SUMMER SHOOTOUT: Round 7 Leftovers - 7/17/07
By Jason Buckley, Ashley Thomson and Celita Turner
THE "SIZZLER" TOP-10 DRIVERS PER DIVISION SET
Lowe's Motor Speedway released the official points standings Thursday after the seventh round of the Summer Shootout. This round was significant as it set the 10 drivers per division that were locked in for the championship chase over the last three races of the season. Below are the drivers going for the championships in each division. Make sure to check back on Monday here at LN for whom we think has the best shot to win the championships per division.
INEX National Tech Director Scott Reinhardt putting a shock on their testing machine. (LN Photo)
“We have a great relationship with Bilstein,” said Reinhardt. “With their support and the testing process, they will take some shocks apart for us and verify that the shim stacks are all proper like they put them together. It is a very well sealed product so if someone was to tamper with it, it would be pretty obvious. However there are people in the business that could probably take them apart and put them back together. We discourage that. We are supported by Bilstein in that we have been told by them the components are unique to Bilstein going as far as the fluid that they use. So that being the fact and them making the statement to us that they are not going to sell that stuff to anybody beyond them using it, we can rest assured that we aren’t going to find shocks with different types of fluids or shafts.
“Now here recently I have had a couple competitors come to me with business cards and a small card flyer that a gentleman has been handing out in the pit area. I don’t really appreciate people that try to skirt the system like that. With those items in the shock being unique to Bilstein, if someone were to replace them with any components or fluids that was not from Bilstein that would be considered illegal, regardless if it affected the performance of the shock or not. It would still be illegal.”
While Reinhardt was very adamant about the modified shocks being illegal, he is backed by the INEX tech book. In the past INEX has issued out suspensions for illegal modifications, and Reinhardt has no problem with handing out more to rule violators.
“Obviously in the past we have found shocks that have been tampered with,” explained Reinhardt. “They had the fluid changed and they have been modified to affect the compression and rebound in different situations. Most competitors that were found with those shocks earned a six-month suspension across the board. It is in the rule book black and white for everybody to read. If you get caught with an illegal shock, (it is a) six month suspension.
“Like I said in the driver’s meeting, you are really going to see us step up and check these shocks. I think the pits are going to be a buzz with what we do with shocks.”
KORY BLEVINS MOVING UP TO PASS SOUTH AND UARA-STARS
Kory Blevin's #98 is very well known in the Legends world. (LN Photo)
Many drivers use Legends racing as a stepping stone to bigger and better things. NASCAR drivers like Reed Sorenson and David Ragan are just two examples of drivers going from Legends to the big time.
Earlier this season Legends driver Zach Stroupe made his debut in a larger car when he entered the PASS South Super Late Model Series event at Anderson Motor Speedway (SC). While Stroupe will make his second appearance in the PASS South series on August 4th at Lanier National Speedway (GA), one of his fellow Legends drivers will be making his debut in the series in the same race.
“We are going to make about four or five PASS races this year, the first being at Lanier,” said Kory Blevins. “We are also going to try and make two or three UARA races. We have a UARA car we are building right now and the PASS car is done. We are just waiting on Lanier to come around and go at it.
“This will be my first full-sized car. The biggest thing I have driven is a Legends car. I am looking forward to it. We are going to try to get some testing done before we go to Lanier, maybe at Concord (Concord Motorsport Park) or Hickory (Hickory Motor Speedway).”
Even though Lanier is known for great Legends racing action, Blevins hasn’t raced on the track, so his whole weekend experience will be new.
“I have never seen Lanier,” said Blevins. “We talked to T.J. Bell about it. My dad works on his crew. It has helped us out with the setup. But other than that none of us have seen it so far.”
NO BRAKES FOR DENNIS KISER – MISSES SIZZLER CUTOFF
Dennis Kiser won a race this year in the Shootout, but will be on the outside looking in for the championship chase. (LN Photo)
Dennis Kiser knew he had to race hard and finish strong Tuesday. Before the feature, Kiser was 10th in Semi-Pro Shootout points, the cutoff position for the “Sizzler” three-race chase for the championship. Early on in the feature it appeared Kiser was going to make the cut, but mechanical failure took him off the track and out of the race for the championship, dropping to 15th in points.
“My brakes went out,” said Kiser. “I was doing the best I could to pump them back up.”
Kiser was understandably frustrated with the brake failure, and it didn’t make things any better when he was told to get off the track after failing to comply with the official’s orders, something he couldn’t do.
“They told me to stop on the back stretch but I can’t stop if I don’t have any brakes,” explained Kiser. Basically they black flagged me for that. I really think we should have two-way radios in the cars.”
But, two-way communication or not, Kiser said he was done racing anyway without being told to get off the track.
“They (the brakes) went all the way to the floor. I went through turn one and never stopped.”
