Legends Nation ... And Justice For All

LEGENDS - MASTERS DIVISION

Stick a fork in the Masters division championship. Clay Hair has already won it. With a lead of 195 points and the fact that the most points a driver could obtain in a single event is 180, Hair doesn't even need to show up in his driver's uniform and race. We all know though that he will.

It was looking like it would be a great battle for the title between Hair and John Sossoman, but, Sossoman was a no show for round nine (as he told LN earlier in the season), handing the title to Hair. Before round nine, Hair led Sossoman by 15 points. It still would have been difficult for Hair to lose the title, but we were hoping for some title excitement out of the elder Legends series for once. Instead we were treated to the excitement of watching a great fireworks display, only to have it fizzle. John, why did you let us down?

Top 10 In Points (After 9 of 10 Rounds)

Clay Hair (top) and John Sossoman (bottom) have been the top-two drivers in the Masters division this season.

Pos

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

6th

7th

8th

9th

10th

Car #

88.1

Driver

Clay Hair

John Sossoman

Dennis White

Phil Sharpe

Hoyt Demis

Chuck Dohm

Bruce Sawicki

Will Cagle

Eddie Harwell

Tom Van Wingerden

Points

1415

1220

1191

1188

1139

1127

1109

1101

1074

1071

Points Behind

-195

-224

-227

-276

-288

-306

-314

-341

-344

LEGENDS - PRO DIVISION

Earlier this season it appeared that Steven Ross and Daniel Hemric would be the two drivers battling for the title after 10 rounds. While both sit third and fourth in the title chase, both have suffered from bad luck and controversial calls on the track, essentially taking them out of the hunt for the title (Ross still has an outside shot).

Heading into the final round of the Shootout, Chris Buescher leads Jordan Anderson by a mere seven points for the top spot. Who is the favorite to win? It depends on who you ask, and who they want to win.

Some in the garage do not want Buescher to win because he is about the closest to being a "house car" for the Shootout. He is known to be friends with the Ragan family - Ken Ragan is 600 Racing's General Manager. However Buescher's team did the nice thing a few weeks back giving young Cody Blackburn (Semi-Pro) a car to drive when his team affiliation with Chris Rogers fell apart, so some might cheer for the kid to win the Pro title.

On the other end is Anderson, who is known to be very aggressive from behind the wheel of his car. This season specifically he has had run-ins with drivers like Mitchell Coble and Nick Carey. Everyone knows his style and Anderson himself has said that beating and banging on the track is to be expected. Some observers have even told LN at the track that he must have some deal with the LMS officials as they turn a blind eye to his bumping while others get sent off the track for their actions.

Anderson is a clutch racer. He knows how to close the deal on championships, as he displayed in last year's Shootout. He also gets many cheers from the stand when he wins. But, if someone decides to give Anderson the "what for" Tuesday night, Buescher will take home the title. The question is, if Anderson gets routed out of the championship by the bumper, will the officials let it go? Will Anderson be just as gracious losing by the bumper as he is when he wins by it?

Top 10 In Points (After 9 of 10 Rounds)

Pos

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

6th

7th

8th

9th

10th

Car #

121

Driver

Chris Buescher

Jordan Anderson

Steven Ross

Daniel Hemric

Garrett Lancaster

Mitchell Coble

Nick Carey

Michael Van Wingerden

Thomas Van Wingerden

Andrew Smith

Points

1305

1298

1246

1170

1104

1095

1090

1087

1057

1056

Points Behind

-7

-59

-135

-201

-210

-215

-218

-248

-249

LEGENDS - SEMI-PRO DIVISION

Just a few short races ago, the title chase was shaping up to be a battle between Chris Rogers' teammates Cody Blackburn and Justin Swilling. Then, Rogers and Blackburn had a falling out at the track on race day, ending their business relationship on the spot. The tension of the situation swung the momentum away from Blackburn and Swilling and onto two other drivers: Austin Hill and Jordan Penninger.

While Blackburn and Swilling struggled in round nine after they had an issue in the heat race prior to the feature, Hill put his #24 machine in victory lane for the second-straight week. Blackburn still sits second in points, but Swilling is all but out of the championship hunt. Penninger, who was black flagged earlier in the season for using his bumper, sits in third, within striking distance if Hill and Blackburn have issues.

