Chris Fleming and James Civali proved on Saturday night that they are two drivers to keep your eye on at Bowman Gray Stadium.
Fleming held off the cream of the crop to take the checkered in the first 50-lapper for the Brad’s Golf Cars Modified Series. Civali followed up with an aggressive and entertaining win in the second Modified race.
Lee Jeffreys of Wallburg turned the quickest Modified qualifying lap – but when the top six fastest drivers drew for starting position, Chris Fleming of Mount Airy was placed on the pole with James Civali of Davidson right beside him on the outside.
Civali jumped out into an early lead but tangled during the first double-file restart with Fleming. The two banged fenders, Fleming grabbed the top spot, and Civali spun.
10-time champ Tim Brown of Tobaccoville moved up to try his hand at overtaking Fleming, but “the Rocket” proved unsuccessful. Defending champ Burt Myers of Walnut Cove moved up to third place and began pressuring Tim Brown, while Jonathan Brown of Winston-Salem moved up to fourth.
The #16 car of Fleming stayed out front to claim the checkered, a relieving victory and what Fleming hopes is a sign of things to come. “It’s been a long time since I’ve won. I’ve been taken out of several races while leading – and these things are hard to win,” said Fleming. “This car is phenomenal. I mean, I feel sorry for these other guys for the rest of the year because it is just so fast.”
The “Madhouse Scramble” put rookie Zack Clifton of Walkertown on the pole for the start of the second race. Daniel Beeson of Kernersville started second, with James Civali right on Beeson’s bumper on the outside second row.
Unfortunately for Beeson, the pressure from Civali caused him to spin during the opening lap. A few laps later, Civali battled with race leader Zack Clifton to send him spinning as well. Civali then held off John Smith of Mount Airy to lead the rest of the way and take the win.
“It was a good night at least at the end,” said Civali. “We took the lead in the first race and the car was no good right from the start. It was really loose – something wrong with the right rear tire – and I’m thinking this thing is bad. We ended up getting spun out, but we were pretty much in the way at that point.”
“We ended doing some swapping tires around corner to corner, fingers crossed. We didn’t know if it was going to work, and it worked out pretty good for us,” said Civali.
According to Civali, the incident with Zack Clifton was unintentional. “The 81 [of Clifton] lost it in three and four, and he went up the track – so I filled up the hole. We went down in turn one, and he got loose. We started bouncing off each other when we were sideways. He just spun out. He drove it in hard – I drove it in hard, and he just spun out,” said Civali.
Civali’s aggressive driving style has upset a few drivers, but many fans have enjoyed watching his no-holds-barred approach. “Every lap I just tell my guys I’m going to burn it to the ground. Use it up. That’s what we’re here for – we’re going to use it up, said Civali. “Drive as hard as I can. And if somebody’s in my way in front of me, I’m going to go as fast as I can. If I bump him, I’m going faster than he is. So that’s just the way it is. I’m going to bump you if I’m faster than you.”
In the McDowell Heating & Air Sportsman Series, Robbie Brewer of Winston-Salem traded the lead back and forth with Zack Ore of Winston-Salem. But Dylan Ward of Winston-Salem moved in to grab the lead and take the win in the first 20-lapper. In the second 20-lapper, Mitch Gales of Thomasville claimed the lead on the first lap and went on to win for the first time since 2011.
Christian Joyce of Trinity nudged Bryan Sykes of Winston-Salem out of the way on the final lap of the 20-lap race for the Law Offices of John Barrow Street Stock Series. Joyce took the checkered, with David Creed of Mount Airy close behind in second.
The Q104.1 Stadium Stock Series had their annual 50-lap race on Saturday – the longest and most prestigious race for their class. A.J. Sanders of Mocksville led most of the way, with Brandon Brendle of Winston-Salem close on his tail. On turn four of the final lap, Brendle moved Sanders out of the way as he dashed toward the checkered – a controversial and aggressive move that brought out tempers. Brandon Crotts of King finished in second, with D.J. Dean of Thomasville coming in third.
