NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Series News
Happy Ending: Brunnhoelzl Earns His First NASCAR Championship, Wins finale & claims Whelen Southern Mod title
Oct 24, 2009 - updated Oct 24th, 2009 10:59pm
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Asheboro, N.C. -- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

George Brunnhoelzl III capped off his first NASCAR championship a victory in the Fall Classic 150 at Caraway Speedway, the final race of the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour season.

Brunnhoelzl needed to only start the finale to clinch the championship. He assured himself of that by claiming his sixth Coors Light Pole Award of the season. He went on to claim his fifth win of the season and third at Caraway.

He started fifth after the post-qualifying redraw of the top six, and took over the lead on Lap 73 when Brian Loftin came down pit road under caution. He briefly lost the lead to John Smith at the line on a Lap 142 restart, before retaking the point.

Smith got under Brunnhoelzl on the final lap and the two drag-raced out of Turn 4, with Brunnhoelzl taking the win. Jason Myers followed in third, followed by Frank Fleming and Burt Myers.

Brunnhoelzl's best points finish was seventh last year. The 27-year-old West Babylon, N.Y., native entered 2009 with one win in 25 career starts over three seasons. In addition to his five wins this year, he had 13 top fives in 14 races.

As a touring series champion, Brunnhoelzl earned a protected starting position in the prestigious NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown to be held on Jan. 29-30 at California’s Toyota Speedway at Irwindale. The seventh running of the event, which is run in NASCAR Camping World Series cars, brings together the top racers from across North America for the “Daytona 500 of short-track racing.”

Next up for the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour teams is the NASCAR Touring Series Awards Gala in Concord, N.C. on Saturday, Nov. 14 at which Brunnhoelzl and the rest of the touring series champions will be honored.



NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour-Fall Classic 150 Unofficial Results

Saturday

At Caraway Speedway

Asheboro, NC

Lap length: 0.455 miles

(Start position in parentheses)

1. (5) George Brunnhoelzl III, West Babylon, N.Y., Ford, 150 laps, 80.294 mph, $2,350.

2. (2) John Smith, Mount Airy, N.C., Chevrolet, 150, $1,500.

3. (3) Jason Myers, Walnut Cove, N.C., Ford, 150, $1,125.

4. (7) Frank Fleming, Mount Airy, N.C., Pontiac, 150, $1,300.

5. (9) Burt Myers, Walnut Cove, N.C., Ford, 150, $1,300.

6. (4) Andy Seuss, Hampstead, N.H., Dodge, 150, $850.

7. (8) Zach Brewer, Winston-Salem, N.C., 150, $750.

8. (1) Brian Loftin, Lexington, N.C., Chevrolet, 149, $690.

9. (6) Jonathan Brown, Winston-Salem, N.C., Chevrolet, 147, accident, $590.

10. (11) Bryan Dauzat, Midland, NC, Chevrolet, 135, parked, $550.

11. (10) Lee Jeffreys, Walkertown, N.C., Chevrolet, 135, parked, $525.

12. (12) Thomas McCann Jr., Mooresville, NC, Chevrolet, 48, engine, $500.

13. (13) Jay Hedgecock, High Point, N.C., Ford, 4, suspension, $485.

Race Statistics

Time of Race: 0 hours 51 minutes 0 seconds

Margin of Victory: 0.160 seconds

Fastest Qualifier: G.Brunnhoelzl III (102.349 mph, 16.004 seconds)

Caution Flags: 4 for 21 laps.

Lead Changes: 3 among 3 drivers.

Lap Leaders: B. Loftin 1-73; G. Brunnhoelzl III 74-142; J. Smith 143; G. Brunnhoelzl III

144-150.

Standings: 1. G. Brunnhoelzl III, 2385; 2. A. Seuss, 2205; 3. B. Myers, 2138; 4. B.

Loftin, 2090; 5. F. Fleming, 2044; 6. J. Myers, 2016; 7. J. Smith, 1823; 8. G. Pack,

1762; 9. B. Emory, 1602; 10. L. Miller, 1457.
Tim Southers