SUMMER SHOOTOUT: Round 1 Leftovers - 6/12/07
By Jason Buckley, Matt Dillner and Ashley Thomson
DIRT TRACK CONE TRICK SETS DEFINING LINE FOR CHOOSE RULE
One of the many changes at this year’s Summer Shootout is the way the “Choose” rule works. If you are not familiar with the “Choose” rule for restarts, this is it in a nutshell: Under caution, when the cars are single file, an official holds up a sign that says "Choose." At that point, starting with the leader of the race, a car can choose whether or not they want to start on the inside or outside lane. The benefit? If the first five cars choose to start on the inside, the sixth place car would then have the option of starting on the outside of the front row.
A cone was added to the "Choose" rule this season.
The rule has created a lot of interesting scenarios and some real wild racing at the shootout. Often times the “Choose” would also create confusion with cars scrambling high and low, often changing their mind after their initial decision. To eliminate that clutter and to speed up the racing program, Lowe’s Motor Speedway has taken a page, or a cone that is, out of the Dirt track books to help create a specific commitment location for the “Choose.”
With the new mark, a driver must choose at an orange construction cone, to go to the inside or outside. After passing the cone they are not permitted to change their minds and cross back over.
“We want to have a definite deal where everyone can see that this
person went to the inside and know that they are not going to be able to switch to the outside,” explains Roger Slack. “We want to minimize the amount of caution laps that we have. The 'Choose', if it is done right, doesn’t cost you any caution laps, but if they start playing games it blows things up.”
COTTON SOFTER ON BUMPER IN MAIN-EVENT CHARGE
Cotton Spry charged to the front during his heat race. But he did so using his front bumper and that aggressiveness got him in trouble. The bumper of his #16 was damaged from the contact forcing him into the pit area. The heat race incident meant the perennial Legends Master Division front-runner had to start the main event from the rear of the field.
“I just got a little bit aggressive and hit a couple cars and it broke the bumper bolt,” said Spry. “Then bumper fell down underneath the car and when I got to the corner it wouldn’t turn and I went off the track.”
Starting scratch on the field, the veteran knew he would most-likely have to be just as aggressive to move to the front. “I am starting dead last in the A-Main so I’ll probably tear a bumper off again!”
Luckily for Cotton, and his front bumper, the “Choose” rule on the restarts enabled him to jump up to the high-side and gain a bunch of spots. Then he picked off some more cars, without even using the bumper, to finish 6th in the main event.
“We didn’t even bend the bumper, not even a scratch,” laughed Cotton. “The car was running pretty good. I got by about 5 or 6 cars and then the caution came out and nobody was choosing the outside. I gained about 20 positions on the outside. Then all I had to do was pass 4 or 5 cars.”
NO MIRRORS FOR SECOND SHOOTOUT EVENT?
During the driver’s meeting, Roger Slack, Director of Events for Lowe’s Motor Speedway and the Summer Shootout, addressed the issue of
blocking on the race track. Slack stated if blocking became an issue during the first Shootout event, week two the mirrors would be removed from the race cars. This caused quite a stir during the driver’s meeting but may have gotten the attention of the drivers.
Many races, including the Bandolero Young Guns feature, were plagued with multiple-car wrecks. Position penalties were handed out by the officials for what they deemed as rough driving, however LegendsNation.com is unaware of any penalties for blocking.
Stay tuned to LegendsNation.com for more on this development as we find out more from officials.
BUBBA GOES HOME AFTER COMING UP SHORT ON WEIGHT
Darrell “Bubba” Wallace, Jr. did not fare well in his heat race. So the 14-year old had to race his way in to the big-show through the B-main. And he did just that, until post-race inspection. Wallace’s transfer spot was taken away by track officials when they deemed the #69 Pro Division Legends car illegal after not making post-race weight.
Wallace was visibly upset when he drove his car up on the hauler and changed out of his suit to be a spectator.
“Well in the heat race we couldn’t really get down and the car was loose,” said Wallace. “We had a really bad car. Then we fixed it and came back out for the B-Main and we made it through. We were following Patrick Bollsworth and got up through the pack with him. Then Thomas Hartensveld got by us and we followed him. We ended up making it in and then we went to tech. They ran me on the scales once. They backed me up and zeroed them and did it again and they said I was three pounds light. So they disqualified me for that.”
“We’re not here racing for points so we will just come back out next week…”
BUBBA’S DQ A BLESSING FOR STEVEN DANIELS
When one driver gets disqualified, it benefits another. In Steven Daniels case, his own driving cost him from being able to transfer up from the Pro division B Main until the officials disqualified Darrell “Bubba” Wallace, Jr, putting Daniels in the show.
