civali 134, Andy Seuss 9, L.W. Miller 7. 9 changes involving 3 drivers.
CONTINGENCY AWARDS
COCA COLA MOVE OF THE RACE AWARD: L.W. Miller, 36 John Baker Plumbing & Utilities Pontiac
COORS LIGHT POLE AWARD: David Brigati *, 98 WPW Grower/Integra Shocks/Oval Speed Chevrolet
FEATHERLITE MOST IMPROVED DRIVER AWARD: Jason Myers, 4 Wendell Edwards/Moorefield & Trantham Ent. Ford
SUNOCO ROOKIE OF THE RACE AWARD: Zach Brewer, 11 The Berry Hill Resort/McDonald’s Chevrolet
* Denotes Sunoco Rookie of the Year Contender