Brendle Wins 50-Lapper, Holleman Takes Mod Victory at Bowman Gray

Photo Credit CV Creations

The drivers in the Q104.1 Stadium Stock Series only get one chance to be the featured race in any given season at Bowman Gray Stadium.

That night was Saturday, in the Thunder Road Grill 50, and it didn’t disappoint. 

Brandon Brendle and A.J. Sanders raced side-by-side on the final lap, and as both drivers wobbled at the finish, Brendle surged ahead for the win. It was 
Brendle’s second win of the season, and his third straight win in the 50-lap race.

Sanders finished runner-up, Luke Smith was third, and Grayson Keaton was fourth. 

“I knew me and A.J. was tit for tat,” Brendle said. “I did the corners better. He did the corners better. Our cars are just about dead even. Knock on wood, I 
think mine was a little bit better than his was because he’s a lot better steering-wheel holder than I am.”

Brendle needed that car and his steering wheel at the finish. 

“I knew I was going to get a shot up into (turn 4), so I backed the corner up a little bit,” he said. “…We had a drag race til the end. That’s how racing 
should be.”

Chuck Wall sat on the pole for the race and led until lap 18 when Sanders bolted past him. Sanders held the lead until lap 45 when Brendle took the lead. 

There was a restart following the caution. Brendle sat in first with Sanders just behind. Both Brendle and Sanders were side-by-side for much of the final lap 
until Brendle edged him at the finish line. 

“I didn’t want to be too dirty,” Sanders said. “But I had to remember what he did to me in the last 50-lapper. We got on the last lap, last corner. I was going 
to rough him up on that last lap. That’s all I could do and still be as clean as I could.”

Sanders was able to take some solace in finishing runner-up.

“I knew going into it I had nothing to lose,” he said. “So, I wanted to win it pretty bad.”

Getting that caution inside five laps helped Brendle – it was a single-file restart so Sanders couldn’t start on the outside front row.

“I knew we had a really fresh car,” he said. “I think we had a good enough car to clear anybody on the outside. So, I felt like if anybody was in front of us, 
we had to get up under them and drive.”

It all came down to two experienced drivers. 

“You’ve got to know who you’re racing with, too,” Sanders said. “Chuck Wall is probably one of my best friends as far as racing. I knew we might touch, and we 
did. But I knew that doing that, he was going to run me about as hard and as clean as he could.

“It seemed like his car was having troubles, and it worked out. So, we had a good car. We finished second. We’ll go on and hopefully get this 50th win.”

Sanders was referring to the fact that he has a current tally of 49 wins in the Stadium Stock Series.

“People can make fun of Stadium Stocks all they want to,” he said. “This is probably the toughest class at this race track to drive because we don’t have the 
tires. We don’t have all this luxury. So, we have to man-handle these things. I’ve done this, next year will be 40 years, so I know what it takes to do it.”

Brendle also knows what it takes to win races and perform well within the Stadium Stock Series. 

“I said it earlier, I take pride on Googling, studying, researching physics. And I love studying race cars and how they work,” he said. “And my goal is work 
off all four corners of this race car even and try to make me a long-run car. And it tends to show off.”

Since there was no racing last year, Brendle has won the annual 50-lapper three times in a row: in 2018, 2019, and again in 2021. 

“I’ve been coming over here since I was 6 years old, and it’s just a passion like no other,” he said. “My kids enjoy it. I was ready to hang it up a few years 
back, and the older my kids got the more they said, ‘Let’s get back into it.’

“Here we are.”

John Holleman IV may be a rookie in the Brad’s Golf Cars Modified Series, but he isn’t showing it. Holleman won the first Modified race Saturday night, which 
was his third win of the season. 

Holleman won his first career Modified pole earlier in the night and used that strong start to propel himself throughout the race. There were three cautions on 
laps 1, 13 and 22, but it didn’t matter. Holleman fended off Brandon Ward, Burt Myers, Jason Myers, Lee Jeffreys and points leader Tim Brown.

“Three’s great,” Holleman said. “…But we’ve got a long way to go in the season.”

Holleman felt better about things after finishing 10th and fourth respectively in the two 25-lap races on July 24. 

“We had a winning car last week and got messed up in some things we shouldn’t have,” he said. “But you look better when you come out and win.”

In the second 25-lap race in the Brad’s Golf Cars Modified Series, Chris Fleming claimed his first win since June 15, 2019.

Fleming, who was placed on the pole by the “Madhouse Scramble,” took his 11th career victory.

“It’s great to celebrate with my grandson,” Fleming said. “It’s been a hard little time.”

In the first 20-lap race for the McDowell Heating & Air Sportsman Series, Amber Lynn picked up her first win of the season and her fourth overall since she 
joined the Series.

