The other young gun, Riley Neal, hopes his time is coming at Bowman Gray Stadium

Don't sleep on Riley Neal, one of the other young guys in Bowman Gray Stadium's Modified Division.

While 17-year-old Slate Myers broke the ice last week, the 18-year-old Neal could be next. Both come from famous families at the track and Neal would love to match Myers and win in his third season running in the featured division.

One advantage that Neal does have is he's already won in the Sportsman Division, using that level as a development time until his parents, Lori and Kevin, decided to put him in a Modified car.

"I think we are at the point where we are past the learning stage," said Neal, who graduated from high school through the Liberty University online program last week. "We are just focusing on getting speed in this car and if we can get a little more, I feel positive we can get that first win."

Through five weeks, Neal has been consistent enough to where he ranks seventh in points. He's just 40 points behind leader Burt Myers and said that elusive win will be coming soon.

In his first six races this season, Neal has four top 10 finishes. His best is a pair of fourth-place finishes.

"I've got it figured out and I feel like I'm right there and (two weeks ago) we qualified third and just missed out on the pole," Neal said. "I think we are in a good spot."

It's been bandied about for the three seasons now about when the next generation of the Myers and Neal families will make a dent in the Modified. Myers had a good run last week after drawing the pole for the second 25-lap race and he knew what to do and led the entire 25 laps.

"Slate's got a good car and a good equipment and he comes from a good family," Kevin said. "And we have good equipment, too, so it's going to take some luck."

Neal was fourth in the first 25 lapper last week and wound up 15th in the second race.

"Luck is all it is," Riley said. "It hasn't fell our way just yet."

If there's rivalry between the two young stars, it's been behind the scenes. With both of them being teenagers, their conversations don't involve Bowman Gray Stadium much.

"We talk more about trucks and stuff like that because off the track, we just talk about normal teenage stuff," Neal said.

Now that Neal has seen Myers win, maybe that's just the spark that will get Neal into Victory Lane this week. The Modified Division will have two 25-lap races again on double points night.

"If he's getting frustrated, he doesn't show it," Kevin said. "He's like the ice man because he doesn't show any emotion."

That emotion will surely come out if Neal does get that first win.

"It would mean a lot," he said, "because this crew has worked hard and I know I'm ready."

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