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Statistical Advance: Analyzing The Spring Classic 150 At Caraway Speedway
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The sixth season of the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour continues this weekend when the tour returns to Caraway Speedway for the Spring Classic 150.
Caraway Speedway Data
Race: # 2 of 10 (3-14-10)
Track Layout: .455-mile oval
Banking: semi-banked paved oval
Race Length: 150 laps/68.25 miles
• Is the home track for the southern modified tour.
• Has one of the longest NASCAR sanctioning affiliations.
Qualifying/Race Data
2009 pole winner: Burt Myers
2009 race winner: Ted Christopher (85.796 mph, 52:27)
Track qualifying record: George Brunnhoelzl III (102.844 mph, 15.752 seconds, 4/11/09)
Track race record (150 L): Tim Brown (90.977 mph, 44:31 min., 9-9-06)
NWSMT Active Win Leaders
1. Brian Loftin, 7
2. L.W. Miller, 6
3. Junior Miller, 5
4. Ted Christopher, 3
4. George Brunnhoelzl III, 3
6. Tim Brown, 2
6. Andy Seuss, 2
NWSMT Active Pole Leaders
1. Burt Myers, 10
2. Tim Brown, 5
3. Brian Loftin, 4
4. George Brunnhoelzl III, 3
5. Andy Seuss, 2
At Caraway Speedway:
• Since the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour formed in 2005, there have been 63 races in the history of the series.
• This will be the 30th NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour race at the track.
• The track was built in 1966 initially as a dirt track and was later paved and configured to its current size of .455-miles in length.
• The track has been owned and operated by Russell & Valastra Hackett and their family since 1977.
• A total of four drivers who have visited Victory Lane in the NWSMT races at Caraway will compete this weekend. Leading the group will be Brian Loftin, who holds the record for most wins at the track with seven.
• Burt Myers holds the career record for the most Coors Light Pole awards at the track with 10 and won the pole for this race at Caraway last Spring.
• Caraway Speedway will also host the tour on July 2 and Aug. 28.
Up To Speed
• This will be the first of six NWSMT races to be held in the state of North Carolina this year. Charlotte Motor Speedway, Bowman Gray Stadium and Tri-County Motor Speedway will host the remaining events in the Tar Heel State.
• The NWSMT has crowned four different drivers champion: Junior Miller (2005, 2006); L.W. Miller (2007); Brian Loftin (2008) and George Brunnhoelzl III (2009).
Selected Driver Highlights:
Zach Brewer (No. 11 Chevrolet)
• North Carolina driver is no stranger to competing in the NASCAR Touring program. Won races at Atlanta and Bristol Motor Speedways driving former Goody’s Series cars.
• Has 10 career starts at Caraway Speedway with a career-best finish of seventh on July 3, 2009.
• Made six starts in 2009 with two top-10 finishes.
• Father, Doug Brewer, will serve as car chief this season.
Tim Brown (No. 83 Chevrolet)
• Brown has finished second in the season-ending points standings a record three times from 2006-2008.
• Has 53 career starts on the NWSMT and is tied for the lead in career top-fives with 34 and has 45 top-10 finishes.
• Has five wins on the NWSMT with his most recent coming in 2008 at Caraway Speedway.
• Brown works full time for Michael Waltrip Racing.
James Civali (No. 79 Pontiac)
• Plans on competing full time on the NWSMT this season.
• Was the 2006 Sunoco Rookie of the Year in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.
• Has 3 career starts on the NWSMT with his best finish coming home fifth at Caraway in 2007.
Bryan Dauzat (No. 97 Chevrolet)
• Lone Louisiana native who competes full time on the NWSMT.
• Has made eight career starts at Caraway with a personal best of 10th-place coming in the Fall Classic last October.
• Made 10 starts in 2009 finishing 12th in the final points standings and collected his first top-five finish on the tour at Bowman Gray Stadium last August.
• Owns his own business: O.B. Builders.
Buddy Emory (No. 02 Chevrolet)
• 2008 Sunoco Rookie of the Year in the NWSMT.
• Started 12 races in 2009 highlighted by his first podium finish of third at Myrtle Beach Speedway last September.
• Has 11 starts at Caraway Speedway with a seventh-place finish coming last July as his best showing to date.
• Has 11 career top-10 finishes in 27 starts since 2007.
Frank Fleming (No. 40 Pontiac)
• Tied for first for most career starts in the series with 62 in the NWSMT. Has only missed one race on the tour since 2005.