Darrell "Bubba" Wallace, Jr. was not too happy after being disqualified before the feature. (LN Photo)
“In the B Main I came from last and got up to ninth,” said Daniels. “On the last lap I got to Knox (Scott Knox) and moved him out of the way. They (the officials) put me back a spot to ninth which made me not transfer. Then Bubba got DQed in tech, so I got into the race.”
Daniels finished 16th in the Pro Legends feature.
NEW GRID AREA HELPS KEEP DRIVERS, CREWS AND FAMILIES SAFE
For years competitors would line up on the frontstretch and pit road on the outside of turn-one of the ¼ mile track at Lowe’s Motor Speedway before they raced. That grid area has always been a crowded, cluttered scene that was considered by some to be dangerous. Track officials decided to take a pro-active approach and move the grid area to a protected stretch that is actually a driveway used for the road course at LMS.
A tire came off a car and flew into a seat display in 2006, nearly hitting crew standing by the old staging area. The seat was bent up but thankfully no injuries were reported. (LN Photo)
“Last year, we had a couple wheels go flying and we had some cars with stuck throttles too,” said Director of Events Roger Slack. “We just didn’t want people out there (the grid). Even though they are in their racecars we didn’t want them out there where there car could get damaged or they could get hurt if they’re not strapped in. They have dads and moms out there helping their kid get their HANS Device on. So what we did, we cleared out what is called road-course entrance and make everybody go out through the back of the Busch garage and then line up in that area too. And we also have and auxiliary grid back there by the restrooms by Gresham’s trailer where we can stage cars if we need to ahead of time.”
The new grid area is also organized with signs that mark the spot for each division and heat race.
RESTRICTOR PLATE INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS ON 600 SITE
For those that might have had issues installing or knowing the proper installation of the restrictor plate for the Bandolero Bandits, 600 Racing has the instructions with photos on their site. Click here for the instructions.
ANDREW ROGERS JUMPS SHIP AFTER EMBARASSING RETURN TO THE SHOOTOUT
Andrew Rogers has seen his career go from the penthouse to the outhouse before. The young man who was considered a top-prospect at one time from the Legends ranks, had saw his heavy-stock car career fall apart after a few stints in the Hooters Pro Cup Series. Now Rogers is coming home to the type of racing that made him a name in the sport. Teaming up with Nick Pistone Racing, many looked at Rogers to be one of the front-runners this season in the Legends Pro Division. But his homecoming didn’t exactly go as planned during opening night at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Rogers struggled in the back of the pack during his heat race and elected to not even go out in the B-main.
Andrew Rogers. (LN Photo)
Loading the car up for the night, Rogers and his father made the decision to make another return home, choosing to part ways with Nick Pistone Racing and keep his cars in house with his family-run operation.
“We’ve found a set back and ventured off into something that we thought was bigger and better,” said Rogers of his comeback. “We weren’t that successful in it. We really wanted to come back here and not suck like we have been. All the people that I used to dominate out here, we used to be about unbeatable out here, and then to come here and not be as successful as you wanted to be hurts. You don’t want to come back to something that you’ve been the one to beat in and then come back and struggle to make a feature. It’s pretty frustrating. It is really embarrassing.
“We kind of had our stuff scattered too thin. We’re going to regroup and bring it all back together. We’re going to keep all of our stuff in one place and work on it ourselves.”
SHOOTOUT GRADUATES COME TO WATCH BUT WANT TO RACE
There is something about the Summer Shootout at Lowe’s Motor Speedway that brings in the drivers. Whether it is the racing, the show or the people, many flock to the track to watch the racing and entertainment the series provides.
Roaming through the pit area and watching the action were many graduates of the Legends and Bandolero ranks that have since moved up the ladder in the sport of racing. David Ragan, currently driving in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series level, raced Legends cars not too long ago, and appeared out at the Shootout to watch the first event of the season.
David Ragan was watching the racing action this week rather than competing. (LN Photo)
“I wish I could be out here tonight racing,” said Ragan. “I have a lot of friends that come out here and still race. Actually I do have a car back at the shop and if I can work it into my schedule I will come out here a few races and race. This is still some of the best racing across America, from the Nextel Cup to go-kart racing.
“It is pretty cool to come out here and see these guys going hard at it. Roger Slack and Humpy put on a good show. It is good to come out here and see everybody.”
John Freeman was also watching the action Tuesday night. Freeman is currently racing in the NASCAR Busch East Series, but is ready to jump into a Legends car during the Shootout if someone will give him a wheel.
