News & Notes: One Special Night
Brunnhoelzl Can Clinch Third Southern Mods Crown
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – After enjoying a season of high and lows both on and off the track, George Brunnhoelzl III should be ready to celebrate.
Brunnhoelzl can clinch his third NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Title by taking the green flag this Saturday in the Mid-Atlantic Shoot-Out 150 at Caraway Speedway. And if the celebration after winning his first title in 2009 and last year’s triumph is any indication – it could be a heck of a party.
One reason to celebrate – Brunnhoelzl would become the first driver since Junior Miller to win back-to-back titles since the 2005-06 seasons.
Another reason? An opportunity to have his newborn daughter, Riley, take part in Victory Lane celebrations at the track.
“If we can get lucky enough to clinch it this Saturday that will be great,” said Brunnhoelzl. “We don’t have anything decided yet and I know Jason and they rest of the field will be racing hard for the win at Caraway. We still have a lot of work to do.”
Brunnhoelzl also know how special this night could be if everything works out for him.
“It would definitely be nice to make history on the tour as the first three-time champion,” Brunnhoelzl added. “I know we are going to do everything we can to win the race and the title.”
While Brunnhoelzl just has to finish ahead of Jason Myers and Danny Bohn to secure his crown and spot in history as the first three-time champion in the history of the tour, there is still a lot to race for between the rest of the field this Saturday.
Jason Myers sits in second place in the point standings and could secure his best overall finish in the history tour, and second consecutive finish in the top three, if he can hold off rookie Bohn. With two races remaining, Myers sits just nine points ahead of Bohn 337-328.
While Brunnhoelzl just has to take the green flag to secure his crown and spot in Whelen Southern Modified Tour history as the first three-time champion, there is still a lot to race for between the rest of the field this Saturday.
Jason Myers sits in second place in the point standings and could secure his best career overall finish and second-consecutive finish in the top three, if he can hold off rookie Danny Bohn. With two races remaining, Myers sits just nine points ahead of Bohn 337-328.
Tim Brown is fourth with Andy Seuss completing the top five at 321 and 313 points, respectively.
Race Notes
Still looking for a win: Several former winners at Caraway Speedway competing this weekend looking for their first win of the season. Among them are Tim Brown, Burt Myers and John Smith.
Rookies Battle Continues: Danny Bohn leads the way in third place overall in the standings with 328 points and Kyle Ebersole sits sixth with 302. Michael Speeney continues his impressive second-half run in the season and now sits 10th overall with 281 points with two races remaining.
Drivers Looking To Win Ticket To Daytona: Through the nine races held so far this season four drivers have already earned a spot in the inaugural UNOH Battle at the Beach at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway in February 2013. Andy Seuss and Jason Myers locked up their spots with wins in September and they will join Brandon Ward, Brian Loftin and George Brunnhoelzl III, who each picked up wins earlier this season.
Race: Mid-Atlantic Shoot-Out 150
Place: Caraway Speedway, Asheboro, N.C.
Date: Saturday, September 29, 2012
Time: 7 p.m. ET (Approx.)
Track Layout: .455-mile banked, paved oval
2011 Winner: Andy Seuss
2011 Polesitter: George Brunnhoelzl III
Event Schedule: Practice 1:25-1:50; 2:05-4:35 p.m., Qualifying 4 p.m.; Mid-Atlantic Shoot-Out 150 7 p.m.
Track PR Contact: Renee Hackett (336) 629-5803; carawayspeedway@embarqmail.com
Track Twitter: @carawayspeedway
NASCAR IMC Contact: Tim Southers (386) 235-3634; tsouthers@nascar.com, Twitter: @tsouth1968
ENTRY LIST | RACE DAY SCHEDULE
Fast Facts
The Race: The Mid-Atlantic Shoot-Out 150 is the 10th race of 11 on the 2012 NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour season and the 44th event at the track since NASCAR began sanctioning the tour in 2005.
The Procedure: The starting field is 26 cars, including provisionals. The first 22 cars will qualify through two-lap time trials. The remaining four spots will be awarded through the provisional process. The race will be 150 laps (68.25 miles) and will include a 10-minute competition caution at, or near, Lap 75.
The Track: Caraway is a .455-mile banked, paved oval that has hosted NASCAR touring series events since the 1970s.
The Records: Qualifying: George Brunnhoelzl III, April 21, 2012, 104.678 mph, 15.648 seconds; Race: Junior Miller, Sept. 9, 2006, 90.977 mph, 44 minutes, 31 seconds.
