An unpredictable, slam-bang Boston Reid Real Estate Pro division feature joined NHRA star Angie Smith's successful High Heel Dash as highlights of a memorable third night of Bojangles' Summer Shootout action on Tuesday at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
America's Home for Racing was America's Home for Ladies on Tuesday, as Ladies' Night took over the Bojangles' Summer Shootout. Smith - known for her exploits aboard a Pro Stock Motorcycle at zMAX Dragway - claimed a special, new trophy after being the fastest lady in high heels after a neck-and-neck race down the frontstretch.
"It was for a lot of pride and I saw these girls, saw they had legs for days and said, 'I've got to do this,'" Smith said.
A comparably thrilling finish punctuated the Pro feature on Tuesday night. Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series star Bubba Wallace made his second start of the season and went from seventh to second in 20 laps. With race leader Carson Ferguson pulling away for what appeared to be a sure victory, a caution flag for debris on the backstretch gave Wallace a golden opportunity.
Four laps from the finish, Wallace perfectly executed a bump-and-run on Ferguson, taking the lead in Turn 1. After Ferguson returned the favor, Wallace moved up the track and held serve on the higher groove. The two leaders made contact in Turn 1 on the ensuing lap - slowing up both cars enough for third-place car Ryan Mackintosh to emerge with the lead.
Mackintosh kept his closest foes at bay for the final two circuits to register an emotional - if unexpected - triumph.
"It's awesome. It's been six years since I've been here in Victory Lane at the Bojangles' Summer Shootout," Mackintosh said. "The 76 (Wallace) moved the 48 (Ferguson), the 48 moved the 76 and I was getting moved. I saw an opportunity there when they were getting into each other (in the final laps) and I thought that was my chance. I wasn't up for it at the start of the race, but sometimes you've got to be lucky. Sometimes you've got to be fast and sometimes you've got to be aggressive. Tonight, we were all three."
Robby Faggart kicked off his drive for another Twenty-Six Acres Brewing Company Masters division title with an impressive drive to the front on Tuesday night. Faggart passed Jon Craig for the lead and withstood Todd Midas' fierce battle over the final 10 laps to enter the win column for the first time this year.
Faggart led the most laps in the season-opening race before a last-lap bump from Mark Green cost him the victory. In his third attempt at taking the checkered flag, Faggart was not going to be denied.
"This was the third race (of the season) and the first two I thought we had in the bag," Faggart said. "I got a little lazy and they got around me. This time, I held on to the bottom, didn't let them get by me and here we are."
A 17-car crash kicked off the PMG Young Lions feature in destructive fashion, when the front two rows made contact coming to the green flag, triggering a melee that required significant clean-up. A lengthy red flag and second multi-car accident meant that only one lap was completed in the first 23 minutes.
Zack Miracle avoided the considerable carnage and came away with his first win of the season.
"I just had to be calm, not spin the tires and set sail," Miracle said.
Jason Alder emerged as an early VP Racing Fuels Semi-Pro division champion after a second consecutive dominant win on Tuesday night.
For the second race in succession, Alder had no equal as the laps wound down, working his way through lapped traffic and keeping challengers Braden Rogers, Isabella Robusto and Gracie Trotter at bay throughout the 25-lap race.
"I'm quite flabbergasted, I wasn't sure we had it in us," Alder said. "Our car's been fast all day. Thanks so much to Stephen Ross Race Cars and Apex Driver Development. This is awesome."
Lucas Vera continued his torrid start to the K1 RaceGear Bandolero Bandits season, scoring his second victory in a row in a caution-filled feature that was shortened from 20 laps to 16.
"It was a very hard fought-battle and it was hard to hold him off, but we were able to pass the 43 (runner-up Layton Harrison) and win the race," Vera said. "I had a great spotter and all I had to do was keep digging."
Farm Bureau Bandolero Outlaws points leader Garin Mash roared to a convincing third win of the season, overpowering his competition in the early going and withstanding a stirring drive to second by Cameron Murray. Murray finished 1.52 seconds behind with Connor Yonchuck, Parker Eatmon and Trevor Wester completing the top five.
"I couldn't have had a much better car. There's not much more I can say," Mash said. "I was in the car on the second-to-last restart and I couldn't believe it. I've got to thank Farm Bureau for sponsoring this series. I'm so happy I got the win."
After Sebastian Tucker - who crossed the line first in Tuesday's Bandolero Beginner Bandit feature - was disqualified for his car being below the required weight, Payton Johnson was declared the winner for the second consecutive feature.
