Brunnhoelzl Captures Victory in NASCAR Whelen Southern

Modified Tour’s First Ever Bristol Appearance

George Brunnhoelzl III Grabs WSMT Win By Finishing 4th Overall

With the presence of two racing series combined into one feature event comes the crowning of two winners.  So although George Brunnhoelzl III wasn’t able to be the first driver to cross the finish line in the UNOH Perfect Storm 150 at the Bristol Motor Speedway, by finishing fourth behind three NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (WMT) competitors Brunnhoelzl was able to bring home the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour (WSMT) victory as well as lengthen his points lead on that Tour to almost 100 points over Andy Seuss.

“No matter where or what kind of race, to come out of it with a fourth place is definitely great,” explained Brunnhoelzl.  “Especially coming to a track like this and knowing I could run with any of the guys in front of me.  I will definitely take this and hopefully we will come back here next year.”

There is always a sense of anxiety when bringing a series to a new venue but to say that competitors and fans alike were merely “anxious” to see what a combined WMT and WSMT race would hold in store for the towering banks of Bristol Motor Speedway would be a severe understatement.  With the Tour’s exhilarating finish at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway earlier in the summer fresh on many minds, most were expecting excitement of the same magnitude at a half-mile bull ring like Bristol but much to the surprise of many, the race proved to be relatively calm.

Brunnhoelzl was one of the many competitors thankful for the great racing without the added excitement and frustration of the banging sheet metal style of racing that the Bristol Motor Speedway is known for.

Brunnhoelzl on track at Bristol. (Rick Ibsen Photo)

“It is Bristol and it was a lot of fun coming here,” said Brunnhoelzl.  “The first half of the race we were feeling it out and it got a little too free, so we made some adjustments.  It was a good car in the second half, but we didn’t have the long run that we needed that we had in the first half.  I even thought we were going to have quite a few wrecks.  A lot of guys used their heads.  If they didn’t have it, they didn’t try to take it – there wasn’t any forcing the issue tonight, so it was real good.”

Brunnhoelzl will continue his campaign for the WSMT Championship this Saturday night, August 29th, as the series travels to Caraway Speedway (NC)

“We still have the points lead,” commented Brunnhoelzl.  “So we will go on to Caraway next week and try to win that one.”