HAMPTON, Ga. - Legends and Bandolero drivers returned to the quarter-mile “Thunder Ring” at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday for an off-season INEX race. Without a series championship on the line, drivers and teams participated in the “Boo-Bash” on Halloween.
On the track, the competition was fierce as drivers prepared for the Winter Flurry Series which begins November 21.
A unique format for all divisions was utilized which allowed drivers more feature race laps while affording teams an opportunity to make adjustments mid-race with a break past the halfway point of each race.
With a strong contingent of Beginner Bandolero drivers, Cory Heim of Marietta turned the quickest lap to start on the pole of the feature race. From the point, Heim was able to hold off Carden Cochran of Ringgold for the lead at the end of the first segment of the race through 15 laps. On the subsequent restart of the final 10 lap segment, Heim continued to battle Cochran for the lead. Heim held off the challenge from Cochran over a trio of late race cautions and restarts due to spins in the back of of the field to capture the checkered flag.
Despite a fifth place finish, one of the biggest movers in the Beginner Bandolero feature was Drew Dollar.
“This is my first race on the oval course,” said Dollar prior to the race. “I play football, baseball, tennis and golf, but this is my favorite sport that I’ve ever done, it’s just such an adrenaline rush. With this being my first time on the oval, I’m just trying to go fast but keeping (the car) from spinning out.”
Dollar avoided the late race cautions and finished up three spots from an eighth place start in his first race behind the wheel of a bandolero on the Thunder Ring.
A half dozen Beginner Bandolero drivers competed in a second Beginner Bandolero feature race which included drivers with limited experience behind the wheel. River Allen took the checkered flag with Annabelle Mowish in second and Shelby Raurk in third.
The race that saw the most lead changes was the combined Bandits and Outlaws feature. In a four car battle for the lead, Clay Thompson started from the point, with Connor Younginer second, Nathan Jackson third and Lawson Ingold fourth. On lap two, Thompson and Younginer were door-to-door down the front stretch. The four broke away from the rest of the field and continued to flip-flop positions until the caution came out on lap 20 to signal the end of the first segment.
When the Bandit and Outlaw drivers returned for the final 10 lap sprint to the finish, Younginer began at the front of the field. As the quartet pulled away again, Ingold got by Thompson on lap 27 for second place while Younginer held on to the lead as they took the checkered flag. Jackson finished fourth.
The combined 50-lap Legends race featured 19 Young Lions/Semi-Pro and Masters drivers. After a slow start to the feature, Will Martin o pulled away from the field and took a 10 car length lead on Jeff Holden and Amber Fleeman. Martin quickly encountered lap traffic midway through the first segment, but managed to weave his way through the pack and held the lead to the yellow flag at the break. Holden remained in second while Dylan Murry was third at the break.
Martin began the final 20-lap segment on the point and was able to hold off the challenge from Holden as he drove to victory lane. Despite three cautions, Martin chose the inside lane each time and could not be overtaken for the lead. Murray finished second while Holden was third.
Up next is the Winter Flurry Series for Legends and Bandolero racers on November 21 on the quarter-mile Thunder Ring at Atlanta Motor Speedway. For more information, visit AtlantaMotorSpeedway.com.
Atlanta Motor Speedway – Hampton, GA
Boo-Bash – October 31, 2015
Beginner Bandolero Race 1
1. Cory Heim
2. Dawson Fletcher
3. Carden Cochran
4. Blaze Cerawford
5. Drew Dollar
6. Kenneth Henderson
7. Ryan Younginer
8. Keaton Hendrix
9. Audrie Ruark
10. Michael Gannon
11. Gage Roberts
12. Max Hennibaw
Beginner Bandolero Race 2
1. River Allen
2. Annabelle Mowish
3. Shelby Ruark
4. Mike Mowish
5. Wil Griffis
6. Cameron Potter
Young Lions/Semi-Pro
1. Will Martin
2. Dylan Murry
3. Bailey Woodall
4. Amber Fleeman
5. Nicholas Waters
6. David Lawrence
7. Canan Cochran
Masters
1. Jeff Holden
2. Mark Swan
3. Brandon Brock
4. Tina Johnson
5. Tony Armbruster
6. Randy Shubert
7. Robert Cheney 8. Dennis Aiken
9. Dennis Hecht
10. Barry Bowen 11. Wes Potter
12. Robbie Woodall
Bandits
1. Clayton Thompson
2. Nathan Jackson
3. Noah Dominy
Outlaws
1. Connor Younginer
2. Lawson Ingold
3. Trey Tadrzak
4. Ricky Springer
