WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Luke Fleming asked his dad, who runs regularly at Bowman Gray Stadium, earlier in the month if he could drive his car in the Advance Auto Parts 199. Good thing his dad said yes.
Fleming survived a wreck-filled race and held off George Brunnhoelzl III to record his first career win in the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour.
Fleming, 22, made his car as wide as he could keeping Brunnhoelzl III in his rearview mirror over the final 32 laps of the action-packed race.
Brunnhoelzl III (No. 28 Oval Speed/Fibrwrap/PT Ford) held on with his damaged car to get second while Gene Pack (No. 31 Clubhouse/Wings-n-Things Chevrolet recorded his best finish since finishing second at Martinsville in 2006.
L.W. Miller (No. 36 John Baker Plumbing & Utilities Pontiac) was fourth and Bryan Dauzat scored his best career finish in fifth.
The race was slowed 10 times for caution with several multicar incidents taking out several of the top-10 drivers in the point standings.
Brian Loftin won the Coors Light Pole Award during qualifying on Friday and was collected in one of the on-track incidents to finish ninth.
Completing the top 10 were Dean Ward, Frank Fleming, Randy Butner, Loftin and Bobby Hutchens.
Brunnhoelzl was able to build his lead to 66 points over Andy Seuss.
NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour-Advance Auto Parts 199 Results
Saturday
At Bowman Gray Stadium
Winston-Salem, NC
Lap length: 0.25 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (19) Luke Fleming, Mt. Airy, NC, Chevrolet, 199 laps, 39.190 mph, $2,000.
2. (1) George Brunnhoelzl III, West Babylon, N.Y., Ford, 199, $1,500.
3. (15) Gene Pack, Washington, D.C., Chevrolet, 199, $1,125.
4. (14) L.W. Miller, Dushore, Pa., Pontiac, 197, $1,050.
5. (20) Bryan Dauzat, Midland, NC, Chevrolet, 192, $1,550.
6. (16) Dean Ward, Winston-Salem, N.C., Chevrolet, 189, $1,000.
7. (7) Frank Fleming, Mount Airy, N.C., Pontiac, 169, accident, $800.
8. (5) Randy Butner, Pfafftown, NC, Chevrolet, 168, accident, $730.
9. (3) Brian Loftin, Lexington, N.C., Chevrolet, 167, accident, $990.
10. (4) Bobby Hutchens, Winston-Salem, N.C., Chevrolet, 167, accident, $600.
11. (12) Scott Rigney, Mt. Airy, NC, Chevrolet, 160, accident, $575.
12. (2) Burt Myers, Walnut Cove, N.C., Ford, 151, $550.
13. (10) John Smith, Mount Airy, N.C., Chevrolet, 145, fuel pump, $540.
14. (8) Andy Seuss, Hampstead, N.H., Chevrolet, 141, $535.
15. (18) Tommy Neal, Walkertown, NC, Chevrolet, 116, radiator, $530.
16. (17) Rich Kuiken Jr., Staffordville, NJ, Chevrolet, 96, accident, $525.
17. (6) Jason Myers, Walnut Cove, N.C., Ford, 80, accident, $520.
18. (11) Buddy Emory, Petersburg, Va., Chevrolet, 69, transmission, $510.
19. (9) Zach Brewer, Winston-Salem, N.C., Chevrolet, 27, handling, $500.
20. (13) Brent Elliott, Denton, NC, Chevrolet, 21, accident, $490.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 1 hour 16 minutes 10 seconds
Margin of Victory: .397 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: B.Loftin (66.191 mph, 13.597 seconds)
Caution Flags: 10 for 53 laps.
Lead Changes: 20 among 5 drivers.
Lap Leaders: G. Brunnhoelzl III 1-27; J. Smith 28; B. Myers 29; J. Smith 30-34; G.Brunnhoelzl III 35-38; J. Smith 39-63; G. Brunnhoelzl III 64; J. Smith 65-72; G. Brunnhoelzl III 73; J. Smith 74-75; G. Brunnhoelzl III 76-77; J. Smith 78-83; G. Brunnhoelzl III 84; J. Smith 85-87; G. Brunnhoelzl III 88; J. Smith 89-127; G. Brunnhoelzl III 128; J. Smith 129-144; G. Brunnhoelzl III 145-166; L. Miller 167; L. Fleming 168-199.
Standings: 1. G. Brunnhoelzl III, 985; 2. A. Seuss, 919; 3. B. Loftin, 891; 4. F. Fleming, 877; 5. L. Miller, 862; 6. B. Myers, 862; 7. J. Myers, 810; 8. G. Pack, 789; 9. J. Smith, 759; 10. B. Emory, 753.
