When the green flag flew for the the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour’s Strutmasters.com 199 at Bowman Gray Stadium (NC) on August 4th, Canadian rookie Cole Powell saw then entire field in from of him.  By the time the checkered flag was in the air 199 laps later, just about the whole field was in his rear-view mirror.

After being forced to start shotgun on the grid after an unapproved adjustment after qualifying, Powell worked his way to the front and avoided several on-track incidents to log a NWSMT career-best third-place finish.

"Holy cow... that was something," exclaimed Powell to the crowd after the marathon run at Bowman Gray.  "Third place at Bowman Gray and it's my first time.  This is awesome."

"This place is something," added Powell later.  “I did my homework to get ready for this place.  I looked at YouTube and I heard stories from Junior Hanley on how wild this place would get, but I never thought it would be this wild."

The “wild” that Powell was referring to were the 13 caution flags that slowed the event.  While the on-track carnage slowed the race’s pace, it allowed the advancement of the Canadian driver on the track.  The Strutmasters.com 199 was only the second start in the on the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour for Powell, who saw some Modified success earlier this season at New Smyrna Speedway (FL) in the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing.

"My crew was great on the radio as kept telling me to keep digging and not to give up," said Powell.  "Turns out they could not hear me on the radio so we had to use hand signals.  Luckily it was that way and not the other way around.  I could hear my spotter and them, but I could relay anything back. It just added to the crazy night and made the finish that much more special."

Powell was left to wonder what track position could have brought to their race efforts.  After being sixth on the speed chart in practice, Powell and his No. 73 machine started towards the back.  It was not until the final stages of the race that they got to sixth and even higher.

"When you have a strong run like this it makes you more excited for the next one," said Powell.  "The next one is Bristol and it doesn't get any more exciting than that.  I've dreamed about racing Bristol all my life.  I watched races there when I was 12 and 13 and now later this month I'll be racing there.  This finish just adds to the excitement."

Powell will be back in action in the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour at Bristol Motor speedway (TN) on Wednesday, August 22nd.

For more information on Cole Powell, contact Elgin Traylor at Elgin@51sports.net.  Be sure to visit www.colepowellracing.com

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