No doubt, Hill has the advantage, but Blackburn is known as "The Bull" for a reason. He doesn't give up and has no problem doing what he can to get to victory lane. Penninger is sitting in a decent position if Hill and Blackburn have problems, but with the officials giving him a black flag early for track contact and not others, he might feel extra eyes on his racing during the final feature of the series.

Hill lost the Thursday Thunder championship by one point. He is hungry and doesn't want to lose his second title in under a week by a small margin.

Top 10 In Points (After 9 of 10 Rounds)

Pos

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

6th

7th

8th

9th

10th

Car #

101

Driver

Austin Hill

Cody Blackburn

Jordon Penninger

Chad Hackenbracht

Mike Brown

Jimmy Heavlow

Justin Swilling

Sam McAulay

Justin Lloyd

Ronnie Bassett Jr

Points

1274

1243

1214

1190

1159

1154

1152

1103

1050

1014

Points Behind

-31

-60

-84

-115

-120

-122

-171

-224

-260

2008 Summer Shootout Title Fight With One Round To Go

Who Will Win Titles, Who Can Win & Who Won't

By Jason Buckley

LegendsNation.com

Chris Buescher (top) leads Jordan Anderson (bottom) by just seven points for the Pro title. (LN Photos)

Austin Hill (top) leads the Semi-Pro points while Cody Blackburn (bottom) tries to get back to victory lane like he did earlier in the season with his former team.

LEGENDS - YOUNG LIONS

The Young Lions division of Legends racing was added last season at the Summer Shootout to allow more up-and-coming drivers to actually compete in a feature instead of going home from missing the Semi-Pro A Main. After seeing some of the racing action this season, it makes a person wonder if the division should return in 2009 or not.

Many races throughout the season in the Young Lions group haven't made it to the scheduled 20 laps before the time limit hits. In fact, a few races haven't even been able to make it one lap without a pileup. Still though, a championship is to be decided and it appears to be a crap shoot.

Prior to round nine, the top five in points were separated by just 40 points, but when black flags were issued to Dylan Presnell and Justin Grimes for "rolling under red" during the round nine feature, it shuffled up the points heading into the final round.

Currently leading the standings is Bryce Walker over Devin Jones by 16 points. Both drivers have had top-five finishes over the last three races, putting them in first and second. Jones has a better average finish with only one race in the series outside the top five (a seventh in round eight), but he has yet to win a race. Meanwhile Walker has taken home the #1 trophy three times. Also, Walker has the momentum of the Thursday Thunder Semi-Pro championship he won last week.

Walker has the advantage of being the leader in points, but in a division that is known for wrecks and shortened races, whichever driver avoids the mess and is up front when the race gets time cut will be the champ.

Top 10 In Points (After 9 of 10 Rounds)

Pos

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

6th

7th

8th

9th

10th

(tie)

Car #

680

Driver

Bryce Walker

Devin Jones

Dylan Presnell

Scott Hensley

Dylan Sawyer

Justin Grimes

Evan Swilling

Harrison Rhodes

Austin Leitner

Hunter Bledsoe

Timmy Hill

Points

1311

1295

1220

1213

1207

1204

1161

1155

1059

1031

Points Behind

-16

-91

-98

-104

-107

-150

-156

-252

-280

Bryce Walker (top) has won at LMS three times this year. Devin Jones (bottom) has won during the summer at other tracks like Anderson Motor Speedway. Which driver will win the Young Lions title? (LN Photos)

BANDOLERO - OUTLAWS

A usually boring Outlaws championship sparked some interest this season when the first two rounds didn't go so well for champion Kendall Sellers. A DQ and a wreck put him out of the title chase early. Despite winning every race he has entered since (six), he has no shot at the title.

At the end of the seventh round, when the drivers dropped their worst finish of the season, the Outlaw division was the closest battle across all divisions competing. In fact it wasn't just close, it was deadlocked 100% as Bailey Daniels and Chris Morgan had the same total of points, firsts, seconds, thirds and fourths. If the Shootout ended after round seven, I am not sure what the officials would have done, except going to the dropped race result to determine who was the single champ, which would have been Daniels.

Unfortunately for Daniels, luck didn't go her way over the next two events as she finished 13th and sixth while Morgan doubled up with a pair of second-place finishes. Now, Morgan essentially just needs to take the green flag on Tuesday and not get disqualified to win the title.

Top 10 In Points (After 9 of 10 Rounds)

Pos

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

6th

7th

8th

9th

10th

Car #

Driver

Chris Morgan

Bailey Daniels

Kenny Brown

Brett Pepicelli

Scott Beaver

Kayla Turner

John Jones IV

Charles Long, Jr.

