CONCORD BANDOLEROS - 8/17/07
By Matthew Dillner
PACK BEATS ROCK IN YOUNG GUN PHOTO FINISH
Dylan Pack was on a tear at Concord Motorsports Park on Friday night, but a caution flag gave him a mirror full of Ronnie “The Rock” Bassett.
"I was getting a little nervous with all those cautions out there," said Pack. "I knew with all of the cautions that Ronnie was going to give me all he had when he had the chance."
On a green-white checker restart, Bassett made his move.
“I dove right up under him and had the position going into one and slid up a little bit and got the nose back under me. It was a drag race going back into three."
Pack snuck back by but Bassett made one last charge to the inside. The two drivers ran side by side to the start-finish line in a close finish. So close that some on-lookers weren’t exactly sure who actually won the race.
“I just stuck on the high side and kept the throttle down,” said Pack after hanging on for the win on the outside groove. “When we came off of turn four we were dead even and he was a little further ahead than me. I just pushed my pedal down further and it went. I looked over and saw I was a little bit further so I knew I won. I’ve never been on the high side like that and been able to pull it off. We raced clean and put on a great show for the fans."
“It was a good race,” said Bassett. “If I had to lose one I’d like to lose it like that. I thought I had it. I guess we will come back again next week.”
CHANDLER HOLDS OFF BIG-LITTLE CHARGE
Chandler LeVan looked as if he had the Beginner Bandit win sewed up until a late race caution set up a green-white checker showdown between he and Jesse Little. Little, son of former NASCAR driver Chad Little, made a valiant effort but came up short.
Pack (outside) just edges out Bassett's #04 in a photo finish. (FASTRAC Images)
Chandler LeVan and family celebrate. It was a great night for the Tilley Team as they won in the Beginner Bandits and the Legends Semi-Pro Charger races. (LN Photo)
“I tried to get him on the outside in the box,” said Little of the restart. “I guess I’ll get him next time. I knew that was my shot. There is a lot more banking in three and four so you can go in a lot harder. In turns one and two you have to go in easier.”
The personable LeVan, held off the charge and celebrated with his family in Concord victory lane. The 12-year-old admitted that it didn’t come without a few tense moments.
“That 03 car was bumping me at the start and I didn’t appreciate all of that,” said Chandler politely about his race. “I got in there and led every lap. I am feeling real good tonight. I was nervous, really. That 03 car was getting up close. That last lap I got a little loose in turn-two and, well, you know the rest right? I could see him passing me on the outside and that was not a smart thing to do."
Little might have been his most obvious challenge but LeVan said there were a few keys to his win.
Bergh's #70 leads Davey Matthews and the other Bandit's around the 1/4 mile oval. (FASTRAC Images)
“My car was really loose and I just started calming down and I started getting better," said Bergh. "I was driving in too hard at first and sliding all over the place.”
Matthews was making his first start at Concord Motorsport Park’s ¼ mile track. He finished second but admitted he didn’t quite have the track figured out.
“We just need to get turn two figured out,” said Matthews. “That is where they were beating us. We needed a good top-three finish for the national points so we did the job. Not as good of a finish as we wanted but still got second.”
Bergh, continued his roll at Concord. He said it was his 11th win of the year at the track he feels mot comfortable at. It was also Bergh’s 28th trophy in two years of Bandolero action.
“This is the first track I have ever been to,” said the quiet racer. “I have been racing here since I was five in go karts. It’s a good track with wide corners unlike a lot of the others.”
SELLERS WINS OUTLAWS SURVIVOR CHALLENGE
Charlie Parsons, creator of the hit television reality show “Survivor” might want to take a look at some of the drivers at Concord Motorsports Park to tab as the next contestants on the popular CBS program. Kendall Sellers showed he had what it takes to outlast the rest of the Bandolero Outlaws drivers on Friday night.
The reality for the rest of the Outlaw tribe… Sellers were un-touchable. His only challenge was to not beat himself.
“You try and not dwindle your lead down,” said Sellers of his giant lead. “You let off a little bit and try to save equipment. But you also want to stay out front in case something happens. You have to play both sides of the game.”
Others weren’t as lucky. Nathan Rogers had second place locked up but at the end of the show, he broke sending him off the island. Kayla Turner took advantage and scored a second place finish.
“I’m glad but I hate it that Nathan had trouble with his car like that,” said a smiley Turner before taking second-place photographs. “It worked for me so I guess that is good.”
The man on the mountain though was Sellers, who admitted that his race was sort of like the TV show.
“I like how it (Survivor) keeps you on your toes,” said Sellers. “You never know what is going to happen minute to minute. It’s kinda like racing.”
Bandolero Beginner Bandit Results
1 #8 Chandler LeVan
2 #03 Jesse Little
3 #70 Noah Triplett
4 #3 Gabriel Plyler
5 #4 John Holleman
6 #11 Kayla Marshall
7 #2 Brian Kolb
dns 6 Daniel Bedford
Bandolero Bandit Results
1 #70 Stephen Bergh, Jr.
2 #41 Davey Matthews
3 #2 Tristin Adams
4 #44 Dillon Bassett
5 #52 Jordan Stillwell
6 #35 Sean Shalvoy
7 #99 Tyler Lester
8 #48 Bodie Bellinger
9 #4 Matt Wallace
10 #06 Matthew Linker
11 #7 Christian Thomas
12 #84 Brock Morris
Bandolero Young Gun Results
1 #89 Dylan Pack
2 #04 Ronnie Bassett Jr.
3 #97 Brandon Lynn
4 #11 Brett Pepicelli
5 #35 Devin Jones
6 #25 Robert Poole
7 #57 Daniel Gobeille
8 #19 Jeremy Birch
9 #38 Rawlin West
10 #24 Dylan Barbian
Bandolero Outlaw Results
1 #6 Kendall Sellers
2 #36 Kayla Turner
3 #42 Nathan Rodgers
4 #88 Marcus Limehouse
Kendall Sellers attracts a crowd. He is surrounded by his Bandolero friends in victory lane. (LN PHOTO)
“A good car, good driving and not too bright lights”
Bright lights? LeVan explained, “that pace car light. It hurts when you get right up to it.”
BERGH HOLDS OFF MATTHEWS FOR ANOTHER CONCORD WIN
Steven Bergh, Jr. was a kid on a mission on Friday night in the Bandolero Bandits feature event. His mission was to beat some of the best of the best in the Bandits. It was mission accomplished as he crossed the start finish line ahead of Davey Matthews and others for the big win.
