Jason Myers of Walnut Cove has been working hard on his car at the Stadium for years. And while it may have taken some time, his efforts are paying off large dividends now.
Myers qualified on the pole on Saturday and won the first 25-lapper for the Brad’s Golf Cars Modified Series – his ninth pole and sixth win of the season.
“We’ve had probably about the best season we’ve had over here,” said Jason Myers. “We bought that car a couple years ago brand new, and we didn’t cut any corners. We spent a ton of money on it and it’s paid off.”
But the race was far from a cakewalk for Myers. Starting on the outside front row was brother Burt Myers. And both knew that the initial start would be crucial.
On the first attempt at starting, Burt Myers held back while Jason Myers moved forward – leading to NASCAR officials calling for another start attempt. It was a situation reminiscent of a few weeks ago when the two brothers had another false start. That time, Burt Myers ended up slamming the gas and stealing the lead in the next attempt.
But this time, Jason Myers wouldn’t fall for the mind games. “Last time Burt beat me on the front row, and I learned a lesson and tried to carry that into tonight,” said Jason Myers. “And it worked out for the best.”
The next test for Jason Myers came as he approached lapped traffic with just a few laps to go in the race. He was in the precarious position of having to defend his lead while navigating around the slower traffic.
“We caught some traffic there at the end, and I didn’t want to blow it with three to go because we caught traffic. They obviously weren’t going to move out of the way and give us any room, so you run the last three laps in the middle of the racetrack blocking,” said Jason Myers. “You don’t want the guy behind you to get side by side with you – because then you can get pinned in either way.”
Jason Myers claimed the checkered with brother Burt finishing in second and Chris Fleming of Mount Airy finishing third.
The “Madhouse Scramble” draw put Lee Jeffreys of Winston-Salem to the pole for the start of the second race. Jeffreys beat out John Smith of Mount Airy to claim the victory.
“We didn’t run quite as well as we wanted to the first race. We came in between races and changed a lot of stuff on the car,” said Jeffreys. “Seemed to help it some but it’s still not where we need to be.”
But while Jeffreys was worried about his car holding up until the end, John Smith was battling power steering issues. “We went into the corners and sometimes you would have it and sometimes you wouldn’t,” said Smith. “It was hit or miss.”
The win was the first time Jeffreys had made it to Winner’s Circle in four years. “It feels good, and it’ll feel even better tomorrow,” said Jeffreys. “At least this’ll give us a little more momentum for the year.”
In the Farm Bureau Insurance Sportsman Series, Taylor Branch of Lewisville grabbed the checkered in the first 20-lapper, with Tommy Neal of Walkertown winning in the second.
Brian Wall of Winston-Salem claimed victory in the Q104.1 New Country Street Stock Series race, while A.J. Sanders of Mocksville and David “P-Nut” Vernon of Walkertown each won in the McDowell Heating & Air Stadium Stock Series.
