Tuesday's Race Recap From Legends Nation

LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY --  This year at the Summer Shootout, Roger Slack, Director of Events at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, has been very critical of the racing action on the track.  Every week drivers are told in the driver’s meeting and on the radio during the races to not bump, not block, stay off the grass, slow down (under caution) and generally what to do and when to do it on the track.  Sometimes it is like listening to a daycare worker trying to deal with multiple kids that will not listen when told to do something.

But every once in a while, drivers listen to what they are told and put on a great race for the fans.  If they are lucky, they will get a verbal congratulations from Slack instead of the verbal lashing they receive for not listening.  Tuesday night Jordan Anderson and Thomas Hartensveld received just after the two drivers put on one of the best battles in the 2007 Shootout over the final few laps of the Pro Legends event with Anderson beating Hartensveld by just a few feet.

 “It was close,” said Anderson.  “It reminded me of last week but then I was racing for third.  Here I was racing for first and I came out on top.  It was a good race and I am glad to be here.”

Hartensveld and Anderson started the race in fourth and fifth respectively.  A lap one caution forced the officials to abandon the double-file starts, causing them to restart the race single file. 

“I was happy we went to single file on the first restart,” said Hartensveld.  “I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to get ahead of Thomas (Van Wingerden, who started third) there, he is a good racer.  I just followed my way up through there with him and was just trying to be patient.”

Van Wingerden worked his way to the lead with Hartensveld in tow.  Anderson then got under Van Wingerden, pulling up on the back bumper of Hartensveld, working on him for the lead.  For the last several laps, the two drivers swapped positions trying to determine who had the fastest car and who was going to lead at the checkered flag.

“I think both of us started to have brake trouble there,” said Anderson.  “I had mine lock up on me there when I took the lead the first time and he got it back.  I was just praying the whole race that we wouldn’t touch each other. I think we changed the lead about five or six times.  I was just patient at the beginning of the race and worked my way up there.  I took the lead and tried not to look back but I got loose and he got back by me there.”

Hartensveld was able to work by Anderson, but he just couldn’t hold onto the lead, forcing him to finish a close side-by-side second at the line.

“I don’t know what happened there when Jordan caught me,” explained Hartensveld.  “He was faster than me when I was in front of him but when I was behind him I felt like I was faster.  This car the last few weeks has been unbelievable.   After the adjustments we made a couple weeks ago, it really helped it.  Maybe if we keep getting close like that we will get a win.”

Shortly after the five-lap lead-swapping race by Anderson and Hartensveld, Slack came over the radio and gave praises to both drivers.  He said he was proud of their racing and the show they put on for the crowd. 

“They raced each other clean and swapped the lead,” said Slack.  “They went back and forth with relatively little to no contact.  It just proved what the Pro division should be and can be when racers race with patience and talent.”

His words meant a lot to Anderson.

“Like I said last week, these are the Pro drivers out here,” said Anderson.  “One day you might see me and Thomas doing the same thing racing in NASCAR at Daytona.   You never know.  But Roger saying that means a lot to me.  Like Humpy said in the driver’s meeting, Roger has been out here since this program started.  What he said means a lot.”

Hartensveld was also pleased with Slack’s comments, although it surprised him a bit since this year the drivers have been getting more of a tongue lashing due to their conduct on the track rather than compliments.

“It is definitely a major compliment that he said it,” said Hartensveld.  “I am thankful that he said it because I didn’t think he would come on the radio and say something like that.  I wasn’t sure if I heard the right thing. 

“It was a good clean race and I don’t think any two other drivers would race like that"

Personal Quote from Jordan: "Hey everyone let me just start off by saying I give all the glory to Jesus Christ, he is the one who has given me the opportunity to do what I love to do and provided me with an awesome win Tuesday night at Lowe's Motor Speedway. With only one week remaining at the Summer Shootout the points are very close, and with my win Tuesday night I'm the current points leader by 20 points. Going into this Tuesday's race I ask that everyone keep me in your prayers as I will do my best to bring home a championship from the Summer Shootout.

I also wanted to say thanks to everyone for your support and prayers so far this season, It has been awesome to see how many people believe in me and are willing to invest their time and support in me."

Tuesday's Photos