As the leaves get fuller and the flowers start to bloom, we all know that racing season is here upon us. Many of us have been to numerous races at various tracks this season already, and some great racing has been witnessed. But to some, racing season never starts until the last weekend in April, when Bowman Gray Stadium opens its gates for the 68th season of racing around the “Most Exciting Of Them All”. The only track that still gives me goosebumps as I stand in the infield on opening night.
Modifieds
As always, the headliner division and only track in the Southeast that runs them weekly, the mighty mods will once again be the one everyone is talking about. Can anyone beat Tim Brown or Burt Myers? There is a slew of drivers that will be trying, but their work will be cut out for them as both drivers have new technology and are more prepared than ever.
In the last twenty years straight, only on four occasions did someone not named Tim Brown or Burt Myers win the championship. Those were Jr. Miller in 2000, 2003 and 2006, and the underdog run of Danny Bohn in 2014 driving the underfunded Puddin Swisher owned car. Two drivers familiar with the famed quarter-mile looking to put an end to that run are the brothers of Johnathan “JonBoy” Brown and his younger brother Joseph “BoBo” Brown. JonBoy has been running sparingly the last few years while his brother was in subpar equipment, but looking ahead to 2016 they both have financial backing and are looking to run the entire season.
The two favorites to win their first championships have to be Jason Myers and Lee Jeffreys as both have been all so close to taking the top spot on numerous occasions. Jason nearly won it in 2014 until the last race and again last season as he finished second to Brown with Jeffreys only 18 points behind him. The real hurdle for these two is to put a whole season together, while winning and running good most of the time, just those few DNF’s or bad finishes , while rare, makes it hard to compete with the perfection that the top two show for an entire season. This could be their year to shine.
While not talked about in the championship hunt much, but winning races is a cast of characters that can throw a monkey wrench into anyone’s plans. Dean Ward will win his share of races as will John Smith in the famous #53. And ole Randy Butner, the only driver that doesn’t have any “boos” from the stands will race clean as always and have his nights toward the front. Mix in newcomers Daniel Yates as he comes full-time and former midget driver Scott Gordon and the field has all sorts of different storylines. To spice it up even more, for the first time ever the stadium will institute the “lucky dog” rule in races longer than 100 laps allowing the first car one lap down to get their lap back.
Sportsman
In the past 10 years or so, the Sportsman division has had some of the best races……and some of the wildest stuff that made it all the way to national news. For the most part though the division has been the most exciting with great passes and last lap controversy with veteran drivers filling the field. Two of those drivers have stepped away in 2016 but as racing goes, there is always someone to fill the void.
Derek Stoltz and Taylor Branch, two of the top dogs of the division and former champions have stepped away for the upcoming season. Branch has sold out as he and his car owner, his brother Kenny, have decided to focus on family life and take a breath from the hustle and bustle of racing nearly 16 weeks in a row. Stoltz on the other hand, well, it’s Derek Stoltz. He says he may hit a few big races and he still has his car, and knowing the passion he and his brother, racecar guru Jeremy has for the stadium, I think you’ll see them sooner than later. They may even roll out Jeremy’s modified at some point this season.
The players that will be there all season will be tougher than ever though. The top three in last years points battle were separated by only 13 points when the final checkered flag was thrown, and they all will be back. Champion Zack Clifton has had his car ready for a while now and is hungry as ever to defend his title. Runner up last season, Tommy Neal, has two cars in his stable and is more prepared than he has been in years even when he was running full-time and winning races before heading to the modifieds.
Michael Adams has changed his paint job and his number as he runs a tribute scheme just like his father did back in his Street Stock days. Last season Adams had a whole new attitude as he became one of the “aggressors” in the division, or some would say he just got tired of playing nice. Either way his new style suited him well as fans flocked behind him and the points racked up at the front of the field. He will be one of the “big three” in the division in 2016.
Moving on to new people, which usually don’t fare well at the stadium until they get adjusted, is going to be a guy to hurt some feelings. And he may just take the title in his first season there. That would be Limited Late Model standout Dylan Ward, the son of racing legend and current mod driver Dean Ward. Trevor made a few starts last season driving a backup car for Adams, and while some just though he was there to ride around, he showed different. In his own car, with his own setup, he plans to go there and wins a ton of races and the championship. “Why would I think different?” said Ward. A racer couldn’t have said it any better.
