Brian Loftin Scores 1st Career Whelen Southern Modified Tour Victory

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ASHEBORO, N.C. (Sept. 22, 2007) – NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour driver Brian Loftin did something Saturday night that no other driver has been able to do in the last five races at Caraway Speedway – beat L.W. Miller.

Loftin dominated the Whelen Southern Modified Tour 150 to score his first career win in the series, ending a five-race winning streak for the current championship leader.

Loftin’s win came in front of an emotional group of friends and family that included his tearful wife, Melissa.

“This is a longtime coming and this team has worked hard to get to this point,” said Loftin, a native of Lexington, N.C. “We came to win the pole and the race tonight and we pulled off both of those goals. It’s been a while since we won a race and I was starting to wonder if we were ever going to be able to do it again.”

One of the other main stories heading into the event centered on the battle for the Whelen Southern Modified Tour championship with only two races remaining. Entering the race, Miller held the top spot by 55 points over Tim Brown. Miller finished fifth Saturday, but lost 10 points in the standings. However, with his 45-point advantage, all Miller must do to claim the series title is finish ninth or better in the season finale at Caraway in two weeks.

“We didn’t want to finish fifth like we did – but I will take it,” Miller said. “Something happened to the car early on. I usually ride around until lap 50 and then it’s time to go. When we got to lap 50 tonight, I tried, but I couldn’t go. I just want to come back here in two weeks and win both the race and the championship.”

Loftin set a Whelen Southern Modified Tour track record in Bud Pole qualifying when he circled the 0.455-mile track at 103.783 mph. Following the eight-car draw-redraw, the top eight positions were shuffled, which put Frank Fleming on the front row to the inside of Brown.

The race's first caution came when rookie Wesley Swartout went for a harmless spin coming off the second turn on lap 30. Shortly after the restart, Loftin began showing his muscle, taking the lead from Fleming on lap 36.

The second yellow flag occurred on lap 51 for a three-car spin in the first turn involving George Brunnhoelzl, Jay Mize and Dean Ward. All three cars were able to continue.

At the halfway point – lap 75 – the top-five was comprised of Loftin, Fleming, Brown, and brothers Jason and Burt Myers. Miller was just behind in sixth.

Loftin was setting sail and had constructed a half straightaway lead that vanished on lap 125 when Swartout spun off the fourth turn. That allowed the second-place Fleming to close the gap, followed by the top-five of Brown, Jason Myers and Miller.

The final restart came with 20 laps remaining, but when it was all said and done, there was simply no denying Loftin and his No. 23 L&R Transmission Chevrolet’s trip to victory lane.

The Whelen Southern Modified Tour wraps up the 2007 season Oct. 6 at Caraway.

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UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour-Whelen Southern Modified Tour 150
Results
Saturday at Caraway Speedway
Asheboro, N.C.
Lap length: 0.455 miles
(Starting position in parentheses)
1. (4) Brian Loftin, Lexington, N.C., Chevrolet, 150 laps, 85.047 mph, $2,250.
2. (1) Frank Fleming, Mount Airy, N.C., Ford, 150, $1,500.
3. (2) Tim Brown, Cana, VA., Chevrolet, 150, $1,125.
4. (6) Jason Myers, Walnut Cove, N.C., Chevrolet, 150, $1,250.
5. (8) L.W. Miller, Mooresville, N.C., Pontiac, 150, $1,000.
6. (10) John Smith, Mount Airy, N.C., Chevrolet, 150, $850.
7. (11) Brian King, Burlington, N.C., Chevrolet, 150, $750.
8. (12) Brandon Hire, Winston-Salem, N.C., Chevrolet, 150, $790.
9. (14) Gene Pack, Myrtle Beach, S.C., Chevrolet, 150, $590.
10. (5) Junior Miller, Pine Hall, N.C., Dodge, 150, $550.
11. (20) Zach Brewer, Winston-Salem, N.C., Chevrolet, 150, $775.
12. (3) Burt Myers, Walnut-Cove, N.C., Chevrolet, 150, $500.
13. (18) Thomas Stinson, Chester, VA., Chevrolet, 149, $485.
14. (13) Brian Pack, Walkertown, N.C., Chevrolet, 149, $460.
15. (19) Jay Foley, Stuart, VA., Chevrolet, 149, $445.
16. (15) Earl Baker, Winton-Salem, N.C., Chevrolet, 149, $430.
17. (17) Johnny Sutton, Harrisburg, N.C., Chevrolet, 148, $420.
18. (9) Dean Ward, Winston-Salem, N.C., Chevrolet, 147, $410.
19. (16) Wesley Swartout, Stroudsburg, Penn., Ford, 142, $400.
20. (7) George Brunnhoelzl, Babylon, N.Y., Dodge, 115, steering, $390.
21. (21) Jay Mize, Clemmons, N.C., Chevrolet, 61, steering, $380.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 48 minutes 9 seconds
Margin of Victory: 1 second
Caution Flags: 3 for 15 laps.
Lead Changes: 2 among 3 drivers.
Lap Leaders: T.Brown 1-2; F.Fleming 3-35; B.Loftin 36-150.
Standings: 1. L.W.Miller, 1780; 2. T.Brown, 1735; 3. B.Myers, 1675; 4. J.Miller, 1658; 5.B.King, 1580; 6. J.Myers, 1536; 7. F.Fleming, 1530; 8. B.Pack, 1442; 9. G.Pack, 1344; 10. G.Brunnhoelzl, 1312.