July 31 – By Jacob Seelman for Speed 77 Radio / RaceChaser Online – When drivers said during pre-race activities on Tuesday afternoon that the 2013 Summer Shootout was going to close with a bang, they meant it quite literally.

Fireworks on and off the track highlighted a thrilling conclusion to the 20th anniversary season of the most prestigious Legends racing series in the country, with six drivers being enshrined as champions of the Jack in the Box Summer Shootout,

The Pro division points race was already decided going into the night, but the battle for the win was as fierce as any bout the entire summer. Steven Cantrell started on point looking to rebound after a disastrous start to his summer season, leading most of the race as contact and controversy erupted behind him.

Ultimately, after a fierce battle between Kaz Grala, Evan Swilling and polesitter Cantrell, it was the 28 of Cantrell who hung on for his first win of 2013 at Charlotte, and his fourth-consecutive season-finale win in Pro class action at the Shootout.

In the points race, three separate cautions claimed the victory lane chances of the year’s hottest driver, Daniel Hemric, who ultimately ended up out of the race after the right front wheel was basically torn off in a tough hit before halfway. Hemric, who had a 198 point advantage entering Round 10, celebrated his second career Pro championship at the Summer Shootout, nearly mirroring his run to the title in 2009.

In Young Lions, a close, three-man points race set up the most exciting run to the checkers of the season as fireworks erupted in the title fight. Brayton Haws, returning part-time to the Shootout this season, led the field to green and never gave it up en route to a win in the finale and his first Shootout win of 2013, but Haws’ victory wasn’t without challenges.

9 cautions over 17 laps bunched the field up multiple times, but the most pivotal yellow flew at Lap 15, when Michael Womack, Stefan Parsons, and championship leader entering the night, William Byron, came off of Turn 2 three-wide. Womack came down and made contact with Parsons, sending Parsons hard into the 25 of Byron, and then over into Turn 3 skidding on his roof. Both Parsons’ and Byron’s cars were too heavily damaged to continue, but all drivers walked away without injury.

With Byron out of the race, the championship door was opened for Floridian Michael Torres, competing in his first-ever Summer Shootout. Torres, who came into the final round 30 points behind Byron, ultimately finished 3rd and made up enough points to clinch his first Shootout crown as a rookie, while his longtime friend Haws celebrated in Victory Lane.

“It’s unreal,” Torres said following the race to Speed77 Radio and Race Chaser Online correspondent Jacob Seelman. “We came in here hoping to get a top five finish (in points) if we were lucky. And now we’re the champions. I can’t believe it.“

In the Security Force Masters class, Johnny Sossoman made a daring last-lap maneuver to get by Kevin Foisy for the victory. Foisy had the dominant car for much of the race, but just couldn’t hold off Sossoman, whose motor actually expired as he crossed the start-finish line to take the twin checkers.

For Sossoman, it was his third win in five starts this season, but the award for the bigger celebration went to Tom Pistone, who locked up his first-career Summer Shootout Masters division championship with a third place finish. For Tom and the Pistone family, the championship follows up two previous Summer Shootout titles won by his brother Chase.

In Semi-Pro, the final night was calm compared to the previous two weeks, but still had plenty of excitement before the night was done. Joe Ryan Osborne had to claw his way through traffic, but managed to grab the race lead following the halfway point after several drivers took turns at the front of the field, including Jay Coen and Devin Amos.

Once Osborne got out front, it was “Good night, Gracie” as driver #13 iced the competition en route to his fifth win in 10 races, pulling away from Billy Webb over the final laps. The win allowed Osborne to handily claim the 2013 Shootout championship in the ultra-competitive division. Championship runner–up Jay Coen had the drive of his season to finish fifth on the final night, passing more cars than anyone else after having to start from the rear four times in the 30 lap feature.

In Bandolero Bandits, Dawson Cram and Cason Werner staged a thrilling duel in the final laps of their feature event. Cram would ultimately make the final pass for the lead and win his third Shootout event of the season, while Werner would lock up the points race with a runner-up finish, scoring his first-career Summer Shootout championship on the strength of three wins.

The Bandolero Outlaws feature had an exciting two-car duel of its own in the closing circuits, with John Holleman holding on to take his sixth win and the final checkered flag of the season in an exceptionally clean battle with Christopher Clanton. Clanton, making just his second Shootout start of the season, hung on to score an impressive runner-up result. For Holleman, his sweep of Rounds 9 and 10 was more than enough to clinch his first-career Shootout championship.

In other feature action, South Carolinian Trevor Rizzo claimed his first career Summer Shootout Series Beginner Bandits victory. The Beginner Bandits do not race for points, so no champion was crowned in that division.

The night also featured a 25-lap Bowman Gray Stadium Stocks brawl, beating and banging around the quarter-mile. Shane Southard took the checkers in a caution-shortened exhibition race.

All championship point standings are unofficial pending post-race inspection and point tabulation by race officials.

Though the 2013 Jack in the Box Summer Shootout has come to a close, you can catch Race Chaser Online here on the web or at the track, as we continue to chase your short-track action around the Southeast.