Race Results
Brad’s Golf Cars Modified Series
1st Modified Race: 50 laps
FINISH CAR DRIVER HOMETOWN
1 16 Chris Fleming Mount Airy, NC
2 83 Tim Brown Tobaccoville, NC
3 1 Burt Myers Walnut Cove, NC
4 22 Jonathan Brown Winston-Salem, NC
5 75 Lee Jeffreys Wallburg, NC
6 4 Jason Myers Walnut Cove, NC
7 53 John Smith Mount Airy, NC
8 5 Randy Butner Pfafftown, NC
9 79 James Civali Davidson, NC
10 18 Daniel Yates Lexington, NC
11 44 Daniel Beeson Kernersville, NC
12 8 Darin Redmon Walnut Cove, NC
13 51 Drew Moffitt Lexington, NC
14 24 Carson Ware Greensboro, NC
15 04 Brandon Ward Winston-Salem, NC
16 81 Zack Clifton Walkertown, NC
17 78 Jody Fritts Winston-Salem, NC
18 77 Susan Harwell Jonesville, NC
19 6 Marty Butner East Bend, NC
20 41 Chris Williams Martinsville, VA
21 76 William Smith Mount Airy, NC
2nd Modified Race: 50 laps
FINISH CAR DRIVER HOMETOWN
1 79 James Civali Davidson, NC
2 53 John Smith Mount Airy, NC
3 75 Lee Jeffreys Wallburg, NC
4 1 Burt Myers Walnut Cove, NC
5 22 Jonathan Brown Winston-Salem, NC
6 18 Daniel Yates Lexington, NC
7 16 Chris Fleming Mount Airy, NC
8 4 Jason Myers Walnut Cove, NC
9 83 Tim Brown Tobaccoville, NC
10 81 Zack Clifton Walkertown, NC
11 5 Randy Butner Pfafftown, NC
12 44 Daniel Beeson Kernersville, NC
13 8 Darin Redmon Walnut Cove, NC
14 51 Drew Moffitt Lexington, NC
15 24 Carson Ware Greensboro, NC
16 78 Jody Fritts Winston-Salem, NC
17 77 Susan Harwell Jonesville, NC
18 6 Marty Butner East Bend, NC
19 41 Chris Williams Martinsville, VA
McDowell Heating & Air Sportsman Series
1st Sportsman race: 20 laps
FINISH CAR DRIVER HOMETOWN
1 7 Dylan Ward Winston-Salem, NC
2 4 John Holleman Winston-Salem, NC
3 2 Amber Lynn Walkertown, NC
4 19 Michael Adams Yadkinville, NC
5 12 Justin Taylor Kernersville, NC
6 21 Tommy Neal Walkertown, NC
7 07 Kevin Neal Walkertown, NC
8 02 Derek Stoltz Walkertown, NC
9 30 Blake Shupe Mt Airy, NC
10 38 Mitch Gales Thomasville,NC
11 31 Chase Robertson Winston-Salem, NC
12 68 Robbie Brewer Winston-Salem, NC
13 03 Sterling Plemmons Winston-Salem, NC
14 56 Fishel Dale Thomasville,NC
15 17 Michael Caudill Lexington, NC
16 50 Ross Dalton Liberty, NC
17 92 Kyle Southern Rural Hall, NC
18 55 Zack Ore Winston-Salem, NC
19 22 Wesley Thompson Advance, NC
20 5 Austin Taylor King, NC
21 9 Ryan Dixon Yadkinville, NC
22 80 Brian Shupe Winston-Salem, NC
23 14 Terry Thompson Winston-Salem, NC
2nd Sportsman race: 20 laps
FINISH CAR DRIVER HOMETOWN
1 38 Mitch Gales Thomasville,NC
2 92 Kyle Southern Rural Hall, NC
3 12 Justin Taylor Kernersville, NC
4 02 Derek Stoltz Walkertown, NC
5 7 Dylan Ward Winston-Salem, NC
6 2 Amber Lynn Walkertown, NC
7 68 Robbie Brewer Winston-Salem, NC
8 03 Sterling Plemmons Winston-Salem, NC
9 31 Chase Robertson Winston-Salem, NC
10 19 Michael Adams Yadkinville, NC
11 30 Blake Shupe Mt Airy, NC
12 56 Fishel Dale Thomasville,NC
13 17 Michael Caudill Lexington, NC
14 4 John Holleman Winston-Salem, NC
15 07 Kevin Neal Walkertown, NC
16 80 Brian Shupe Winston-Salem, NC
17 9 Ryan Dixon Yadkinville, NC
18 5 Austin Taylor King, NC
19 50 Ross Dalton Liberty, NC
20 21 Tommy Neal Walkertown, NC
21 14 Terry Thompson Winston-Salem, NC
Law Offices of John Barrow Street Stock Series
Street Stock Race: 20 laps
FINISH CAR DRIVER HOMETOWN
1 1 Christian Joyce Trinity, NC
2 02 David Creed Mount Airy, NC
3 08 Jacob Creed Dobson, NC
4 97 Jeremy Warren Winston-Salem, NC
5 22 Brian Wall Winston-Salem, NC
6 28 Nate Gregg Lexington, NC
7 98 Billy Gregg Lexington, NC
8 19 Corey Rose Trinity, NC
9 99 Bryan Sykes Winston-Salem, NC
10 16 Brad Lewis Winston-Salem, NC
11 33 Dennis Lanier Lexington, NC
12 13 Kevin Gilbert Mocksville, NC
13 23 Andy Spears Lexington, NC
14 2 Willie Wall Winston-Salem, NC
15 69 Gerald Robinson Jr Winston-Salem, NC
16 3 Jeff Potts Lexington, NC
17 40 Taylor Robbins Winston-Salem, NC
18 29 Bradley Potts Clemmons, NC
Q104.1 Stadium Stock Series
Stadium Stock 50: 53 laps completed (race extended due to caution)
FINISH CAR DRIVER HOMETOWN
1 43 Brandon Brendle Winston-Salem, NC
2 69 Brandon Crotts Winston-Salem, NC
3 33 DJ Dean Thomasville, NC
4 3 K.C. Myers Winston-Salem, NC
5 39 Patrick Mullen Lexington, NC
6 40 Kenny Dixon Pfafftown, NC
7 16 Stephen Sanders Midway, NC
8 37 Josh Osborne Salisbury, NC
9 74 Matt Alley Walnut Cove, NC
10 03 Cody Gum Winston-Salem, NC
11 4 Andrew Sanders Winston-Salem, NC
12 27 Austin Cates Tobaccoville, NC
13 24 A.J. Sanders Mocksville, NC
14 81 Chuck Wall Lexington, NC
15 68 Tyler Bush Clemmons, NC
16 51 Junior Snow King, NC
17 80 Luke Smith Advance, NC
18 2 Jason Everhart Lexington, NC
19 49 Shawn Hayes Lenoir, NC
20 47 Tyler McDonald Thomasville, NC
21 1 Grayson Keaton Mocksville, NC
22 54 Justin Owens Walnut Cove, NC
23 22 Adam Thomas Winston-Salem, NC
24 25 Justin Emory King, NC
25 31 Kyler Staley Reedy Creek, NC
26 7 Chris Allison Mocksville, NC
