Brandon Ward denies Burt Myers perfect Hayes 200

Burt Myers led 203 laps of the Hayes Jewelers 200 season opener at Bowman Gray Stadium but Brandon Ward moved him to lead the one that paid.

One last caution, one for Chris Fleming and Lee Jeffreys, set up a single-file overtime at The Madhouse and Ward executed a textbook bump-and-run on the final corner to claim his 13th win in the Tour Type Modified division.

It’s also his first win in the biggest race of the season.

“This was one of the races we haven’t won here, and we really wanted it,” said Ward, who started fifth and hung around long enough to stay on Myers bumper late in the race. “We had a good car and was struck in traffic there (early in the race) but got it worked out.”

Again, Myers led every lap from the pole but 11 cautions kept giving the likes of Ward and Tim Brown chances to size him up.

“That was just racing, and I saw an opening and took it,” Ward said.

For his part, Myers has 98 track wins, 11 championships and 11 Hayes 200s and understood why the move was made.

“I would have done the same thing to him in that situation,” Myers said.

Myers even leaned into the car to congratulate Ward but offered it with a fair caveat.

“The way it turned out with the tires I just couldn’t hold him off because that was a lot of laps on those tires,” Myers said. “I’m going to congratulate Brandon and I’m going to let him know I’d do exactly what he did but when I do that, don’t be mad.”

Myers also appreciated the spectacle for the track and what the win meant to Ward. The race was the first regular season event at The Stadium since the track was renovated for the NASCAR Cup Series Clash, which was held in February and also included a daytime Madhouse Clash Classic.

“If you didn’t get your money’s worth tonight, you are in the wrong sport,” Myers said. “It was more cool for (Ward) than me but my guys have worked hard, and we had a new engine put in on Wednesday, but it came down to tires beating us and that’s why it’s called racing and not winning.”