SOPHIA – Bobby Labonte, a NASCAR Hall of Famer, had to settle for second place at Caraway Speedway.
That’s because Jonathan Brown won for the first time in the SMART Modified Tour, edging Labonte in Saturday night’s 99-lap race.
Brown became the seventh different driver to win on the SMART Modified Tour this year. Labonte previously won this year at Dillon Motor Speedway and Carteret County.
“We were off a little bit in qualifying, I didn’t feel like I got a good lap, but we were able to start third on the redraw and get some points for the 30-lap shootout,” Labonte said. “At the end, I couldn’t catch Jonathan in the right place. I felt like I was faster but passing him was going to be difficult.”
Burt Myers finished third, followed by Caleb Heady and Jeremy Gerstner.
There were other notable results Saturday at the track.
Jason York claimed the 50-lap Late Models race from the pole, with Mike Bledsoe the runner-up. Division points leader Blaise Brinkley was sixth.
The Mini Stocks race was won by Brandon Brendle, with Tyler Bush second in the 2-lap feature.
Joe Fleenor captured his first career victory by winning the 602 Modified race. Fleenor led the whole way, with Brian Weber second.
Other winners were Nick Collins (Street Stock) and Riley Neal (Sportsman).
- It was the second racing card of the week at Caraway Speedway.
On Labor Day, Brinkley (Late Models), Cody Griffin (Challenger), Brendle (Mini Stocks) and Allen Vance (U-Car) were among the winners.
Brinkley was the top qualifier and never relinquished the lead, with Tony Black was the runner-up.
Griffin was a surprise winner in Challengers because initial winner Tyler Johnson was disqualified based on a postrace car inspection. Division points leader Mike Chambers was third.
Brendle, who was the Mini Stocks track champion at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, finished ahead of Tyler Bush and points leader Brandon Collins.
Vance secured the 20-lap triumph despite Steven Collins holding a lead for 13 laps. Collins ended up third behind Troy Ring.
Also, Dylan Ward (Sportsman) and Nate Gregg (Street Stocks) won races for Bowman Gray Stadium divisions, while Bryce Applegate and Nate Tetrow each won a Legends car event.
Ward passed brother Trevor Ward, who was third behind Michael Adams. Gregg claimed the 25-lap feature in his race.
Applegate had the best qualifying time in Legends and won the first of the twin features. Applegate was second in the next feature.
