In a ‘dicey’ caution-filled evening, new faces hit the jackpot in Cook Out Summer Shootout’s Round 7, Night of Games, presented by Dilling Heating & Cooling. For the Night Owl Companies Young Lions Division, Neal Dulin put the puzzle pieces together to get his first 'checkers' flag of the summer. 

While the field was as unstable as a Jenga Tower, the scramble for the Round 7 win cut the race to just 16 laps. Kicking off the race with a four-car pileup, Dulin escaped ‘Trouble’ for an early lead. 

Throughout the race, Dulin kept his eye on the prize while holding off hard-charging Ryan Zima, which created repeated side-by-side battles for the lead. Despite the cautions, Carter McMurray also stayed consistent in his third-place position, throwing his hat in the ring and making his presence known right behind. 

After the time flag was displayed, a final restart helped Dulin beat the buzzer and pull away to capture the flag before yet another caution ended the race.  

"I wasn't trying to look out of my mirror, I just focused on myself," said Dulin on his winning strategy. "As my dad told me, focus on what is in front of you, not on what is behind you."

Zima was anything but ‘Sorry’ as he finished second, while McMurray matched his shootout best of third. Spencer Bradshaw and points leader Max Reaves rolled a four and five, keeping a poker face as they maneuvered through the madness. 

Moon Monopolizes the Quarter-Mile

When it came to Round 7 of the Bojangles Outlaw competition, ‘survey says’ TJ Moon was right on the money, leading all 20 laps of the feature to secure back-to-back wins for Rounds 6 and 7. 

After starting P2, Moon gambled his luck and used the inside to get past Owen Zacharias before hitting the bonus and running away with the prize. As the field shuffled like a deck of cards behind, Moon extended his lead to over two seconds as the checkered flag flew.

Tallying up his fourth win of the season, Moon leads the Bojangles Outlaw division in both Cook Out Summer Shootout points as well as overall INEX points. 

“We’re trying to keep the pace up and just keep going forward,” Moon said on his goals for the rest of the summer. “We’ve struggled the past couple of months so since [Cook Out Summer] Shootouts clicked, we gotta keep going. 

Following Moon and Zacharias, Round 5 winner Bryson Nichols finished third with Jeffrey Beck and Ellie Gossett rounding out the top five. 

NEXT UP:

Next Tuesday, July 16, Charlotte Motor Speedway will debut its first Cook Out Summer Shootout Camping Night presented by Dilling Heating & Cooling. Come pitch a tent and watch some blazing drivers race to earn their badges on the track. Post-race, select troops will put their Scout skills to the test with infield camping.

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:

Scouts who come in uniform get FREE admission to Round 8. Tickets are $10; 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.