Daniel Beeson Earns Maiden Win in Second Modified Race, Justin Taylor and Zack Ore Split Sportsman Events, Brandon Brendle and Tyler McDonald Take Stadium Stock Triumphs with Zack Cogar Winning Street Stock Division Race
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (July 20, 2026) – Truliant Night of Destruction brought out the star power at Bowman Gray Stadium. Two points leaders visiting victory lane were matched by two first time Madhouse winners for the 2026 season. On top of monster trucks and a demolition derby, it was a Saturday full of excitement, thrills, and spills at NASCAR’s oldest running weekly racetrack. Only five weeks are now left in the racing calendar as championship battles become firmly entrenched.
The Twin-25 lap night for The Brad’s Golf Cars Modified Division saw Burt Myers take career win number 105. Later in the night, this was matched by Daniel Beeson taking his first-ever victory. Myers extends his championship lead over Tim Brown to 18 points after his third win on the 2026 campaign.
“We work really hard to get the car to be good for 25-lappers for qualifying, and it showed” Myers said. “You gotta survive in these second races, that’s the thing about these redraws, the inverts. You try to get in and do as good as you can in the points and come out clean. We’re trying to win every time we go out, so we’ll see what happens.”
Daniel Beeson’s No. 44 converted a pole in race two to leading every lap, beating rookie Mason Lawson to the checkers. Beeson, a stadium veteran who works for NASCAR’s King Richard Petty, called this breakthrough triumph a long time coming.
“Actually this started in the first race,” Beeson said. “The car got tore up, and we worked until the time we got out here fixing the cars. I can’t thank my guys enough. It was a little bit of a handful there at the beginning. I appreciate Slate [Myers] running me clean. About 20 years to be an overnight success here.” Myers, Beeson, and the rest of Modifieds’ talent will be back in action Saturday with another Twin-25 lap races.
The Law Offices of John Barrow Sportsman division also saw their points leader record a wire-to-wire win. Justin Taylor led every lap of their first race from the pole, picking up his second win of 2026. The No. 12 remains only two points ahead of title rival Billy Gregg.
“I told them if we ever win the first race and pulled an eight [in the redraw], we’ll either take it home in a box or win again,” Taylor said. “I’m not points racing, I’m here to win these trophies and I want to be the next driver to win two in one night. I’m not going to be satisfied with second or third.”
Zack Ore lined up first for the second Sportsman race and led all 20 laps, beating out Sterling Plemmons. The victory came despite a rear suspension issue causing ill handling on Ore’s car. This marked a series-leading seventh win of 2026 for the No. 55, as the 2024 champion eyes another shot at a title.
“Man, I don’t know how we pulled that one out,” Ore said. “We got a broken ratchet spring in the rear end; that’s the reason we spun out in the first race. As soon as I touched the throttle once, it spun out. [Spotter] Ryan was my eyes in the sky tonight, and I needed every bit of them.” Sportsman drivers are gearing up for the Groundworks 100 on Saturday, one of their longest races of the year hitting the century mark around The Madhouse.
Another pair of events in the Q104.1 Stadium Stock division saw reigning champion Brandon Brendle and Tyler McDonald take these wins. Brendle’s No. 43 has now gone to victory lane four times in his title defense, while Saturday was McDonald’s first victory of the year.
“We had a really fast car,” Brendle said after taking his 40th career Madhouse victory. “I hate that for Chuck [Wall], I don’t believe I was in front of him when that caution came out. I think we still had a faster racecar though. I’d like to race him instead of taking it like that, but that’s happened to me before I guess. I hate that.” Stadium Stock competitors return next week with one or two 15-lap races based on car count.
QRC HVAC & Refrigeration Street Stocks saw Zac Cogar victorious for the very first time after their 20-lap race. The No. 30 took over on lap two and never looked back, beating Brandon Brown for this win.
“I got to thank The Good Lord above,” Cogar said. “My beautiful wife and kids sacrifice so much too for me to be able to do this every week.” Championship leader Brad Lewis came home fourth, now owning a 56-point gap over the competition. Lewis will try and return to victory lane next week in another 20-lap dash.
Truliant Night of Destruction also treated race fans to a monster truck show, in addition to a demolition derby closer. The last event of the jam-packed night saw Bubba Johnston be the last man standing over Tony Johnston, Jr.
The Groundworks 100 will headline Saturday at Bowman Gray Stadium in the Sportsman division. Also on the docket are Crown Vics and the Special Forces Association Parachute team skydiving into The Madhouse. This week’s racing lineup will feature all three other weekly divisions as well, with seasons all starting to wind down.
Gates will open at 6 p.m. on Saturday, with the first green flag of the night flying at 8 p.m. Advance tickets are available now at www.bowmangrayracing.com. Visit the new website www.bowmangrayracing.com for all updates on the 2026 race season.
About Bowman Gray Stadium
Built in 1937, Bowman Gray Stadium, a quarter-mile short track, holds a special place in NASCAR history as the longest-running weekly racetrack. The racetrack hosted 29 NASCAR Grand National, now NASCAR Cup Series, races from 1958 to 1971 and hosted several East Series races from 2011 to 2015. The Cup Series returned in 2025 with the Cook Out Clash for the first time since 1971. For more information, visit www.bowmangrayracing.com.
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