SLACK ISSUES FINAL BLOCKING WARNING TO ALL; MIRROR BAN THREAT BACK ON
After the first Shootout event of 2007, Roger Slack stated in the driver’s meeting if blocking becomes an issue, mirrors will be removed from all the cars and not allowed on the track. Since, other issues including the “bump and run” have become the focal point in the driver’s meeting and the mirror issue fell by the way side.
Tuesday Slack brought the mirror situation back up. According to Slack, his stern warning was the final warning the drivers would receive. He stated that the blocking has gotten out of hand, and if blocking continues, all mirrors will be banned from the track.
PACE CAR RUNS OUT OF GAS AND LEAVES BANDITS TO PACE THEMSELVES
Legends Masters
3010 pts: Brian Weimer
3010 pts: Clay Hair
3010 pts: Dennis White
3005 pts: Eddie Harwell
3000 pts: Cotton Spry
3000 pts: Tom Van Wingerden
3000 pts: Jan Ingram
3000 pts: Will Cagle
3000 pts: Ronnie Laney
3000 pts: Gary Shannon
Legends Pro
3015 pts: Tyler Green
3005 pts: Chris Buescher
3005 pts: Casey Roderick
3005 pts: Scott Knox
3000 pts: Michael Van Wingerden
3000 pts: Jordan Anderson
3000 pts: Mitchell Coble
3000 pts: Duncan Molesworth
3000 pts: Thomas Van Wingerden
3000 pts: Paddy Rodenbeck
Legends Semi-Pro
3010 pts: Steven Ross
3005 pts: Daniel Hemric
3000 pts: Kyle Hall
3000 pts: Matthew Stover
3000 pts: Christian Pahud
3000 pts: John Ellenburg
3000 pts: Austin Hill
3000 pts: J.R. Allen
3000 pts: Justin Swilling
3000 pts: Rob Sanders
Legends Young Lions
3005 pts: Trevor Farbo
3005 pts: Dylan Presnell
3005 pts: Tyler Millwood
3000 pts: Jordan Penninger
3000 pts: Devin Layser
3000 pts: Tyler Kivett
3000 pts: Kyle Pierce
3000 pts: Nick Hoffman
3000 pts: Chris Moore
3000 pts: Bailey Freeman
Bandolero Outlaws
3020 pts: Kendall Sellers
3005 pts: Josh Turner
3005 pts: Christopher McKinney
3005 pts: Chris Honeycutt
3000 pts: Chris Morgan
3000 pts: Dawn Eagens
3000 pts: Marcus Limehouse
3000 pts: Nathan Rodgers
3000 pts: Charles Long, Jr.
3000 pts: Tim Kenner
Bandolero Young Guns
3020 pts: Ryan Glenski
3005 pts: Clint King
3005 pts: Ronnie Bassett, Jr.
3000 pts: Bryce Walker
3000 pts: Tyler Hill
3000 pts: Nicholas Stroupe
3000 pts: Brandon Lynn
3000 pts: Brett Pepicelli
3000 pts: Justin Grimes
3000 pts: Benji Hicks
Bandolero Bandits
3020 pts: Kyle Plott
3010 pts: Dillon Bassett
3000 pts: Matt Wallace
3000 pts: Davey Matthews
3000 pts: Stephen Bergh, Jr.
3000 pts: Corey Gordon
3000 pts: Tyler Lester
3000 pts: Blake Jones
3000 pts: Sean Shalvoy
3000 pts: Bayley Currey
DRIVERS WARNED ABOUT BILSTEIN SHOCK MODIFICATIONS
During the Tuesday driver’s meeting, INEX National Tech Director Scott Reinhardt addressed Bilstein shock modifications. According to Reinhardt, an individual has been claiming they can work on the shocks, passing out their business card during the Shootout events.
This Reinhardt said is not allowed.
Tonya Cordrey drives the pace car during the Summer Shootout. (photo by Fastrac Images)
There was some miscommunication between Monday and Tuesday night concerning the care of the pace car. Right before the youngest class of Bandolero Bandits raced their B-Main, the pace car ran out of gas.
“It ran out of gas," said pace car driver Tonya Cordrey. "What had happened was the car had been over at 600 (600 Racing) all week and I told Bobby last night to make sure the car was full of gas. Usually every Monday night I’m here and I fill it up, but I wasn’t here. I ran late getting here tonight (Tuesday) so I didn’t get a chance to check it before I got out on the track.
“The last heat race it started (to act like it was running out of gas). When I turned off the race track and took a hard left it shut off. I radioed to the tower and told them the car just shut off on me. They asked me if I filled it up with gas and I told them I told 600 to do it.”
Ironically, this left the youngest class at the Summer Shootout to pace themselves for their B-Main, which didn’t go well as Race Director Roger Slack had to tell them numerous times on the RACEiever to slow down.
While Cordrey relied on someone else to make sure the car is full of fuel, she knew when she shifted from driver to pace car driver gas was one of her main responsibilities.
