JR Bertuccio Wins First Modified Tour Race at SNMP
Winning in the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour is never easy, but Saturday, JR Bertuccio sure made it look that way. The Centerreach, NY driver qualified third but took the lead from reigning NWSMT champion and pole-sitter George Brunnhoelzl III on Lap 11, and had to fight off five separate restarts to take the checkered flag.
Bertuccio’s biggest challenge was with five laps to go. Slower traffic and eroding tires brought Bertuccio back to Brunnhoelzl III, and for a moment it appeared as though Brunnhoelzl had the eventual winner where he wanted him. Brunnhoelzl’s run was thwarted, however, when the lap-down car of rookie Bobby Measmer Jr. went around in Turn 2 to bring out the final caution of the day. On the restart, Brunnhoelzl was shuffled back to third by a hard-charging Kyle Ebersole while Bertuccio pulled away to win. Ebersole took second, and Brunnhoelzl settled for third. The only two active drivers with wins at SNMP, Andy Seuss and Burt Myers, finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
“Our car was set up for the long runs,” Bertuccio said of his Chevrolet. “We changed the right front tire instead of the right rear like everyone else, and it helped us turn a little better.” The win not only is the first for Bertuccio, but it moves him one point ahead of Andy Seuss in the NWSMT points chase.
Joining the Modifieds in action were the SNMP Limited Late Models and Street Stocks, both in their first action of the 2014 season. At first glance, it appeared as though Michael Fose took the win in Limited Late Models. Fose was the fast qualifier and led every lap, but was disqualified in post-race tech for a carburetor infraction. After tech, Ronnie Jones was the winner, with Taylor Howard and Louis White rounding out the top three. Four cars, in all, were disqualified in the Limited Late Model race.
In Street Stocks, Greg Barnette found his way back into victory lane. The former Street Stock track champion led from the pole, and despite a late charge by Kevin Benton, led every lap in the 25 lap event. Benton worked his way through the field, but ran out of time and had to settle for second, while Tyler Mathews was credited with third.
Southern National Motorsports Park’s next event is Saturday, March 22, with the X-1R Pro Cup 200. In addition to the Pro Cup, the race will mark the 2014 debut of the Allison Legacy Series to SNMP, as well as a $500 to win UCAR event. Tickets for this special event are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors/military (with valid ID), $5 for kids 6-12, and free for children 5 and under. The NASCAR Whelen All-America Series resumes at SNMP March 29, with 100 laps of Late Model Stock racing, and all local divisions in action. Tickets for this March Madness event are $12 for adults, $10 for military and seniors (with valid ID), $6 for kids 6-15, while children 5 and under are free. For more information, contact the track office at (919) 284-1114 or look online at www.snmpark.com .
Results:
NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour – 150 laps
1. 2 – JR Bertuccio
2. 5 – Kyle Ebersole
3. 28 – George Brunnhoelzl III
4. 11 – Andy Seuss
5. 1 – Burt Myers
6. 40 – Luke Fleming
7. 77 – Gary Putnam
8. 15 – Joe Ryan Osborne
9. 79 – Spencer Davis
10. 97 – Bryan Dauzat
11. 4 – Jason Myers
12. 65 – Danny Bohn
13. 12 – Mike Norman
14. 23 – Brian Loftin
15. 7 – Thomas Stinson
16. 51 – Bobby Measmer Jr.
17. 99 – AJ Winstead
18. 43 – David Calabrese
Limited Late Models – 50 laps
1. 4 – Ronnie Jones
2. 99 – Tayylor HOward
3. 7 – Louis White
4. 50 – Haley Moody
5. 7s – Dillon Spain
6. 05 – Alex Fleming
7. 41 – Travis Green
8. 48 – Chris Smith
9. 1 – Andrew Grady
10. 77 – Trevor Collins
DNS 07 – Ronald Renfrow
DSQ 10 – Michael Fose
DSQ 16 – Rusty Daniels
DSQ 51 – Chris Chapman
DSQ 51 – Doug Warren
Street Stocks – 25 laps
1. 03 – Greg Barnette
2. 902 – Kevin Benton
3. 25 – Tyler Mathews
4. 37 – Chet Christman
DSQ 6 – Michael Jones
DSQ 21 – James Horner Jr.
DSQ 82 – Mike Ganoe
