Justin Taylor wins wild Sportsman race; Tim Brown, Mike Speeney grab Modified wins
There are a lot of races all season long that have drama, wrecks and good old fashioned hard racing. The 100-lap Sportsman race on Saturday night at Bowman Gray Stadium had it all.
When it was finally over after he had gone to overtime, Justin Taylor had the most fun because he had the checkered flag and a smile that lit up the stadium that had around 10,000 on hand.
So the question posed to Taylor was obvious. Was it more fun or more work?
"It's both," he said about holding off Chase Robertson for his 12th career win in his No. 12 car.
In pre-race festivities, the Sportsman lineup for the 100-lap race lined up in order just before the national anthem. As each was introduced they all shook hands going down the line, but those good vibes and handshakes were forgotten once the race started.
It went out the window on lap 24 when Zack Ore and Tommy Neal got tangled up. On the caution lap, Neal rammed Ore and they both got out of their cars wanting to fight with Ore going on the hood of Neal's No. 21.
Jimmy Brown and his quick acting track cleanup crew got in the middle before punches were thrown. Neal wasn't going anywhere waiting for Ore to get down from being on top of Neal's car, but the two never came together.
Ore's car wasn't as badly damaged as Neal's car, and Ore continued in the race while Neal had to go to the pit area.
On lap 44, Bryan Sykes Jr. was having a solid race but spun out while in second place as Justin Taylor was in front after the Neal-Ore wreck. Taylor held the lead for the rest of the way.
Neal said in the pit area after he had to exit the race after he had passed just about every car in the field cleanly on the outside.
"I owned that outside lane and (Ore) right-reared me into the wall," Neal said. "And because of that, I busted the radiator and was out of the race. But I owned that outside lane, and I showed them all who's their daddy."
Neal also pointed out what his philosophy is when racing: "I'm all gas and no brakes."
Taylor stopped in the middle of his Victory Lap between turn three and four and got out of the car with the Bowman Gray Stadium checkered flag and performed a bow on top of his car in a tribute to the late Kyle Busch.
"There was water all over the racetrack, but we handled it all and my guys really had a good car for me tonight," Taylor said.
Taylor said plenty of people complain about the Sportsman running a 100-lap race, but it's one of the most exciting of the long season.
"We have to thank (Gray Garrison) for putting this race on and it's always entertaining," Taylor said. "I'm just glad we got this win with everything that happened."
Tim Brown wins 107th career race
There was something very familiar with the first 25-lap Modified race when it was dominated by Tim Brown and Burt Myers. Once Brown got the lead early, he never let up and Myers couldn't get Brown.
Also, it shouldn't be a surprise that the two winningest drivers in track history pulled away from the rest of the field.
"We've been racing against each other for 25 years or more and it's always fun," Brown said of Myers, who has 103 career wins.
The two will likely be battling the rest of the season for the points championship as well.
"It's go time," said Brown, who had the best qualifying time and made it stand up.
In the second 25-lap race, Riley Neal drew the pole, but Mike Speeney jumped in front early and went on to his second win of the season.
Neal, 18, was in the best starting position of the season but struggled on a couple of laps with the slick track and Speeney took advantage.
"We made some good adjustments and got in position to win this second race," Speeney said.
Neal was second and Jordan Fleming had his best finish of the season with a third-place finish.
Brad Lewis wins Street Stock
Points leader Brad Lewis picked a good night to win again this season, and he did it on double points night.
Lewis was leading when the 20-minute time limit was up on lap 17. It was Lewis' 12th career win.
"This never gets old," said Lewis, who held off Kevin Gilbert, who was the winner last week. "I knew I had to just keep it in front and keep my lines and I'd be fine. We've had a good car all season."
Jayden Cordell was third and Zac Cogar was fourth.
Lewis had to withstand five caution flags and the restarts and Gilbert kept getting closer and closer. On the last lap before the time limit was up, Gilbert nearly caught Lewis, but he stayed in front.
"I love this place and I give it all I got every time I'm out here," Lewis said.
Chuck Wall wins Stadium Stock race
Chuck Wall finally broke the hold that Luke Smith had on the Stadium Stock division. Smith had won the first five races of the season, but Wall won on Saturday night with Smith finishing second.
Brandon Brendle wound up third in the longest race of the season in the Stadium Stock with 50 laps. Stephen Sanders was fourth and Levi Holt was fifth.
Next week's races
This coming Saturday for the ninth week of the season, the Modified Division will run two 50-lap races that are sponsored by Tuff Shed.
With those 50-lap races, the Madhouse Scramble will be in play as well as the double-file restarts after each caution.
The Sportsman Division will have two 20-lap races, and the Stadium Stock Division will have two 15-lap races. There will also be a 20-lap Street Stock race.
The Crown Vic Outlaw Super Series will also race in a 20-lap session.
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