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Happy Ending: Brunnhoelzl Earns His First NASCAR Championship

ASHEBORO, N.C. -- George Brunnhoelzl III capped off his first NASCAR championship a victory in the Fall Classic 150 at Caraway Speedway, the final race of the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour season.

Brunnhoelzl needed to only start the finale in his No. 28 OvalSpeed/Fibrwrap/PT Ford to clinch the championship. He assured himself of that by claiming his sixth Coors Light Pole Award of the season which gives him the overall award for the season winning the most poles.. He went on to claim his fifth win of the season and third at Caraway.

The championship was the first NASCAR title for the West Babylon, N.Y. third-generation driver.

“I can’t put into words what this means to me and my family,” Brunnhoelzl said. “I don’t think it has sunk in yet as we have been talking about and waiting (for this night) for a couple of weeks.”

Brunnhoelzl made reference of the three week wait after winning at Ace Speedway on Oct. 2nd and the Fall Classic 150 postponed on its original date on Oct. 10th.

He started fifth after the post-qualifying redraw of the top six, and took over the lead on Lap 73 when Brian Loftin came down pit road under caution. He briefly lost the lead to John Smith at the line on a Lap 142 restart, before retaking the point.

Smith got under Brunnhoelzl on the final lap and the two drag-raced out of Turn 4, with Brunnhoelzl taking the win. Jason Myers followed in third, followed by Frank Fleming and Burt Myers.

Loftin, the 2008 NWSMT champion, appeared to be on pace to collect his second win of the year at Caraway leading the first 73 laps of the race until he gave up the lead to pit under caution.

That gave the lead to Brunnhoelzl and he and Smith broke away from the pack after the restart leading third place Frank Fleming by five car lengths.

Smith was able to stay within striking distance and was pleased with his finish in a new car he raced for the first time.

“I gave it everything I had to get past George but after the luck I have had recently we’ll take it and use that momentum heading into next year,” Smith said.

The race was slowed four times for caution with the only multi-car incident of the race brought out the final yellow of the race on Lap 136 after Bryan Dauzat and Loftin got together on the track. The two once again made contact with one another and Dauzat was black flagged by NASCAR officials for hitting Loftin under caution in Turn 4.

Andy Seuss recovered from a last-lap incident with Zach Brewer to finish sixth and hold on to second place in the season-ending point standings. Seuss finished second to Brunnhoelzl in wins on the Tour this season with four and was happy with his overall performance this season.

“I congratulate George on his championship,” Seuss said. “We had a good year in our Advance Auto Parts Dodge and I want to thank everyone at Riggs Racing and my family and friends for all of their support this season. We’ll come back next year ready to challenge again for the championship.”

Burt Myers, who earlier in the day competed in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at nearby Martinsville Speedway, finished third in the final standings.

George Brunnhoelzl Jr., a former modified driver himself, was obviously a proud car owner, crew chief and parent.

“I am so proud of George,” he said. “His grandfather won track championships and I won track championships but neither of us won a national championship and I am so proud of what George has done. I took a lot of help from a lot of people to make this happen and I want to thank all of them.”

Brunnhoelzl's best points finish was seventh last year. The 27-year-old West Babylon, N.Y., native entered 2009 with one win in 25 career starts over three seasons. In addition to his five wins this year, he had 13 top fives in 14 races.

As a touring series champion, Brunnhoelzl earned a protected starting position in the prestigious NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown to be held on Jan. 29-30 at California’s Toyota Speedway at Irwindale. The seventh running of the event, which is run in NASCAR Camping World Series cars, brings together the top racers from across North America for the “Daytona 500 of short-track racing.”

Next up for the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour teams is the NASCAR Touring Series Awards Gala in Concord, N.C. on Saturday, Nov. 14 at which Brunnhoelzl and the rest of the touring series champions will be honored.

RESULTS | LAP-BY-LAP RECAP | VIDEO OF VICTORY LANE WITH GEORGE BRUNNHOELZL III | AUDIO OF GEORGE BRUNNHOELZL III POST RACE INTERVIEW | AUDIO OF GEORGE BRUNNHOELZL JR POST RACE INTERVIEW

Sherry Clifton, the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour director, presents George Brunnhoelzl III with the championship trophy Saturday night. Charles Ward/NASCAR