Concord Motorsport Park: 5/23/08
Bandolero Stories
By Jason Buckley
LegendsNation.com
OUTLAWS: SELLERS CELEBRATES 17TH BIRTHDAY BY WINNING FEATURE EVENT
Kendall Sellers celebrated his 17th birthday with a win at CMP on Friday. (MRIimages Photo)
When a teenager has a birthday, they are expecting their friends and family to give them gifts for their special day. On Friday, Kendall Sellers turned 17 years of age, but it wasn’t necessarily his friends and family giving him a gift, rather it was giving one to himself as he drove to the finish line first, winning the Bandolero Outlaw division race.
“I told them I was going to come out here and have a little fun tonight,” said Sellers in victory lane. “I told them if I didn’t tear anything up Thursday night I would be here tonight. We did good yesterday and we did good here tonight.”
On a Friday night, after winning the race, most would think Sellers would go celebrate the victory and his birthday. According to the now 17-year-old racer, celebrating wasn’t on his mind.
“(I will) Probably go home and go to sleep.”
BEGINNER BANDITS: STEVIE JOHNS ENTERS VICTORY LANE WITH HELP FROM AN OUTLAW
Getting a car on track and in victory lane is a team effort. From crew members working on the cars to other drivers getting in to help shake down the car, a driver benefits from all advice and assistance they can get.
During the Winter Heat, Beginner Bandit driver Stevie Johns watched from the sidelines as his Bandolero was being driven by Brian Klaus in the Outlaw division. Klaus jumped in behind the wheel of the #9 machine to help shake the car down and prepare it for Johns during this season’s racing action. The assistance has paid off as Johns once again put his car in victory lane Friday at Concord Motorsport Park (NC).
“Our race was good; I don’t really have much to say,” explained Johns. “Every once in a while the car got a little loose coming off three and four. Other than that, it was pretty good.”
Stevie Johns in victory lane with his friends, family and team members. (LN Photo)
BANDITS: BASSETT WINS AGAIN WHILE LITTLE AND HOLLEMAN PUT ON FIERCE BATTLE
Dillon Bassett is getting used to this pose as he has won most of the CMP Bandits races. (MRIimages Photo)
One thing has been constant this season in the Bandolero Bandits division: dominance from Dillon Bassett. The young racer has been up front and won the majority of races this year he has entered at CMP. Friday it was once again his #44 entering victory lane, but the battle was behind him for the runner-up spot between Jesse Little and John Holleman.
While Little and Holleman raced hard for position, Bassett cruised to the checkered flag.
“We started on the pole and we had a good run,” explained Bassett. “We were driving away, and with three laps to go a caution came out. We drove away with three laps to go and won.”
Behind him, Little crossed the line second, but it wasn’t without a little bit of hard racing with Holleman.
“At the end it was between me and John back there,” said Little. “I might have to go back there and apologize to him. It was mine and his fault. With two laps to go I cut down on him and he might have edged up just a little bit. Other than that, it was a good race.”
Holleman didn’t seem all that thrilled with the on-track issue between he and Little, claiming that this isn’t the first time the two have had issues.
“We had to start sixth; it wasn’t that rough coming through,” said Holleman. “The caution came out and we had a restart with about four to go. He (Little) didn’t give me any room and I ended up finishing third, but oh well.
“Sometimes he (Little) drives you clean, but sometimes he is plain dirty. I am sorry, but he is.”
[Admin note: Jesse Little was disqualified in post-race tech for a rules infraction (possibly clutch shoes)]
YOUNG GUNS: POOLE CROSSES THE LINE FIRST WITH CHARGING LINKER BEHIND
Except when Tennessee driver Chad Finchum has made his way to Concord Motorsport Park (NC) this season, the Bandolero Young Guns division races have been a battle between Matt Linker and Robert Poole. Both have entered victory lane a few times and have shown muscle just about every event at the track.
This week, Linker had to run up through the field to chase down Poole for the win after a wreck during the heat race relegated him to the rear of the field. He made it to second, but the win belonged to Poole.
“I had a good race going,” said Poole. “I got a good draw finally and I got to start up front, so that helped out a lot. I was just pulling away. Linker was catching me a little bit. I am glad it ended when it did since he was catching me. We had a really good car, so hopefully we will come back here and do it again next week.”
While running in the front spot, Poole was well aware of Linker slicing and dicing up through the field, making moves that put him in second on the track.
Matt Linker (#06) had an unfortunate wreck in the heat race, which put him in the rear during the feature. He was able to race up to second behind Robert Poole. (LN Photo)
“I didn’t see him until the caution came out because I looked in my mirror to see how far he had come up,” explained Poole. “I knew he was coming.
“Everyone did a good job out there and there weren’t many cautions. I am just glad I got another win in.”
