Legends Nation ... And Justice For All

LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY - 5/24/07 LEGENDS

By Jason Buckley

Justin Lloyd Blows Up After Confusing Semi Pro Race One Win

The race was during the daytime and a full moon is a week away, but something obviously was in the air Thursday when the Semi Pro drivers took to the track for the first of two division features. When the checkered flag flew, it was Justin Lloyd in his blown up #43 car who was given the win with many other drivers wondering what happened and who was in what place at the finish.

“I guess they are scoring us the winner,” said Lloyd after the race in the tech area. “That is what I heard.”

With over 20 Semi Pro drivers arriving to race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on NASCAR’s Pole Night to race on the front stretch quarter-mile, officials decided to split the field into two separate races, each earning points towards the INEX National Championship.

The first of the two races hit the track, and before they could take the green flag the #24, driven by Parker Hammons, stalled on the track. Minutes went by as officials did nothing to remove the car from the track surface. Luke Fleming used his #113 car to push Hammons off the track surface, but it still was not safe to take the green flag. Finally, a wrecker pulled out onto the track to remove the car so racing could take place.

Justin Lloyd might have been declared the race winner but the smoke from under the hood could be costly.

On the start, Andrew Lloyd spun in turn two. While parked just off the track surface, the officials didn’t throw a caution until the field was already back around into the turn and two cars got together and spun.

After a few more restarts with cautions immediately after taking the green, the officials threw the checkered flag with the yellow, ending the race before it could ever get going, due to time constraints. Although the #48 of Daniel Hemric crossed the finish line first, officials gave the win to Justin Lloyd, whose car spewed smoke as he crossed the finish line behind Hemric.

Daniel Hemric (#48) might have crossed the checkered flag first, but was not declared the winner. (LN Photo)

“I have no clue what happened,” said Lloyd. “I was running hard there for the laps we had. The car started smoking with a couple laps to go. I just ran it until the end. Once I crossed the line I just shut it off.

“We were the leader on the last completed lap, so I will take it. If I am going to blow it up, the best thing is to win then blow it up after it crosses.”

Hemric was credited with second place, and was equally confused. He crossed the finish line first at the end of the race, and he also felt he was the leader on the last completed lap.

“I was hoping to get many laps in here to race,” said Hemric. “This is a fun place to race at and with all the people here we hoped to show off some talent. But we weren’t able to tonight.

“I am not exactly sure what the finish is yet but I hope we end up with it (the win). I thought they reverted back to the last completed green flag lap, and if that is the case we got it. I guess we will see.”

LN contacted INEX Executive Director Darrel Krentz, who confirmed the scoring did in fact give the win to Lloyd. Gene Kirila was credited with third, followed by Zach Stroupe and Fleming.

Stover Leads Wire-To-Wire For First Win on LMS Quarter-Mile

Sometimes the luck of the draw makes the difference in winning races and finishing mid-pack. For Matt Stover, drawing the pole position for the second Semi Pro feature helped keep him out front as he drove on to win his first Lowe’s Motor Speedway quarter-mile race in his first start on the front stretch oval.

Stover (#26) had the field covered. (LN Photo)

“That was great,” said Stover. “We got the car set up just right, and I was able to take it out to the front. I was able to work around the lapped traffic alright and got the win.”

At the start of the race, Stover jumped out to a lead over the rest of the pack. Dennis Kiser settled into second behind Stover, but was quickly pressured for position by Ryan Blaney. Before Blaney could put pressure on Kiser, a fast Ty Dillon wheeled his car around both drivers, setting his focus on the leader.

Blaney and Kiser battled lap after lap for the third position, but all eyes were on Dillon and his late-race charge towards Stover. Unlike the first Semi Pro race, the second wasn’t plagued with cautions, which allowed Stover to extend his lead. Before Dillon could catch Stover, the checkered flag fell, giving Stover the win and Dillon the runner-up spot.

“That was a little bit wild,” said Dillon. “That was a whole lot of learning and a lot of fun. I wish we could have gotten back to the 26 (Stover). I think that would have been a good race right there. But we will get them next time. We were a little loose and we were leaking oil real bad, so I think that was one of our problems.”

Ty Dillon (#21) was fast, but not fast enough to take the win. (LN Photo)

For Stover, being cautious the last few laps of the race helped put him in victory lane.

“I was taking it easy a little bit trying to make sure I wouldn’t get into any wrecks with the lapped cars,” said Stover. “There are a bunch of competitive guys out here. I was just able to get out front and stay there.

“This is the first time I have raced on the front stretch track here at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. It gives me a good boost knowing that we will be good and we know we have. We are looking forward to coming back.”

Semi Pro Race #1 Results

1) #43 Justin Lloyd

2) #48 Daniel Hemric

3) #5 Gene Kirila

4) #51 Zach Stroupe

5) #113 Luke Fleming

6) #83 Dylan Presnell

7) #17 Andrew Lloyd

8) #01 Steve Shaw

9) #12 Sam McAulay

10) #76 Jamie Smith

11) #29 Landon Bullock

Semi Pro Race #2 Results

1) #26 Matt Stover

2) #21D Ty Dillon

3) #0 Dennis Kiser

4) #10 Ryan Blaney

5) #24 Parker Hammons

6) #6 (driver name not provided by scoring)

7) #21C Kara Clarke

8) #11T Josh Turner

9) #28 Kyle Pierce

10) #25 Jeffrey Bolen

11) #113 Chase Fleming

12) #25M Robert Marmino

13) #1 Thomas Hatcher