The full moon was out Saturday night in the season finale at Bowman Gray, and the results showed how so many drivers were hard-charging for championships.
That was no more evident than in the Brad’s Golf Cars Modified series, which came down to the kings of the quarter-mile track, Tim Brown and Burt Myers. Each
of them had 10 championships under their belts and were vying for their 11th on Saturday.
But while the points battle raged, Jonathan Brown ended his 2021 on a fitting note. He had previously opened up the season by claiming the checkered in the
first race of 2021. On Saturday, he then captured the final 2021 win in the season-ending Carolina Farm Credit 150.
As the Carolina Farm Credit 150 started, Brown held a slim four-point lead over Myers, who had won the previous four championships in a row.
With double points awarded on the final night, Burt Myers needed to finish just two spots ahead of Myers to claim the title. In the early parts of the race,
Myers was several positions ahead of Brown – while fans eagerly watched to see if Brown could make up the distance. Biding his time, Brown flew forward at the
end of the race to pass Myers and clinch his 11th Modified title.
“Eleven is a big number,” Tim Brown said. “Ten was special. Catching Ralph Brinkley for eighth was special, nine was special, Ten was special because it was
double digits. Eleven is awesome because it puts me in a league of my own. Burt’s not tied with me anymore. So they can’t talk about hoow we’re tied. I’ve got
it.”
Tim Brown wanted to soak in what he had just done after persevering through the race season.
“This race means everything with all they do for me,” he said. “My family, my wife, my kids, all my fans, the race team, the car owner, the sponsors, everybody
involved deserves this more than I do. I’m the lucky one that gets to hold the steering wheel.”
Not to be outdone, another Brown had a fantastic night in the Modified series. Jonathan Brown had the fastest qualifying lap of the season. He tangled with
John Holleman, trading the lead back and forth – but eventually claiming the 150-lap race win.
“Obviously, to start off good winning the season-opening 200-lapper, and finally getting my first pole tonight,” said Jonathan Brown about the night. “And now,
we leave here as winner in the last race, and that’s huge for team morale over the winter. It also helps put sponsors on this race car.”
Myers came up just short of the points title, in part because of an on-track skirmish between himself and Brandon Ward. Myers spun Ward out on lap 107, and
Ward retaliated. Ward followed Myers around the track and kept ramming his car, which caused some damage to Myers’ #1 machine.
Myers was in fourth at the time, but slowly dropped back to sixth.
“We’re just racing hard, and I had a great race car,” Myers said. “I’m trying to win the championship. And I know his mentality was, Burt will give me the spot
because he’s running for the points. You can’t give a man a spot when you’re going door-to-door. And I don’t know if it’s Brandon or his spotter but one of
them’s got a serious problem not clearing when there’s a guy inside or outside of him.
“I was content behind him and we went in the corner, and he turned sideways, and I bumped him and spun out. Why would I intentionally take a man out when I’m
trying to win the championship? So, one of these days if he started driving like he had some sense he might know how it feels to be running for a
championship.”
Needless to say, Ward had a different perspective than Myers.
“The way I see it, he’s racing for a championship,” Ward said. “Pretty much he’s in position to win the thing. The way I see it, he was in front of the 83 (Tim
Brown). We’re racing to win the race and try to get third in the points. He runs over us getting into (turn) 1, basically causes us to cook the rear tires off
the car. And everything we’d tried to save all night to be in the position we were in.
“So, at that point the car’s sliding around. We let the rear tires up and he tried to wreck us getting into 1. So then he gets down into 3, and he turned us
around. At that point he took our chance to win the race. I was going to make sure we took his chance to win the championship.”
For Tim Brown, who won three races this season, he had a chance to celebrate with his fans and crew.
“Having a crew behind you knowing what you’re doing, understanding what you’re doing, having a great race car, knowing the car, knowing what it’s going to do –
and just knowing that you’ve got to be patient,” Tim Brown said. “You can’t race guys too hard, too early, which will hurt your tires. It just worked out.”
In the McDowell Heating and Air Sportsman Series, Tommy Neal claimed the crown on Saturday. Neal entered the 40-lap season finale with a 12-point lead over
Zack Ore – and it came down to the last lap between the two for the championship.
Ore survived eight cautions, but Neal finished fourth to tie Ore’s points total. However, the tiebreaker is most wins – and since Neal won three race to Ore’s
two victories, the championship belonged to Neal. It was the second championship of his career.
“It feels great, man,” Neal said. “…I’m at a loss for words. I’ve got a lot of great people behind me and that’s what it takes…
“All you’ve got to do is drive it, and that’s what I did tonight.”
