Myers Right Place at Right Time at Caraway
Grabs Whelen Southern Modified Victory With Late Dash
ASHEBORO, N.C. — Jason Myers went from settling for a fight over second place to sitting in Victory Lane at Caraway Speedway Saturday night.
The Walnut Cove, N.C., driver edged George Brunnhoelzl III on a green-white-checkered finish that extended the Charles Kepley Memorial 150 to 153 laps.
The final caution in the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour season opener was brought out when race leader Tim Brown suddenly slowed on the frontstretch. Brown, who won the Coors Light Pole Award earlier in the day, had led race-high 96 laps and had built a lead of nearly two seconds. While Brown was pulling away, Myers was all over Brunnhoelzl’s back bumper in what looked to be a fight for a runner-up finish.
Instead, Brown’s misfortune set up a battle on the race’s final restart. Brunnhoelzl slipped up as they drag raced down the front stretch, which allowed Myers to get away en route to his third career victory in his 97th start.
Brunnhoelzl, the defending tour champion, settled for second while Kyle Ebersole rallied from two laps down to finish third. Ted Christopher and Andy Seuss were fourth and fifth, respectively.
Gary Putnam was sixth, followed by Cole Powell, Thomas Stinson, John Smith and Bryan Dauzat. Brian Loftin, who was third on the restart and got caught up behind Brunnhoelzl, slid all the way back to 11th. Brown wound up 13th.
The NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour will be back in action for the KOMA Unwind Relaxation Drink 150 on Saturday, March 23 at Southern National Motorsports Park in Kenly, N.C.
Sources: Jason Christley/NASCAR WSMT PR
Jason Myers had a late surge to beat George Brunnhoelzl III and win the Charles Kepley Memorial 150 Saturday at Caraway Speedway. Jason Smith/pixelcrisp for NASCAR
NWSMT Caraway 3/16/13 Results
Whelen Southern Modified Tour
Race: NWSMT Caraway 3/16/13
Fin Str Car Driver Team Laps Points B/Points Status
1 5 4 Jason Myers Myers Racing Ford 153 46 3 Running
2 2 28 George Brunnhoelzl, III Brunnhoelzl Racing Chevrolet 153 43 1 Running
3 11 5 Kyle Ebersole Ebersole Excavating Ford 153 41 Running
4 15 00 Ted Christopher M&T Enterprises Chevrolet 153 40 Running
5 3 11 Andy Seuss Ideal Racing/Danny Glad Dodge 153 39 Running
6 14 77 Gary Putnam Stock Car Steel Chevrolet 153 38 Running
7 13 73 Cole Powell Copp’s Buildall/Tricar/Fountain Mtrsprts 153 37 Running
8 19 7 Thomas Stinson Cowardin Jewelers Chevrolet 153 36 Running
9 4 25 John Smith G-Oil Chevrolet 153 35 Running
10 12 97 Bryan Dauzat O.B. Builders Chevrolet 153 34 Running
11 7 23 Brian Loftin L&R Trans./QMF Metal & Electronic Chevrolet 153 33 Running
12 17 12 Mike Norman Auto Solutions Magazine Ford 150 32 Running
13 1 2 Tim Brown Hayes Jewelers/T&C Motorsports Chevrolet 145 33 2 Gas
14 10 02 J.R. Bertuccio, Jr. Gershow Recycling Chevrolet 140 30 Running
15 8 40 Luke Fleming * Koma Unwind/AutosByNelson.com Chevrolet 129 29 Engine
16 20 80 Michael Speeney Presto Painters Tape/MRI Graphics Chevrolet 122 28 Engine
17 6 1 Burt Myers CitruSafe/Adams Towing & Recovery Ford 117 27 Engine
18 18 70 Jeremy Gerstner * GMR Complete Lawn Care/Fountain Mtrspts 90 26 Running
19 16 04 David Calabrese * Diamond Back Towing Chevrolet 56 25 Engine
20 9 65 Danny Bohn Rustoleum/Cedar Peaks Enterprises Chevrolet 53 24 Accident
Time of Race: 1 hrs., 8 mins, 29 secs Average Speed: 60.991 mph Margin of Victory: .479 Seconds
Caution Flags: Laps 21-26; 29-42; 48-51; 54-64; 76-77; 124-126; 148-150. 7 for 43 laps.
Lap Leaders: Tim Brown 1-66, George Brunnhoelzl, III 67-114, Tim Brown 115-144, George Brunnhoelzl, III 145-150, Jason Myers 151-153.
Total Laps Led: Tim Brown 96, George Brunnhoelzl, III 54, Jason Myers 3. 4 changes involving 3 drivers.
* Denotes Rookie of the Year Contender