Legends Double Down at Lanier National Speedway
May 24-25, 2008 - Race Report
National Scene:
Lanier National Speedway PR
The holiday weekend provided a perfect opportunity for showcasing racing talent as gates opened for Saturday and Sunday night racing this past weekend at Lanier National Speedway. The competitors responded with a field of quality race cars in all divisions.
The schedule for each evening included Semi-Pro, Bandits/Young Guns, Thunder cars and a combined Pro/Masters class. A Saturday afternoon shower shortened the scheduled practice session, but Sunday saw perfect skies for racing.
Drivers used timed lap qualifying to determine spots in the night’s events for the Saturday program. Sunday’s format utilized afternoon heat races with top finishers moving into a dash for cash, which determined the A main starting lineup.
Dillon Bassett dominated action in Bandolero racing, earning the dash win, but drawing an inversion that sent him to the third row. Bassett made a strong start to vault into the top three with Brady Boswell setting the pace early. Bassett was able to assert his claim to the victory before halfway and cruised on to pick up the checkered. Cody Garland was recognized as the highest finishing Young Gun in the field.
In Thunder Roadster racing, the lack of cars was overruled by spirited racing. Bubba Harry parlayed his strong run in the dash to take the lead in the A main. Harry was challenged by Brian Weimer, who kept peeking to the outside. Weimer was able to grab the lead for brief periods, but Harry answered back quickly. His drive to the finish was enough to keep the rest of the field seeking a line as the checkered gave Harry his second win of the night. Weimer came home second, ahead of Taylor Hull. In Victory Lane, Harry pointed out that the team had just received the car eight days ago, so there are still some things to learn. His on-track performance gave all indications that school was in session for his opponents.
A full 24 car field was present for the Semi-Pro main, including national point leader Chad Hackenbracht and Lanier Speedway’s top gun Austin Hill. When the smoke cleared at the end of the race, it was Scott “The Rocket” Hensley who parked his ride in Victory Lane. The race was called due to time constraints after a multi-car melee involving several top-10 challengers brought another caution into the mix. The win was Hensley’s first at Lanier. Mike Alcaro drove through the accident to come home second, ahead of Lanier regular Davey Matthews. Jimmy Heavlow, using a backup car after engine woes in qualifying, came from 16th to finish fourth as Kevin Eskew rounded out the top five.
In Pro-Masters action, national Masters point leader Clay Hair took advantage of a restart position to challenge Zac Kittle for the race lead. Undaunted, Kittle picked his spot to sweep past Hair to grab the point late in the contest. Hair attempted to hunt him down, but couldn’t get a line. Kittle took the win. Hair came in second, but was top finisher in the Masters classification. A steady run for Andrew Smith brought a third award with Taylor Hull and Ryan Gandee filling out the top five.
The racing action moved to a rare Sunday for Lanier National Speedway. After preliminary heat races determined the starting spots for the dash for cash in each division, drivers were set for competition. The Semi-Pro dash saw Justin Swilling take the lead at the drop of the green. Swilling would not be headed, despite the best efforts of Austin Hill. The six-lap quickie allowed Swilling a pole start for the main event.
Bandoleros came to the green and Dillon Bassett was off like a shot at the start. Bassett’s lead in the sprint race was huge and growing by the time the checkered fell, but the tech man had the final say. The car was deemed in violation, negating the win and ending his night. Justin Thomas, who held off a last lap challenge for what appeared to be second place, was credited with the win.
Bubba Harry continued his dominance by taking the Thunder Roadster dash. Steven Ross came out on top of the Pro-Master preliminary.
Thunder Roadsters took center stage for the first A main action. Bubba Harry grabbed the lead at the start, chased by Taylor Hull. Hull would be a fixture on Harry’s rear bumper until the leader developed some breathing room. Adam Akridge and Stu Wilkerson were putting on a show with side by side racing until a mechanical issue sent Wilkerson’s car up in smoke. Harry moved for his fourth win of the weekend, keeping a perfect streak with the new car in competition.
A field of 11 cars approached the starting line for the Bandolero race. The field took the green and set sail, but trouble arrived as they returned to the frontstretch. Polesitter Justin Thomas tangled with Kason Plott and the two cars careened into the inside wall. Plott was able to continue but heavy damage to Thomas’ car ended his hopes. With the complete restart, Brady Boswell inherited the pole and made the best of the situation. As Boswell and Matthew Johnson moved off in the lead, Cody Garland and Dalton Hill raced side by side for a half dozen laps for a top five position, sometimes joined by as many as three other cars. On lap 14, caution flew when Hill’s car was shuffled out. Johnson grabbed the point on the restart, but Boswell was determined to fight back, taking the lead a lap later. As Johnson faded into the field, Garland and Mason Massey were left to charge after the leader. As Boswell came off the fourth turn for the checkered, chaos ensued as several cars collided, sending one car flipping into the turn four wall. Heavy damage to Massey’s car and Garland’s ride resulted, but no one was hurt. Boswell claimed the overall win for the Bandit division while race runnerup Jacob Wallace was top Young Gun. Justin Carroll took third with Hill rallying for fourth. Johnson rounded out the top five.
Justin Swilling’s pole position was only good for a short distance as 19 cars were on track for the Semi Pro main. Austin Hill got the jump to lead lap one, but Swilling shot to the bottom to gain the lead on lap two. Kevin Eskew took over second on the fourth lap, but Hill did not go quietly. He stayed in the neighborhood, seizing the opportunity to retake second lap 13. Jordon Peninger was picking off cars in rapid fashion, moving into the top 5 by lap 13. A caution bunched the field behind Swilling and the restart presented Peninger and Saturday winner Scott Hensley a chance to make a move. Peninger closed but could not catch Swilling who parked his #38 in Victory Lane. Peninger, Hensley, Ronnie “The Rock” Bassett, and Eskew completed the top five.
The Pro-Masters main provided the final feature of the night. Steven Ross picked up where he left off, snaring the early lead. A spin by Parker Hammons slowed everyone, who safely avoided the car allowing Hammons to continue. Clay Hair lurked in second, but swept by to take the lead, clearing a path for Ryan Gandee to take second. Saturday winner Zac Kittle slipped past Andrew Smith for third, but Smith leapfrogged to second a few laps later. The runner-up spot would belong to Kittle again on lap 14. Texas racer Chris Buescher, fresh from a win in Charlotte and racing in California only the day before, came from deep in the pack to move into the top five. Buescher would give chase, but could not catch the lead duo. In a reversal of Saturday’s finish, Hair beat Kittle to the line, ahead of Buescher, Gandee, and Smith. Hair made good on a promise he made on Saturday, telling Kittle in a good natured way that he was going to get him and reminded young Zac of the promise as they duo parked in Victory Lane. Hair adds to his Masters division lead while Kittle gains valuable points in the Pro class.
The Lanier National Speedway racing action was held in conjunction with a Monster Truck Spectacle, an annual event at the speedway.
