Legends Nation ... And Justice For All

SUMMER SHOOTOUT: Round 9 Leftovers - 7/31/07

By Jason Buckley, Ashley Thomson and Celita Turner

ROGER SLACK CLARIFIES MASTERS RACE NO-CALL ON HAIR

At the conclusion of the Masters division race Tuesday night, multiple drivers were upset after contact on the track involving Clay Hair resulted in other cars spinning but no penalty for Hair. Some drivers were very vocal about the way they believe the series allowed Hair to get away with the contact without being put to the back.

Thursday, LN spoke to Roger Slack, Director of Events at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Slack said they evaluated the incidents and decided a penalty wasn’t warranted for Hair.

“The involved cars in an incident when a yellow flag comes out are the cars that are stopped at the time the yellow comes out, and/or the cars that cause the incident. So, in the Masters race, which we reviewed both incidents on video before the final call, the first time the #6 car (Jeff Turner) and the #1 car (Tom Van Wingerden) had already made contact before the #29 car (Clay Hair) and the #14 car (John Sossoman) got into them. The #29 and the #14 kept on going. They didn’t come to a complete stop.

Cotton Spry (#16) and Eddie Harwell (#88.1) were both involved in racing incidents surrounding Clay Hair.

DIVISION

BANDOLERO : Bandits

BANDOLERO : Young Guns

BANDOLERO : Outlaws

LEGENDS : Young Lions

LEGENDS : Semi-Pro

LEGENDS : Pro

LEGENDS : Masters

TOTALS >>>>>>>>

Rd 8

-----

179

Rd 1

-----

211

Rd 2

-----

205

Rd 3

-----

198

Rd 4

-----

222

Rd 5

-----

212

Rd 6

-----

200

Rd 7

-----

184

“In the second incident, the #16 pile-drived the #88.1 (Eddie Harwell) on the straight-away which sends the #88.1 up a groove and out of shape. The #16 hit him so hard that he got himself out of shape, and while he was trying to collect himself the #29 runs into the back of the #16. Then the #16 gets on the brakes and the #14 hits the #29, which hits the #29 into the #16 even further.

“There are people out there that think the #29 hit the #16 into the #88.1 to cause the whole incident in turn one, which isn’t the case. On the straightaway the #16 pile-drived the #88.1. That is what caused the whole incident. It is just a chain reaction after that.”

Hair ended up finishing second with Sossoman in third. Harwell, Spry and Turner finished 11th, 12th and 13th respectively.

CAR COUNTS LEVEL OFF FROM ROUND EIGHT TO NINE

According to the official results and standings from Lowe’s Motor Speedway, the car counts for the Bandolero and Legends drivers from round eight to nine has leveled off.

In round nine, 178 Legends and Bandolero drivers took to the track for competition. That is one driver less than the previous week’s count of 179. All of the Bandolero divisions increased their car count over last week while the Legends all declined in their numbers.

Next week will be the final race of the Summer Shootout season. While some speculate that the car count will decrease due to many being out of the championship chase, others feel that the last race of the Shootout will bring drivers out of the woodwork.

Below are the totals to date for the Legends and Bandoleros in attendance at the 2007 Shootout.

Rd 9

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178

THE HOOTERS GIRLS A HOOT AT THE SHOOTOUT

The Hooters girls made quite an impression at the Shootout. (LN Photo)

Usually the only time you can see the Hooter’s restaurant girls at a race track is at a USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series event. But Tuesday night at the Summer Shootout, seven Hooters girls showed up to support their sponsored drivers in the Bandolero Outlaws division, including the car of Jake Speed.

“The Hooters girls made their first appearance at the Summer Shootout,” said Speed. “There was much fanfare and more than a few raised eye brows when they rolled into the garage area. As the night rolled on many had their pictures taken with the girls, including some of the kids and their friends and family.”

After a great night of racing, many of the fans joined the Hooters girls at the Concord location, just a few miles from the track for some post-race food and drink.

“After the races were over the racers showed great support by going to Hooters to enjoy the food amongst other things,” said Speed. “I want to thank all those who participated and went to the restaurant. The folks at Hooters were very happy and we will be seeing more of the same at the track in the future.”

Hooters, along with many other local area eateries, have shown their support for LegendsNation.com and are a part of our Shootout Restaurant Guide. For location information, hours and other eating establishments in the Concord area, visit the LN Restaurant Guide here.

THE WEATHERMANS ARE MOVING ON UP

Legends and Bandoleros are often used as stepping stones in a young driver’s racing career. Most kids transfer up from Quarter Midgets, Go-Karts or the first thing they jump in is a Bandolero.

For the Weatherman brothers, transitioning to Bandoleros has been fun but different. They’ve had help from a friend and familiar face, Nextel Cup driver David Ragan. David was at Monday night’s practice with the brothers, Clayton and Kyle, to help them set-up their cars and become more acquainted with their new cars.

Clayton Weatherman getting used to his new ride.

“My cousin lives in St. Louis, Missouri,” said Ragan. “They are good friends with him. I have been up to their place racing go-karts before. I have known them for about a year and a half now. They got a little older and wanted to race a Bandolero so they got these Bandoleros a couple weeks ago and we got them down here. It is a lot of fun. I can come out here and have just as much fun helping these guys as I am driving my own stuff. It is probably a lot more hard work than I was looking for too but definitely a lot of fun.

