SUMMER SHOOTOUT: Bandoleros Round 10 - 8/7/07

By Meghan Dillner, Ashley Thomson and Celita Turner

POINTS RACING AND PROTESTING IN OUTLAWS

Chris McKinney lead Sellers and Morgan around the track Tuesday night.   (LN Photo)

With the new Sizzler at the Summer Shootout, the last three races decided the championship.  This was very true in the Outlaws feature event as the top-three on track were the same drivers battling it out for the top-three spots in points.

The pressure was perhaps most on point leader Kendall Sellers, who came into the event only 15 points ahead of Chris McKinney.  Third-in-points Chris Morgan needed some help from the top-two to have a shot at the title, but could’ve taken it with the right opportunity.

All three of the top Outlaws flexed their muscle early by pulling away from the rest of the pack the way they have for most of the season. McKinney had to win and hope to keep Sellers in third to take the championship. Sellers shattered these hopes by passing Morgan on lap two and following McKinney to the finish line, locking up the crown.

“I knew that I would have to beat Kendall to get the championship,” said McKinney.  “At the same time I knew that he would have to finish two spots behind me.  I was just worried about winning it more than anything. I knew that if I won then I would lock second (in points) and that’s what I did,”

Everyone was ‘points racing’ due to the Sizzler mimicking NASCAR’s Chase for the Cup.  One wrong move and your spot in points could be history.

Sellers was smart and knew where he had to finish in order to win the Championship.  He may have had the car to win, but he wasn’t going to push it any more than he had to.

“The first half of the race I wanted to run second and see what we had and then kind of do what I did last week and use some of the strategies I used last week,” explained Sellers.  “I saw Chris Morgan getting farther behind in my side-view mirror and I saw Christopher McKinney getting farther ahead out of my windshield and I just decided to ride the last five out and try not to do something stupid.”

Chris McKinney sits next to his car in tech after it was protested.  (LN Photo)

This race was all about using your head and like Sellers, Morgan also had his thinking cap on.  He knew that his teammate (Sellers) had to finish right behind McKinney to secure his victory in points.  A flash back of the old team orders, commonly used in Formula 1, were shown when Morgan waved Sellers by to help out his friend.

“At the beginning of the race Morgan motioned me by, but I knew McKinney was going to get me.  His car was so good the first half of the race.  There was no way I could have run with him.”

This was a very emotional night for many at the Summer Shootout.  Dreams were broken when drivers that have dominated race after race would lose their championship after wrecking on the final night.  Other drivers celebrated when fate smiled on them, leading them to the top spot in points. 

But it wasn’t what was happening on the track that mattered most to Sellers.  It was who was watching it happen.  

“A lot has been into today with this whole deal. There was a lot of emotion,” added Kendall with a smile. “My cousin came home from Iraq early this morning and he’s here.  My Grandma actually got to come home today and she came straight from the hospital down here.  It was a really emotional night tonight. I’m just ecstatic.  Words can’t even explain,”

Unfortunately the smile was somewhat wiped off of McKinney’s face when his victory was protested.  Team Turner, Josh Turner and his sister Kayla, filed a protest against the night’s winner. McKinney easily turned over his car for the investigation.

“They have been saying that they were going to protest me since the first race,” shrugged McKinney. “Well actually a lot of them have been saying they were going to protest me since last year, but we told them to go ahead. We don’t care.”

Later that night, McKinney was seen driving his car back to his pits, but he did so lacking his original rear axle bearings. The filers of the protest clamed that the #13 had ceramic coated axle bearings. INEX is taking them back to 600 for further investigation.  Officials explained to LegendsNation.com that there is no rule against these bearings in the rule book, but if they have but if they have indeed been modified, then they would be considered illegal.

For now, this hectic last night at LMS hasn’t come to a close for the McKinney family.  For Sellers and his family, they were able to go home Summer Shootout champions.

Pos

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

6th

7th

8th

9th

10th

Car #

6

13

7

42

11

83

88

9

72

106

Driver

Kendall Sellers

Christopher McKinney

Chris Morgan

Nathan Rodgers

Josh Turner

Chris Honeycutt

Marcus Limehouse

Dawn Eagens

Charles Long, Jr.

Tim Kenner

Points

3545

3545

3495

3470

3457

3448

3412

3406

3392

3378

Points Behind

0

0

-50

-75

-88

-97

-133

-139

-153

-167

Bandolero

Outlaws Division

Unofficial Top-10 Standings

BASSETT SNATCHES CHAMPIONSHIP OUT OF GLENSKI'S HANDS

Bad luck came on the worst night possible for Ryan Glenski. He had a 50 point lead over Ronnie Bassett, Jr. and only needed to finish ninth or better to wrap up the championship. 

It was his to lose.  It didn't seem like too hard of a task for the Young Gun who has six wins and an average finish of 3.2 during this year's Summer Shootout. But, as the saying goes, 'it's not over until it's over' and championship night proved that anything can happen.

It was somewhat ironic that Bassett and Glenski started side by side on the third row. Chad Finchum had the pole position and did a good job of keeping it out front while Bassett and Glenski battled back and forth for the first six laps.

A caution was brought out for a piece of a body laying on the front stretch and the tension built as the cars were tightened back up. On the restart, all eyes were on Glenski, watching to see if he would make a mistake or get wrecked. While Finchum still led the pack, Bassett and Glenski raced side by side some more until the worst thing that could've happened to Glenski happened.

