BACK TO RACING AT CONCORD MOTORSPORT PARK
Stories From The Two-Day Show: August - 22nd & 23rd, 2008
By Jason Buckley
LegendsNation.com
FLIPS AND CHIPS – HEMRIC WINS TWO MORE AT CMP
While Carl Edwards was on his way to victory lane in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway (TN), Daniel Hemric was driving to his victory at Concord Motorsport Park (NC), his second win in two days. Even though Edwards put himself on the map for his back flip off the car when he wins, Hemric has adapted the same move for his celebrations, something he has been doing a lot of lately.
Daniel Hemric might be out-flipping Carl Edwards in the 2008 racing season. (51 Sports Photo)
“All weekend the car was just hooked up like it has been the last few weeks,” said Hemric. “I have to thank Dan Snyder for everything he does and the hard work that he puts in. It is really paying off this season. Both nights the car was unbelievable.”
According to Hemric, his secret to success is the set-up under his car, which causes him to hit the rev-limiter chip at the end of the straightaway.
“Actually almost all year we have been hitting the chip going into three, but more so the last few weeks,” explained Hemric. “My car is just that good coming off the corner that it causes us to hit the chip (going into three). That is all Dan.”
NO FLIPS FOR YOU MR. BASSETT
A few weeks back, both Daniel Hemric (Legends Pro) and Dillon Bassett (Bandolero Bandits) performed flips off their cars at Bowman Gray Stadium after they won their features. Hemric stuck his landing, but Bassett ended up on his bottom after not getting the right rotation off the car. At the Summer Shootout at Lowe’s Motor Speedway (NC), he redeemed himself by sticking the landing.
Charles Kiser (left) and Trey Eidson (right) talk before the racing action started. (51 Sports Photo)
On Saturday, Bassett went to victory lane, doubling up and getting the Bandolero Bandits win the same way Hemric did in the Pro Legends rank. Even though he was happy he won, he didn’t attempt the flip.
“I am not going to bust my head on the concrete,” said Bassett with a smile.
KISER LOOKING FOR HELP FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO BEAT HAIR
Goals are always something good to have, but Legends Masters racer Charles Kiser has a lofty one – beat Clay Hair fair and square on the track. Hair, known as one of the best Legends racers in the country, wins in just about every race he enters and has the trophies and championships to prove it. Still though, he can be beat, and Kiser wants to do it just once.
Friday and Saturday at CMP, Kiser finished second both nights to Hair. Saturday he was leading multiple laps in the race, but Hair had the better car, getting around him and cruising onto the win.
So, what is it going to take for Kiser to beat Hair?
“I don’t know. An act of congress I guess,” said Kiser. “I felt good going in and the car was good, but I got too tight off. He got into me a little bit, but that is racing. He raced me clean after he took off and I wore out the right rear trying to catch him.
“It was fun. If I can’t win I would like to see him win.”
LLOYD BUMPS JONES FOR VICTORY IN SEMI-PRO
For 19 laps, Devin Jones was the driver to beat in the Legends Semi-Pro feature. Brandon Lynn, Austin Hill and Justin Lloyd all took turns running in second to Jones, trying to get around him throughout the whole feature. On the last lap, it was Lloyd using a bump-and-run technique on Jones, sending him up the hill and out of the lead as Lloyd drove on to the victory.
“Starting sixth, I knew I had to make my passes at the right time and one at a time,” said Lloyd. “Luckily I was able to work my way though the tough competitors in the top five to second. I was right on Devin and couldn’t quite make the move. I realized where I could set him up for the pass and I waited until the last lap to do it. I was able to get under him going down the back straightaway and went into the corner.”
Jones tried to stay with Lloyd on the outside, but contact sent Jones up towards the wall as he slid back to a sixth-place finish.
“We led all the laps. I thought I really had it, but Justin Lloyd moved us,” said Jones. “That is just racing. I would have done the same thing. I was bracing for it and I was trying to stay on the bottom, but that wasn’t the case.
“I tried to stay on the outside (coming off turn four), but we touched and got hooked up, otherwise we probably would have had a second-place finish. It was an awesome weekend.”
Lloyd almost lost the race as Austin Hill attempted to beat him back to the line, but came up just a bit short.
“I knew the #43 (Lloyd) was going to do something, so I stayed behind,” said Hill. “When he (Lloyd) hit him (Jones) I just gave him a boost and hit the back of him. We went off in the corner and we were all racing each other clean. The #43 and #35 hit and I came inches from winning on the inside.”
The victory made Lloyd happy, but he was apologetic about the last-corner contact.
“I got a little help from the #24 (Hill) and slid up into him (Jones) a tad,” explained Lloyd. “I apologize for that, but you have to expect close racing like that on the last lap. Devin is an awesome driver and I had fun racing with him.”
SELLERS SPOILS OUTLAW’S FUN ON SATURDAY
On Friday at CMP, Bandolero Outlaw racer Kendall Sellers wasn’t present. That allowed the other competitors in the division to race for the win. In the end it was Brett Peppicelli taking the victory.
