CONCORD LEFTOVERS - 5/14/07
By Jeremy Troiano
CHRIS BLOSSOM PASSES AWAY
Chris Blossom's car still sat in the trailer on Friday night.
Friday night’s racing cast a somber mood over Concord Motorsport Park, as the entire pit area mourned the loss of Legends Chargers Division driver Chris Blossom.
Blossom was killed in a car accident Friday morning. According to the Roanoke Times website, Blossom died in Rockbridge County as he was traveling south on Interstate 81 near Fairfield at about 9:30 a.m. when he ran off the right side of the road.
Blossom was a member of the BOSS Construction race team and ran with teammates Jamie Smith and Cotton Spry. Smith competed in Friday night’s events, coming home 11th. Blossom’s white #16 Legends car sat unloaded in the trailer.
Blossom’s children were at the track on Friday night. They were handed the trophy from Bandolero Beginner Bandits winner Benji Hicks.
WHO IS “WILD TURKEY”
There are plenty of nicknames in racing. Its something that’s coming back too.
The Bassett brothers go by “Sparkplug,” “The Rock” and “Grasshopper.” There is “Slick” Nick Stroupe. Cole Miktuk is “The Race Kid.” Kyle Shano is the “Squidget.” Jake “The Snake” Crum.
Look at John Stancill’s car, and you’ll see “Wild Turkey” above the door.
But why?
“It’s been with me since I was in go-karts,” said Stancill. “I had a dream one night that I was being chased by a wild turkey and I was running away fast. So, everyone told me that I should start driving the car like I was being chased by a wild turkey. And it just stuck.”
SEVERAL BIRTHDAYS CELEBRATED
There were several birthdays that were celebrated on Friday night at Concord Motorsport Park.
In the Bandolero Young Guns Division, Robert Poole celebrated his birthday with a fourth-place finish in the feature.
In the Bandolero Outlaws Division, Kayla Turner celebrated her birthday by finishing fourth in her feature as well as winning the track championship at Millbridge Speedway on Sunday afternoon. Turner and her brother, Josh, had their trailer all decked out with decorations and cake in the pit area.
ANDERSON NOTES INSPIRE
Look inside Legends Pro Division driver Jordan Anderson’s #19 car and you’ll notice a lot of notes taped all over the place.
They don’t detract Jordan from winning races. Instead, they inspire him.
“They are Bible verses that my mom writes down for me,” said Anderson, who won Friday night’s feature. “She gives me them often. I just read them and they help inspire me to run even harder. I know where my talent comes from and it comes from God.”
Anderson has several notes in the car this year. He had even more last season.
“I probably had about 20 or more taped up there last year.”
CHROMALUSION CAR GETS SOME LOOKS
Jeff Gordon made it popular. Robert Marmino is bringing it to Legends Car Racing.
Legends cars are known around the country to have some pretty cool looks to them. And its no different when you look through the pit area at Concord Motorsport Park. However, one car seems to stand out.
Marmino brought his #25 Legends Charger Division car to Concord on Friday night and a lot of people took notice.
“It’s the ridiculously expensive DuPont ChromaLusion paint,” said Marmino. “It’s the same stuff that Jeff Gordon had on his car that one year. But this one has a purple-base to it.”
However, there is one part of Marmino’s car that stands out.
Robert Marmino's ChromaLusion car (right) looked awesome... except for the white fender.
“The white fender? This stuff is expensive. That is why the fender is still white.”
Kayla Turner's birthday was well known.
BULLOCK’S ACCIDENT A TOUGH ONE
There are always big hits in racing. On Friday night, Landon Bullock took one of the biggest hits of the night.
“I had a pretty good car,” said Bullock. “I was on the outside pole. I fell back to fourth or fifth. I started working my way back to the front and another car slammed me into the wall. I think my leg hit the steering shaft. I’m ok though.”
Bullock limped out of the car, but was able to walk later under his own power.
