Jonathan Brown Cruises To Hayes Jewelers 200 Win At Bowman Gray

Winston Salem, N.C.

1/4 mile

The madhouse was just that on Saturday 6/5 as a packed house of race-hungry fans witnessed the running of the Hayes Jewelers 200 for the ground-pounding modifieds.

Burt Meyers (Walnut Cove, N.C.) received the $500 award for setting fast time and by that virtue started on the pole with Tim Brown (Tobaccoville, N.C.) alongside.

After 22 months of no racing at Bowman Gray, the fans were hungry for some modified action, and that’s just what they got.

At the drop of the green Burt Meyers jetted into the lead with brother Jason Meyers (Walnut Cove, N.C.) slipping past Brown into second place.

By lap 28 James Civali (Davidson, N.C.) who started from inside the fifth row aggressively made his way into the fourth position. A lap 29 minor spin by Zack Brewer (Winston Salem, N.C.) brought out the first caution of the race and slowed the hot action briefly. Civali used this time to pit for adjustments relegating him to the rear for the restart.

The restart saw the Meyers brothers pull away again, Burt first and Jason following with Danny Bohn (Huntersville, N.C.) in hot pursuit.

On lap 45, turn four claimed another spinner as Danny Propst (Monroe, N.C.) brought out the yellow. Burt Meyers again claimed the lead with Bohn racing into second position.

Civali who earlier restarted from the rear was fast and aggressive as he moved his way to the front and by lap 52 he was overly aggressive as he muscled Andy Jankowiak (N.Tonawanda, N.Y.) into the turn one wall. The damage eliminated the Puddin Swisher owned modified from the event.

Through the next three caution periods, Burt Meyers would lead all competitors with Bohn in tow while Jonathan Brown (Winston Salem, N.C.) raced his way into third.

A lap 90 yellow flag for dirt on turn 2 saw most of the leaders pit for a tire change and adjustments. The new leader was now John Holleman IV (Winston Salem, N.C.) with Tim Brown alongside. When the race went green  Holleman powered into the lead but a lap 100 yellow brought Holleman and Tim Brown together again and the two raced side by side for the next 3 laps until Holleman would prevail from the outside and take over the front spot.

A lap 137 spin by Civali slowed the action once again and Holleman elected to pit from the lead handing the pole position to Tim Brown with Jonathan Brown pulling alongside. When the green flag flew, so did Jonathan putting his mount in cruise control, holding the rest at bay.

With the laps quickly running out, Brandon Ward (Winston Salem, N.C.) fought off Bohn taking over second place.

Jonathan Brown held on to the top spot through five more caution flags. With only a handful of laps left, Bohn outmuscled Ward for second place.

On lap 200 at the finish line, Jonathan Brown claimed the victory with Bohn second, Civali third. Chris Flemming (Mount Airy, N.C.) and Ward rounded out the top five.

In the post-race interview, Brown said, “It just feels friggin awesome. Two weeks ago we weren’t going to run this race.” He added, “We finished the car at 3:30 this morning and I worked 44 straight hours to finish the car. I’ve got to thank Mr Jones for letting me borrow his backup engine,” He said. “I have always wanted to win this race and the championship. Now we got one of those things out of the way, now we got to go for the championship.”

story by James Snape

Photos by Crystal Snape