HAMPTON, VA. :: Kyle Ebersole came from behind to capture his first NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour win at Langley Speedway on Saturday night.

Ebersole of Hummelstown, Pa., took the lead late and then held off a hard charge from three-time tour champion George Brunnhoelzl III to win the Newport News Shipbuilding/Bayport Credit Union 150.

“It feels awesome,” Ebersole said when describing his first career victory. “Last year was the first year on the tour and I got a lot of good experience. I’ve been faster all year and I’m really happy we could seal the deal in one of these things before the end of the year.”

The win came in just the 19th career tour start for the driver of the No. 5 Ebersole Excavating Ford, who had started seventh on the grid.

Andy Seuss, who shattered the previous track record in winning the pole during qualifying earlier in the day, led the first 73 laps of the Newport News Shipbuilding/Bayport Credit Union 150 – with Brunnhoelzl running in his wake. Brunnhoelzl gained the top spot when mechanical issues forced Seuss to pit road, moments before the midway break. Brunnhoelzl would hold the lead until lap 124, eventually losing the lead to Tim Brown. Ebersole was able to challenge Brown for the lead, finally getting by him with a strong move to the outside coming out of turn four.

Ebersole, who finished sixth last year in his only previous start at Langley, faced a fierce challenge from Brunnhoelzl in the closing laps, but held on for the win.

“I held George off there at the end,” Ebersole said. “I knew he was coming, I saw him in my mirror and my spotter was telling me he was on me and I just had enough laps there and was able to get to Victory Lane.”

Brown came home third on a night where he could have very well found himself in Victory Lane.

“”Just right there at the halfway break, our car was a little bit snug and we made the fatal mistake of freeing it up,” Brown said after the race. “The track got slick there in the last segment and we were just too loose. We gave it awaya, but congratulations to Kyle. They’ve been good all year and finally got a win. It’s good to see those guys get a victory.”

In total, there were three lead changes involving four drivers in an event slowed by six cautions for 26 laps.

John Smith and Danny Bohn followed Brown past the finish line to round out the top five. Completing the top 10 were Patrick Emerling, Burt Myers, Jason Myers, Thomas Stinson and Gary Putnam.

Ebersole became the fourth different winner in four tour races at Langley Speedway.

The Newport News Shipbuilding/Bayport Credit Union 150 was the eighth event on a 12-race tour schedule. The Southern Modified Tour will next be in action on Sept. 8, when it returns to Caraway (N.C.) Speedway for the Caraway 150.

NASCAR Whelen Southern Mod 150
1. #5 Kyle Ebersole
2. #28 George Brunnhoelzl, III
3. #02 Tim Brown
4. #25 John Smith
5. #65 Danny Bohn
6. #07 Patrick Emerling
7. #1 Burt Myers
8. #4 Jason Myers
9. #7 Thomas Stinson
10. #77 Gary Putnam
11. #97 Bryan Dauzat
12. #9 A.J. Winstead
13. #2 JR Bertuccio
14. #11 Andy Seuss
15. #40 Luke Fleming
16. #59 Renee Dupuis
17. #12 Mike Norman
18. #70 Jeremy Gerstner
19. #04 David Calabrese