LMS Winter Heat 1/12/07: Bandoleros Racing Action
By Jason Buckley
YOUNG LIONS: GLENSKI DOMINATES AND GETS DQED; FINCHUM WINS
Over the past few seasons of Bandolero Young Gun competition, Ryan Glenski has been the racer to beat. The skills he has acquired from behind the wheel combined with a finely-tuned race car has put Glenski in the winner’s circle many times over.
Chad Finchum got the victory after Ryan Glenski was disqualified. (LN Photo)
Saturday at Lowe’s Motor Speedway for the fifth round of Winter Heat action, the outcome of the Bandolero Young Guns race was the same as Glenski beat Chad Finchum back to the finish line for the win, however the victory didn’t stick this time after tech officials disqualified Glenski’s car due to a carburetor infraction.
Before learning of the disqualification, Glenski was all smiles over what was to be his second road course victory in a row during the Winter Heat.
“It was fun,” said Glenski. “I started on the pole and led the whole thing. I really didn’t want to slow down. It is fun racing here. My dad hooked it up pretty good this week. I drove it as hard as I could.”
Initially resorting to the fact of bringing home the second-place placard once again, Finchum still was happy with his run and hoped to figure out how to get up to Glenski’s bumper.
“I do feel real good about getting another top-two finish,” said Finchum. “We are hoping for a win, but we are going to get it next week. My crew has worked on the car hard, night and day for weeks. We are just trying to get the car better.
“I followed Ryan in practice, just to see the line he takes. Our lines are different, and I knew that from the way he pulls us. We will fix that.”
Ryan Glenski's father Randy and the INEX inspectors check and discuss the carburetor issue. (LN photo)
After learning of the disqualification, Glenski wasn’t quite sure what happened.
“I really do not know too much about carburetors, but there was some little hole that was a shade too big,” said Glenski. “I don’t know. We won on the oval and they took it apart so I should have been DQed then and not now. This is the only one I think we have been using.”
LegendsNation.com spoke to INEX Executive Director Scott Reinhardt in regards to the infractions as well as an appeal that was filed.
“The #28 Young Gun (Glenski), the #14 Young Gun (Kenny Brown) and also the #15 Beginner Bandit (Tanner Rumberg) were all three found with the same infraction,” said Reinhardt. “I cannot speak about the specifics of the infraction. It was called a modification to the carburetor. That is about as detailed as I can get into it because I believe the #14 car spoke to Darrel (Darrel Krentz, INEX Executive Director) about an appeal.
“Basically at the track when an inspector makes a call another driver has the ability to file an appeal. All they have to do is notify either the inspector or race director they intend to appeal, then they have 72 hours to file the appropriate letter and deal with the Executive Director on the appeal. That gives them time to get their thoughts down on paper and get it to Darrel.”
Until the results are official, the drivers were not able to take their trophies with them, but the win, unofficially, was given to Finchum.
“A win is a win, but it doesn’t feel as good if you don’t take it home yourself,” said Finchum. “If he has to cheat to win, I don’t like that, but he does race clean and fair on the track. It is my win now.
Finchum still managed a smile after the race, knowing he was cleared from tech and deemed the winner. Still though, he wished he could have settled who was better by crossing the finish line first.
“I am glad I got the win, but I wish I could have beaten him on the track and not here in tech.”
Editor’s Note: According to 600 Racing on Monday, results are currently unofficial pending the appeal process.
BEGINNER BANDIT: TANNER RUMBERG LOSES VICTORY IN POST-RACE TECH
Tanner Rumberg and Anthony Berube race side by side on the track. (LN Photo)
The carburetor controversy in the Young Guns also made it’s presence known in the Beginner Bandits division event as Tanner Rumberg took the checkered flag first, but failed post-race tech due to the same infraction. The victory was given to Anthony Berube.
Before learning of his disqualification, Rumberg told LegendsNation.com how he kept cool under the helmet during the race, even though he spun out prior to taking the checkered.
“First it was a little hard, but patience pays off,” said Rumberg. “The car just got out from under me and it spun. I just had to think about racing and visualize winning.”
An appeal was not filed in the Beginner Bandits race, so Berube has been declared the winner.
OUTLAWS: DANIELS BREATHES NEW LIFE INTO STALE OUTLAW DIVISION
The Outlaw Bandolero division has suffered the past few seasons in the Carolinas on multiple fronts. From poor car count to two drivers dominating most everywhere they race, it is the one Bandolero division that has become stale, even to some of the drivers.
Saturday, once again Kendall Sellers and Nathan Rodgers continued to be the first two drivers to cross the checkered flag first in round five of the Winter Heat Series at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, but Bailey Daniels has been coming on strong during the Winter Heat events, breathing new life into the elder Bando division.
From the start of the race, Daniels put pressure on Sellers for the lead and looked like she might break his Winter Heat win streak, but faded late in the race to third.
