CONCORD BANDOLEROS - 8/24/07 & 8/25/07
By Jason Buckley
JOHN HOLLEMAN SWEEPS BEGINNER BANDITS FEATURES
The only difference between Friday and Saturday night’s racing action in the Beginner Bandits was who finished second as John Holleman swept both events in his #4 Bandolero.
“It was pretty good,” said Holleman. “I was going to finish second (Friday night) and thought Chandler was going to win. He came up on a lapped car and he went to the outside and I went to the inside. I passed him in the turn and came out with the lead.
“It was my first win ever last night. The car was loose (Saturday) the whole race, and finally I got a hold of it and got the win.”
On Friday night, Chandler LeVan was fast, but not fast enough as he finished second behind Holleman.
“It was a battle nonetheless between three cars,” said LeVan. “It was crazy. We were switching positions every lap. You cannot win every race though. It feels great (finishing second). In turn one I passed four cars on the outside and that is a pretty hard move to do.”
Reid Wilson finished second to Holleman Saturday, and was satisfied with the finish.
“It was challenging,” said Wilson. “Everybody was good. The 8 (Chandler LeVan) and the 20 (Riley Halverson) had bad luck out there. They deserve these trophies. I spun out during the middle of the race, but thanks to the caution I came back to second after that.”
John Holleman had the victory pose down pat both nights. (FASTRAC Images)
BELLINGER AND BERGH SPLIT WINS IN BANDITS LEAVING BASSETT UPSET
Dillon Bassett is one of the hardest charging drivers in the Bandolero Bandits division. He shows up to numerous tracks and is always considered one of the favorites. While he was forced to finish second both nights, Bodie Bellinger and Stephen Bergh, Jr took victories.
Bodie Bellinger won Friday night's Bandits division race. (FASTRAC Images)
In Friday’s race, a lot of contact on the track caused mayhem and madness. Bellinger kept his car clean and in front of the chaos to take the victory.
“It was pretty hard,” said Bellinger. “They were beating on me, but we won and that is what we needed. I was just trying to drive it hard. He (Bassett) got under me and I kept it wide open around the top to stay in front of him.
“It wasn’t great out there, but I was able to hold him off. I am real happy. I was leading the points and lost it, so this will help to get back up there.”
Behind him in the finishing order was Bassett, but he wasn’t in the second position all race. A few incidents throughout the race put Bassett back in the pack where he thought he shouldn’t have been. He was able to drive up to second position, but was very vocal after the race.
Stephen Bergh, Jr. in victory lane Saturday night. (FASTRAC Images)
“There is too many morons out there that will wreck you for no reason, and the guy in the tower just hates us, so he’ll do anything to us to lose the championship down here,” said Bassett. “The first lap there was a big wreck. I came out second. They put me fourth for no reason so I got ticked off there. Then there was another wreck (that) screwed us on. The #99 (Tyler Lester) wreck me, put me through the grass. They put me to the rear. There is no sense in that crap.”
Hoping for better results Saturday night, Bassett ended up playing second fiddle once again, this time to Bergh. While many drivers would be thrilled to finish second in both day’s events, Bassett was visibly upset after Saturday’s race.
“Dude, I don’t know what to say. He is so frickin fast,” said Basset, referring to Bergh. “I know you can’t win all of them. It doesn’t help us in national points at all.”
On Bergh’s end, he was happy he got the win but wanted it to be a better race between Bassett and him.
“It was good,” said Bergh. “I wish Dillon would have come up and raced with me, but he got stuck in traffic and the wrecks.
“It (the win) is good and it has always been like that. It is going to feel good when you are in front of somebody.”
RONNIE BASSETT AND DYLAN PACK SWAP YOUNG GUNS WINS
Ronnie "The Rock" Bassett rolled to the front of the pack. (FASTRAC Images)
Two drivers that have been hot this year in the Young Guns division of Bandolero racing are Ronnie Bassett and Dylan Pack. Both have won races across the South, including both having successful outings at Lowe’s Motor Speedway (NC) in the Summer Shootout.
Last week in the fall opener, the two drivers battled hard again at Concord Motorsport Park, crossing the line side by side with Pack taking the win. This week the two drivers swapped the top spots both nights, giving each a win and a second.