• Has finished second seven times with his most recent runner-up finish coming at Caraway Speedway last July.
• Is one of just two drivers to start every NWSMT race (29) held at Caraway. Has finished second five times at the track with 14 top-five and 22 top-10 finishes.
• Finished in the top 10 in 11 of 14 starts in 2009.
• Has over 50 wins at his home track of Bowman Gray Stadium.
Brandon Hire (No. 44 Chevrolet)
• Returning to the NWSMT full time this season after missing last year with a broken leg.
• Has made nine starts at Caraway with one top-five finish in 2007.
• Has 18 career starts on the tour with a career-best fifth place at Caraway Speedway in 2007.
Corey LaJoie (No. 19 Pontiac)
• Won his first-ever start on the NWSMT last week in Atlanta.
• Son of two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Randy LaJoie.
• Will be teammates with James Civali this season.
Brian Loftin (No. 23 Chevrolet)
• 2008 NWSMT Champion. Won by 30 points over Tim Brown (1,780-1,750).
• Holds the record for most wins at Caraway with seven. Also has 21 top-10 and 18 top-five finishes.
• Holds the record for most consecutive top-five finishes at Caraway with seven from 2007-2009.
• Holds records for most wins (11), consecutive races won (3) and shares the record for winning a race wire-to-wire (Bowman Gray, 2008).
• Has 38 top-10 finishes is 57 career starts on the NWSMT since 2005.
• Currently in second place for most career Coors Light Pole awards with nine. Has seven top 10s in 17 career starts.
L.W. Miller (No. 36 Pontiac)
• 2007 NWSMT Champion. Won by 25 points over Tim Brown (1,930-1,905).
• Is second in wins at Caraway with 6. Four of these wins came in a row during his championship season.
• Sits in second place for most career wins with 10 in 45 starts.
• Also has over 70 NWMT career starts.
Burt Myers (No. 1 Ford)
• Most decorated driver in the history of the NWSMT to have not won a championship. Holds NWSMT records for most Coors Light Pole Awards (21), most top-10s (49), top-fives (34), and most consecutive starts (46).
• Has made 28 starts at Caraway with one win and 13 top-five and 21 top-10 finishes.
• Holds the record for the most Coors Light Pole Awards at Caraway with 10.
• Has raced with his brother Jason in the NWSMT since 2005.
Jason Myers (No. 4 Ford)
• Tied with Frank Fleming for most career starts on the NWSMT with 62.
• Joins Frank Fleming as the only driver to start all 29 NWSMT races at Caraway.
• Has 10 top-five and 20 top-10 finishes at Caraway with a runner-up finish coming back in 2007.
• Picked up his lone win on the tour at Bowman Gray Stadium in 2006.
• Has 45 top-10 finishes since 2005.
Gene Pack (No. 31 Chevrolet)
• Career-best finish of second at Martinsville Speedway in 2006 as second-highest finishing full-time NWSMT competitor at combination event.
• Has made 25 starts at Caraway with his best finishes a pair of sixth-place showings in 2009 and 2006, respectively.
• Enjoyed most successful season to date in 2009 with seven top-10 finishes and two top-five showings in 13 starts.
• Holds two track championships at Bowman Gray Stadium in the Sportsman Division.
Andy Seuss (No. 47 Dodge)
• Hampstead, New Hampshire native won four times in 2009.
• Has made 16 career starts at Caraway with two wins, eight top-five and 10 top-10 showings.
• Has 23 top-10 finishes in 33 career starts and a total of six wins.
• Picked up wins at Lanier, South Boston, Myrtle Beach, Music City (Nashville), Caraway and Ace Speedways.
• Commutes regularly from New Hampshire to drive in the NWSMT and also competes in the NWMT when his schedule permits.
John Smith (No. 25 Chevrolet)
• Has 25 top-10 finishes in 41 career NWSMT starts.
• Made 13 starts in 2009 with nine top-10 finishes highlighted by a second-place showing at the season-ending Fall Classic 150 at Caraway.
• Has made 20 starts at Caraway with three top-five and 11 top-10 finishes.
Upcoming Milestones/Benchmarks:
• L.W. Miller’s next win would place him in a tie with Brian Loftin for the all-time series wins list with 11.
• Burt Myers can reach 50 top-10 finishes for his career if he finishes in the top 10 this Sunday afternoon.
• Frank Fleming and Jason Myers can add to their record for most starts at Caraway with career Caraway start No. 30 this Sunday afternoon.
