WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Much of Saturday night’s racing was devoted to the tributes for Robbie Brewer, who died Aug. 9.
But like just much of the history of Bowman Gray Stadium, Burt Myers and Tim Brown, the two winningest drivers in Brad’s Golf Cars Modified Series history, won the two races Saturday night in the Harrison’s Twin 25s.
Myers won the first race after capturing the pole with the fastest qualifying lap of 13.607 seconds. He carried the pole and led all 25 laps to defeat runner-up Brandon Ward, who is the points leader.
“It’s everything, man,” Myers said. “We’ve got a heck of a fast car, but just like last week we qualified third. We were off a little bit in qualifying, qualified third, and then draw sixth (for the twin 50s). And it’s with the competition now you’ve got to start pole or even front row in these short races with single-file restarts. We worked hard and got on the pole and got us a win.”
Even though Myers has won five races this season it’s his first win since June 7.
“Like I said earlier, when you win four in a row it’s hard to convince yourself to change stuff,” Myers said. “But it got to the point I knew we had to make some changes to get the car a little better. Track conditions change as the year goes on, and the tire, not the compound, just they sit on that truck, and just the tires seem to be a little different. But we worked hard, we got it fast, and we got the job done tonight.”
After a drought Myers did get back to Victory Lane.
“It means everything, man,” he said. “It’s good to get some momentum right here leading up to one to go. We want to be able to set on the pole and try to win next week and see where the points fall. Don’t really care about that.”
That one to go is next week’s AgSouth Farm Credit 150, which is the season finale.
Ward finished runner-up, followed by Jason Myers, Burt’s brother, Brown, and Mike Speeney.
That was win was Myers 102, which at the time, closed the gap between himself and Brown to one race. However, Brown won the second 25-lap race to extend the wins leads back to two.
Burt Myers drew 8 in the Madhouse Scramble, which inverted the field for the second race there. Brown started fifth and quickly closed the gap, eventually winning the race.
“He’s become accustomed to winning these second races this year and it’s knocking into our win total,” Burt Myers said of Brown. “But hey, the second races count just as much as the first one. He’s just been fortunate to get a draw and get those wins in those second races this year.”
Indeed Brown did win the second 25-lap race.
“It doesn’t (mean anything to me),” Brown said. “When I know I’m almost to the end of my career it might mean something, but it don’t mean anything to me.”
Brown started fifth and moved to third, while Riley Neal, who started second, and Slate Myers, Burt Myers’ son, started third.
Slate Myers kept bumping Neal, and finally on lap 16, Slate Myers bumped Neal hard, knocking Slate Myers out of the race. Brown slipped by and took the lead, carrying the lead for the final nine laps.
“I mean they’re both hungry and they’re both talented,” Brown said. “And they were getting with it, right? And so I’d run in corner throttle or something and just waiting to see what happened there. They wound up just handing me the win. You know, we’ve got a great race car and great race team and all.”
“I’m still upset that everything we’ve won over this year has been the second 25-lapper. We’ve got to do better on that. So, go unload this thing tonight and come back next week and try to sit on the pole and win the 150.”
Brown has plenty of experience at Bowman Gray, so he knew what to expect between Neal and Slate Myers.
“You’ve just got to be smart, right?” Brown said. “And you see those guys knocking the crap out of each other. They’re both sliding sideways and spinning and really aggressive, and you ain’t going to make it 25 laps like that. So, if nothing else they were using their tires up, and I’m sitting there riding and if they would’ve calmed down there with like 10 to go or something like that I would’ve went up there and tried to pass them both. But I didn’t have to, They helped me pass them.”
Ward finished runner-up in the second race, followed by Speeney, Burt Myers, and Jason Myers.
“It’s good for the race team and the sponsors to get in Victory Lane regardless,” Brown said. “And it’s good for me. I mean, you know, I get to take the trophy home, and you know, my kids are here tonight, and that’s super-special, my wife.”
Sterling Plemmons was given the win in the first 20-lap race for the Law Offices of John Barrow Sportsman Series after Amber Lynn and Zack Ore were disqualified.
The checkered flag in the second 20-lap Sportsman race went to Chase Robertson, who was celebrating his 21st birthday.
“These last two months have been hell on my guys and me, man,” Robertson said. “We’ve been through so much adversity, but I’ve got the best crew here, the best sponsors, the best parents. I’ve got God standing behind me and He’s all I need.”
Tommy Neal finished runner-up, followed by Dylan Ward, Ore, and Lynn.
Brad Lewis won the 20-lap race in the QRC HVAC and Refrigeration Street Stock Series. Lewis had his car wrapped in the colors of Brewer in honor of the driver.
Lewis started fourth and took the lead on lap 19. Lewis carried the win to a win after a green-white finish.
“There’s going to be some controversy, but they (Bryan Sykes, Jr.) can have that championship,” Lewis said. “I don’t even have to come back next week. This one’s for Robbie. I don’t even care.”
Bryant Robertson finished runner-up, followed by Kevin Gilbert, Christian Joyce, and Andy Southern.
In the first 15-lap race in the Q104.1 Stadium Stock Series, Levi Holt won after taking the lead on lap 7.
Chris Allison finished runner-up, followed by Chris Allison, Zack Taylor, and Tyler Rose.
“This week was tough beginning of the year, We never gave up,” Holt said. “The Harris family, my dad, my mom, hard work in the shop. It’s finally paid off.”
Once again, another driver won a race after paying tribute to Brewer.
Brandon Brendle, who used car No. 68 in honor of Brewer, won the race. Brendle was quite emotional after winning.
“That’s, that was for Robbie,” Brendle said. “I mean you’ve seen the way everybody loved that man, and they loved him for a reason. Without him I would’ve never seen a race car or been around it. He’s missed.”
Brendle took the lead from Luke Smith on lap 12 and fended off runner-up Tyler McDonald. Brad Mickalowski was third, followed by Chuck Wall, A.J. Sanders, and Smith.
Next week is the final week of the season at Bowman Gray and that means champions will be crowned in all four series. The featured race is AgSouth Farm Credit 150, which is a 150-lap race in the Brad’s Golf Cars Modified Series. The race will feature double-file restarts.
In addition, there will be a 40-lap race in the Law Offices of John Barrow Sportsman Series, a 20-lap race in the QRC HVAC and Refrigeration Street Stock Series, and a 15-lap race in the Q104.1 Stadium Stock Series. There is also double points in all four series.