Garrison Leads Impressive Field in Division II
Veteran Among Eight Bowman Gray Drivers In Top 10
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Jeff Garrison is no stranger to winning, but the veteran is experiencing a first when he led an impressive field from his home track in a NASCAR Whelen All-American Series division.
Garrison is currently in the hunt for the Webb Heating & A/C Sportsman Series title at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C. Garrison, from Clemmons, N.C., has already picked up a pair of wins in the competitive division at the track and is currently in second-place in the NASCAR Finalists Division II Asphalt standings after leading the national standings a week ago.
Garrison leads a group of eight drivers from Bowman Gray Stadium who are currently in the top 10 in the Division II Asphalt Finalist standings – no other sanctioned Whelen All-American Series track can boast that accomplishment.
Track promoter Gray Garrison, not relation, is happy to see Sportsman is one of his strongest divisions at BGS.
“We have had a phenomenal season so far in the division,” Gray said. “We have been blessed with a strong car count of 24 to 26 cars a week on average and the competition has been close with a lot of different winners.”
The NASCAR Finalist Division program recognizes drivers who compete in support divisions at NASCAR Whelen All-American Series tracks. With “Division I” being each track’s top division, the NASCAR Finalist Division line-up at each track highlights drivers competing in their second, third, fourth and fifth tier divisions. A NASCAR-licensed driver’s best 14 finishes are counted toward their final point total for the year. Points are kept separately for dirt and asphalt tracks.
Paved track NASCAR Finalist Division leaders this week include Division II Keith Rocco, Waterford (Conn.) Speedbowl, Stafford (Conn.) Speedway and Devil’s Bowl; Division III Joe Hensel, Columbus (Ohio) Motor Speedway and Kil-Kare Raceway in Xenia, Ohio; Division IV Ken Cassidy Jr., Waterford (Conn.) Speedbowl; and Division V David Rader, Greenville-Pickens Speedway in Greenville, S.C.
NASCAR Finalist Division leaders on dirt tracks this week include Division II Jesse Dennis, Adams County Speedway in Corning, Iowa and I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Neb.; Division III Craig Whitmoyer, Grandview; Division IV Jeffrey Jones, Adams County and I-80; and Division V Chris Jenkins, Salina.
While Jeff Garrison searches for his first track title in his No. 3 Crane & Rigging Co./Triad Metal Recyclers Chevrolet, he has the assistance of strong crew led by Jim Hire. Hire serves as crew chief in the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour and has already visited Victory Lane on the tour with Brandon Ward earlier this season at South Boston Speedway.
“Jim and his son Brandon have helped us out this year, Jeff Mitchell has too, and I appreciate everyone’s help,” Jeff Garrison said.
Garrison, who has been racing on and off since 1979, has won track titles at nearby Friendship and Caraway Speedways, but never at Bowman Gray where he returned to racing on a regular basis in 2009 for the first time since 1994.
“We have been lucky enough to win one race in 2009 and 2010 and now two this year,” Jeff Garrison added. “Winning at the stadium anytime is tough. A lot of it depends on where you draw. Hopefully we can get lucky again in the draw this week.”
At season’s end the top three drivers in the four asphalt and four dirt NASCAR Finalist Divisions will be recognized at the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Awards to be held at the Charlotte Convention Center at the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Friday, Dec. 7.
Contact: Jason Christley, Integrated Marketing Communications, (386) 310-6094, jchristley@nascar.com or Tim Southers, Integrated Marketing Communications, (386) 235-3634, tsouthers@nascar.com
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