Thomas Ellis

Kendall Sellers

Points

1350

1284

1270

1269

1210

1186

1159

1148

1082

1080

Points Behind

-66

-80

-81

-140

-164

-191

-202

-268

-270

Bailey Daniels went to victory lane this season (top), but is pretty much out of the title hunt. Last season Kendall Sellers and Chris Morgan were teammates (bottom) in the Shootout, but this year they are not. Still, they are both making the news in the Outlaws. (LN Photos)

BANDOLERO - YOUNG GUNS

Chad Finchum has been called the modern day Dale Earnhardt by many. Just like the original "Intimidator," Finchum knows how to get around the track, lead races and intimidate his competition as he makes his way to victory lane. Also like Earnhardt, the young driver gets mixed reaction from the fans and the drivers. The fans love him while the drivers hate to see him win.

In 2008 racing, Finchum has racked up 27 Bandolero Young Gun victories across multiple states on multiple tracks. Seven of those 27 wins occurred during the Shootout, the most of any driver in any division during the 10-round series. Only two other drivers, Timmy Hill and Blake Jones, have taken home first-place trophies at the Shootout.

So, what does FInchum need to do to win the championship? Just start the feature. Regardless what happens during the race, Finchum has enough of a points lead (126) to take the title. Essentially it is all locked up - that is if he makes it to the feature. Many drivers are gunning for the #19, so the heat race action will be interesting to see if he can survive to the feature.

Behind Finchum in the points is Robert Poole and Corey Gordon. Poole has been to victory lane at Concord Motorsport Park, but has yet to get to the Shootout victory lane this year despite being strong on the track. Gordon is another driver that has stepped up his game and is so close to winning a race at Lowe's.

The title is pretty much in Finchum's hands, but if he doesn't take his eighth win of the series Tuesday, look for Poole or Gordon to get their race winner's trophy.

Top 10 In Points (After 9 of 10 Rounds)

Pos

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

6th

7th

8th

9th

10th

Car #

199

Driver

Chad Finchum

Robert Poole

Corey Gordon

Tyler Hill

Timmy Hill

Travis Robinson

Blake Jones

Noah Triplett

Justin Thomas

Jeremy Birch

Points

1415

1291

1279

1157

1148

1112

1101

1083

1063

1044

Points Behind

-124

-136

-258

-267

-303

-314

-332

-352

-371

Chad Finchum (top) has won seven of the nine Young Guns races this season. His closest competition in the points is Robert Poole, who is winless at LMS, but has won this season at Concord Motorsport Park (bottom). (LN Photos)

BANDOLERO - BANDITS

Dillon Bassett is probably tired of racing a Plott for the Summer Shootout championship in the Bandits division. In 2007, Bassett lost the title to Kyle Plott, who has since moved up to Legends and Pro Challenge racing. This season it is Kyle's younger brother Kason Plott that is giving him grief for the title, which will go down to the final race.

Unlike last season where Bassett trailed the older Plott in the points going into the final event, this season he leads the younger Plott by 16 points.

With five wins during the first nine rounds and the points lead, Bassett can be labeled the favorite for the title, but Kason Plott has been consistent over the last three events, finishing second in each one. It could come down to who starts where and who has good or bad luck. Bassett has finished twice outside the top 20 (25th; 27th) while Plott has had just one (25th).

Another Plott VS Bassett battle at the Shootout - here we go!

Top 10 In Points (After 9 of 10 Rounds)

Pos

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

6th

7th

8th

9th

10th

Car #

100

Driver

Dillon Bassett

Kason Plott

Layne Clifton

Kyle Weatherman

Jesse Little

T.J. Michael

Mason Massey

Brian Kolb

Clayton Weatherman

Mason Hudson

Points

1318

1302

1220

1195

1169

1162

1160

1115

1105

1063

Points Behind

-16

-98

-123

-149

-156

-158

-203

-213

-255

Dillon Bassett (top) and Kason Plott (bottom) will settle who is the Shootout champ on Tuesday. (LN Photos)

2008 SUMMER SHOOTOUT CHAMPIONSHIP RACE STORIES AND REACTION

Stay tuned for results and race stories from the final 2008 Summer Shootout Series race this week. If you wish to discuss this race, the title chase, the champions and anything from the 2008 Shootout, visit the LN forums at Motorsports Lounge by clicking here.