Myers and Jeffreys take modified wins at Bowman Gray

WINSTON-SALEM — The twin 50-lap races in the Brad’s Golf Cars Modified Series always provide a great deal of excitement.

And after Saturday’s racing at Bowman Gray Stadium, and just two weeks left until the season finale, two familiar names — Burt Myers and Lee Jeffreys respectively stood in the Winner’s Circle after each race in the Ortega Twin 50s.

Myers, who is the points leader, picked up his fourth win, but just his first win since May 25. And Jeffreys won his third race of the season.

“I was wondering if we were going to get back or not,” Myers said. “The car’s been good all year. It’s just a matter of being involved in stuff that wasn’t our doing. It feels real good. We said if we could get a win and get two trips to the scales with no damage it was a good night, and that’s what we ended up with.”

Brandon Ward, last year’s points champion, finished runner-up in the first race, followed by Chris Fleming, Mike Speeney, and John Holleman IV.

Despite leading the points chase, Myers has had to fight through the ups and downs of a season.

“We’ve been the nail instead of the hammer,” he said. “And a lot of times, there’s just nothing you can do about it. Just trying to grind it out.”

Jeffreys was the fastest qualifier at 13.304 seconds and Myers was a close second at 13.406. However, the top six qualifiers redrew for position and Myers ended up on the pole with Jeffreys on the front row just to Myers’ outside.

Myers led all 50 laps.

“Once you get out front you can control the start and can control pace. You just have to survive the restarts,” Myers said. “And that’s what we did.”

There was a caution on lap 19 of the first 50-lap race after Brandon Butner stalled around turn 1. That caused a pile-up with Butner, Tim Brown, Jeffreys, Frank Fleming, and Junior Snow.

It was also Myers’ 95th win of his career.

In the second race, Slate Myers, Burt’s son, started on the pole and Jeffreys was on the front row with him.

Jeffreys quickly took the lead and led the rest of the way.

“We’ve been struggling for the past five or six weeks,” Jeffreys said. “We’ve been going through, trying some stuff. We actually hit on it pretty good in qualifying. The car was good the first race. Burt still had a better car than we did, but we’re getting him. We’re gaining a little ground on him. He’s tough.”

The win came after Jeffreys went to the pits in the first race after the wreck.

“We tore the left-front up,” he said. “We got it pieced back together pretty good. It was actually better than what I thought.”

Jeffreys was able to fend off runner-up Chris Fleming and third-place Burt Myers.

“I knew when Chris and Burt started behind me on that restart, I knew it was going to be on,” Jeffreys said. “Chris gave me all I could have, you know, for about 10 laps, and then I pulled away from him a little bit, and I was just hoping.”

It was Jeffreys’ 28th career win, tying him for 16th place on the roster of all-time wins with Pee Wee Jones.

“I’ve run over here for several years,” Jeffreys said. “So, if you’re lucky enough to pick up a win here and there it’s going to keep adding up. You just never know when the last one’s going to be so you have to make sure you savor that.”

Burt Myers had a chance to go for the double win, but he couldn’t slip past Fleming for second in order to try and reach Jeffreys.

Ward finished fourth in the second 50-lap Modified race and Speeney was fifth.

“I needed a few cautions to try to improve a little in that second race to get up there,” Myers said. “I’d like to have been able to challenge for the lead on the restart there, but never got the opportunity. I’ll be silly to complain. I’ve had a good night.”

In the first 20-lap race in the Law Offices of John Barrow Sportsman Series race, Wesley Thompson led from start to finish to pick up his second win of the season.

Michael Adams finished runner-up, followed by Braden Mills, Tommy Neal, and Zack Ore.

“I knew Michael was going to be respectful on the outside pole,” Thompson said. “I’ve been doing this a long time, but he and I have always raced good. I appreciate that.”

In the second race, Chase Robertson, the defending champion, started seventh but he came all the way back to win his third race of the season.

T. Dawson was on the pole, but he spun out on the backstretch early in the race and Austin Taylor took the lead. Robertson took the lead on lap 7 and led the final 13 laps.

Robertson finished runner-up last week in the one Sportsman race before the rain halted the rest of the race schedule.

“This was the redemption race for sure after last week,” Robertson said. “Me and my dad, Dylan (Ward), everybody, we had to come together and figure how we could be faster. I think Dylan Ward got us hooked up.”

Ore finished runner-up, followed by Connor Branch, Adams, and Sterling Plemmons.

The 20-lap race in the QRC HVAC & Refrigeration Street Stock Series had a familiar winner – Christian Joyce.

Joyce, the points leader, won his fourth race of the season Saturday night.

The only thing that impeded Joyce was some lapped traffic that allowed runner-up Kevin Gilbert to lurk just behind Joyce.

“I know (Gilbert) wanted it bad,” Joyce said. “And his is coming. He’s been doing it way longer than me, but he still gets better every time he does it. And for all people to beat, I want K-Train to win him one.”

Austin Jones finished third, Brad Lewis was fourth, and Nick Wall was fifth.

In the first 15-lap race in the Q104.1 Stadium Stock Series, Tyler McDonald started on the pole and won the race.

It was McDonald’s third win of the season.

Grayson Keaton was leading the race, but he was black-flagged and had to go to the rear of the field. That helped McDonald win.

Keaton’s brother, Connor, finished runner-up, followed by points-leader A.J. Sanders, Grayson Keaton, and Chuck Wall.

Chris Allison won the second 15-lap Stadium Stock race, but it didn’t come easily.

On lap 11, leader Patrick Mullen, along with Brandon Crotts and DJ Dean, collided coming around turn 2. Allison avoided the wreck and took the lead. Allison led the final four laps.

James Allison, Chris’ father, finished runner-up and greeted Chris in the Winner’s Circle. Andrew Cates was third, Tyler Rose was fourth, and Robbie Shrewsbury was fifth.

Next week is the penultimate week of the season at Bowman Gray Stadium. The racing is highlighted by twin 25-lap races in the Brad’s Golf Cars Modified Series. There will be two 20-lap races in the Law Offices of John Barrow Sportsman Series, as well as a 20-lap race in the QRC HVAC & Refrigeration Street Stock Series and either one or two 15-lap races in the Q104.1 Stadium Stock Series.

There will be a chain race at the end of the night. Also, two fans will win a wireless Bluetooth speaker from Best Wireless.