Flames burned bright, and all the glory went to the competitors during Round 8 and Round 9’s Summer Games Night, presented by Trackhouse Motorplex at the Cook Out Summer Shootout. In the Dirty Mo Media School Bus showdown, the Supervising Producer of the Dale Jr. Download, Andrew Kurland, stuck the landing, torching the competition at America’s Home for Racing.
In the rescheduled Round 8 battle, Lucas McFall (Night Owl Companies Beginner Bandos), Wyatt Coffey (Bandits), TJ Moon (Bojangles Outlaws), Kaden Bradshaw (Chargers), Keelan Harvick (Night Owl Companies Young Lions), London McKenzie (VP Fuels Semi-Pro), Daniel Wilk (UNC-Charlotte Pros) and Scott Moseley (Old Armor Beer Company Masters) all earned gold medals.
In true Summer Games Night fashion, a special edition ceremony of Dirty Mo Media competition hit the track for Round 9. From a 400-meter dash to a school bus slobberknocker, the Dirty Mo personalities all remedied their need for speed at the iconic quarter-mile.
With seven school buses taking their marks, the aim for gold commenced with Alex Timms in the pink Pedal Princess at the front of the field, while Travis Rockhouse and Andrew Kurland stayed close behind in their blue bus battle. As the 10-ton machines sailed through their first lap, Kurland and his Baby Beluga bus hit his target in Turn 3 to take the lead.
With neck-and-neck battles for both silver and bronze and fourth and fifth behind, it was a runaway relay for Kurland leading the pack. As the white flag waved, with no competition behind, Kurland put on a show in a Turn 4 bump-and-run, lapping Abigail Watkins in her Purple Reign bus before taking the checkered.
After the fight for first on both foot and behind the wheel, “this is the best night of my whole life” was the first thing Kurland said as he hopped out of the beloved Baby Beluga bus to hoist his trophy.
Claiming the silver medal was Timms, Allie Roder and the Orange Crush bus came in third, with Travis Rockhold, Tiff Powers and Watkins all following behind.
Dulin Dives Into the Deep End, Secures Second Summer Win
Neal Dulin took the top spot on the podium for the Round 9 Night Owl Companies Young Lions division, holding off a hard-charging Keelan Harvick in the final laps.
Harvick relayed an early message that he was looking to be the class of the field as he started P1 and got off to a dominant lead. Dulin soon tracked down Harvick, vaulting for the gold medal position on Lap 13.
Dulin built his lead to half a second before like a stopwatch, a caution bunched up the field. On the final restart, Harvick tried to dive in for the top spot, but Dulin’s flame burned brighter, allowing him to see the flag bearer first.
Rodney Dowless took home the bronze medal in third, while Spencer Bradshaw and Matthew Laprade cycled out the top five.
After Cook Out Summer Shootout Young Lions point leader Max Reaves finished P13, the window for Harvick and Dulin to slip into the championship running appeared. Reaves, who has 763 season points, leads Harvick by three and Dulin by six and is looking to secure a championship coronation in the summer finale. With one round of competition left, the stage is set for a knockout Round 10’s Champion’s Night.
Closing out the double-header action, Lucas McFall (Night Owl Companies Beginner Bandos), Wyatt Coffey (Bandits), TJ Moon (Bojangles Outlaws), Kaden Bradshaw (Chargers), Neal Dulin (Night Owl Companies Young Lions), London McKenzie (VP Fuels Semi-Pro), Daniel Wilk (UNC-Charlotte Pros) and Robby Faggart (Old Armor Beer Company Masters) all joined the village of victors in Round 9.
NEXT UP:
Next Tuesday, July 30, Charlotte Motor Speedway prepares for the final round of Cook Out Summer Shootout and its championship coronation on Champions Night, presented by the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Titles will be won, and legacies will be cemented as the summer is capped off with a fireworks show and autograph session with the world’s best grassroots racers.
ABOUT COOK OUT SUMMER SHOOTOUT:
Cook Out Summer Shootout is a 10-race showcase of speed among eight different divisions of Legend Cars and Bandoleros. Races are held each Tuesday night, with drivers accumulating points throughout the summer towards a season-ending championship.
TICKETS:
Fans dressed in current or former Cook Out Summer Shootout Driver merchandise will receive $5 off their ticket purchase. Tuesdays $15 tickets include racing action and fireworks; kids 12 and under get in FREE. For tickets, schedules and more details about all the happenings at Charlotte Motor Speedway, visit www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/tickets.
KEEP TRACK:
Follow all the thrilling Cook Out Summer Shootout action at Charlotte Motor Speedway on X, Facebook and Instagram.
