SUMMER SHOOTOUT: Bandoleros Round 1 - 6/12/07
By Matt Dillner & Ashley Thomson
RESTRICTOR PLATE GASKET GIVES WIN TO A BANDIT NAMED SPARKPLUG
Evan Swelling was initially awarded the win until post race inspection changed the outcome. (LN Photo)
With restrictor plates mandatory in the Bandolero Bandits division this year, all eyes were on the track to see how the division’s Summer Shootout debut would fare. After the race, those eyes shifted focus to the post-race inspection area.
In the race, Georgia’s Evan Swilling fought his way through the field and took the win from Dillon “Sparkplug” Bassett. But in post-race inspection, officials took the trophy away from Swilling and awarded “Sparkplug” the victory.
“The 18 car had a gasket that was an improper gasket,” said Inex Technical Director Scott Reinhardt. “I think it was either a gasket that was a carburetor gasket or an air breather gasket, but it wasn’t a proper gasket that was pictured in the instructions when you get the plate. Basically, we got instructions out there on the restrictor plates stack, and yes, I just made that up tonight about how many gaskets you could use and what kind of gaskets. [Editor's Note: Per a phone call from Scott Reinhardt on Thursday, June 14th, the reference to "made that up tonight" referred to the use of the word "stack" in the interview, not the rule on gaskets. Click here for a letter clarifying the statement from Reinhardt.] Obviously it has to be the stock components. The 15 (Mason Massey) had two gaskets where they should have only been one.
“This being the first night, the debut of it all, or really any other time, we need to be strict. That is such a critical area. We have actually proven it in the past. We actually have run these restrictor plates at Las Vegas for I think two years now.”
Dillon Bassett may have crossed the line second, but the restrictor-plate on the #44 checked out A-ok, so he was given the win. Bassett may be only nine years old, but he had enough racing experience to realize that Swilling’s car was noticeably faster than anyone else’s.
“Swilling, the 18 car, had something was wrong with his restrictor plate,” said Bassett. “I knew something was wrong with his car because he was about a half of a straightaway behind me and pulled up right next to me and then pulled about six car lengths away.”
Evan Swelling (left) and Dillon Bassett (right).
Bassett is still up in the air to whether he will be competing for points at the Summer Shootout or at Thursday Thunder Series at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Georgia.
“It makes me feel good because we come out of here tonight as the points leader. I am racing Atlanta too. On July 4th, Summer Shootout and Atlanta both have races. So whatever I am doing better in I am going to race that one.”
KING ON TOP OF YOUNG GUNS BUT BIG ONES ARE THE STORY
When the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series ventures into the restrictor-plate abyss known as Daytona and Talladega, “the Big One” is inevitable. And while Bandoleros are smaller and slower to say the least, “The Big One”
can occur just the same, even without restrictor plates (not required in Young Guns). On Tuesday night at the Shootout, “The Big One” bit the competition not once, not twice, but three times and the third leant a hand in deciding the outcome of the race.
And much like the NEXTEL Cup Series, the winner is usually the one who can keep his nose clean. Clint King did just that to score his first victory as a Young Gun in the Shootout.
But what happened behind him was the story of the night. Several cars were involved in the first big wreck in turns three-and-four halfway through the 20-lap A-Main. The 680 of Bryce Walker was black-flagged for what officials deemed was rough-driving in that incident. Take two, second verse in turn four wrecked only a couple Bandos this time. But the third time, as always, was the charm.
Multiple-car wrecks plagued the Young Guns race.
All the stars were lined up for the biggest of “The Big Ones;” first race of the season, craziness throughout the race and a green-white-checker finish. King was on the point, but the likes of Ryan Glenski and Casey LaJoie were hot on his tail. The green waved and seconds later in the first and second turn, they all piled up. LaJoie, the number-4 of Timmy Hill, the 22 of Jordan Coker, the 89 of Dylan Pack, and Glenski were among those taken out of contention.
“It was just a little impatience by the people behind me,” said Glenski, who still finished ninth unofficially. “I tried going for the lead, but I got hit from behind and then got taken out. It was very disappointed; I was battling for the lead and I thought I could have got it, but just got taken out.”
LMS Officials disqualified Casey LaJoie from the event for what they deemed was rough driving.
“The guy behind me pushed me all the way down into turn number-one on that last restart,” said LaJoie, who is the younger of Randy LaJoie’s two sons. “He never lifted and drove me into Glenski and took us all out. I just wanted to get into turn one and get out of turn two ok because a lot of stuff happens in that first turn on a green-white-checker, but I guess they weren’t thinking.
“I don’t agree with the penalty,” added LaJoie, who has been winning races at Concord Motorsport Park this spring. “They didn’t see the whole thing. Everybody else saw it and I felt it. I guess some people need to look more and get their facts straight.”
Clint King was able to avoid the wrecks to take the first Shootout Young Guns win of 2007 (LN Photo).
Still the night belonged to the King, and he felt extremely fortunate to be out-front at the conclusion of the race.
“The car just handled excellent,” said King, who is in his fourth year of the Shootout. “I'd like to thank my dad and my grandpa who just work 24/7 on 'em to get them ready. I really don't know how I missed some of that stuff out there. The race was just in our favor tonight and we come home with it.”
Nick Stroupe was also one of the lucky ones. Somehow Stroupe’s Texas Roadhouse machine drove right through the mess and to a second place finish in his first-ever Young Gun race at the Shootout.
“I was going down into the last corner in 7th or so and the first couple cars got together and I was just thinking hopefully they just wash up and they all did,” said Stroupe, who is part of the BDI Racing stables. “I just drove off the corner and came out 2nd for some reason; I’ll take that.”
SELLERS LEADS TEAMMATE TO CHECKERS IN FIRST OUTLAW RACE
Kendall Sellers has been red hot in the Bandolero world in the Carolinas region. You name the track or surface, dirt or asphalt, the kid has been racking up the W’s. He continued that success by winning week number-one in the Outlaw class at the Summer Shootout.
Even though Sellers led the majority of the race, his first race of this year’s Shootout in the Outlaw division wasn’t a walk in the park. Cautions and lapped traffic enabled his teammate Chris Morgan to reel him in with a few laps to go. Going into turn-one on the final lap, Morgan slid his car underneath the #6 of Sellers but could not make the move stick. Sellers went on to take the win and give the Methodist Motorsports team a one-two finish.
“We got out to a pretty good lead then the caution came out,” said Sellers. “Cautions plagued me last year when it came to winning races and tonight I thought it was going to do the same. Chris (Morgan) took a few good looks at me, but he didn't force the issue. Chris and I go back, way back, and everybody knows that. We're almost blood now and it feels good to know I beat him, but then he was just as good. Its luck of the draw I guess. Getting out front helped us.”
Morgan started sixth but didn’t have enough gusto in his #7 to reverse the order of the one-two finish.
“He started on the outside pole and got a jump to the lead,” said Morgan of his teammate. “Once I caught him it was fine. I was just letting him
know I was behind him, but I think he knew it. He just moved up from Young Guns. I knew he'd be pretty tough.”
For full Summer Shootout Round 1 results, click here.