Last Time Out: GreenPointe Energy Southern 75 Highlights
The most recent NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour race was held at Thompson Speedway on September 9. Here are some highlights from the GreenPointe Energy Southern 75:
• Andy Seuss ended the frustration of his 2012 season leading a race-high 52 laps to win his first race of the year and also picking up the win in his native New England. The Hampstead, N.H. native picked his first win since he won the season-finale last October at Caraway Speedway. It was his 13th career tour win moving him into a tie for second place all-time with L.W. Miller.
• Sunoco Rookie of the Year competitor Cole Powell picked up his third top-10 finish in four starts on the tour since July coming home 10th.
• Powell used his top-10 finish to win Coca-Cola Move of the Race honors. Danny Bohn used his seventh-place finish to win the Sunoco Rookie of the Race award.
Up Next: UNOH Southern Slam
Following the Mid-Atlantic Shoot-Out 150 at Caraway Speedway, the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour will conclude its season at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the UNOH Southern Slam 150 on Thursday, October 11. Tim Brown is the defending winner of the event.
Sources: Tim Southers/NASCAR WSMT PR
NWSMT Caraway 9/29/12 Entry List
CAR DRIVER TEAM OWNER CREW CHIEF
1 2 Tim Brown, Cana, Va. Hayes Jewelers/T & C Motorsports Chevrolet Tommy Lythgoe Mark Ruhmann
2 9 George Brunnhoelzl III, West Babylon, N.Y. Phoenix Pre-Owned Chevrolet Howard Harvey George Brunnhoelzl Jr.
3 1 Burt Myers, Walnut Cove, N.C. Citrusafe/Adams Towing Ford Philip Smith Scott Widener
4 4 Jason Myers, Walnut Cove, N.C. Trantham Moorefield/Wendell Edwards Ford Gary Myers Mike Queen
5 7 Thomas Stinson, Hampton, Va. Cowarding Jewelers Chevrolet Mark Hunter Mark Hunter
6 11 Andy Seuss, Hampstead, N.H. Phoenix Pre-Owned Chevrolet Eddie Harvey Eddie Harvey
7 18 Dalton Baldwin, Dunedin, Fla.* Main Street Automotive Chevrolet Bobby Baldwin Bobby Baldwin
8 23 Brian Loftin, Lexington, N.C. L&R Transmissions/QMF Metal Solutions Chevrolet Bobby Loftin Will Spaugh
9 25 John Smith, Mount Airy, N.C. Shady Grady Racing Chevrolet Grady Jeffreys Grady Jeffreys Jr.
10 37 Joe Scarbrough, Richmond, Va.* Hyperion Stud Chevrolet Vicky Castegren Johnathan McLullen
11 40 Frank Fleming, Mt. Airy, N.C. Jerry Hunt Auto & Truck Sales/Adams Towing Ford Gina Fleming Chris Fleming
12 44 Brandon Ward, Winston-Salem, N.C. Crane & Rigging Chevrolet Bryan Fishel Jim Hire
13 51 Kyle Ebersole, Hummelstown, Pa.* Ebersole Excavating, Inc. Chevrolet Bob Ebersole Bob Ebersole
14 65 Danny Bohn, Freehold NJ* Rifenburg Construction/Rustoleum Chevrolet Eddie Bohn Eddie Bohn
15 70 Jeremy Gerstner, Winston-Salem, N.C.* Milling Cleaning Services/Kooks Headers Chevrolet Dawn Gerstner Derek Silver
16 77 Gary Putnam, Concord, N.C. Stock Car Steel Chevrolet Marcy Putnam Michael Larochelle
17 79 Jon McKennedy, Chelmsford, Mass. Hill Ent., Coors Light, Anna Bells of RC Pontiac Sandra Hill David Hill
18 80 Michael Speeney, Newtown, Pa.* UNC Charlotte Motorsports Chevrolet Michael Speeney Bruce Hilleman
19 97 Bryan Dauzat, Alexandria, La. O.B. Builders Chevrolet Bryan Dauzat Bob Rahilly
* – Denotes Rookie of the Year Contender
NWSMT Caraway 9/29/12 Schedule
Time Event
9:45 a.m. Grarage Opens
10 a.m. Crew Chief Meeting
1:25-1:50 p.m. Practice
2:05-2:35 p.m. Final Practice
4 p.m. Qualifying
4:45 p.m. Driver Autograph Session
5:45 p.m. Drvier/Crew Chief Meeting
7 p.m. Mid-Atlantic Shoot Out 150