L.W. MILLER KICKS OFF 2008 WHELEN SOUTHERN MODIFIED TOUR SEASON ON SATURDAY NIGHT WITH WIN AT CARAWAY SPEEDWAY
ASHEBORO, N.C. (March 22, 2008) The NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour kicked off the 2008 racing season on Saturday night at Caraway Speedway with defending champion L.W. Miller scoring the victory.
Miller scored the victory in the Whelen Southern Modified Tour 150 with a thrilling dash to the checked flag over second-place finisher Ted Christopher. Miller, a native of Dushore , Pa. , has a knack of winning at Caraway winning there on four different occasions last year en route to the title.
This was a great way to start the season, Miller said. We didn't have the dominant car, so we had to do a little bit of blocking there towards the end of the race. I just have to take my hat off to Ted Christopher, because he raced me clean and could have spun me out. But he didn't. Ted knows we're racing for the Whelen Southern Modified Tour championship and I would race him the same way if it was a Whelen Modified Tour race.
I think we're going to have another great season ahead of us. I love Caraway Speedway and all (owner) Russell Hackett does for the Whelen Southern Modified Tour.
Christopher, who won at the opener at Caraway in 2005 and 2006, settled for second.
We had a real good car, but we just needed to gain one more spot, Christopher said. (L.W.) used up about all the lanes on the track and I couldn't get around him.
Rounding out the top-five were Brian Loftin, Tim Brown and Bobby Grigas III.
Tim Brown got his season off to a solid start, earning the Coors Light Pole Award with a lap at 103.481 mph, but the Cana, Va. native started sixth following the redraw. Frank Fleming started at the front to lead the 26-car field to the green flag alongside Miller.
Miller got alongside of Fleming for the top spot on Lap 30 to lead a lap, but slipped a bit which allowed Fleming to retake the lead until the race's second caution on Lap 59.
On the ensuing Lap 64 restart, Miller made a break for himself when he was able to beat Fleming to the start-finish line. Miller led the rest of the way.
The Whelen Southern Modified Tour returns to action next Saturday night at Southern National Raceway Park in Kenly, N.C.
Fin |
Str |
Car |
Driver |
Team |
Laps |
Points |
Total Award |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
2 |
36 |
L.W. Miller |
John Baker Plumbing & Utilities/Sink Towers |
150 |
180 |
$2,000 |
Running |
2 |
10 |
0 |
Ted Christopher |
Sherm's Towing Chevrolet |
150 |
170 |
1,500 |
Running |
3 |
5 |
23 |
Brian Loftin |
L&R Transmission/QMF Solutions Chevrolet |
150 |
165 |
1,125 |
Running |
4 |
6 |
83 |
Tim Brown |
Hayes Jewelers/Triad Auto Sales Chevrolet |
150 |
160 |
1,350 |
Running |
5 |
12 |
9 |
Bobby Grigas III |
Triple G Scaffold Chevrolet |
150 |
155 |
1,000 |
Running |
6 |
9 |
79 |
Ronnie Silk |
Sunoco/ LaBleu Water Pontiac |
150 |
150 |
850 |
Running |
7 |
4 |
4 |
Jason Myers |
Moorefields Trantham Enterprises/DMZ/ RH2 |
150 |
146 |
750 |
Running |
8 |
16 |
59 |
Matthew Hirschman |
DMC Auto Exchange Chevrolet |
150 |
142 |
690 |
Running |
9 |
1 |
7 |
Frank Fleming |
Patterson Automotive/ProHealth Center Pontiac |
150 |
138 |
590 |
Running |
10 |
25 |
47 |
Andy Seuss |
Advance Auto Parts Dodge |
150 |
134 |
850 |
Running |
11 |
24 |
93 |
Rowan Pennink |
Monks Mechanics Hand Cleaner Chevrolet |
150 |
130 |
525 |
Running |
12 |
26 |
17 |
Brian King |
Adam's Towing & Recovery Chevrolet |
150 |
127 |
500 |
Running |
13 |
20 |
7 |
Thomas Stinson |
Jenkins Towing Chevrolet |
150 |
124 |
685 |
Running |
14 |
3 |
58 |
Kevin Goodale |
Riverhead Building Supply Chevrolet |
150 |
121 |
460 |
Running |
15 |
21 |
44 |
Brandon Hire |
Smith Jennings/Clemmons Speed Shop |
150 |
118 |
445 |
Running |
16 |
18 |
2 |
Buddy Emory * |
RCS Construction Chevrolet |
150 |
115 |
530 |
Running |
17 |
23 |
10 |
Johnny Sutton |
Monster Energy Drink Chevrolet |
149 |
112 |
420 |
Running |
18 |
22 |
18 |
Zach Brewer * |
Mainland Supply Co. Chevrolet |
148 |
109 |
410 |
Running |
19 |
15 |
25 |
John Smith |
Tutterow Surveying Chevrolet |
144 |
106 |
400 |
Running |
20 |
14 |
74 |
J.R. Bertuccio |
Gershaw Recycling Chevrolet |
139 |
103 |
390 |
Running |
21 |
13 |
57 |
Jay Foley |
Leonard Logging Chevrolet |
138 |
100 |
380 |
Running |
22 |
11 |
26 |
James Civali |
Ramar-Holl Inc./Genesis Shocks Chevrolet |
138 |
97 |
360 |
Running |
23 |
17 |
14 |
Bobby Hutchens |
Trim USA/ Motorsports Designs Chevrolet |
134 |
94 |
340 |
Running |
24 |
19 |
69 |
Junior Miller |
Express Auto of Kernersville/Hayes Jewelers |
128 |
91 |
320 |
Running |
25 |
7 |
1 |
Burt Myers |
JRC Investments Ford |
104 |
88 |
300 |
Oil Line |
26 |
8 |
28 |
George Brunnhoelzl |
Oval Speed Ford |
100 |
85 |
300 |
Electrical |
Fastest Qualifier: Tim Brown, Time: 15.829 Seconds, Speed: 103.481 MPH
ailed to Qualify: (7) Earl Baker (#30), Brian Pack (#81), Erick Rudolph (#45), Gene Pack (#31), Scott Rigney * (#49), Rich Kuiken, Jr. * (#98), Jay Mize (#8)
Time of Race: 58 mins, 45 secs Average Speed: 69.702 mph Margin of Victory:.213 Seconds
COORS LIGHT POLE AWARD: Tim Brown, 83 Hayes Jewelers/Triad Auto Sales Chevrolet
FEATHERLITE MOST IMPROVED DRIVER AWARD: Thomas Stinson, 7 Jenkins Towing Chevrolet
POWERADE POWER MOVE OF THE RACE AWARD: Andy Seuss, 47 Advance Auto Parts Dodge
SUNOCO ROOKIE OF THE RACE AWARD: Buddy Emory *, 02 RCS Construction Chevrolet
Caution Flags: 7 for 39 laps.
Lap Leaders: Frank Fleming 1-29, L.W. Miller 30, Frank Fleming 31-63, L.W. Miller 64-150.
Total Laps Led: L.W. Miller 88, Frank Fleming 62. 3 changes involving 2 drivers.
Top 10 Driver Points: 1. L.W. Miller 180, 2. Ted Christopher 170, 3. Brian Loftin 165, 4. Tim Brown 160, 5. Bobby Grigas III 155, 6. Ronnie Silk 150, 7. Jason Myers 146, 8. Matthew Hirschman 142, 9. Frank Fleming 138, 10. Andy Seuss 134
* Denotes Rookie of the Year Contender