First, Bassett took the Friday night victory over Pack in a tight race to the checkered flag.
“I like to thank Dylan for racing me clean,” said Bassett. “Last week was the same thing but the other way around. I am glad it was my turn this week. We needed the win for the Nationals. Hopefully we will come out here tomorrow and I will bring it home again.”
Dylan Pack. (FASTRAC Images)
Pack attempted a pass on the last lap, but just didn’t have enough to get the win.
“Me and Ronnie always run each other clean out here and put on a good show for the fans,” said Pack. “I had him right there on the last lap coming out of four but he had me down the straightaway.
“It kind of sucks to not get up there and beat him, but last week I beat him by a foot on the high side there. I would rather lose a race like that than to get wrecked. It was a good race.”
Going into Saturday night’s race, Pack was looking to change things up. Starting on the outside pole, Pack was able to get to the lead, soon followed by Bassett. They ran first and second throughout the race, but this time it was Pack back in victory lane.
“The Beantown Bandolero was good today,” said Pack. “I got a good run on the high side on the start and just drove away with it from there. I thought for sure Ronnie would be right up there, but some days you have a good race and others you don’t. It was a good race for me. I would like to thank my family as well. Overall it was a good day.”
Bassett didn’t get to victory lane to sweep the weekend, but was overall satisfied with his one-two finish over the weekend.
“I had a good car all day,” said Bassett. “We made a gear change, and I got pulled. We fell back on the start back to sixth on the first lap. We came back through the field and I ended up finishing second. The car was great.
“It is probably the best weekend we have had in a long time. We have had two wins in a weekend before, but I guess it is alright.”
SELLERS WINS FRIDAY'S OUTLAW FEATURE, BUT NOT THRILLED WITH SECOND ON SATURDAY
Kendall Sellers knows victory lane at Concord Motorsport Park well. (FASTRAC Images)
This year at Concord Motorsport Park, Kendall Sellers has been the driver to beat. This spring, he racked up numerous wins, and last week he picked up where he left off by winning the first fall race.
This weekend in the double-header, Sellers was able to win the first night, but was forced to finish second the second.
“We had a good car tonight,” said Sellers after his Friday victory. “There is not much you can say about that. We have had good stuff this year at Concord. The preparation at the shop has been key to everything we have done down here. The racing here tonight was good. It was good points wise for us. We had a lot of good competition with T.J. Hicks and Chris McKinney. Unfortunately Chris had some motor problems. We are going to try to get him back out here tomorrow night.”
Hicks finished second to Sellers Friday night, which was a miracle considering what the team had to go through.
Nathan Rodgers won the Outlaw race Saturday night. (FASTRAC Images)
“I am just glad to be finishing the race,” said Hicks. “We had some bad luck getting here. The cars came untied, then we couldn’t get out there to practice because out battery went dead. I was just happy to be out there for the feature. I guess second place isn’t too bad for what we had to work with.”
On Saturday, Sellers went looking for the win, but was forced to finish second to Nathan Rodgers. With help from another Bandolero team, Rodgers was able beat the nearly unbeatable Sellers.
“I would like to thank Davey Matthews and his whole crew for helping me out to get the car faster,” said Rodgers. “It sucks every single week coming out here finishing second or third to Kendall. He is a real good driver and was quick out here but we had the stuff to beat him here tonight and hopefully we can come back and start beating him some more out here.”
Sellers was less than thrilled to finish second. He wasn’t upset over getting beat, but how he was beat, he claims.
“Tonight I don’t know if we missed the boat or what,” said Sellers. “Last night we had a darn good car. Tonight we had a darn good car. I drove it as hard as I have ever here before. I don’t have a problem getting beat and I have never had a problem getting beat. I have gotten beat a lot in my life, but I don’t like getting beat knowing that it is illegal.”
Sellers explained to LegendsNation.com he was told there was something not legal on Rodgers’ car; however the team decided to not use the protest rule to contest it.
“Not tonight,” said Sellers. “For lack of better words we are going to let them hang themselves. Next week is Nationals. Go big or go home.”
[Editor’s note: Nathan Rodgers passed post-race inspection]
