WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Danny Bohn won a race for the first time in more than a year Saturday night by winning what proved to be a 103-lap race in the FOX8 100 in the Brad’s Golf Cars Modified Series at Bowman Gray Stadium.
Bohn, the 2014 Modified champion who races part-time at Bowman Gray, picked up the checkered flag for the first time since June 1, 2024.
“We were struggling over here this year,” Bohn said. “We started off really good in the (CookOut) Clash (in February) and ran decent in teh 200 (season opener in April), and it’s just been, we’ve been off. We had to change the car, honestly. We’ve run the same thing over here for so long and it’s just not working anymore, so (we) spent a lot of time in the shop this week setting some things up, changing some things and came over here this morning and put some tires on.”
It was Bohn’s 19th career win, tying him with Don Smith and Chris Fleming for 31st place in the Modified Series.
“I thought we’d be better, but I didn’t know if we had enough to win,” Bohn said. “But the car was really good in the race.”
Bohn started 15th Saturday night after a full-field redraw after qualifying.
“We got a really good start point for the next, for the 150 (season finale, scheduled for Aug. 23) when we come back,” Bohn said. “It could be a little better, but definitely made huge gains on it this week. So, glad ot be back in Victory Lane.”
It didn’t take Bohn long to weave through a crowded field. He took the lead on lap 61 after sliding by the previous leader, Brandon Ward, who is also the points leader.
“I could up on (Ward),” Bohn said. “I didn’t know how hard he was running. I could run up on him and then I kind of wanted to save my stuff, so I backed off.”
Even with the cautions Bohn was able to maintain his lead.
“And then, I figured I’d wait for a restart and then we had a restart and he run over my left front. And then after that, i was kind of like, ‘Whatever.’ I get it, but it seems like anytime I’m by him he’s bouncing off me. So, after that I was going to win the race however I had to. You know, I moved him up. And I knew we had a little bit better of a car there and it paid off.””
Ward praised Bohn for the move to take the lead.
“We just got together on that restart there and Danny did exactly what I would’ve done,” Ward said. “He had a chance to get us back off the bottom, and I mean really that’s the race for the win right there even though it’s, you know, halfway or whatever or right around it. I would’ve done the same thing. We both have.
“We both race hard, I like racing with Danny. That’s a good team over there. All in all it’s a good night for us. He could get going on the restarts.”
The final caution of the night came on lap 96 and since there was less than five laps left of the scheduled 100, there was a single-file restart on lap 101, which was overtime.
“When we got within five to go I knew it’d be single-file from then on out,” Bohn said. “I was glad to see that, but anytime you can control the starts, you know, it’s an advantage. That’s why your leader starts the race and starts the restarts.”
Tim Brown finished third, followed by Mike Speeney, and Jason Myers.
“I really just didn’t want to see a caution,” Ward said. “I would’ve rather seen it go green and us to just race it out. But you predict what’s going to happen. You know, you’ll want the caution and won’t get one.”
Amber Lynn made her return to Bowman Gray Stadium after missing the first three months of the season with a brain cyst, and not only did she race, she won the second 20-lap race in the Law Offices of John Barrow Sportsman Series.
Lynn had previously said she was retiring from racing, however, the injury healed and her doctor approved of her coming back to racing.
The last time Lynn won a race was June 8 of last year after winning what turned out to be a 116-lap race that went to overtime.
“It’s great to be here,” Lynn said. “It was really hard being at the Stadium every weekend and not being able to drive.
The field was inverted in the second race at 8 after the Madhouse Scramble following the first 20-lap race, and to come here in my first weekend back and win the second race, it means a lot to me. It means a lot to my family, and my sponsors, and my crew guys that have stuck with me for years and years.”
Lynn started third in the second race, behind pole-sitter Tommy Neal and Sterling Plemmons. Lynn took the lead after an early caution and led 16 of the 20 laps.
Chase Robertson finished runner-up, followed by Zack Ore, Mitch Gales, and Robbie Brewer.
Ore picked up the win in the first 20-lap race in the Law Offices of John Barrow Sportsman Series.
Austin Jones finished runner-up and Justin Taylor finished third.
“We had a rough last week,” Ore said. “I tried to race everybody as clean as I could. I got into Justin a little bit in the backstretch. We hooked bumpers. I didn’t need to wreck him at all. I hope he saved it.”
Gales finished fourth, Robertson was fourth, and Lynn finished sixth.
In the 20-lap QRC HVAC and Refrigeration race, Brad Lewis persevered through seven cautions to and defeated Christian Joyce for the win.
It is Lewis’ second win of the season and eighth overall.
“He’s tough,” Lewis said of Joyce. “You know, when he’s behind he’s going to run you clean. You don’t have to worry about it. I wouldn’t have cared if he had won the race. I love that guy that much.”
Bryan Sykes Jr. finished third, followed by Bryan Sykes Sr., and Bryan Robertson.
Blaze Sanders picked up his first career win after winning the first 15-lap race in the Q104.1 Stadium Stock Series.
Sanders, the son of A.J. Sanders, defeated runner-up Chris Allison.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Blaze Sanders said. “I probably started about three years ago and I’ve never won a race in my life. But I made a statement tonight, ‘I was going to win it.'”
Patrick Mullen finished third, followed by Tyler Rose, and Austin Cates.
In the second 15-lap Stadium Stock race, Tyler McDonald won his first race of the year and his eighth overall.
“It’s been a year,” McDonald said. “A lot of good shots at it, but just slipped from us every time. (This is the) first year we’ve had all these sponsors on the car. This is the first time we’ve got them to Victory Lane.”
Brandon Brendle finished runner-up, followed by Luke Smith, Chuck Wall, and Levi Holt.
Next week’s racing is highlighted by the Ortega Twin 50s in the Brad’s Golf Cars Modified Series. In addition there will be two 25-lap races in the Law Offices of John Barrow Sportsman Series, a 20-lap race in the QRC HVAC and Refrigeration Series, and either one or two 15-lap races in the Q104.1 Stadium Stock Series.