By James Stewart

For the 3rd time this year, rain was the winner of the Bowman Gray racing program.  Blue skies welcomed fans when the gates opened at 6:00 and a capacity $2 ladies night crowd filled the stadium by the 8:00 race time….but some very ominous black clouds had rolled in also and after 1 lap of the Street Stock race, the skies opened up and the night was over.
Fans arriving early did get to see all divisions practice and watch the modifieds qualify.  Jason Myers won the pole for the NASCAR Hall of Fame 100 followed by Tim Brown, Chris Fleming, Brandon Ward, and Burt Myers.  The top 4 qualifiers were eligible for a $6000 bonus if they would choose to start in the rear instead of drawing as is the theme for the 100 lap modified races.  All declined, meaning that the next scheduled 100 lap race July 9 will have a $9000 bonus.  The lineups from last night will stay the same for next week with the exception of the 2 Stadium Stock races. This Saturday the 4 cylinders will run their annual 50 lap race as their longest event of the season and because of this, they will qualify.  This is always exciting as there are always 30 plus cars vying for just 24 starting spots.  The first Sportsman race will start with Robbie Brewer and Taylor Branch on the front row with Ron Knabel, Michael Adams, and John Holleman IV rounding out the top 5. The 2nd race starting lineup will be determined by the winners draw from the first race.  The Modifieds will lineup after the draw with Tim Brown and Ronnie Clifton on the front row followed by Michael Clifton, Jonathan Brown, and Jason Myers as the top 5.
The Street Stock race actually lined up and got the green flag before the rains came but didn’t complete a lap.  2nd starting Blake Shupe spun in turn 1 as pole winner Taylor Robbins jumped to the lead.  The caution came out before the lap was completed.  Since Shupe’s car was involved with the caution, he will have to restart from the rear Saturday.  The top 5 starters should be Taylor Robbins, Robert Lawson, Brad Lewis,Kevin Gilbert, and Shane Tuttle.
This is the 3rd rainout this season out of 6 possible race dates.  A .500 average would be awesome in most sports, but not with racing and rain!  With the summer forecast for this area according to the almanac showing it to be a wet, rainy one, we might get close to the record for rainouts in a season.  There have been quite a few years with 4 or more rainouts, but 1959 has the record with 9.  Here’s hoping this is one record that is not broken!  So Saturday’s lineup will be two 20 lap races for the Sportsman cars, 20 lap Street Stock race, the 100 lap Modified race, and a 50 lap Stadium Stock race.  Hoping the rain stays away and see you there!!
Here are the current point standings after last weeks double points events.

Modified Point Standings going into June 4