“That’s one of the first things they told me. Do not let the car run out of gas.”
TREVOR FARBO PUTS LEGENDS AND PRO CHALLENGE UP FOR SALE
Trevor Farbo has been fast in his #35 Legends car, but is ready to move up. (photo by Fastrac Images)
It's time to move on to "bigger" things for Trevor Farbo. He has posted his #35 Legends and Pro Challenge cars up for sale on an online motorsports site. He currently sits second in Young Lions points going into the Sizzler at the Summer Shootout and fourth in national points for Pro Challenge. Trevor plans to finish out the season in both cars.
"We're going to finish out both seasons in both cars (Legends and Pro Challenge). We're trying to secure a buyer for both of them so as soon as we're done with the season we can go ahead and get rid of them and buy a bigger car, hook up with another team, go to something else."
Farbo would not reveal his exact plans for next year, but confirms they will make an announcement soon.
"We kind of know, but kind of keeping the suspense up right now. We're talking to a couple of teams and we'll see where we go with that, but we'll make an announcement later. We're exploring other options in racing. We have bigger plans for next year. We're going to try to move up to something different, a bigger series, bigger car. We figured we'd go ahead and sell them (the cars), or find a buyer for them."
MARK MOSKOWITZ SOAKED BUT STOKED WITH FOURTH-PLACE FINISH
Many drivers are not happy unless they win or at the very least finish second. However, one driver was extremely ecstatic to finish fourth in the Masters division race.
Mark Moskowitz wasn’t too sure about racing in the rain until a call by his crew right before heading out on the wet track made the difference for him.
“I’m soaked by happy,” said Moskowitz. “Just at the last second Josh (Josh Waring from Hurricane Racing) came up in the lineup and slapped some rain tires on the car. I started way back in the field, I think 15th. It took me a while to get up there but my car was just hooked up in the rain. We could come out of the corners going slow and get on the gas real quickly, especially on the rear straight.”
With the Masters division race going green flag for all 20 laps, there was only one thing that Moskowitz wanted.
“I would have liked a little more time.”
THE SHOOTOUT TRACK GETS STRIP GRIPPED
Roger Slack (middle) walks away from the track after inspecting the treated surface. (LN Photo)
Many drivers wondered Monday why they were being forced to race in the second groove for the opening segment of practice on the quarter mile. The track put cones down blocking the drivers from racing in the normal inside groove, and multiple red flags were displayed throughout practice while Roger Slack and the track crew looked at the surface.
Tuesday during the driver’s meeting, Slack addressed the situation with the drivers.
According to Slack, synthetic oil used in the race cars has taken a toll on the track over the last few weeks, making the second and third groove extremely slick. The track decided to use “Strip Grip”, a compound used mostly in the drag racing world, to help make the second and third grooves to be less slick.
While Slack stated that they did not feel the second and third grooves would become the fastest place around the track, they were hoping to help keep drivers from losing control if they are forced to race outside the normal inside line.
LINKER LEFT OUT OF THE SIZZLER AFTER BLACK FLAG TUESDAY NIGHT
Matthew Linker had a bad night at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on Tuesday. After a rough heat race, he was doing well in the feature when officials black flagged him for rough driving which left him in last place. He fell from tenth in the points to 12.
Matthew Linker (#06) was hoping to make it into the Sizzler, but missed it by two spots. (LN Photo)
“I guess they thought I was trying to spin the 23 (Corey Gordon) out, but I didn’t,” Linker said. “Everybody was pushing, and me and Matt Wallace were ready to go but he (Gordon) never went. He moved up and I went under him and Matt pushed me. Corey came down on me, got my front bumper and wound up spinning."
Linker was clearly upset with his night and his chances of making the Sizzler.
“It’s frustrating,” Linker explained. “I missed the first race and came up to tenth (in the points). It makes me mad. The people in the tour that call these shots need to look at it closely. I’m just disappointed that they black flagged me. I might not come back after what they did today, it’s just really stupid."
COLE MIKTUK CALLS IT QUITS FROM THE 2007 SHOOTOUT
Sometimes it just isn’t in the cards, or the wallet, for a driver to race in the Summer Shootout.
Cole Miktuk is one of those drivers. This season he has been running his Late Model Truck at Caraway Speedway (NC) on Friday nights, but also racing in the Legends Pro division in the Summer Shootout. However Miktuk was in his street clothes Monday during Legends practice as he has decided to focus on his truck and not the Legends car.
“We just decided that we couldn’t really afford to run the rest of the Shootout,” said Miktuk. “We have been running the Late Model Trucks at the same time. You don’t really get any winnings from the Shootout. In the trucks we ran two races last weekend and we made enough money to pay for both of those races and to race the next race or two. It doesn’t really take much thought to decide what we were going to do. We decided to hang up the Legends car racing the rest of the Shootout.”
