Legends and Bandolero Track Time Unclear In Tuesday’s Practice
By Jason Buckley
The Summer Shootout is known as the premiere Legends series in the Nation. Drivers from across the country flood to Lowe’s Motor Speedway (NC) to race in the backyard of many NASCAR teams. While Legends and Bandoleros make up the majority of the car count for the Shootout, officials seem to be pushing the Thunder Roadsters, or Thunder Cup as they will be known in the future.
Legends (and Bandoleros) have been the main focus at the Summer Shootout for years. But what about 2007?
On Tuesday, June 5th LMS will have a practice session for the Legends, Bandoleros and Thunder Roadsters in preparation to the start of the Shootout on Tuesday, June 12th. LN has learned the gates will open at 4:00 PM with practice starting at 6:00 PM and concluding at 9:00 PM. However, there is some confusion as to how much time the Legends and Bandoleros will get on track.
From 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM, officials have announced the Thunder Roasters will be practicing on the 1.5-mile modified track at LMS. Officials are looking at running the Roadsters on the “big track” (using a front stretch chicane) for the first time during the Summer Shootout in 2007. According to an email sent out to the competitors by Roger Slack, Director of Events at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, the remaining practice time for the Roadsters will be on the quarter-mile track.
What is not clear is the practice time given to the 100-plus Legends and Bandolero drivers showing up to get some track time in. Officials may rotate them in during the whole night between the Roadsters practice, or only allow them to practice during the hour and a half left at the end of the night – as soon as we know the official word, you will too. With the amount of cars expected to show, shortening the time frame for the Legends and Bandolero drivers to practice could cause a stir in the garage area.
What we know:
Tuesday, June 5th
4:00 PM: Pit Gate Opens
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM: Track Time
Cost: $50 per driver (All crew members, drivers and family must register at the Pit Shack)
Thunder Roadster Practice: 6PM – 7:30 PM on 1.5-mile, 7:30 PM – 9 PM on ¼-mile
The next scheduled practice is set for Monday, June 11th at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
