IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

August 9, 2006 Matt Bowers Takes Summer Shootout Semi Pro Legends Car Championship by Dave Westerman Florida race fans can be proud of one of their young up-and-coming drivers as Matt Bowers of Mount Dora came home with the Legends Car Semi-Pro points championship at the 2006 Lowe's Motor Speedway Summer Shootout. Bowers had a reasonably comfortable edge over fellow Floridian Paddy Rodenbeck of Odessa going into the final week of the ten week Shootout and won the title by a comfortable margin as he came home a solid sixth in the A-Main while Rodenbeck had problems and finished 23rd. In ten weeks of racing, Bowers made the A-Main each week (in a field that saw over 70 different drivers compete with an average of 45 per night) and finished out of the top eight only once, winning the feature race during week nine as well. Rodenbeck also put together solid performance and won twice during the Shootout as well. Florida drivers Josh Williams of Port Charlotte and Kara Clarke from Palm Beach Gardens also qualified for the A-Main on the final night coming home with finishes of 17th and 19th in the tough field. Clarke also competed in the Bandelero Outlaws getting 12th at the checker. Other drivers making the A-Main in their respective classes during the final night of the Shootout were Brandon Thomson of St. Cloud (Legends Pro) with an 11th place finish (Thomson also won twice during the Shootout giving Floida drivers five total wins during the ten week run) and Max Bennett of Zephyrhills (Bandelero Bandits) who finished in the 15th position. Both the Legends Cars and Bandeleros will be featured this Friday night during "Talledega Nights" night at Orlando Speedworld. The Legends cars will compete in a 35 lap PBG Florida Tour race plus there will be a full night of FASCAR stock car racing as well. Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! or Email KARNACto send a letter to the editor!