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DRIVER GRADES FOR TOP
PERFORMERS
This was my first full visit to
Lowe's Motor Speedway Summer Shootout. The Legends car and
Bandolero fraternity could be compared to a cross of
tee-ball and AAU basketball.
There might be an 8-year-old Bandolero Bandit driver who
hangs a right heading into turn one.
There could certainly be some ego-fueled, starry-eyed racers
in Legends cars.
And of course, there's a dark group of snake oil salesmen
and get rich-quick schemers looking to recruit young drivers
to sell them on false promises.
In between, there was a flurry of good competition, albeit
at a youthful ability level. Who's ready for the next level?
Who looked good? Who improved their stock? Here's my
highlight (with grades) on the Shootout's top performers:
Jordan Anderson, Forest Acres, S.C. - He's now a
two-time Legends Pro Division champ after winning three
races and closing strong in the last three races, making up
a 72-point deficit to win the title. The lead driver for
Nick Pistone Racing, the 17-year-old demonstrated he isn't
afraid to ruffle feathers, developing an aggressive flair
and a bumper kiss that would make Kurt Busch blush. Still,
he's a talent -- he and his pristine trophy case will move
to late models in 2009. Grade: A-
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