Over 40 Cars On Hand For Shootout Test at LMS

15th Annual Summer Shootout Just Around The Corner

By Elgin Traylor

Many might have thought the Summer Shootout started a few weeks early this year as the lights glared down on the infield oval at Lowe’s Motor Speedway (NC) this week. The pits were full with teams on Tuesday from as far away as Tennessee answering the call to test.

The only thing that was different about this practice was the how quickly things came together for the test date. Normally there are a handful of practices prior to the start of the Shootout. This year with major schedule crunches this was the only tune up before the Monday warm up the night before the Shootout.  

05-Austin Leitner works turn two  (51 Photo)

80-Blake Jones and 19-Chad Finchum battle side-by-side  (51 Photo)

“Each year we petition to Lowe’s Motor Speedway to get some opportunities to conduct practice,” said INEX executive director Darrell Krentz.  “The testing schedule for driving schools and Sprint Cup testing gets bigger and bigger, and our dates get smaller and smaller.”  

Practice only got announced when another date became available on short term notice.

“All the dates we put in for were taken up,” said Krentz. “Last week Lowe’s Motor Speedway called us and said they had a cancellation. So we jumped at the chance put it up on the website and this practice was only made available just seven days ago.”

Nevertheless, over forty cars were on hand for the tune-up session. Drivers were happy to be back at the track in preparation for the Shootout.

“It’s pretty fun getting out here and practicing,” said Bandolero driver Corey Gordon. “The track is a little different. I think they smoothed out the bump going into the first turn. I am really excited about the Shootout this season because it’s going to be fun.”

One driver who was walking around the pits without his car was Christian PaHud.  He was looking at the action, but his team is waiting for the later test date.

“There is nothing like running here at Lowe’s”, said PaHud. “We’re out here just saving our stuff we hope to get some testing in before the Shootout.  We’ll bring both our cars out here and see which one is better.”

The night did not go with out incidents on the track.  Several drivers, including Bandolero racer Blake Jones, got some damage in a turn two tangle. The damage was not too severe.

Jones is making the jump to Bandolero Young Guns this season and will not have to race with a restrictor plate, which was mandatory last season for the younger Bandits division.

“It’s a lot more fun to run against the guys that are older then you,” said Jones. “Without the plates it’s a lot more fun.”  

 

Despite only having the track for a limited time, the Legends and Bandolero drivers know that the 2008 installment of the Summer Shootout, the nation’s largest Legends and Bandolero series, is on the horizon and the excitement is in the air.

“You can definitely feel it coming,” said PaHud.  “It’s all about the Legends here in the summer.”

 

Bailey Freeman gives feed back about the car. (51 Photo)