Championship hopeful ties Burt Myers for the top spot in the Modifieds.

(Bowman Gray Stadium, Winston-Salem, NC) Jonathan Brown of Winston-Salem threw his hat in the ring as a championship contender on Saturday. Brown claimed the checkered in the Kevin Powell Motorsports 100, tying him with Burt Myers of Walnut Cove for the points lead in the Brad’s Golf Cars Modified Series.

Brown credits his strong performance to his new race team and new car. “I’ve got new car owners – Darrell and Brandy Jones,” said Brown. “It really helps out that they’ve put me in top notch equipment.” “I definitely knew I had a car that would be hard to beat unless I just messed up myself,” said Brown after drawing the pole as his starting spot in the 100-lapper. “So more than anything, I had to keep myself calm inside the car.”

Knowing that he would have to tangle in multiple double-file restarts, Brown hoped to strategically conserve his tires. The extra horsepower in his new car allowed him to do just that, enabling him to retake the lead after John Smith stole it mid-race.

Burt Myers, who started fifth, managed to finish sixth. Myers loses some ground in the points, while Brown moves up to tie him for the top spot on the points ladder. “It was a tough night at Bowman Gray,” said Myers. “We had to battle it out and hang in there – but we ended up with a decent finish.”

This early in the season, Myers says he doesn’t think about the points battle yet. “You want to stay within striking distance,” said Myers. “But right now, you just go out there to win races.”

Brown, on the other hand, has been thinking about the points championship since the first green flag of the season. “You’ve got to come over here and think about points from lap one,” said Brown. “I tell my guys before every race starts that every lap could be the championship. One point could be the deciding factor.”

Jason Myers of Walnut Cove flew through the field, climbing from 16^th up to a fifth place finish. He drops from second in the points to third – just three points out of the lead. Lee Jeffreys of Wallburg moves up to fourth in the points after an eighth place finish.

In the Webb Heating & A/C Co. Sportsman Series, Bryant Robertson of Lexington leaps up into the points lead. Jeff Garrison of Arcadia climbs from fourth up to second – just four points under Robertson. Gary Ledbetter of Lexington drops from the points lead down to fourth after being involved in an early wreck.

Billy Gregg of Winston-Salem moves up to lead the rankings for the Q104.1 New Country Street Stock Series. Doug Wall of Pfafftown won on Saturday, taking him from fourth up to second in the points.  And bad news for another points leader: a last-lap collision relegated John Holleman to a 13^th place finish, dropping him from the top of the points ladder down to fourth.

In the Summer Shootout Stadium Stock Series, Derek Taylor of Yadkinville ties Charlie Curry of Lexington for the points lead. A.J. Sanders’s win on Saturday moves him up to second in the rankings.

This Saturday night is the biggest night of the year for the Q104.1 New Country Street Stock Series – it’s the USG Street Stock 50. There will also be racing for the Modified, Sportsman, and Street Stock Divisions – plus another 109 U-Pull-It Train Race.

Gates open at 6:00 for practice, qualifying begins at 6:50, and the first race begins at 8:00 PM – this Saturday night. Ticket prices, directions, and more information can be found online at www.bowmangrayracing.com or by calling (336) 723-1819.

Brad’s Golf Cars Modified Series Current Points Standings

Webb Heating & A/C Co. Sportsman Series Current Points Standings

Q104.1 New Country Street Stock Series Current Points Standings

Summer Shootout Stadium Stock Series Current Points Standings

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Legendary Bowman Gray Stadium is NASCAR’s longest running weekly race track. Known as “The Home of the Hot Modifieds,” Bowman Gray continues its 64 year tradition of providing exciting racing action at family friendly prices.

Did you hear what that driver just said?  If you happen to be wearing a radio scanner at the race track you would get an unedited audio of the driver’s conversation with his crew, as well as the ongoing dialogue between race control and the track workers.

This is one of the many aspects of auto racing that make this sport so unique and appealing to fans of all ages.  But, I must warn you, these transmissions are not censored and in the heat of the moment you may hear words that you’ve never heard before!  What you hear is raw emotion from the competitors as well as their crew members.  It’s an added bonus to just watching the sparks fly on the track.

At Bowman Gray Stadium, a place known for excitement on the track, there is a resident expert on race scanners.  Since 1994 Ben Lookabill has been providing a list of each driver’s radio frequency for fans to dial up their favorite, or not so favorite, driver and listen in on their comments during the race.