The Bojangles' Summer Shootout's annual Media Mayhem school bus race highlights next Tuesday's slate of Legend Car and Bandolero action on the frontstretch quarter-mile. Media personalities from area television and radio stations will square off in two-ton school buses for the ultimate bus-racing trophy and a year's worth of invaluable bragging rights.
Gates open at 5 p.m. with opening ceremonies scheduled for 6:15 p.m.
TICKETS:
Tickets, which cost only $8 for adults and are FREE for kids 13 and under, can be purchased at the gate or in advance by calling 800-455-FANS or online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/tickets.
KEEP TRACK:
Follow all the thrilling Bojangles' Summer Shootout action using the hashtags #LetsBoRacing and #WeCreateLegends. Connect with Charlotte Motor Speedway on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or get all the latest news and information with the Charlotte Motor Speedway mobile app.
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Unofficial Results:
Boston Reid Real Estate Pro (25 Laps): 1. Ryan Mackintosh; 2. Carson Ferguson; 3. Bubba Wallace; 4. Willaim Plemons Lii; 5. Bryson Ruff; 6. Caleb Heady 7. Chase Scott; 8. Ashton Higgins; 9. Nick Brand; 10. Vince Midas; 11. Joey Padgett; 12. Zach Miller
Twenty-Six Acres Brewing Company Masters (25 Laps): 1. Robby Faggart; 2. Todd Midas; 3. Mark Green; 4. Jon Craig; 5. Carl Cormier; 6. Jan Ingram; 7. Dwayne Holder; 8. Charles Parker; 9. Jeff Knight
PMG Young Lions (25 Laps): 1. Zack Miracle; 2. Austin McDonald; 3. William Cox; 4. Ethan Norfleet; 5. Landen Lewis; 6. Ashton Whitener; 7. Kade Brown; 8. Tyler Chapman; 9. Landon Rapp 10. Christina Pedano; 11. Cutter Love; 12. David Johnson; 13. Lacy Kuehl; 14. Jason Chapman; 15. Molly Lindner; 16. David Sullivan; 17. Tommy Good; 18. Jake Waltman; 19. Tristan Borkoski; 20. Janson Marchbanks; 21. Sam Butler; 22. Jaiden Reyna; 23. Justice Calabro; 24. Connor Jones; 25. Max Hennebaul
VP Racing Fuel Semi-Pro (25 Laps): 1. Jason Alder; 2. Braden Rogers; 3. Isabella Robusto; 4. Gracie Trotter; 5. William Robusto; 6. Garrett Lowe; 7. Austin Saundeis; 8. Justin Laduke; 9. Walter Reardon; 10. David Markham; 11. Craig Biryla; 12. Rajah Caruth; 13. Dacin Roberson; 14. Carson Poindexter; 15. Justin Gareis; 16. Faron Laney; 17. Joshua Plummer; 18. Cole Brown; 19. Blake Lothlan; 20. Jordan Plummer; 21. Daniel Knight
Beginner Bandolero Bandits (20 Laps): 1. Payton Johnson; 2. Kenton Case; 3. Hudson Canipe; 4. Parker Delong; 5. David Snook, Jr.; 6. Cale DeJarnett; 7. Hunter Jordan; 8. Colt Johnson; 9. Neal Dulin; 10. Ava Grace Tobias; 11. Josh Horniman; 12. Finn Buckley; 13. Katie Yonchuk; 14. Hayes Silver; 15. Sebastian Tucker
K1 RaceGear Bandolero Bandits (16 Laps): 1. Lucas Vera; 2. Layton Harrison; 3. Tristan McKee; 4. Bobby Elder; 5. Truett Miranda; 6. Alex Meggs; 7. Nate Honeycutt; 8. Kaleb Bradley; 9. Aiden Gercia; 10. Luke Morey; 11. Jonathan Pedano 12. Jacob Bradley
Farm Bureau Bandolero Outlaws (20 Laps): 1. Garin Marsh; 2. Cameron Murray; 3. Connor Yonchuk; 4. Parker Eatmon; 5. Trevor Wester; 6. Zac Foweler; 7. Josh Speas; 8. Whitney Meggs; 9. Santiago Hill; 10. Logan Clark; 11. Carson Ramsey; 12. Sean Abell; 13. Natasha Elder; 14. Wyatt Philyaw; 15. Fran Pedano; 16. Madison Miracle; 17. Jadyn Daniels; 18. Natalie Richard