Story by: Corey Latham ~ [email protected]
Winston Salem, NC(January 21, 2013) — While the mighty Modifieds may be the feature division at Bowman Gray Stadium, The Sportsman division often offers most of the excitement on the Saturday night card. Fights, passion, racing, strategy, bump and runs… it’s all the norm on a Saturday night at the “Madhouse”. 2012 saw a first time champion and one of the closest point battles ever as Derek Stoltz took home his first Sportsman championship.
The Sportsman division cars at Bowman Gray at the Stadium are essentially same cars that race in the weekly division at other tracks, more commonly known as Limited Late Models. For years, they had their own uniqueness; they were something that only the Stadium had. But over the last ten years, the cars have evolved to what you see every week at tracks such as Hickory or Motor Mile. The main difference is that the cars draw for position each week and the races are usually twin 20 lappers, so luck of the draw and patience are the biggest priorities. Usually the last trait goes out the window at the green flag.
Stoltz was able to hold off all comers, with his closest competition being veteran driver Jeff Garrison. While Stoltz only took home one victory this season in the biggest race of the year, the annual 100 lapper, he was smooth and steady and stayed out of trouble. Only problem he had all season came when he was racing against Garrison, who himself has been know over the years at various tracks as one of the smoothest drivers around, never rustling feathers but always fast and up front. The two would take their battle into the last race of the year virtually tied.
All year long, the car to beat was the Tim Tripplete owned #70 driven by his son Noah Tripplete and Limited ace Garry Ledbetter. With crew chief James Tripplete turning the wrenches, they had a ton of wins and were contenders in every one they didn’t. But some DNF’s would lower their rank while Garrison and Stoltz remained consistent, bring their point totals to the top. The last race of the year would decide the championship battle.
At the last race, it came down to Garrison finishing two spots ahead of Stoltz to claim the championship and Stoltz knew what he had to do, keep the #3 machine of Garrison in his sights. They would both start mid-pack and quickly moved their way to the front, Stoltz on Garrison’s bumper the entire way. After dodging numerous wrecks and the leaders taking themselves out, Stoltz kept his cool and his eyes on the prize as he finished right behind Garrison taking the championship by one point over Garrison.
The race was won by Taylor Branch as Stoltz said he had a car to win but he knew he had to mind his manners. A championship tops a win any day.
“I’m just glad to have this thing behind me” said an excited Stoltz. “I never want to do this again though, it sucks racing like that. I like to race to win and this whole championship thing makes you change your style. That’s not my style at all, next year we are going to every race to win no matter what”.
For sure Stoltz will be a contender next year, and this time the excitement level will reach a new level.