“I have 31 pages of driver frequencies and race control frequencies from several series of racing, and from many area tracks,” said Lookabill.  For the Bowman Gray list you can purchase a yearly subscription for $8, and that includes two updates throughout the year.

I asked Ben if he had a favorite drive at the Stadium, “Yep”, he said.  Who is it?  “Can’t tell you,” he said with a big laugh.  “When the race starts I kinda focus in on my favorites.” Lookabill added.   “Actually they are all my favorites,” he said with a smile.

Ben started coming to Bowman Gray in the early sixties, “I came with my mom and dad and we sat over there (pointing to the backstretch),” said Ben.

So, how did you get started with the frequency business?  “Well, I bought a scanner, and it cost $250.  I needed a way to make that money back so I started compiling a list of driver frequencies,” Lookabill said.  Ben found that there was a need for his services as most fans who had scanners didn’t have the frequencies of their favorite driver, and a lot of drivers didn’t know the frequencies.

Eighteen years later Ben is still compiling radio frequency lists.  Ben sits in the top row between section 23-24 with his box of lists for Bowman Gray.   “Everybody knows that I sit here and they come back every year to pick up the latest list.” Lookabill said.  I asked Ben if he planned on being there forever, “most likely”, he replied.

Bring your scanner to the track on Saturday night and stop by to see Ben for the latest frequency list of the Madhouse drivers.  It will enhance an already entertaining night at the famed quarter mile!  If you do not have a scanner and head phones, Ben can help you find just what you need.

You can find additional information about Ben’s Frequency Club by visiting his web site at http://www.southernmodified.com/bensfrequencyclub/index.htm

The cost for each player is $40, which includes lunch and a camp t-shirt.  Water will also be provided to the camp attendees.

Click here for more details.

Click here for the enrollment form that is to be completed and brought to the camp on Saturday morning.

(Bowman Gray Stadium, Winston-Salem, NC) Change is difficult and often risky – but sometimes it’s worth it.

Such was the case for Jonathan Brown of Winston-Salem, who switched to a new race team and a new car for 2012. But the move paid off on Saturday as he soared to victory in the Kevin Powell Motorsports 100 for the Brad’s Golf Cars Modified Series.

Leaving the team of Modified legend Melvin “Puddin’” Swisher, Brown partnered with first-time car owners Darrell and Brandy Jones. “Sometimes you’ve got to move on in life. You’ve got to change things to get better,” said Jonathan Brown.

Brown and team came to the early morning practice on Saturday and worked harder than ever trying to dial in the new car. “We’ve been over here all day,” said Jonathan Brown. “Before the race, we were literally in the trailer welding. We’ve worked on it all day non-stop.”

With the full field drawing for starting position, Brown plucked the pole as his starting spot – just the boost of luck he needed to showcase his hard work back in the pits. Rookie Tommy Neal of Walkertown drew the outside pole for his start.

As the green flag dropped, Brown and Neal raced side by side for a lap until Brown began to edge out Neal. The #21 car of Neal dropped back to second and began giving some nudges to the rear bumper of Brown, but the #22 of Brown was able to hold on.

When the first double-file restart occurred, Neal opted to stay on the inside row behind Brown, giving John Smith of Mount Airy the opportunity to challenge from the outside row. Although Smith was unsuccessful at grabbing the lead, he did take over the second place spot from Neal.

The situation repeated itself twice more: Smith challenging from the outside with Brown holding onto the lead. But on the fourth double-file restart, Smith was able to finally steal the top spot away.

“I had a good car – a real good car,” said Smith. “Once I got the lead, I was hoping for no more cautions.” Unfortunately for Smith, that wasn’t the case. Although he was able to defend his position for one restart, Brown reclaimed the lead on the next one.

John Smith never got another chance to challenge from the outside. Brown was able to hold on and claim the checkered.Brown credits his success in the restarts to his new car owners. “It really helps out that they’ve put me in top notch equipment,” said Jonathan Brown. “I don’t have to run the car as hard because I have better equipment.” That extra bit of horsepower in his new car was crucial to his win on Saturday. Brown was able to nurse his tires during the race, saving them for the double-file restarts.

John Smith finished in second, with Michael Clifton of Walkertown in third and Danny Bohn of Huntersville in fourth.