It didn’t come easy for either driver. There was a restart on the final caution with four laps left. Ore passed Amber Lynn with four laps left for second, and
Ore continued until lap 38 when he passed leader Michael Adams (who led most of the race). Ore edged Lynn and then held on for the win.
“We knew we had to come out here and win the race tonight…Hats off to Tommy,” Ore said. “We came up a little bit short of the championship, but this is the
best season we’ve ever had.”
Neal knew what he had to do to assure that he could win the championship.
“I congratulate Zack Ore on the win,” he said. “I kept switching levels back in the row a little bit. I usually don’t do that, but the car was a little bit
tight.”
There was the Traffic Control Safety Services double-file restart cone on each caution.
“I like to take that cone but I had to show some restraint a little bit,” Neal said. “I take it every time I see it. They (spotters) made the right call.
That’s what put us here. God willing, that’s how we got here.”
Ore knew that he was going to have to maneuver past Adams and Lynn to win the race – and possibly the championship.
“I knew that Michael had a good car. I knew in order to win the championship we had to go,” Ore said. “We were running for a championship. We tied.
Congratulations to Tommy. We’ll come get it next year.”
Not only did Neal, who is 50 years old, win the championship, he also won the Top Gun Award in the Sportsman Series.
“The older you get, the more mature you get,” Neal said. “And the smarter you get. It takes a lot of money to run these cars…It takes a lot of great people,
and that’s what makes it happen.”
Billy Gregg dominated the Law Offices of John Barrow Street Series, so it was fitting that he swept everything on the final race of the season. Gregg defeated
Christian Joyce in the 20-lap season finale, and he won the points championship.
Gregg also won the Top Gun Award for most wins in the Street Stock Series.
And then in the Q104.1 Stadium Stock Series, Brandon Brendle ended his season on a strong note. Brendle moved past Grayson Keaton to claim the race lead in the
season-ending 15-lap race – which also won him the 2021 title.
“It feels pretty good,” Brendle said. “I’ve been so close so many times. Just never able to seal the deal. It’s indescribable. It feels good.”
Final Points Standings
Brad’s Golf Cars Modified Series Points Standings
RANK CAR DRIVER POINTS GAINED
LAST EVENT
1 83 Tim Brown 532 84
2 1 Burt Myers 524 80
3 4 Jason Myers 482 76
4 22 Jonathan Brown 476 100
5 65 Danny Bohn 466 96
6 75 Lee Jeffreys 446 60
7 16 Chris Fleming 422 88
8 04 Brandon Ward 418 20
9 69 John Holleman 414 52
10 79 James Civali 380 92
11 5 Randy Butner 346 68
12 53 Joseph Brown 294 40
13 44 Daniel Beeson 278 24
14 3 Danny Propst 270 4
15 17 John Smith 208 0
McDowell Heating & Air Sportsman Series Points Standings
RANK CAR DRIVER POINTS GAINED
LAST EVENT
21 Tommy Neal 522 88
2 55 Zack Ore 522 100
3 2 Amber Lynn 512 96
4 19 Michael Adams 470 92
5 05 Spencer Martin 460 84
6 92 Kyle Southern 432 48
7 12 Justin Taylor 428 68
8 08 Jacob Creed 405 76
9 03 Sterling Plemmons 397 64
10 31 Chase Robertson 390 80
11 6 Kirk Sheets 374 52
12 38 Mitch Gales 374 44
13 02 Wesley Thompson 349 60
14 68 Robbie Brewer 261 0
15 81 Zack Clifton 222 72
Law Offices of John Barrow Street Stock Series Points Standings
RANK CAR DRIVER POINTS GAINED
LAST EVENT
1 98 Billy Gregg 530 100
2 1 Christian Joyce 496 96
3 97 Jeremy Warren 480 92
4 40 Taylor Robbins 462 76
5 02 David Creed 454 80
6 28 Nate Gregg 432 68
7 99 Bryan Sykes 418 84
8 22 Brian Wall 402 60
9 15 Nick Wall 370 88