“Part of watching this is hard to do,” said Freeman. “I see these guys up front and I want to be out there with them battling for position on the track. As a driver I always have that running through my blood. I have been at the Summer Shootout since 1994. It is really cool to come out here and support my sister (Bailey Freeman) in her Legends car and help her out a little bit and have a good time.
“I would love to get back in a car a couple times this year. We worked on a deal earlier this year but it didn’t quite pan out. But I am an open driver walking around the pits. I have my suit and helmet in the car and I am ready to rock any time. If the opportunity came available I think I would definitely be back in one.”
Joey Logano wandered through the pit area, watching the racers as they prepared to battle on the track. The NASCAR West and Busch East series driver has been on a hot streak this season, racking up three wins in his first four starts in the NASCAR ranks.
“I think Legends cars are one of the biggest things that helped my career,” said Logano. “Growing up here you can get your name out in the racing world. You are in front of a lot of big name people which is what a driver needs for exposure. Also, a driver learns a lot of basic racing skills. It helped me out a ton in my career.”
Busch East Series / Hooters Pro Cup driver and Legends graduate Ben Stancill echoed Logano’s comments.
“Legends cars teach you how to finesse a car,” said Stancill. “You have to use a lot of throttle control up off the corner with a legends car so that teaches you a lot for the long run.”
Bryan Silas also has moved up the ranks in racing outside of the Legends car. This season Silas has piloted a race vehicle in the ARCA RE/MAX Series, the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series as well as a truck in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. But, unlike the rest that were there to watch, Silas raced in the week one Summer Shootout event in the Legends Semi-Pro division.
“When you are in ARCA and stuff like that it adds a lot of stress to you in order to do well,” said Silas. “I figured I might as well jump back in Legends Cars because I’ve been running these things for a couple of years and I’ve gotten a good idea how to run these things and they are actually a lot of fun to run. I can tell I haven’t been in one of these cars for a couple of months because I’m not doing so hot right now. I just used the first heat as a practice since I didn’t get much in last night. I was breaking in tires and when you do that it takes about 3 runs and 45 or 50 laps. I only got 1 good run in last night. So we used that kind of like a practice. I am going to push it a little more going into the B-Main and hopefully have a good enough car to make it into the feature.”
Silas managed to make it to the A-Main race, finishing the feature in the eighth position. While Silas would like to race the whole Summer Shootout, his already full schedule of racing might cause some conflictions.
“I don’t think we are going to run all the races,” said Silas. “I think some of the dirt races are going to be in the way. I am going to try to make it here as much as possible because I just love these things and I can’t wait to come back here again.”
Top: Joey Logano (right) talks with a member of the U.S. Army (right) while awaiting the racing action.
Bottom: Ben Stancill (right) spoke with Matt Dillner of LegendsNation.com (left) about his experience in a Legends car. (LN Photos)
OUTLAWS AND YOUNG LIONS ONLY FEATURES WITH LESS THAN FULL FIELDS
Both Legends cars of Cole Miktuk (top) and Justin Morton (bottom) had to race with flat tires. (LN Photos)
Miktuk’s deflating tire showed up during his heat race, and could have taken him out of contention for the feature.
“We went into the first corner and the guy on the inside got a little loose,” said Miktuk. “He washed up into me and it took the valve stem off the left rear tire. I had to drive the whole race like that. It was a little loose getting into the corner. I didn’t know it was flat but that explains why.
“I started sixth, third row outside. On a caution no one went to the outside on the choose, so I took a chance and went to the outside. I was lucky enough to get to the inside line (after the restart) in second place.”
Miktuk was able to hang on to the second position at the checkered flag, putting him in the feature race where he finished third.
Meanwhile, in the wild Semi-Pro feature race, Morton crossed the finish line in fourth position. However a flat left front tire for multiple laps during the race makes the top-five finish even more memorable for him.
“There was a lot of chaos out there,” said Morton. “The biggest thing is we ran the last 10 laps with a flat right front tire. It was my best finish at the Shootout, but I think we could have done better the last 10 laps if it wasn’t flat. The calls we made and just missing the wrecks helped us come out of here with a pretty good finish.
“This whole day hasn’t really gone that great for us but we ended up coming out good.”
With 246 pre-registered cars and 18 states represented within those entries for the first Summer Shootout event of 2007, most feature races saw full 28-car fields take the green flag. Only two of the seven Legends and Bandolero divisions were short of a full field, which were the Legends Young Lions division with 19 cars and the Bandolero Outlaws with 15 cars.
MIKTUK & MORTON "FLAT" OUT ON THE TRACK
Usually a flat tire during the race will cause the car to not handle well or
wreck out. Pro driver Cole Miktuk and Semi-Pro driver Justin Morton both ran Legends races with flat tires and still managed top-five finishes in their feature events.