In the Webb Heating & A/C Co. Sportsman Series, Jacob Creed of Ararat won the first 20-lapper. John Lain of Kernersville won the second Sportsman race. It was the first victory at the Stadium for both drivers.

Doug Wall of Pfafftown was able to hold off Billy Gregg of Winston-Salem to take the checkered for the Q104.1 New Country Street Stock Series.

In the Summer Shootout Stadium Stock Series, Andrew Durham of Mocksville claimed victory in the first 15-lapper. A.J. Sanders of Mocksville won the second Stadium Stock race.

Race Results

Brad’s Golf Cars Modified Series

Kevin Powell Motorsports 100: 100 laps

Webb Heating and A/C Co. Sportsman Series:

1^st Sportsman Race: 20 laps

2^nd Sportsman Race: 20 laps

Q104.1 New Country Street Stock Series
Street Stock Race: 20 laps

Summer Shootout Stadium Stock Series
1^st Stadium Stock Race: 15 laps

2^nd Stadium Stock Race: 15 laps

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Legendary Bowman Gray Stadium is NASCAR’s longest running weekly race track. Known as “The Home of the Hot Modifieds,” Bowman Gray continues its 64 year tradition of providing exciting racing action at family friendly prices.

Those are the words from Patrick Robinson, a.k.a. Pat the Roc, and his Team A.I.P. program.  Patrick was on hand Saturday morning at the Winston Lake YMCA for a youth basketball experience that those kids will never forget.

Pat The Roc

The event, called “D-1 Experience” was organized by two former women’s Division I basketball players from the area.  Porsche Jones (Wake Forest University) and Ashlee’ Samuels (High Point University) coordinated this one day skills evaluation camp and nearly 50 kids showed up to see how they stacked up against their peers.

Robinson said that he really enjoys being around the kids and sees this as a way of “giving back”.  Besides the basketball skills sessions, Robinson and the other counselors spend time talking to the kids about the importance of education and setting goals, which is a vital part of Team A.I.P.

“There are good players, and there are great players,” said Robinson, “Good players work out, and great players out work.”  Robinson told the kids that nothing is going to be given to them, that they must work hard to reach their full potential, in life and in basketball.

Robinson says that the “Anything is possible” message was passed on to him as a young kid by an older gentleman.  “Basically he told me that when I face a difficult challenge in life, anything is possible, and that has helped me become successful in my basketball career,” said Robinson.  Patrick says that he has been cut from a team numerous times, but he always kept that bit of advice in the back of his mind and he felt that is was important to pass that message along to the kids of today.

Also in attendance was Ronnie Til who runs the Carolina Scouting Report, based out of Charlotte, NC.  Til provides colleges with talent evaluations of kids that have the potential to play at the next level.  “I have known Ashlee’ since she played at High Point University and I see the vision that she has, she wants to see other kids reach their potential just as she did,” said Til, “she has a very big heart when it comes to these kids.”

The staff of former D-I players was the idea of Porsche Jones and Ashlee’ Samuels.  “We wanted to bring back players, male and female, who have experienced the next level of basketball, such as former players from Wake Forest, High Point University and North Carolina State,” said Jones.  “We are thankful for a chance to do something for these kids that they otherwise may not have a chance to get,” added Jones.  Jones also wanted to inform the public that there will be a skills camp at the Winston Lake YMCA on Saturday June 2nd for kids between 6 and 17 years old.  They are hoping to make the Saturday camps a weekly event.

“I think the camp went really well,” said Samuels.  “We had a goal of 50 kids and we came really close to reaching that number.” she added.  Samuels said that the purpose of this camp was to give the kids a chance to meet D-I players and hear it from them about how to reach that level in basketball.  Samuels said that it is important for the aspiring young players to know how much hard work it takes to make it at the top level of collegiate basketball.

It didn’t take the kids long to figure out the intensity of the training.  The three hour clinic was virtually a non-stop instruction session moving from one drill to another, finishing up with some half court game competition.   Although the campers were “put through the wringer”, the smiles on their faces told the real story.

It was a great atmosphere with quality instruction from the staff of counselors.  Hats off to Porsche and Ashlee’, and a special thank you to Pat the Roc.