“As of now I am just showing them how to buckle up, where to get on the gas and where to touch the brakes at. With them racing Go-Karts, they are not used to buckling up Hans devices and steering wheels that come on and off. All that stuff is learning for them. Also showing them how to use a radio and a RACEiver. They are good drivers and they are having a good time.”

The brothers are used to racing the Tag 60 go-karts on road courses only. Week nine was the first time the two brothers ever sat in a Bandolero.

“I thought it was fun because you have to steer it out more,” said Kyle. “It’s a lot different because you have to flip the switches and it’s a lot more fun.”

Clayton was a bit shyer than his brother but he agreed that it was fun. Darin, Clayton and Kyle’s father, explained the difference in the cars and why it’s a little more difficult for the brothers to adjust.

“(The Bandolero is) a little bigger, little bit more weight,” said Darin Clayton. “It’s a little harder for them to steer. The Tag 60 go-karts have a lot of horsepower. It’s all road courses. They’re getting up to eighty miles an hour in the go-karts.”

Clayton Weatherman also explained how much they’ve been traveling and what their plans are for the next year.

“We leave here Wednesday and we go to Michigan to race Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Tag 60 go karts road course,” said Mr. Weatherman. “(Next year) we’re going to do both. We’ll be back to run the full Shootout. We’ll run three or four more races here and then run the Winter Series (Winter Heat) that you guys have.”

DAN SNYDER PUTS DOWN THE WRENCH AND DRIVES

Dan Snyder makes an adjustment on Charles Kiser's car after taking it for a spin. (LN Photo)

Many owners of Legends car operations race on the track as well as wrench on the cars. Clay Hair (Clay Hair Motorsports) and Nick Pistone (Nick Pistone Racing) both put themselves behind the wheel on a regular basis, but Dan Snyder (Dan Snyder Racing) usually prefers to leave the driving to his customers while he works on the cars. That was until he was seen with a driver’s uniform on climbing out of Charles Kiser’s #28 Legends car during Monday night’s practice.

“Charles couldn’t make it out here for practice tonight,” said Snyder. “I am just trying to see how the car is running and get a little feedback so I kind of understand what my drivers are feeling.”

While some drivers dread racing at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Snyder likes the track even though he has had limited in-race experience.

“I enjoy running out here. I have only run out here once or twice so I haven’t had a lot of time racing on it. I have had a lot of practice time in other cars with many laps. It is fun to be back out behind the wheel.”

CASEY RODERICK IN BACKUP CAR; DROPS OUT OF THE POINTS LEAD

The ebb and flow of racing is evident at the Summer Shootout. One week a driver can win and be the best of the best, but the next week they are wrecked out finishing close to last. It is something all drivers have to deal with and is a huge part of racing.

Pro driver Casey Roderick entered Tuesday’s round nine race in the points lead after winning in round eight. But a mechanical issue during his heat race forced him into a backup car for the feature.

“I had trouble in the heat race with my motor,” said Roderick. “The cam cover on the exhaust side broke off and fell down in the motor. It broke the timing chain so my motor was done for the night.”

Roderick had to borrow a car from Austin Hill to race in the feature, but was only able to muster an 18th-place finish, dropping him to third in the championship standings with one race to go.

“I hate that happening,” said Roderick. “We have been on a roll. Once we start getting things going stuff happens. But there are ups and downs in racing and we have to put it behind us and move forward. We will come out here next week and see what we can do.

“I want to thank Austin Hill for letting me borrow his car. You do not get that offer very often.”

Bill Elliott with his son Chase. (LN Photo)

BILL ELLIOTT PLEASED WITH SON’S PROGRESS IN BANDOS

Last week NASCAR Champion Bill Elliott watched with a smile as his son Chase earned his first Bandolero victory in the Thursday Thunder series at Atlanta Motor Speedway (GA). This week Chase continued his momentum, finishing fourth in a very tough Bandolero Bandits division race. While the elder Elliott has vast racing knowledge and is pleased with their performance, he told LN he still isn’t quite sure what he is doing and they are still off just a little.

“It was a good race,” said Bill Elliott. “We are still missing it just a little, but we keep getting better. We are making a few notes and going from there. He is driving the car really well and he is giving good feedback. That is what it is all about.”

RODENBECK CONTINUES MAKING HEADLINES WITH WRECKED CAR

For one reason or another, Paddy Rodenbeck is one of the most spoken names out at the Summer Shootout. Whether it be due to his hard racing in the Pro division or incidents he gets involved in, Rodenbeck is always on the tongues of the competitors.

This week was no exception as Rodenbeck destroyed the front of his primary car during a heat race wreck.

“I just tried to make a late heat race pass,” said Rodenbeck. “I guess I wheel-hopped the #2 car (Tyler Chrisinger) and hit the wall.

“We were running really good this week, a lot better than we have been. It sucks that we totaled a good car. But we will get it back together.”

“I think we are going to try to (race the feature). We are going to get it ready just in case.”

Paddy Rodenbeck wadded up his car pretty good during a heat race. (LN Photo)

Rodenbeck ended up getting the car ready, finishing 17th in the feature.