Bohn Captures First Win At Caraway
Brunnhoelzl SoMod Title Celebration Put On Hold
ASHEBORO, N.C. – Rookie Danny Bohn played it right.
The Freehold, N.J., driver started the race from the sixth position and bided his time before making a pass on Brian Loftin with eight laps remaining to pick up his first career NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour victory on Saturday at Caraway Speedway in the Mid-Atlantic Shoot-Out 150.
Bohn methodically moved up through the field from the outset of the event. A pass of Jason Myers on Lap 140 left the 24-year-old Bohn in second place.
“When I got to second (place) I didn’t know if I had anything for (Loftin),” said Bohn. “I saw him get a little loose going into to Turn 1 but until lap 143 I didn’t think I was going to be able to pass him.”
For Bohn, whose father grew up with his current boss – NASCAR legendary car owner and crew chief – Ray Evernham in New Jersey, the win was icing on the cake for his rookie season on the tour.
“I have had a bunch of good runs this year and a little bad luck, but there is one thing I wanted to do all year and that was to win a tour race as a rookie. I want to thank my dad, crew and all my sponsors for helping make this happen.”
Loftin, who led a race-high 129 laps, was forced to settle for second followed by Kyle Ebersole in third. Jason Myers crossed the line in fourth with Tim Brown in tow for fifth.
Joe Scarbrough, Thomas Stinson, Andy Seuss, John Smith and points leader George Brunnhoelzl III rounded out the top 10.
Loftin appeared unbeatable for most of the race after taking the lead from Brunnhoelzl on Lap 14, but felt there might have been a mechanical issue with his car that cost him his chance for a second win this season at Caraway.
Brunnhoelzl, who won the pole position earlier in the day, struggled through a subpar night. Eight of his 16 career tour wins have come at Caraway. Brunnhoelzl needed to finish in front of Jason Myers, Bohn and the rest of the championship contenders to lock up his third tour title in the last four seasons having won the prize in 2009 and 2011.
As a result, he’ll have some work to do in the season finale in Charlotte. Brunnhoelzl will carry a 43-point lead on Jason Myers into that final race with Bohn just two points in back of that.
With the victory, Bohn locked up a spot in the NASCAR Whelen Modified race at the UNOH Battle At The Beach on the .4-mile oval at Daytona International Speedway next February during Speedweeks.
The NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour closes out the 2012 season on Thursday, Oct. 11 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway in the UNOH Southern Slam 150.
RESULTS | LAP-BY-LAP RECAP | BRIAN LOFTIN POST-RACE COMMENTS | KYLE EBERSOLE POST-RACE COMMENTS
Sources: Shon Sbarra/NASCAR WSMT PR
NWSMT Caraway 10/6/12 Results
Whelen Southern Modified Tour
Race: NWSMT Caraway 5 10/6/12
Fin Str Car Driver Team Laps Points B/Points Status
1 6 65 Danny Bohn * Rifenburg Const/Rustoleum Chevrolet 150 47 4 Running
2 3 23 Brian Loftin L & R Transmissions/QMF Metal Solutions Chevrolet 150 44 2 Running
3 4 51 Kyle Ebersole * Ebersole Excavating Inc Chevrolet 150 41 Running
4 2 4 Jason Myers Trantham Moorefield/Wendell Edwards Ford 150 40 Running
5 7 02 Tim Brown Hayes Jewelers/T&C Motorsports Chev 150 39 Running
6 14 37 Joe Scarbrough * Hyperion Stud/Atlantic Solar Chevrolet 150 38 Running
7 11 7 Thomas Stinson Cowardin Jewelers/United Solar/Dennis' Towing 150 37 Running
8 5 11 Andy Seuss Danny Gald Dodge/Phoenix Pre-Owned Chevrolet 150 36 Running
9 10 25 John Smith Shady Grady Racing Chevrolet 150 35 Running
10 1 09 George Brunnhoelzl, III Phoenix Pre-Owned Chevrolet 146 35 1 Running
11 8 1 Burt Myers Citrusafe/Adams Towing Ford 144 33 Running
12 16 77 Gary Putnam Stock Car Steel Chevrolet 142 32 Running
13 12 9 AJ Winstead * Health Diagnostic Chevrolet 138 31 Running
14 9 40 Frank Fleming Lewisville Mtr Co/Perkins & Assoc Ford 135 30 Parked
15 15 18 Dalton Baldwin * Main Street Automotive Chevrolet 104 29 Mechanical
16 13 80 Michael Speeney * MRI Graphics/Presto Painters Tape Chevrolet 20 28 Engine
RACE STATISTICS
Fastest Qualifier: George Brunnhoelzl, III, Time: 15.829 Seconds, Speed: 103.481 mph
Failed to Qualify: (2) Jeremy Gerstner * (#70), Mike Norman (#12).
Time of Race: 0 hrs., 0 mins, 0 secs Average Speed: Margin of Victory: 1.029 Seconds
Caution Flags: Laps 76-78 (Halfway Break); 111-116 (Car #77 & #09 spin in Turn 4); 132-136 (Debris); 138-139 (Car #25 & #40 spin in Turn 2). 4 for 16 laps.
Lap Leaders: George Brunnhoelzl, III 1-13, Brian Loftin 14-142, Danny Bohn * 143-150.
Total Laps Led: Brian Loftin 129, George Brunnhoelzl, III 13, Danny Bohn * 8. 2 changes involving 3 drivers.
* Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender