NASCAR PR
Jason Smith Photo

ASHEBORO, N.C. – Brian Loftin took the lead early and paced the field to the finish to win the Farm Bureau Insurance 150 NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour race at Caraway Speedway on Saturday.

It was an emotional Victory Lane, marking Loftin’s first win since the passing of his wife a year ago. The win gives the Lexington, N.C., driver a tour-leading eight victories at Caraway and marked his 12th career tour win overall.

Loftin, who started third on the field in his No. 23 QMF Metel & Electronic Sol/L&R Trans Chevrolet, took the lead from Frank Fleming a third of the way through the 150-lap event and then held on through four restarts in the second half of the race to score the win.

L.W. Miller followed Loftin across the finish line in second to collect a second podium finish at Caraway for a second consecutive week. Rookie Daniel Hemric finished third, with Tim Brown rebounding from a flat tire to finish fourth and Danny Bohn taking fifth.

Completing the top 10 were Patrick Emerling, defending champion George Brunnhoelzl III, Jason Myers, Burt Myers and Andy Seuss.

This was the 41st NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour race at Caraway Speedway, the unofficial home track of the tour, and the second of five visits to the venue this season. The tour opened its season at the .455-mile track last week.

With his victory in the Farm Bureau Insurance 150, Loftin locked up a spot in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Series race at the UNOH Battle At The Beach at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway next February during Speedweeks.

The NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour will return to action for the South Boston (Va.) 150 on Saturday, April 14. It will be the first of two visits to the state for the tour in 2012.

Unofficial Results
1. #23 Brian Loftin
2. #88 LW Miller
3. #79 Daniel Hemric
4. #02 Tim Brown
5. #65 Danny Bohn
6. #07 Patrick Emerling
7. #09 George Brunnhoelzl III
8. #4 Jason Myers
9. #1 Burt Myers
10. #11 Andy Seuss
11. #7 Thomas Stinson
12. #51 Kyle Ebersole
13. #80 Michael Speeney
14. #01 Rich Kuiken
15. #2 Frank Fleming
16. #12 Mike Norman
17. #25 John Smith
18. #77 Gary Putnam
19. #2 JR Bertuccio Jr
20. #33 Gary Fountain
21. #97 Bryan Dauzat
22. #20 Joe Scarbrough