Martinsville, VA -September 20, 2008- Ryan Preece (3) led 265 laps in the Made In America Whelen 300 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway and
became the youngest driver to earn a win in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. Preece finished second overall in the race Saturday,

The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour celebrated its 500th race in its tradition-rich history, but it was Burt Myers that stole the show and drove his way to Victory Lane in the Made In America Whelen 300.

Myers became the first NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour driver to win the annual combination race with their northern-based counterparts at Martinsville Speedway.

He also became the first Southern driver to win a Modified tour race in a NASCAR-sanctioned race at Martinsville since Johnny Bryant in 1985.

“I tell you what – this is something else,” Myers said. “It will probably sink in tomorrow.”

Seventeen-year-old Ryan Preece became the youngest winner in NASCAR Whelen Modified history as the highest finishing NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour driver. He appeared poised to take the overall win, taking the lead on lap six and leading throughout the event. But Myers, who spent most of the race in second, tracked him down and made the winning pass on lap 271.

Almost as important, Myers put Tim Brown and L.W. Miller a lap down on lap 183. That, combined with Brian Loftin’s 10th-place finish, allowed Myers to move into second in NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified points. He is 27 behind Loftin with two races remaining.

Myers had briefly taken the lead on lap 223, but Preece got it back when caution flew on the same lap and the running order reverted to the last-completed green-flag lap.

Matt Hirschman finished third, followed by Reggie Ruggiero and Ted Christopher. Todd Szegedy, Woody Pitkat, Ed Flemke Jr., Rowan Pennink, and Loftin rounded out the top 10.

Christopher maintained his NASCAR Whelen Modified points lead. He is 89 up on Hirschman with three races left.

Since the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour was formed in 2005, it has inched closer to beating its older brethren in the combination event. L.W. Miller set the previous best finish with his third-place in 2007.

Made In America Whelen 300-Made In American Whelen 300 Results

Saturday

At Martinsville Speedway

Martinsville, Va.

Lap length: 0.526 miles

(Start position in parentheses)

1. (4) Burt Myers, Walnut Grove, N.C., Ford, 300 laps, 61.077 mph, $8,000.

2. (1) Ryan Preece, Kensington, Conn., Chevrolet, 300, $8,400.

3. (10) Matt Hirschman, Northampton, Pa., Chevrolet, 300, $4,300.

4. (13) Reggie Ruggiero, Rocky Hill, Conn., Ford, 300, $3,800.

5. (8) Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn., Chevrolet, 300, $3,500.

6. (9) Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield, Conn., Ford, 300, $2,675.

7. (31) Woody Pitkat, Stafford, Conn., Chevrolet, 300, $2,900.

8. (28) Eddie Flemke, Southington, Conn., Chevrolet, 300, $2,500.

9. (14) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa., Chevrolet, 300, $2,500.

10. (11) Brian Loftin, Lexington, N.C., Chevrolet, 300, $2,175.

11. (26) Jamie Tomaino, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 300, $2,350.

12. (16) Tim Brown, Cana, Va., Chevrolet, 299, $1,850.

13. (19) L.W. Miller, Dushore, Pa., Pontiac, 299, $1,825.

14. (22) Eric Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 299, $2,200.

15. (24) Eric Beers, Northampton, Pa., Chevrolet, 299, $2,243.

16. (36) Glenn Tyler, Hampton Bays, N.Y., Chevrolet, 299, $2,075.

17. (2) George Brunnhoelzl, III, Babylon, N.Y., Ford, 297, engine, $2,350.

18. (6) Kevin Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 292, $1,625.

19. (37) Joe Hartman, Calverton, N.Y., Chevrolet, 286, $2,000.

20. (3) Chuck Hossfeld, Buffalo, N.Y., Dodge, 283, $2,075.

21. (38) Rich Kuiken, Staffordville, N.J., Chevrolet, 283, $1,950.

22. (40) Tom Abele, Norwich, Chevrolet, 272, $2,200.

23. (20) Danny Sammons, Trenton, N.J., Chevrolet, 260, $1,875.

24. (12) Mike Stefanik, Coventry, R.I., Pontiac, 227, drive shaft, $1,950.

25. (21) Ronnie Silk, Norwalk, Conn., Pontiac, 227, $1,925.

26. (18) Jimmy Blewett, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 194, battery, $1,900.

27. (23) Bobby Grigas, III, Marshfield, Mass., Chevrolet, 190, rear end, $1,775.

28. (39) Wade Cole, Riverton, Conn., Chevrolet, 189, steering, $1,750.

29. (7) Jason Myers, Walnut Cove, N.C., Ford, 188, accident, $1,350.

30. (27) Ken Heagy, Calverton, N.Y., Chevrolet, 183, rear end, $1,750.

31. (29) Andy Seuss, Hampstead, N.H., Dodge, 176, accident, $1,350.

32. (30) Billy Pauch, Frenchtown, N.J., Dodge, 152, clutch, $1,750.

33. (45) Jay Foley, Stuart, Va., Chevrolet, 149, oil line, $1,350.

34. (17) Rick Fuller, Auburn, Mass., 144, accident, $1,350.

35. (25) Glen Reen, Wilbraham, Mass., Chevrolet, 144, accident, $1,750.

36. (33) John Smith, Mount Airy, N.C., Chevrolet, 143, belts, $1,350.

37. (15) Frank Fleming, Mt Airy, N.C., Pontiac, 140, accident, $1,350.

38. (34) Richard Savary, Canton, Mass., Chevrolet, 128, alternator, $1,750.

39. (5) Bobby Hutchens, Lexington, N.C., Chevrolet, 62, $1,350.

40. (35) Zach Brewer, Winston-Salem, N.C., Chevrolet, 23, accident, $0.

41. (41) Jake Marosz, Middletown, Conn., Chevrolet, 23, accident, $1,750.

42. (42) Sean Gartner, Sunset Beach, N.C., Pontiac, 18, suspension, $1,350.

43. (32) Buddy Emory, Petersburg, Va., Chevrolet, 11, accident, $1,350.

Race Statistics

Time of Race: 2 hours 35 minutes 1 second

Margin of Victory: 1.712 seconds

Fastest Qualifier: R.Preece (100.313 mph, 18.877 seconds)

Caution Flags: 16 for 88 laps.

Lead Changes: 2 among 3 drivers.

Lap Leaders: B.Hutchens 1-5; R.Preece 6-270; B.Myers 271-300.

NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Top 10 Driver Points: Ted Christopher 1965, Matt Hirschman 1876, Todd Szegedy 1788, Chuck Hossfeld 1756, Ronnie Silk 1720, Eric Beers 1711, Mike Stefanik 1666, Ryan Preece 1639, Jimmy Blewett 1627, Rowan Pennink 1605

NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour Top 10 Driver Points: Brian Loftin 1435, Burt Myers 1395, L.W. Miller 1393, Jason Myers 1286, Andy Seuss 1273, Frank Fleming 1256, George Brunnhoelzl 1215, John Smith 1134, Brian King, 111

Have an opinion on this story? E-MAIL KARNAC to send a letter to the editor!