You can’t count out the always exciting Robbie Brewer who picked up a slew of wins last season or John Holleman when he isn’t running the K&N tour. Also Kevin Neal will be back in the series after a hiatus, along with veteran Jeff Garrison and the always exciting Billy Gregg who is looking to make his mark after moving up from Street a year ago. Even the legendary “Madhouse” Mike Robertson will be running the first race with other races sprinkled in. The more I think about it, the Sportsman division will be just fine
Street Stock
Ahhh, the wild and wonderful world of Street Stock racing at Bowman Gray. A few short years ago it was simply out of hand, we couldn’t even run 12 laps in the allotted time for the division because of all the carnage. But the Street guys have made a resurgence in the last couple of years and turned them into one of the most competitive divisions at the stadium. This season is shaping up to be one of the best we have ever seen.
Last year’s champion Derek Rice will be the hands down favorite. He distanced himself from the field for the championship last season but the ones behind him are so close it’s hard to call. The most determined one will be “The People’s Champ” Brian Wall as he was runner-up last season and only 100 feet away from a championship in 2014 when he was spun off turn four of the last lap. He hasn’t even got his car done yet and Friday’s practice will be the first time it has hit the track but he vows to be ready.
The next five or so cars are so tight it’s just hard to call as you have former champs Steven Berrier and Doug Wall, the up and coming Jeremy Warren, front-runner Blake Shupe, and the veteran Edwards family being represented by Austin Edwards.
The youth movement will be alive and well also with Aaron Hylton, Fletcher Whaley and Taylor Robbins returning. All three have shown potential but look for Hylton to be a threat to win their first race this season.
Stadium Stock
Time for my favorite. The guys that work 12 hours a day and then 6 hours a night on their cars to win the least amount of money. The fastest four cylinders around that sometimes put on driving clinics that rival those seen at national levels. The division that brings so many cars that they have to be split into two races, never short on action.
You can’t even talk about the Stadium Stocks (Mini-Stocks at all other tracks) without talking about the two best around for some time, Chuck Wall and AJ Sanders. Chuck won the championship last season while AJ had bad luck at the end of the year but their battles are stuff that legends are made of. With the field starting with a blind draw and only 15 lap races, watching these two draw towards the back and cut through the field looks like a video game sometimes and leaves the crowd in awe. Not much more to say about these two, they will be the ones to beat, but there are always others lurking.
The guy leading that charge is someone who didn’t even know if they would be racing this year just a few weeks ago. Brandon Brendle drove the Hilton Hill #11 to a second place finish in the points and into most of the crowds hearts as someone who looked to topple the two drivers at the top. This year he jumps into another ride, the super fast #40 formerly driven by Daniel Yates and hopes to pick up right where he left off.
Two other drivers in different situations but looking for the same results are Wesley Thompson and Bryan Sykes. Thompson is a veteran and has great equipment but bad luck has seemed to follow him the last few years. Always the best looking car other people’s problems seem to find him, he hopes he can shake that this season. Sykes is a relatively newcomer with last season being a rookie, but he decided to come loaded for bear this year……….he bought the same car Brendle finished second in points in last season and says he’s ready for the challenge.
Fast Facts
All the stadium policies are the same as in years past. Adult tickets are $10, kids 6-11 $2, kids under 6 are free. Ladies nights are $2 for all females. Small 6-pack coolers are permitted but no alcohol or glass, beer is still only sold in the beer garden located in turn four. All parking is FREE in designated lots. Parking in the West lot (behind frontstretch) will be routed onto the new corridor being built and up to Martin Luther King Dr when leaving. Parking along the road is allowed from Argonne Blvd toward Reynolds Park Rd. (down the hill) as long as you aren’t blocking the sidewalk or any business entrances.
All Modified races 100 laps or over will use the lucky dog rule. All 100 lap Modified races will once again feature the “Fans Challenge” where the top four Modified qualifiers can elect to start from the back of the field for their chance at $15,000 total up for grabs throughout the season. For the first time ever a second 100 lap Sportsman race has been added to be ran August 6th with the Whelen Southern Modified tour. Gates open at 6 when qualifying starts with the races rolling off at exactly 8pm.