Lynn started third behind Ronnie Bassett Jr., but Kyle Southern, who was in second, quickly took the lead. Lynn bided her time and slipped past Southern just 
across the start line on lap 7. 

Lynn took a commanding lead, but there was a caution after a pileup around turns 3 and 4 on lap 18. After the caution, Lynn surged past Sterling Plemmons for 
the win. 

“It’s been a really long year,” Lynn said. “We’ve had a lot of highs and a lot of lows, more lows than highs. But without my team, without my parents, without 
all my sponsors, I couldn’t do what I do tonight. So, excuse me while I ugly cry.”

Tommy Neal was third and Wesley Thompson was fourth. 

In the second 20-lap race in the McDowell Heating & Air Sportsman Series, Spencer Martin won for his third career win.

Martin led with five laps remaining, and had to withstand a caution on lap 18, but cruised to the win ahead of Kirk Sheets, Tommy Neal, and Southern. 

“I told everybody we were going to go next week and we were going to start winning races,” Martin said. “And here we are.”

What a night it was for the Gregg family in the 20-lap race in the Law Offices of John Barrow Street Stock Series, 

Nate Gregg survived six cautions and defeated his father, Billy Gregg, for the win. It was also the night before Nate’s 18th birthday.

Nate took the lead on lap 5 after he passed leader Taylor Robbins, and Nate never relinquished the lead. Nate even eased to the win past his father. While the 
two Greggs were well out front at the finish, Bryan Sykes was third, and Jeremy Warren was fourth. 

This Saturday’s racing features the FOX8 WGHP 100, a 100-lap Modified race, the final 100-lap Modified race of the season. That Brad’s Golf Cars Modified race 
is also the last Fans’ Challenge of the season, where a driver or drivers could win as much as $6,000. In addition to the 100-lap Modified race, there will be 
twin 20-lap races in the McDowell Heating & Air Sportsman Series, twin 15-lap Q104.1 Stadium Stock races and a 20-lap Street Stock race in the Law Offices of 
John Barrow Street Stock Series. There will also be a demolition derby.

Race Results

Brad’s Golf Cars Modified Series
1st Modified Race: 25 laps

FINISH    CAR    DRIVER    HOMETOWN
1    69    John Holleman    Winston-Salem, NC
2    04    Brandon Ward    Winston-Salem, NC
3    1    Burt Myers    Kernersville, NC
4    4    Jason Myers    Walnut Cove, NC
5    75    Lee Jeffreys    Wallburg, NC
6    83    Tim Brown    Tobaccoville, NC
7    65    Danny Bohn    Mooresville, NC
8    16    Chris Fleming    Mount Airy, NC
9    5    Randy Butner    Pfafftown, NC
10    12    Dean Ward    Winston-Salem, NC
11    79    James Civali    Davidson, NC
12    53    Joseph Brown    Winston-Salem, NC
13    24    Max Zachem    Preston, CT
14    18    Daniel Yates    Lexington, NC
15    3    Danny Propst    Monroe, NC
16    7    Dylan Ward    Winston-Salem, NC
17    99    William Smith    Mount Airy, NC
18    44    Daniel Beeson    Kernersville, NC
19    45    Lee Stimpson    Lewisville, NC
20    6    Chris Williams    Martinsville, VA
21    88    Brad Robbins    Winston-Salem, NC
22    22    Jonathan Brown    Winston-Salem, NC
23    05    Bussy Beavers    Trinity, NC
24    01    Jason Southern    Winston-Salem, NC
25    77    Susan Harwell    Jonesville, NC

2nd Modified Race: 25 laps

FINISH    CAR    DRIVER    HOMETOWN
1    16    Chris Fleming    Mount Airy, NC
2    83    Tim Brown    Tobaccoville, NC
3    75    Lee Jeffreys    Wallburg, NC
4    1    Burt Myers    Kernersville, NC
5    4    Jason Myers    Walnut Cove, NC
6    65    Danny Bohn    Mooresville, NC
7    04    Brandon Ward    Winston-Salem, NC
8    5    Randy Butner    Pfafftown, NC
9    18    Daniel Yates    Lexington, NC
10    24    Max Zachem    Preston, CT
11    22    Jonathan Brown    Winston-Salem, NC
12    3    Danny Propst    Monroe, NC
13    44    Daniel Beeson    Kernersville, NC
14    7    Dylan Ward    Winston-Salem, NC
15    45    Lee Stimpson    Lewisville, NC
16    12    Dean Ward    Winston-Salem, NC
17    99    William Smith    Mount Airy, NC
18    79    James Civali    Davidson, NC
19    53    Joseph Brown    Winston-Salem, NC
20    69    John Holleman    Winston-Salem, NC
21    6    Chris Williams    Martinsville, VA
22    88    Brad Robbins    Winston-Salem, NC
23    05    Bussy Beavers    Trinity, NC
24    77    Susan Harwell    Jonesville, NC
25    01    Jason Southern    Winston-Salem, NC

