Late race heroics paid off for George Brunnhoelzl III at North Carolina’s Concord Speedway Saturday night.
The 33-year-old North Babylon, New York, native joined the battle for first place with 12 laps remaining and passed Ted Christopher with three laps to go to collect his first win of the 2016 NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour season and his 26th career tour win.
Saturday at the half-mile oval saw more passing in in the first 37 laps than the Tour’s last visit to the track combined. Brunnhoelzl settled for mid-pack for most of the race until late in the race when he turned on the pressure and took the lead from Christopher off of turn 3.
Christopher settled for second followed by Burt Myers, defending champion Andy Seuss and Jason Myers.
While Bobby Measmer, Jr., JR Bertuccio, Kyle Bonsignore, Gary Putnam and Danny Bohn rounded out the top 10.
NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Ryan Preece led the first 63 laps before falling to eighth with 58 laps to go. The 2014 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion ultimately finished 12th.
The NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour will be back in action on April 9 with the South Boston 150 at Virginia’s South Boston Speedway.
NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour
Concord Speedway – Concord, NC
Spring Explosion 150 – April 2, 2016
| Fin | Str | Car | Driver | Team | Laps | Points | B/Points | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 28 | George Brunnhoelzl, III | Dunleavy Trk and Trailer Repair/Comp. Tech | 150 | 47 | 4 | Running |
| 2 | 8 | 0 | Ted Christopher | Jerry & Jerry/Batteries Plus Bulbs Chevrolet | 150 | 43 | 1 | Running |
| 3 | 2 | 1 | Burt Myers | Remington SCT/Speedway Auto/Citrusafe Ford | 150 | 42 | 1 | Running |
| 4 | 7 | 11 | Andy Seuss | Davis Roofing/Vestal GMC Chevrolet | 150 | 41 | 1 | Running |
| 5 | 1 | 4 | Jason Myers | Moorefield Enterprises Ford | 150 | 39 | Running | |
| 6 | 13 | 74 | Bobby Measmer, Jr. | Lead 2 Real Estate/Powerhouse Recycling Chevrolet | 150 | 38 | Running | |
| 7 | 11 | 2 | JR Bertuccio | Gershow Recycling Chevrolet | 150 | 37 | Running | |
| 8 | 14 | 22 | Kyle Bonsignore * | Snap-On Tools/Arts Radiator/Willword Brks Chevrolet | 150 | 36 | Running | |
| 9 | 10 | 77 | Gary Putnam | Curb Records Chevrolet | 150 | 35 | Running | |
| 10 | 5 | 40 | Danny Bohn | Dunleavy Truck & Trl/Wm Smith Trucking Chevrolet | 149 | 34 | Running | |
| 11 | 12 | 14 | Trey Hutchens, III | Hutchens Racing Chevrolet | 149 | 33 | Running | |
| 12 | 3 | 6 | Ryan Preece | TS Haulers/Riverhead Raceway Chevrolet | 149 | 34 | 2 | Running |
| 13 | 9 | 15 | Jeremy Gerstner | GMR Lawn Care/Carriage House Restaurant | 148 | 31 | Running | |
| 14 | 17 | 79 | Richie Pallai Jr. | MAHLE/Coors Light Pontiac | 148 | 30 | Running | |
| 15 | 15 | 97 | Bryan Dauzat | O B Builders Inc Chevrolet | 140 | 29 | Accident | |
| 16 | 6 | 5 | Kyle Ebersole | Ebersole Excavating Ford | 93 | 28 | Engine | |
| 17 | 16 | 33 | Austin Pickens * | Greenbriar Landscape/JSG Unlimited Chevrolet | 22 | 27 | Oil Leak |
RACE STATISTICS
Fastest Qualifier: Jason Myers, Time: 15.534 Seconds, Speed: 115.875 mph
Time of Race: 52 mins, 26 secs Average Speed: 85.823 mph Margin of Victory: .474 Seconds
Caution Flags: Laps 16-18 (#33 Spun Exit of turn 2); 80-88 (#15 spun frontstretch); 110-113 (#97 spun turn 3); 117-121 (#79 spun turn 2). 4 for 21 laps.
Lap Leaders: Burt Myers 1-18, Ryan Preece 19-62, Burt Myers 63-83, Ryan Preece 84-89, Andy Seuss 90-95, Ted Christopher 96-132, Burt Myers 133-137, Ted Christopher 138-147, George Brunnhoelzl, III 148-150.
Total Laps Led: Ryan Preece 50, Ted Christopher 47, Burt Myers 44, Andy Seuss 6, George Brunnhoelzl, III 3. 8 changes involving 5 drivers.
Top 10 Driver Points: Burt Myers 90, George Brunnhoelzl, III 84, Andy Seuss 81, Bobby Measmer, Jr. 80, Jason Myers 79, Danny Bohn 76, JR Bertuccio 68, Kyle Bonsignore * 65, Richie Pallai Jr. 65, Gary Putnam 65
* – Denotes Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender
