ROSS AND HEMRIC RENEW ON-TRACK WAR AT CARAWAY

Hemric Wins While Ross Spins After Final Lap Incident

By Jason Buckley

LegendsNation.com

Last year in the 14th Annual Summer Shootout at Lowe’s Motor Speedway (NC), the championship for the Semi-Pro Legends division came down to a battle between Daniel Hemric and Steven Ross.  Ross trailed Hemric going into the final race of the series, and in dramatic fashion the two drivers tangled, allowing Christian PaHud to sneak by them in the points to take the championship.  After the race was over, Hemric felt he was run over by Ross for the title while Ross claimed his brakes failed, causing the wreck that took them both out of the title spot.  Either way, neither driver appeared happy after the race.

Daniel Hemric ended up in victory lane after contact with Steven Ross on the final lap.  (LN Photo)

A year later,  Ross and Hemric have both graduated up to the Pro division class, keeping the battle between the two drivers on the track close.  At Caraway on Friday night, both drivers entered the race and once again were the center of controversy as contact between their cars on the final lap of the feature caused Ross to spin and Hemric to win, keeping the battle, and possibly the feud between the two, alive.

After solid runs by both drivers in their heat races, officials threw all drivers a curve ball by redrawing for starting position for the main, which included penalizing some drivers for not getting to the driver’s meeting in time.  Ross won his heat race, but was forced to start sixth by draw in the 18-car combined-division feature.

“I am not sure what happened,” said Ross.  “I think they were confused on what they were doing.  There had to be some miscommunication between the track guys.  We didn’t have a lot of time to get to the place to draw.”

The redraw hurt Hemric more as he was forced to start 15th in the field.

“All of our team was walking down to the driver’s meeting,” explained Hemric.  “We thought they were going to start it in a little while since the second heat race was getting off the track.  We figured we had a minute, but I guess we were late.  It is nobody’s fault but ourselves, so we got penalized and had to start in the rear for the main.”

While Hemric drove his way towards the front from the rear, Ross patiently worked his way to the lead by lap 14.

“We got off to a good start,” said Ross.  “About halfway through the first green flag run I think I was a little bit better than those guys.  Catching them is one thing though.  Passing them is another, especially at these big tracks.  I thought our car was good enough to win though.”

Just two laps later, Hemric was right on Ross’ bumper as the two rode first and second the remainder of the race until the last lap of the event.  Going into turn three, Ross led Hemric to the corner, but when they came out of turn four it was Hemric out in front while Ross’ car was sitting sideways in the track.  By the time he got his car righted and across the finish line, Ross ended up eighth.

“I knew he was behind me,” said Ross.  “I rode every lap like he wasn’t there.  If he was better he could get around me; if not, so be it.  A little bump on the last lap or a shove, you know it is going to happen between two equal cars.  I just think there is a limit. 

“Anyone can spin you and wreck you.  Any Young Lion can do that to win a race. A Pro driver should have enough talent to just move ‘em out of the way and pass for the win.  That is what these guys are looking for in the upper levels.  They are looking for someone that can race nice and get it done clean.”

Hemric saw the incident between the two a little different, even referencing a problem with his car that was a familiar situation, just reversed from their last big controversy last season.

Steven Ross was focused on winning before the race started.  (LN Photo)

While Steven Ross leaned against his car after the race wondering what happened (top), Daniel Hemric explained his side of the last-lap incident to the crowd (bottom).  (LN Photos)

“Going into the last lap my car got better and better, but there at the end I started losing our brakes a little bit,” explained Hemric. “Other than that the car was unbelievable. I rode behind Steven as long as I could.  He looked a little free the whole way around the race track.  I tried cutting him a break, then going into three on the last lap I thought he drove in too hard.  He said he didn’t, but I don’t know. It is racing; it happens.  I think I got into him and he jumped on the gas to beat me back to the line and unfortunately he lost it.  

“I thought it was just good racing.  The tables could be turned.  It has happened to me and everyone else.  I guess we will move onto next week and see what happens.”

On Friday night, Hemric won the battle, but the on-track war between he and Ross is not over.  Both drivers are at the top of their game and are two of the most talented up-and-coming racers, and will have to face each other multiple times throughout the year, including at the 2008 Summer Shootout Series at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.  The hard racing might continue, but Ross said he will not retaliate after this last incident.

“I am not going to go out there hunting for Daniel to wreck him,” said Ross.  “I think it is best that I race the way I want to be raced, no matter what.”

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS (25 LAPS) - COMBINED-DIVISION RACE

POS

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

6th

7th

8th

9th

10th

11th

12th

13th

14th

15th

16th

17th

18th

#

21

17

63

24

7

07

1

48

157

29

87

36

13

28

46

57

5

77

DRIVER

Daniel Hemric

Justin Morton

Chistian Pahud

Parker Hammons (Heat Race Winner)

Jan Ingram

Chad Hackenbracht

Hoyt Demis

Steven Ross (Heat Race Winner)

John Davis

Landon Bullock

Bill Price

Harrison Rhodes

Marc Vogt

Charles Parker

Will Hinkston

Terry Cochran

Brandon Mckenzie

Jimmy Speer

DIVISION

Pro

Pro

Pro

Pro

Masters

Semi-Pro

Masters

Pro

Masters

Semi Pro

Masters

Semi-Pro

Masters

Semi Pro

Masters

Master

Semi-Pro

Masters