You can find more information on this and other camps by visiting www.bond1prodigy.com

For more about Pat The Roc, “the worlds greatest ball handler”, please visit his web site at www.PatTheRoc.com

It was a cool night at the Stadium Saturday night, which brought fast times. The K&N cars have been practicing at the Stadium lately with a different tire compound than what everyone runs. The rubber laid down by the K&N cars made the track rather “tacky” which helped out grip levels for the regulars at the Stadium.

The first race was the Street Stocks. The first 15 or so laps it was phenomenally clean racing, that is until a late race cautions changed everything. Lots of cars were involved in late race incidents including hard charger John Holleman, Darren Cotner, and Brian Wall to name a few. Doug Wall brought home the win for his second win of the campaign.

Up next, Sportsman. The first 20 lapper was dominated by new comer Jacob Creed, taking home his first win ever at the Stadium.

The main event, “The Hot Modifieds” with their 100 lapper was close racing between Jon Boy Brown, and Tommy Neal, Tommy showing how strong he was in the race proved to the fans he was ready for the power. A late race incident between he and Ronnie Clifton knocked him back in the field. Hard racing with John Smith and Jonathan Brown led to passes on the outside, and side by side racing for laps. In the end Jonathan came home with the checkers, getting his first win of the campaign.

The 2nd 20 lap Sportsman was hot as Jeff Garrison brought home his 2nd top 5 of the night to continue his great start to the season. Another first time winner John Lain brought home the W.

The first 15 lap Stadium Stock was action packed as cars drove on top of other cars in a massive wreck on the backstretch that took 20 minutes to clean up. Andrew Durham brought home his 2nd straight win in this race, to continue his hot streak.

The 2nd 15 lapper proved drawing isn’t always the best idea for the Stadium as cars bunched up as slower cars were in front. Charlie Curry charged through the field starting way back to bring home 3rd, another top 5 for him this season. AJ Sanders brought home the win in this race, which means a Sanders racing sweep in the Stadium Stock Saturday night.

Tune in next week as the Street Stocks compete in their longest race of the season, the USG Street Stock 50. Along with twin 25 lap Mods, twin 20 lap Sportsman, and twin 15 lap Stadium Stocks.

Coach Glenn Hurd’s Carolina Stars-Gold 12u softball team is still a work in progress this spring, but for one player, it has given her the opportunity to shine on the field.  Trinity Smith is the kind of player that every coach would love to have on their team.

Smith

Smith is usually behind the plate handling the Stars pitchers, but she has also played other positions in the field.  She isn’t afraid to challenge a base runner trying to score and has been the recipient of some pretty hard contact from aggressive runners.

Hurd

Coach Hurd says they call her the “beast”.  “Trinity is so competitive, she sets the example of how you play the game,” said Hurd.  With the raw talent that she possesses coach Hurd says that they just work on her mechanics and fine tune her game.  Hurd has worked with her hitting this spring and now she drives the ball instead of hitting the easy fly balls to the outfield.  The proof is in the pudding.

The opposing teams have found that Trinity is a very difficult out.  She is leading the Stars with a .528 batting average after fifteen games this spring.  Actually Smith leads the team in every offensive statistical category.  In 41 plate appearances and 36 official at bats, Trinity has collected 19 base hits, including 16 singles, one double, one triple, and one home run.  She has 12 RBI’s so far on the season and has scored 11 of the team’s 67 runs.

“When Trinity gets on first, it’s like an automatic double, she’s earning the nickname ‘wheels’, she just generates runs,” Hurd said.  “Trinity is a sweetheart off of the field and an animal once she crosses the chalk line.  With her competitive drive and a great attitude, Trinity is a joy to coach,” added Hurd.

Trinity is still in middle school but will be heading to Southwest Guilford for her high school years.  The other schools in the Piedmont Triad 4-A Conference might want to remember this name.

Trinity Smith will make some noise on the diamond in the years to come!

It must be another Saturday night at Bowman Gray Stadium!  There’s something about this place that creates some of the most exciting racing that you can find anywhere.  Last week it was the “full moon” effect, and this week it was “grasshopper” night, with a lot of cars taking the slippery ride through the infield, either trying to avoid contact, or as a result of contact.

The track was “tacky” and the cars were hooked up, all trying to grab that Bowman Gray checkered flag.  It was a great show put on in all divisions of racing, not to mention some spectacular “fender benders” along the way.