Ronnie Bassett, Jr. took the title.  (LN Photo)

Coming off of turn two, Glenski slammed into the backstretch wall so hard that he was done for the night and his championship hopes were gone.

"A few laps before that the car felt pretty weird like someone in front of us was dropping some oil down or something," explained Glenski. "I came out of (turn) two with Bassett on me, he didn't get into me at all.  The car just went up to the wall. It's all my fault. It's pretty depressing. We definitely had it locked up. I could've just finished in the top 10 and won the championship. It's what we were working for. But, I'm definitely proud of my whole year. We won six races. I can't complain, really."

After Glenski's battered car was towed off, Finchum and Bassett were left to duke it out for the victory. Bassett could have been more cautious and rode out the last half of the race to ensure his championship, but he wanted to win it all. On lap 13, he finally took the lead from Finchum and led until the checkered flag flew. Finchum came in a close second for his best finish of the season.

But when Bassett brought his #04 to the tech area post-race, his family and crew were there to celebrate the unexpected championship with the young racer.

Ryan Glenski's championship hopes ended on the hook.

"It feels good (to win the championship),” said Bassett.  “Last year, we were on the grid and the solenoid burned up and we didn't have a chance to win it. This year, we came in 50 points behind and I thought to myself 'be smart and maybe we could get it.’"

Bassett knew he had a shot at the title when he saw Glenski climbing out of his car on the backstretch.

"When I saw him hit the wall and he climbed out of the car I was just thinking to myself to not wreck and stay on the track. The main priority was to win this race and to win the points. That win right there helped us in the national race, too."

Bandolero

Young Guns Division

Unofficial Top-10 Standings

Pos

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

6th

7th

8th

9th

10th

Car #

04

28

97

680

45

1

11

121

07

63

Driver

Ronnie Bassett, Jr.

Ryan Glenski

Brandon Lynn

Bryce Walker

Nicholas Stroupe

Tyler Hill

Brett Pepicelli

Benji Hicks

Clint King

Justin Grimes

Points

3525

3484

3451

3429

3425

3404

3372

3371

3369

3357

Points Behind

0

-41

-74

-96

-100

-121

-153

-154

-156

-168

TECH AREA HELPS DECIDE WINNER; PLOTT CAPTURES CHAMPIONSHIP

Tuesday night’s racing action was - at best - a mess.  Each division had drama and the Bandolero Bandits were certainly no exception. 

In the middle of a tight championship battle between Kyle Plott and Davey Matthews, Jesse Little blasted out of nowhere, headed to the front of his heat race and the feature race. 

While he finished first in the Bandit feature, he was not credited with the win because of tech infractions.  His run was disqualified because his restrictor plate and spacers were in the incorrect place on his engine. 

“I got disqualified for having our restrictor plate and spacer in the wrong place,” Little said as he prepared to exit the tech area. 

“I’m okay.  It’s the last race, but I’m still bummed.  I’ve made all the features, but I’ve always started in the back. My best finish, besides this one, was 15th.  It’s the last race of the season, so I’m not that bummed about it, but I’m still mad.”

Chad Little in the tech area with his son's car. (LN Photo)

Little’s father, former NASCAR driver Chad Little, was in the tech area when the decision was made.

“There’s a certain order that the gaskets and the plate and the spacers are supposed to go,” Chad said, “and we accidently had it in the wrong order.”

Its tough when children face situations like that, but Chad knows what he’s got to do to help Jesse learn and grow when put in adverse situations. 

“You always got to do everything you can to teach them what it’s like to run up front,” he said.  “I just tell him he did a great job.  Everything else will come.”

While it’s not an ideal situation to get a win, Matthews was still excited about his first victory and second-place in the season point standings.  He was so excited to learn of his win that he couldn’t think of much to say.   

“It’s awesome,” Matthews said.  “I’ve been trying so hard this year to win and finally got it.” 

He had plenty to say about finishing second in the point standings though.

Kyle Plott (left) and Davey Matthews (right) celebrate their victories together.  (LN Photo)

“This is my rookie year and I got second in the Summer Shootout; it’s pretty cool,” he said.  “It’s been fun racing with Kyle (Plott, the Summer Shootout Champion).  We’ve been battling hard all season.  I’ve had a lot fun year.  It’s exciting to get second.”

After all the wrecking in the previous divisions, Plott was just trying to take the checkered flag anywhere in the top nine so he could wrap up his fantastic season (six wins in 10 races) with the title.

“I wasn’t trying to win another race,” Plott said.  “I was just trying to finish ninth to where we could win the Championship.  I wasn’t really going as hard as I could to win it; I was just playing it safe.

Plott said he has two assets that helped him get the success in the Summer Shootout.

“Me and my dad have been working out butts off on the car,” Plott said about his first asset.  “Finally (other Bandolero competitors) figured out what we were doing and everybody else was getting fast.  It’s been a great year.”

And his biggest asset: “Patience, that’s what you have to do all through life.” 

Bandolero

Bandits Division

Unofficial Top-10 Standings

Pos

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

6th

7th

8th

9th

10th

Car #

99

41

44

35

70

80

9

23

4

05

Driver

Kyle Plott

Davey Matthews

Dillon Bassett

Sean Shalvoy

Stephen Bergh, Jr.

Blake Jones

Tyler Lester

Corey Gordon

Matt Wallace

Bayley Currey

Points

3560

3525

3486

3428

3420

3418

3390

3385

3369

3303

Points Behind

0

-35

-74

-132

-140

-142

-170

-175

-191

-257