Unofficial Round 10 Results:

Legend Car Pro Feature (28 laps): 1. Steven Cantrell; 2. Evan Swilling; 3. Joey Padgett; 4. Kaz Grala; 5. Kason Plott; 6. Jordan Black; 7. Dakota Baggette; 8. Ryan Shattuck; 9. Brendan Bock; 10. Reid Wilson; 11. Clayton Weatherman; 12. Mackena Bell; 13. Zane Smith; 14. Tyler Lester; 15. Justin Swilling; 16. Jared Irvan; 17. Daniel Hemric; 18. Brandon Debrakeler.

STEVEN CANTRELL AUDIO:  PRO WINNER- Steven Cantrell
DANIEL HEMRIC CHAMPION’S AUDIO: PRO CHAMPION- Daniel Hemric

Security Force Legend Car Masters Feature (30 laps): 1. John Sossoman; 2. Kevin Foisy; 3. Tom Pistone; 4. Carl Cormier; 5. Rodney Tharp; 6. Jeff Green; 7. Mark Green; 8. Robby Faggart; 9. John Craig; 10. Jody Folice; 11. Eddie Harwell; 12. Jan Ingram; 13. Chip Ferguson; 14. Jamie Smith; 15. David Fulk; 16. Carlos Moore; 17. Scott Whitaker; 18. Bruce Silver.

JOHN SOSSOMAN AUDIO:  MASTERS WINNER- Johnny Sossoman
TOM PISTONE CHAMPION’S AUDIO: MASTERS CHAMPION- Tom Pistone

Legend Car Semi-Pro Feature (30 laps): 1. Joe Ryan Osborne; 2. Billy Webb; 3. Devon Amos; 4. Sheldon Crouse; 5. Jay Coen; 6. Bronson Butcher; 7. Joe Gregory; 8. Joshua Plummer; 9. Ethan McMillon; 10. Robby Lyons; 11. Joshua Turner; 12. Courtney Lefcourt; 13. Austin Beryy; 14. Jordan Stillwell; 15. Ansley Burkhalter; 16. Adam Welch; 17. Jacob Burkhalter; 18. JoJo Helberg.

JOE RYAN OSBORNE WINNER / CHAMPION AUDIO:  SEMI-PRO CHAMPION- Joe Ryan Osborne

Legend Car Young Lions Feature (17 laps): 1. Brayton Haws; 2. Carson Ferguson; 3. Michael Torres; 4. Dillon Faggart; 5. Matt Craig; 6. Tripp Gerrald III; 7. Doug Barnes; 8. Joey Azzata; 9. Connor Pyle; 10. AJ Davis; 11. Alex Murray; 12. Jordan Murray; 13. Michael Womack; 14. Stefan Parsons; 15. William Byron; 16. Trent Barnes; 17. Seth Werner; 18. Stevie Johns Jr.

BRAYTON HAWS AUDIO:  YOUNG LIONS WINNER- Brayton Haws
MICHAEL TORRES AUDIO:  YOUNG LIONS CHAMPION- Michael Torres

Bandoleros Outlaws Feature (10 laps): 1. John Holleman; 2. Christopher Clanton; 3. Chase Purdy; 4. Miguel Cesar; 5. Nate Tretow; 6. Austin Green; 7. Nicholas Ceraolo; 8. Jordan Plummer; 9. Ashley Caldwell; 10. Eric Brown; 11. Alton Clark; 12. Sprout Royal; 13. Alex Reece; 14. Matthew Davey; 15. Ryan Pierce; 16. Banks Johnson; 17. Hannah Bell; 18. Matt Mead; 19. Tal Davidson; 20. Jacob Heafner; 21. Casey Kirwan; 22. Dakota Ratcliff; 23. Jack Fread; 24. Ivan Gudmestad; 25. Kayla Lyons; 26. Kodie Connor; 27. Scott Joy.

John Holleman Audio:  OUTLAWS CHAMPION- John Holleman    Christopher Clanton Audio:  OUTLAWS- Christopher Clanton 2nd

Bandolero Bandits Feature (20 laps): 1. Dawson Cram; 2. Cason Werner; 3. Zachary Dabbs. 4. Ryleigh Lemonds; 5. Daniel Wilk; 6. Kamera McDonald; 7. DJ Canipe; 8. Hayden Humprey; 9. Justin Taylor; 10. Braydn Mander; 11. Robert Wilk; 12. Brayde Miranda; 13. Austin Geer; 14. Liz Montgomery; 15. Noah Ewing; 16. Richard Kuty; 17. Grayson Bundrick.

DAWSON CRAM AUDIO:   BANDITS WINNER- Dawson Cram     BANDITS CHAMPION:  BANDITS CHAMPION- Cason Werner

Bandolero Beginner Bandits Feature (20 Laps): 1. Trevor Rizzo; 2. Nick MacMillan; 3. William Robusto; 4. Joshua Kossek; 5. Hunter Jarrett; 6. Henry Broadbent; 7. Wyatt Smith; 8. Isabella Robusto; 9. Carson Kvapil; 10. Ian Sexton.

Torres Photo Credit: Michael Torres Racing