Logan tops RE/MAX Legends with incredible finish at Orlando SpeedWorld
by Dave Westerman
After Friday night's FASCAR racing program was washed out, race teams and fans were greeted by beautiful weather Saturday evening at Orlando Speedworld after a rare July cold front had passed through Central Florida... but the finish of the RE/MAX Legends Car feature would really heat things up on this evening.
Apopka's Kory Abbott and St. Cloud's Brandon Thomson won the heat races with Thomson drawing the pole for the 25 lap main event, just like he did the week previous before dominating that race. Since he was coming off a Summer Shootout win at Lowe's Motor Speedway on the 4th of July, everyone pretty much was handing yet another victory to Thomson and he would have that victory in sight... for 24 laps.
After a tangle between Jimmy Norman and Eric Eichelberger set up a complete restart, Thomson set sail but was soon joined by the close-running trio of Bryan Silas, Andy Logan and Abbott. Two minor cautions slowed the pace before the half-way mark as Thomson continued to have the edge.
Just after the crossed flags were given, Silas and Abbott touched in turn four with Silas doing a fantastic job of saving his car but losing several spots in the process. Logan had just passed Silas for second place and looked to really have something for Thomson, but the 16 year old leader was holding fast.
Two more late cautions slowed the pace again, the final one on lap 22 as Mitch Verhaagh and Wild Willie Wilson tangled in turn one. This set up a three lap dash to the checker with Logan all over Thomson's rear bumper and Abbott just waiting to get room to make a move.
As the leaders headed into turn one on the white flag lap, Logan dove to the low side with Thomson giving him just enough room. Logan got a great run off turn two and took the lead while Abbott drove to the high side of Thomson. Logan crossed the stripe to take the win with Abbott nipping Thomson for second at the line in a photo finish after one of the best races of the year.
"I've raced Legends on and off for several years and have quite a few wins, but I have to say this is my favorite one because these kids (Thomson and Abbott) are so talented and fun to race against," said Logan after the race.
Summer Shootout Semi-Pro points leader Matt Bowers was closing on the leaders late and came home fourth while Shaughn McCormick had the best finish of his young career in fifth. McCormick looked like a new driver having finally found the problem with his car that had his team scratching their heads for several weeks.
Chelsea Schillig took the check sixth with Silas recovering for seventh ahead of Jimmy Rodriguez, Jimmy Norman, Mike Verhaagh, Tony Sansom, Mitch Verhaagh, Eric Eichelberger, Dalton Bergman and Wild Willie Wilson.
After four tries, the Bandelero Bandits feature finally got under way and it would be Mark "Ice Man" Hooven claiming another victory trailed by Nicholas Baluch, Shawn Hooven, "Blazin'" Blake Leuth, Zach Harris and Critter Saile.
Gerald White, Jr. returned with a vengeance and took the Bandelero Young Guns win over Kristina Baluch and Gerald Campbell.
It was another Hurricane win for likeable Rob Reynolds as he came home ahead of Dave Thompson, Cody Kasper, Mark Walls and Edwin Bisball, Jr. Kasper decided to try his luck in the Hurricane feature after winning the Junior Stock main event over Shane Stewart.
In Daytona Antique Racing Association action, Roy Campbell dominated the Sprint Cars in his Leffler creation finishing well ahead of Jeromy Smith, Jack Sapp and Jay Yahnke. Bill Wendt drove to the Midget win ahead of Jerry Paquin and Dale Miller while Cory Lane drove his Dodge Dart LM to the Stock Car win over Keith Grant.
The rained out Joslin Memorial 50 for the Modifieds will be held this Friday night along with a full FASCAR Stock Car program including the Super Late Models, Mini Stocks, Sportsman, Super Stocks, Strictly Stocks and Junior Stocks.
Saturday night, the RE/MAX Legends, Bandeleros, Hurricanes and Junior Stocks will be joined by the Florida Open Wheel Lites.