Tim Vaden (18) and Bobby Whiteman get together in practice

The tone was set when the first wreck occurred in practice, long before the first green flag of the night.  The Street Stocks were on the track turning their pre-race practice laps when two cars collided at the pit exit in turn three.  Bobby Whiteman was attempting to exit the track just as Tim Vaden was approaching the end of the backstretch.  It was apparent that both drivers were not aware of what the other driver was going to do, and Vaden made contact with Whiteman, sending both cars down the pit exit and into the tire barrier.  For Vaden, it was the end of his night before it began with front end damage that could not be repaired.  Whiteman was able to race in the feature, but finished shot gun on the field.

It was a shame for both drivers.  They put their time and money into building a car just for a chance to race at the legendary Bowman Gray Stadium track.  That was very unfortunate, but that’s racin’, if it was easy everybody would do it!

When the racing did finally get underway Jonathan Brown picked up his first win of the season in the Kevin Powell Motorsports 100 Modified race.  Brown had a tough battle with John Smith, with Smith taking the lead for a short time late in the race.

John Smith (25) takes the lead on lap 85 but couldn't hold off Jonathan Brown (22)

In the Sportsman Division races Jacob Creed paced the field in the first 20 lap race for the win, and in the second 20 lap Sportsman race it was John Lain ending up in victory circle.

In other divisions, Doug Wall had the dominate car in the Street Stock 20 lap race, with a flag to flag win.  Andrew Durham won the first Stadium Stock race, while his team mate, A.J. Sanders, took home the trophy in the night’s finale, a 15 lap Street Stock race.

We will have more on Saturday night’s races from our man “in the know”, Brad Newman, later.

The Southeast Guilford Falcons defeated the Glenn Bobcats 8-3 in first round action in the NCHSAA State baseball playoffs on Friday night.

Glenn had tied the score at 3-3 in the top of the fourth before the Falcons pushed across five runs in the bottom of the sixth to secure the win.

The Bobcat loss ends their season with an overall record of 17-10. SE Guilford moves on to the second round and will host West Forsyth next Tuesday night.

Ed Hitchcock photos:

Southern Alamance came into the game as a number two seed, and gained momentum for the playoffs by defeating their Conference Champ, SE Guilford, in their Conference Tournament Championship game. Glenn, on the other hand, lost their number two seed by losing their Conference Tournament Championship game to East Forsyth this past Monday night. Playing an opponent in round one of the playoffs of Southern’s caliber is extremely difficult, and the Ladycats experienced just how taxing it really was last night.

Even though Southern had mustered a total of 5 hits through the first 4 innings, the game was still deadlocked 0-0 as Glenn made the necessary defensive stops to keep the Lady Patriots off the board. The Ladycats were putting the ball in play, but Southern was catching everything being hit at them.

After Tori Kennedy grounded out to Heather Burton to lead off the bottom of the 5th inning, the Lady Patriots finally got a little momentum courtesy of a well placed Media Box and some timely balls hit into the gap in left centerfield. Lead-off hitter Tessa Faucette doubled following Kennedy’s out and moved to third on a ground out to Ladycat 3rd baseman Morgan Meyer. Ashley Hurd’s return throw to ( Heather Burton covering third ) from 1st base scooted away as the ball and Faucette arrived at the exact same time. Kristen Terry was exactly where she was supposed to be in backing up the play, but the ball traveled into Mike Petteway’s Media Box while it was being occupied by the “King of Photoland” and the umpires declared the ball had entered a dead ball area and Faucette was awarded home plate for the first run of the game. Hayley Rumley then singled and was driven in by another double to the fence by Macy Moon. After 5 complete innings the score was Southern Alamance 2 and Glenn 0.

The Lady Patriots scored their third and final run of the game in the bottom of the 6th inning as Carleigh Brooks walked to lead off the inning and then scored with 2 outs on pinch-hitter Katie Way’s bloop single between Burton and Terry in short left field.

Jena Reisenauer, who had two of Glenn’s four total hits, finally got the Ladycats on the scoreboard in the top of the 7th inning with a deep solo home run over the right centerfield fence to run her record-setting single season total to 10. Terry and 2nd baseman Tracy Haynes had the other two hits for the Ladycats.

The loss ends the season for Glenn, and Southern Alamance will advance to play at North Davidson in Round 2 of the playoffs on Tuesday night.