Saturday night brought a chance for redemption for Jason Myers at Bowman Gray Stadium. And it was an opportunity he didn’t let go to waste.
Myers, a resident of Walnut Cove, took the checkered in the first 50-lapper for the Brad’s Golf Cars Modified Series on Saturday. He qualified second but started on the pole after the top six qualifiers drew for starting position. Starting on the outside row beside him was Chris Fleming of Mount Airy.
It was a situation reminiscent of one week earlier – when Jason Myers started on the pole and brother Burt Myers started in second. As the two played mind-games, Burt got the jump on Jason, taking the lead and going on to win.
This time, however, Jason Myers made sure to secure the lead during the initial start. “He stuck me last week,” said Jason about being passed by his brother. “He took me to school, but we’re driving the school bus this week.”
Jason Myers had to defend the lead one other time during a double-file restart, but the race remained cautionless after that. “When you’re in front, you don’t want to see cautions,” said Myers. “It could’ve stayed green for 50 laps, and I would’ve been tickled to death.”
It was the fourth win of the season for Jason Myers. “We had a good night: We won the race, in the second race we didn’t tear it up – what else can you ask for?”
The “Madhouse Scramble” put Ronnie Clifton of Walkertown on the pole for the start of the second race. Clifton was an unstoppable juggernaut as a Sportsman competitor, but he’s still hoping for that first Modified win.
Clifton grabbed the lead in the opening lap and held off Dean Ward of Winston-Salem during two double-file restarts. But making his way through the field was John Smith of Mount Airy.
“I was starting ninth in the second race,” said Smith. “I got to racing and I got one or two, the next restart I got one or two, and I thought that I got a shot at this thing.”
Smith moved to the outside to make an attempt at stealing the lead away during the third caution on lap 13. On the restart, Clifton faltered and Smith bolted out to take the top spot.
“I know Ronnie was hungry – and if anybody could’ve won, I’d want to see him win if it wasn’t me,” said Smith. “I timed that restart perfectly. I don’t know if he missed a shift.”
The remainder of the race was caution-free, and Smith pulled away from the field. The iconic #53 of Smith grabbed the checkered flag, with Ronnie Clifton finishing in second.
In the Farm Bureau Insurance Sportsman Series, John Holleman of Winston-Salem muscled his way forward to win in the first 20-lapper. Tommy Neal of Walkertown took a long-awaited win in the second race – it was the first victory for the veteran racer after his return this season to the Sportsman Division.
Blake Shupe of Mount Airy brought home the trophy in the Q104.1 New Country Street Stock Series, and both A.J. Sanders of Mocksville and Mark Smith of Advance won in the McDowell Heating & Air Stadium Stock Series.