The Outlaw division of Bandolero racing hasn't been filled with a lot of competition, but that might change.
“I thought I had it,” said Daniels. “I thought I really had Kendall, but the car got more loose than I had planned on towards the end of the race. Kendall got away from me and then Nathan caught up with me.
“I am trying to give Kendall some competition. He looks like he is just out there drinking cappuccino out there.”
Sellers felt the pressure behind him from Daniels, something he welcomes to the Outlaw division.
“We have been struggling from the get go to have competition wherever we went,” said Sellers. “It is real fun to have someone else out here to race against. She (Daniels) came real close there a couple laps. Both our cars were pretty neutral. I just had to hope and pray I could hit my marks every lap and hope she would mess up once or twice to give me a little bit of an advantage along the line. Hats off to her. She did an excellent job.”
Rodgers, who squeaked by for second late in the race, also was complimentary of Daniels.
“She has done really good and learning a lot,” said Rodgers. “She is getting up there.”
Daniels might have come up a few positions short, but she isn’t giving up or going away any time soon. The female racer plans to continue giving Sellers and Rodgers competition in the Outlaw division all season at many tracks.
“We are going to finish up the Winter Heat,” said Daniels. “We are going to also run the Summer Shootout and Concord (Concord Motorsport Park). I think we are going to run for points too, so we will see where that takes us.”
BANDITS: BIRTHDAY BOY BLAKE JONES BEATS WALLACE TO CHECKERS
When a young boy celebrates his 11th birthday, he usually invites a few friends over for some party games, cake and overall fun. But, in the racing industry, racers of any age cannot take the day off to only celebrate a birthday, as they have work to do on the track.
Saturday, Blake Jones headed to Lowe’s Motor Speedway for the fifth round of Winter Heat Series racing action, one week after his first Bandolero Bandit win on the road course. On his 11th birthday, Jones decided to give himself a gift by wheeling his #80 Mountain Dew machine to his second-straight Bandolero road course victory.
“I was just driving the car as hard as I could,” said Jones. “I wasn’t thinking about it being my birthday when I was on the track, but it is the best birthday present I could have received.”
Blake Jones has been the driver to beat in the Bandit division this year on the road courses. (LN Photo)
Jones had pressure from Matt Wallace, son of NASCAR driver Mike Wallace, throughout the event.
"We were coming on strong there for a little bit," said Wallace. "We got loose coming through the chicane. Sean (Sean Shalvoy) caught up to me, but I pulled back out on him the next chicane."
On the last lap, Jones had to stay on top of his game as Wallace made a charge coming down to the checkered flag, but Jones turned up the wick, taking the win.
"I was half a car length up along side him, but he ended up winning," said Wallace. "We were trying to but unfortunately we got loose. We got second though, so that was good. I want to thank him for racing me clean. He is a strong car."
Jones raced agressive, but patient the last lap to make sure he didn't wreck himself out of the victory.
“I pulled up and gave him (Wallace) a little room to race on the last corner. There was no sense in taking us both out on the last lap. I just didn’t look in my mirror because I know if I did I would end up overdriving the car. I drove my own race and put the Mountain Dew car in victory lane.”
After the event, Jones and his family and friends celebrated the win by eating cake and drinking their sponsor’s product. While Jones had to get it done from behind the wheel, he knew he had help from outside the car putting him in victory lane.
“We couldn’t have done this without my friends and family. They have been a big help and we are celebrating this win with them.”
RESULTS (UNOFFICIAL)
Bandits
1. Blake Jones
2. Matt Wallace
3. Sean Shalvoy
4. Jacob Harrell
5. Dillon Bassett
6. Mason Hudson
7. Justin Carroll
8. Kyle Weatherman
9. Clayton Weatherman
10. Layne Clifton
11. John Holleman
12. Riley Halverson
13. Trevor Collins
14. Jesse Little
15. Tristan Adams
16. Reid Wilson
17. Gray Gaulding
Beginner Bandits
1. Anthony Berube
2. Dillon Latore
3. Garrett Biggers
4. Kyle Donahue
5. Jordan Plummer
6. Richard Whibdy
7. Pierson Taylor
8. Dylan Nantz
Outlaws
1. Kendall Sellers
2. Nathan Rodgers
3. Bailey Daniels
4. Dawn Eagens
5. Jason Wells
6. Brandon Keene
Young Guns
1. Chad Finchum
2. Corey Gordon
3. Robert Poole
4. Dylan Barbian
5. Brett Pepicelli
6. Matt Linker
7. Meghan Dillner
8. Tyler Hill
9. 25s Myatt Snyder
10. 17 Corey LaJoie
11. 19b (name not provided)
12. Chase Ferguson
13. 4 (name not provided)
14. Tyler Lester
15. Chandler LeVan
16. Chris/Josh Lippard
17. Gregory Lane
DQ. Ryan Glenski
DQ. Kenny Brown