McDowell Heating & Air Sportsman Series
1st Sportsman Race: 20 laps

FINISH    CAR    DRIVER    HOMETOWN
1    2    Amber Lynn    Walkertown, NC
2    03    Sterling Plemmons    Winston-Salem, NC
3    21    Tommy Neal    Rural Hall, NC
4    22    Wesley Thompson    Advance, NC
5    55    Zack Ore    Lexington, NC
6    12    Justin Taylor    Kernersville, NC
7    5    Spencer Martin    Wallburg, NC
8    6    Kirk Sheets    Pfafftown, NC
9    38    Mitch Gales    Thomasville, NC
10    19    Michael Adams    Yadkinville, NC
11    08    Jacob Creed    Mt Airy, NC
12    92    Kyle Southern    Rural Hall, NC
13    9    Ronnie Bassett    Winston-Salem, NC
14    31    Chase Robertson    Winston-Salem, NC
15    54    Braden Mills    Winston-Salem, NC
16    81    Zack Clifton    Walkertown, NC

2nd Sportsman Race: 20 laps

FINISH    CAR    DRIVER    HOMETOWN
1    5    Spencer Martin    Wallburg, NC
2    6    Kirk Sheets    Pfafftown, NC
3    21    Tommy Neal    Rural Hall, NC
4    55    Zack Ore    Lexington, NC
5    92    Kyle Southern    Rural Hall, NC
6    08    Jacob Creed    Mt Airy, NC
7    19    Michael Adams    Yadkinville, NC
8    9    Ronnie Bassett Jr.    Winston-Salem, NC
9    22    Wesley Thompson    Advance, NC
10    2    Amber Lynn    Walkertown, NC
11    54    Braden Mills    Winston-Salem, NC
12    03    Sterling Plemmons    Winston-Salem, NC
13    12    Justin Taylor    Kernersville, NC
14    38    Mitch Gales    Thomasville, NC
15    31    Chase Robertson    Winston-Salem, NC

Law Offices of John Barrow Street Stock Series
Street Stock Race: 20 laps

FINISH    CAR    DRIVER    HOMETOWN
1    28    Nate Gregg    Lexington, NC
2    98    Billy Gregg    Lexington, NC
3    99    Bryan Sykes    Winston-Salem, NC
4    97    Jeremy Warren    Winston-Salem, NC
5    02    David Creed    Mount Airy, NC
6    40    Taylor Robbins    Winston-Salem, NC
7    88    Austin Jones    Clemmons, NC
8    22    Brian Wall    Winston-Salem, NC
9    15    Nick Wall    Pfafftown, NC
10    1    Christian Joyce    Trinity, NC
11    00    Donnie Martin    Winston-Salem, NC
12    79    Conner Shaw    Walnut Cove, NC
13    10    Kendell Craig Hartless    Winston-Salem, NC
14    13    Kevin Gilbert    Mocksville, NC
15    3    Dennis Lanier    Lexington, NC

Q104.1 Stadium Stock Series
Thunder Road Grill Stadium Stock 50: 50 laps

FINISH    CAR    DRIVER    HOMETOWN
1    9    Brandon Brendle    Tobaccoville, NC
2    24    A.J. Sanders    Mocksville, NC
3    80    Luke Smith    Advance, NC
4    1    Grayson Keaton    Mocksville, NC
5    90    Robert Strmiska    Lexington, NC
6    69    Brandon Crotts    King, NC
7    13    Zack Staley    Lexington, NC
8    66    Blaine Curry    Lexington, NC
9    7    Chris Allison    Mocksville, NC
10    54    Justin Owens    Walnut Cove, NC
11    40    Kenny Dixon    Pfafftown, NC
12    46    Wyatt Sapp    Kernersville, NC
13    43    Todd Barnhardt    Mocksville, NC
14    27    Austin Cates    Tobaccoville, NC
15    12    Levi Holt    Kernersville, NC
16    23    Blake Spears    Lexington, NC
17    64    Steven Truell    Midway, NC 
18    17    Andy Southern    Lexington, NC
19    74    Matt Alley    Walnut Cove, NC
20    71    James Allison    Mocksville, NC
21    39    Patrick Mullen    Lexington, NC
22    81    Chuck Wall    Lexington, NC
23    55    Jeremy Smith    King, NC
24    14    Ken Bridges    King, NC
25    28    Robert Mabe    Germanton, NC
26    03    Cody Gum    Clemmons, NC
27    31    Kyler Staley    Lexington, NC
28    33    DJ Dean    Thomasville, NC

Bowman Gray Stadium PR

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