
By Luis Torres, Staff Writer/Photographer
A hard crash on Lap 61 marked the end of fan favorite Burt Myers’ chance of making the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium.
The 11-time track Modified champion was running inside the top-10 during the 75-lap Last Chance Qualifier before chaos ensued. Myers’ No. 50 CitruSafe Cleaner Chevrolet was attempting to clear Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. after moving him out of the way.
However, just as Myers was trying to clear Stenhouse, their bumpers collided, and it sent Myers around through the infield grass and slammed into the wall. The accident severely damaged the front of the Team AmeriVet machine, spilling oil on the track which brought out the first red flag of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season.
Myers ultimately got out of the car and was okay, but his odds of competing in Sunday’s 200-lap main event was over.
Due to Myers’ popularity at the legendary short track, the fans in attendance were livid at Stenhouse, ranging from angry words to double birds shot at the 2023 Daytona 500 champion during the red flag period.
Myers said that the entire experience of competing against NASCAR’s premiere drivers was awesome all weekend. Additionally, he waited for the right time to work his way in position to have a chance of the top-two transfer spots which were claimed by LCQ winner Kyle Larson and runner-up Josh Berry.
“We didn’t have the car we thought we needed to get the job done completely,” said Myers. “But there at the end, we were picking them off one at a time. We gained about four or five spots. I got shoved into the No. 47 (Stenhouse) and pushed him out. When I under him, I don’t know if he was upset about that. I do know it was him who ran into me.”
Once FOX Sports’ pit reporter Jamie Little showed Myers multiple angles of the accident, he affirmed to her that Stenhouse got into him.
“It’s his bumper and I was in the infield, so I guess that tells the story,” said Myers. “It was an awesome experience. I hate it that it ended the way it did for the guys that worked so hard to make this happen, but we had a great time.”
Myers’ fellow Bowman Gray rival Tim Brown also competed in the event, driving for Rick Ware Racing’s No. 15 Ford, but also didn’t advance into the main event as he finished the 75-lap LCQ in 10th.