10 69 Gerald Robinson Jr 318 0
11 91 Austin Harris 298 0
12 13 Kevin Gilbert 254 52
13 00 Donnie Martin 248 0
14 79 Connor Shaw 240 44
15 88 Austin Jones 232 64
Q104.1 Stadium Stock Series Points Standings
RANK CAR DRIVER POINTS GAINED
LAST EVENT
1 9 Brandon Brendle 554 100
2 1 Grayson Keaton 542 92
3 90 Robert Strmiska 506 76
4 81 Chuck Wall 506 96
5 46 Wyatt Sapp 460 88
6 27 Austin Cates 436 56
7 31 Kyler Staley 418 72
8 80 Luke Smith 416 0
9 12 Levi Holt 408 60
10 54 Justin Owens 358 48
11 55 Jeremy Smith 330 68
12 69 Brandon Crotts 324 80
13 24 A.J. Sanders 318 0
14 33 DJ Dean 312 64
15 28 Robert Mabe 312 44
Race Results
Brad’s Golf Cars Modified Series
Carolina Farm Credit 150
FINISH CAR DRIVER HOMETOWN
1 22 Jonathan Brown Winston-Salem, NC
2 65 Danny Bohn Mooresville, NC
3 79 James Civali Davidson, NC
4 16 Chris Fleming Mount Airy, NC
5 83 Tim Brown Tobaccoville, NC
6 1 Burt Myers Kernersville, NC
7 4 Jason Myers Walnut Cove, NC
8 25 Bobby Labonte Trinity, NC
9 5 Randy Butner Pfafftown, NC
10 7 Dylan Ward Winston-Salem, NC
11 75 Lee Jeffreys Wallburg, NC
12 55 Jeremy Gerstner Wesley Chapel, FL
13 69 John Holleman Winston-Salem, NC
14 6 Chris Williams Martinsville, VA
15 05 Kevin Powell Winston-Salem, NC
16 44 Daniel Beeson Kernersville, NC
17 77 Susan Harwell Jonesville, NC
18 15 Brian Loftin Clemmons, NC
19 88 Clint King Denton, NC
20 53 Joseph Brown Winston-Salem, NC
21 04 Brandon Ward Winston-Salem, NC
22 99 William Smith Mount Airy, NC
23 24 Andrew Harrah Charlotte, NC
24 36 Dave Sapienza Riverhead, NY
25 3 Danny Propst Monroe, NC
26 68 Junior Miller Danbury, NC
McDowell Heating 7 Air Sportsman Series
Sportsman Race: 40 laps
FINISH CAR DRIVER HOMETOWN
1 55 Zack Ore Lexington, NC
2 2 Amber Lynn Walkertown, NC
3 19 Michael Adams Yadkinville, NC
4 21 Tommy Neal Rural Hall, NC
5 5 Spencer Martin Wallburg, NC
6 31 Chase Robertson Winston-Salem, NC
7 08 Jacob Creed Mt Airy, NC
8 81 Zack Clifton Walkertown, NC
9 12 Justin Taylor Kernersville, NC
10 03 Sterling Plemmons Winston-Salem, NC
11 22 Wesley Thompson Advance, NC
12 54 Braden Mills Winston-Salem, NC
13 6 Kirk Sheets Pfafftown, NC
14 92 Kyle Southern Rural Hall, NC
15 38 Mitch Gales Thomasville, NC
Law Offices of John Barrow Street Stock Series
Street Stock Race: 20 laps
FINISH CAR DRIVER HOMETOWN
1 98 Billy Gregg Lexington, NC
2 1 Christian Joyce Trinity, NC
3 97 Jeremy Warren Winston-Salem, NC
4 15 Nick Wall Pfafftown, NC
5 99 Bryan Sykes Winston-Salem, NC
6 02 David Creed Mount Airy, NC
7 40 Taylor Robbins Winston-Salem, NC
8 16 Brad Lewis Winston-Salem, NC
9 28 Nate Gregg Lexington, NC
10 88 Austin Jones Clemmons, NC
11 22 Brian Wall Winston-Salem, NC
12 00 Cale Martin Winston-Salem, NC
13 13 Kevin Gilbert Mocksville, NC
14 31 Brandon Butner Lewisville, NC
15 79 Conner Shaw Walnut Cove, NC
16 10 Kendell Craig Hartless Winston-Salem, NC
17 14 Aaron Hylton Kernersville, NC
Q104.1 Stadium Stock Series
Stadium Stock race: 15 laps
FINISH CAR DRIVER HOMETOWN
1 9 Brandon Brendle Tobaccoville, NC
2 81 Chuck Wall Lexington, NC
3 1 Grayson Keaton Mocksville, NC
4 46 Wyatt Sapp Kernersville, NC
5 17 Andy Southern Lexington, NC
6 69 Brandon Crotts King, NC
7 90 Robert Strmiska Lexington, NC
8 31 Kyler Staley Lexington, NC
9 55 Jeremy Smith King, NC
10 33 DJ Dean Thomasville, NC
11 12 Levi Holt Kernersville, NC
12 27 Austin Cates Tobaccoville, NC
13 76 Billy Cameron Jr Salisbury, NC
14 54 Justin Owens Walnut Cove, NC
15 28 Robert Mabe Germanton, NC
16 70 Jeffery Burrow Thomasville, NC
17 7 Joel Stewart Mocksville, NC
18 23 Blake Spears Lexington, NC
19 14 Ken Bridges King, NC
Bowman Gray Stadium PR