Saturday night though was a different story. Sellers decided to show up and race, and once again drove on to victory lane.
“They told me it was a regional qualifier here today,” said Sellers. “I have won most of the ones around here and it is a 100-point win (towards the national points system), so I wanted to come back here and make sure no one got the 100-point win out here because at the end of the year, even three points is a lot.”
Kendall Sellers won the Outlaw race on Saturday. (51 Sports Photo)
After what seemed to be another easy win for Sellers, he wished he would have shown up the night before to add to his win total.
“Last night I was mad at myself for not coming here because it could have been an easy 100-point win,” explained Sellers. “The good thing is that I have eight or nine wins in a row. We will go to the Nationals and try to go 10, 11 and 12 there (at the Nationals).”
HARRISON RHODES GIVES THE COMPETITION A MESSAGE: EAT MOR CHIKIN
Harrison Rhodes went to victory lane in both Chargers races of the weekend. (51 Sports Photo)
The Legends Chargers division at Concord Motorsport Park is for the newer racers trying to learn how to get up to speed in the small cars and on their way to victory lane. After this weekend’s races, Harrison Rhodes has shown the competition he is getting up to speed in a hurry after winning both races in his #36 Chik-fil-A Legends car.
“It feels awesome,” said Rhodes. “I had a good car both days. We were just real good, took the lead and was real strong. Everyone else was really good too. We just had the stronger car tonight.”
Sponsors are a big part of the current-day motorsports. With a sponsor like Chik-fil-A backing Rhodes, he feels happy he has their support and at the same time wants to put it in victory lane to salute them.
“It feels awesome with everyone supporting me,” explained Rhodes. “I want to make them proud.”
NOT A GOOD WEEKEND FOR STEVEN ROSS
After an on-track issue Friday night that gave him a last-place finish in the Legends Pro division, Steven Ross looked for better luck Saturday. That luck never came as he had another on-track incident, this one with Parker Hammons during the heat race.
The damage from the Saturday incident damaged Ross' car too much to where he couldn't race, so he kicked back, ate some Subway and enjoyed the action for the rest of the evening.
ROBERT POOLE RELAXES ON HIS WAY TO VICTORY LANE
Friday night it was the Matt Linker benefit show as he went on to win the Bandolero Young Guns division race. Saturday was a whole different story as Robert Poole cruised to victory on a day off from moving.
“We just moved, so we are still moving everything in,” said Poole. “We have been busy all week, so this relaxes us a little.”
It wasn’t a relaxing win though as Linker charged from the back to second.
“I started next to last after a bad call in the heat race,” said Linker. “Our car was great Friday night and tonight. If I had a few more laps I would have had him.”
Poole enjoyed his win, but was happy the race ended when it did.
“I don’t know how he (Linker) did it,” said Poole. “He started at the back and was really fast. We started in second and just held it up front from there. I am glad there weren’t any cautions because I saw him coming. My car was a little loose. I almost lost it coming off turn four.
“It is really good to get another win out here. It has been a long time coming.”
Robert Poole enjoyed his time off from moving by winning at CMP. (51 Sports Photo)
SILVER SKIPS THE BRISTOL BIG SHOW TO RACE AT CMP
There are many fans of NASCAR racing that would do just about anything to attend a race at Bristol Motor Speedway (TN). It is considered the coliseum of short-track racing venues and is one of the hardest tickets to obtain.
Legends Masters racer and Racing Electronics owner Bruce Silver was in Bristol on Friday night to take care of some business dealings, but didn’t stay for Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race. Instead, the businessman-turned-racer headed back to North Carolina to race in Saturday’s Legends race at Concord. Finishing fourth, Silver was happy to be racing and learning to get better from behind the wheel.
“I was scheduled to be here last night (Friday), but a last-minute business meeting came up that I had to attend in Bristol,” explained Silver. “I had to do that because it is business before pleasure. I got everything done today and got back in time to have some fun.
“I feel like tonight was a practice night. Everyone raced last night but me, so they had a little bit of an advantage. I am still learning too. Everyone out there has been racing a lot longer than I have, so it is going to take some time. I had a great time.”
CMP WEEKEND WINNERS
Friday, August 22nd
Legends Pro: Daniel Hemric
Legends Masters: Clay Hair
Legends Semipro: Sam McAulay
Legends Semipro Chargers: Harrison Rhodes
Bandolero Outlaws: Brett Peppicelli
Bandolero Young Guns: Matt Linker
Bandolero Bandits: Dillon Bassett
Bandolero Beginner Bandits: Grayson Massey
Saturday, August 23rd
Legends Pro: Daniel Hemric
Legends Masters: Clay Hair
Legends Semipro: Justin Lloyd
Legends Semipro Chargers: Harrison Rhodes
Bandoleros Outlaws: Kendell Sellers
Bandoleros Young Guns: Robert Poole
Bandoleros Bandits: Dillon Bassett
Bandoleros Beginner Bandits: Grayson Massey
