BOWMAN GRAY BANDOLEROS - 6/8/07
By Matthew Dillner
Sparkplug Scoots By Tangle For Bowman Gray Bandit Win
Dillon “Sparkplug” Bassett put on a show for his hometown fans coming from a last-place starting spot to score the big win in the Bandolero Bandit’s portion of the Advance Auto Parts weekend at Bowman Gray Stadium.
Like the classic Beatles song says “I get by with a little help from my friends,” Bassett used a tangle in front of him to get by for the win. Sparkplug waited patiently behind Trevor Collins’ #77 and Tyler Lester’s #9 as they waged war for the lead. Collins blocked several of Lester’s attempts to take the lead. That blocking led to both of their demise as the two drivers spun handing the lead and win to Bassett.
“He was blocking me the whole race,” said Lester. “I went down there into turns one and two and he cut down and it spun both of us out. I was taking it from him the whole race and I didn’t feel like doing it anymore. I was going for the win and I guess he was going for a wrecked car and that is what he got.
“I think I just got down into him,” said a shy Collins after the race. “I was just trying to win the race and not wreck it but all of that changed.”
“I saw the 77 blocking a lot,” explained Bassett about his front row seat to the action. “He was racing on the bottom coming off the corner and I thought ‘that ain’t lasting for long’ because I proved that to them at Concord (Motorsport Park). The nine got under him enough to where he couldn’t come down and they both got together in turn one and took each other out. I went up on the outside and got by.”
Collins and Lester wage war while Dillon Basssett patiently waits in th ewings. .(LN Photo)
Dillon Bassett stands in a very hisrtoric victory lane.
The youngest of the Bassett boys took the checkered flag at a racetrack rich in history. Although the nine-year-old doesn’t know who Curtis Turner or Junior Johnson is, he has now added his name to a win list that they and other racing legends grace. However, when he heard that he won at a place that Richard Petty had won at he smile and let out a big “awwwwsome.”
More important to Dillon was winning at his home track, a place where his father had raced at.
“It’s awesome because this is our home track and we planned on coming out and winning today. I’m starting to feel like him (Dillon’s dad Ron Bassett).”
The Rock Makes It a Bassett Brothers Stadium Sweep
Ronnie Bassett followed up his little brother’s win by taking the win in the Young Gun division. Bassett passed Devin Jones for the lead and held off Dylan Pack to score his second checkered flag in two years at the Stadium.
The Bassett Boys shared a moment in victory lane.
Fittingly, those were the three main combatants for the victory Friday night. Poole led early, but on lap 10 Pack gave a nudge to Poole, allowing Pack’s bright-yellow and orange #89 to take the lead. Bassett followed Pack by Poole for second and began setting his sights on the victory.
Pack was able to hold off Bassett’s challenges, however, for the final spring season victory at CMP. The victory celebration was tame, however, as Pack felt bad about the move that won him the race.
“This was great,” said Pack. “I’ve got to thank my parents for working on my car. I feel like it was a dirty win though because I got into the back of Robert a little bit. I don’t like to race like that. I kind of think that I won it dirty, but it’s still a great win.”
“The beginning of the race I got down to the bottom pretty quick. We had
a caution and I got up under him on the restart. Pack followed me and then when we had another caution Pack and I duked it out for the win the last few laps. I’m glad I didn’t drive away with it and had someone to race against.”
Pack tried as hard as he could to get around “The Rock,” but maybe tried too hard.
“I thought I was going to get him with a couple of laps to go,” said Pack. I think I just pushed it a little too hard and got loose there. I always like running with Ronnie. It was good getting up there along side him to make it a good race for the fans.”
The elder Bassett brother put his own twist on the win, by spinning his car into the football field in the infield at Bowman Gray.
“I took the checkered flag and went around the track one more time. I turned left into the infield and never lifted and turned left and did a burnout.”
“To win two years in a row is great. I guess they know I am pretty quick right now so that is good. Next year I will be here in a Legends car so it might be a different story.”
Ron Bassett, the boy’s father, hugged both of his children after their wins. He said that having both of his sons in victory lane at Bowman Gray was as special as anything he’s experienced in racing.
“This is where I started racing 15 years ago,” said Ron. “We raced here every Saturday night for about 10 years. This is better for anything having it happen at our home track with both of them winning on the same night. I’m so proud I can’t even put it in words.”
Bandolero Bandits Results (Top-Three)
1. #44 Dillon Bassett
2. #5 Brock Newsome
3. #2 Tristan Adams
Bandolero Young Guns Results (Top-Three)
1. #04 Ronnie Bassett
2. #89 Dylan Pack
3. #4 Tim Hill
Bandolero Outlaw Results (Top-Three) - Ran with Young Guns Feature
1. #42 Nathan Rodgers
2. #3 Bruce Benson
3. #9 Dawn Eagens
Ronnie Basseet takes a celebratory spin in the football field at Bowman Gray Stadium.
Both Bassetts won their Bando races at Bowman Gray. But who is the better of the brothers? When asked Dillon responded, “We haven’t decided that yet.” Ronnie had more of an older-brother approach to the question. “Are you talking about nicer or a better driver?” said Ronnie with a sly smile. “Driver? Of course me. I’m just a better driver than he is.”
The brothers posed for a duel victory lane shot with their trophies and a Bowman Gray Stadium “Winner” hat, something that they will both surely treasure.
“I’m gonna wear it and wear it until it disintegrates,” said Ronnie of his new favorite hat.
