Myers and Jones Win on Slick Track at Bowman Gray

Every race at Bowman Gray Stadium brings new challenges to the drivers. And with Saturday’s early rain storms pelting the Stadium, the slick and humid track conditions tested the mettle and quick reflexes of the Modified teams at the Madhouse.

Brandon Ward of Winston-Salem started on the pole for the initial 50-lapper for the Brad’s Golf Cars Modified Series. To claim the lead, Ward would have his work cut out for him: starting on the outside front row was points leader Burt Myers of Walnut Cove. As the two battled during the initial start, colliding fenders left the front right tire of Ward damaged. He limped off to the pits, while Myers took over the lead. Brother Jason Myers of Walnut Cove tried his hand three times at challenging for the lead from the outside row but was unsuccessful.

James Civali of Davidson was able to slip by Jason Myers to take over second. Just 11 laps into the 50-lapper, the fourth caution of the night came out, allowing Civali to choose the outside lane and take on Burt Myers side-by-side. Civali pinched Myers down to the inside lane, where the track conditions were the slickest. Then the 79 of Civali powered into the lead.

Myers attempted to reclaim the lead once with no success. But the multiple cautions gave Myers another chance. On the second try, he made the pass from the outside stick. He then held on to bring home the victory.

“Our car has been really good on the longer runs. It was the same in the beginning as it was in the end,” said Myers, who added that recent adjustments for his new motor package made all the difference on Saturday. “It suited the track conditions tonight. This motor needs a little bit more gear – and with the track being the way it was, it needed some more gear to help you get slowed down and to work into traffic and to work in the double-file restarts. The car was flawless.”

“I got the grip I needed when I needed it,” said Myers. “We were fortunate. We could’ve just as easily been one that hit the water and got into the fence.”

Jason Myers finished in second, with Civali coming in third.

The “Madhouse Scramble” sent Darin Redmon of Walnut Cove to the pole for the start of the second race. Redmon shot out into an early lead, beating out William Smith of Mount Airy on the initial start. But soon, Brody Jones of Statesville was hammering on Redmon’s bumper.

During a restart on lap 8, Jones shoved Redmon as they raced, sending Redmon spinning. “I didn’t want to wreck him, but I had to get by him,” said Jones about spinning Redmon. “They were beating on me – and with everybody behind me, I had to go. And I kinda got into him and turned him.”

Jones then had to hold off Bobby Measmer, Jr. of Concord. Measmer gave a few shots to Jones’s bumper but began to fade as the race continued on. Jones ended up taking the checkered – his first ever win at the Madhouse. He joins the historic list of winners that includes such legends as Junior Johnson, Glen Wood, and Richard Petty.

“I want my name in that record book beside my dad,” said Jones, whose father, Steve Jones, also has won at the Madhouse. “I’ve been over here since I was a little kid. To be able to win with my family and everything – it just means the world to me.”

Measmer finished on his bumper in second with Chris Fleming of Mount Airy taking third.

Michael Adams of Yadkinville won the exhausting 60-lapper for the Texas Steak & Tap House Sportsman Series. Brian Wall of Winston-Salem got the monkey off his back by winning in the Q104.1 New Country Street Stock Series. And in the Law Offices of John Barrow Stadium Stock Series, Shane Southard of Yadkinville and Zack Staley of Lexington each won a 15-lapper.

BGS PR