A caution-laden VP Racing Fuels Semi-Pro feature saw Ryan Miller keep his title hopes alive with a much-needed win, as the top three in class points finished in the top three positions on the race track.
Miller took the lead from Tristen Love on lap three and survived three cautions, including one that set up a six-lap sprint to the checkers, to notch the win over title rivals Dustin Rumley and his younger brother, Zach Miller.
Zach Miller leads the standings by nine points entering title night, needing only a top-five finish to secure the crown, but his older brother was the star of the moment after dominating the proceedings Monday night.
Love scored a career-best fourth place finish, with Vince Midas completing the top five.
The K1 Speed Young Lions class feature was shortened to 15 laps due to the time limit, but it was more than enough for Jak Crawford to notch his first-career Summer Shootout win in a wire-to-wire performance.
Crawford started from the pole and was never seriously challenged. The 12-year-old is the youngest driver competing in the class this year.
The final caution dramatically shifted the points battle as well, with Josh Kossek turning points leader Sam Mayer around in Turn 2 on what proved to be the final lap.
While Kossek was put to the tail of the results, Mayer’s points lead shrunk from 28 to 15 over D.J. Canipe entering the finale. The Wisconsinite needs a finish of 12th or better to secure the title.
Nick Sanchez, Ryan Heim, Canipe and Gracie Trotter completed the top five.
The Bandolero Outlaws feature was characterized by a hard lap two crash that saw Trevor Wester and Tommy Good make hard contact in Turn 4 that ended both of their nights and championship aspirations, while the two most dominant cars of the summer duked it out up front.
After trading the lead three times between themselves, Justin Gareis passed points leader Cameron Bolin at the halfway point of the 20-lap main and go on to his third-straight win, despite heavy pressure from Bolin.
Bolin leads Gareis by 10 points entering champion’s night and can secure the title with a finish of sixth or better.
Matt Emery, Matthew Davey and Ethan Norfleet completed the top five.
A caution-free Bandolero Bandits feature saw Parker Eatmon run down and pass race-long leader Landon Rapp coming to two laps to go, driving off for his second win of the summer after multiple hardships through the middle stretch of the season.
Rapp, points leader Leland Honeyman, Kade Brown and Jaiden Reyna capped off the top five. All Honeyman needs to do to clinch the crown is start the feature Tuesday night, should less than 14 Bandits draw in to race.
Luke Cooper dominated the Beginner Bandolero feature for his second win of the summer. That class does not race for points, so no championship battle is on tap for them entering the final night.
The 24th annual Bojangles’ Summer Shootout concludes with round 10 features and championship celebrations for both Legend car and Bandolero classes on Aug. 1.
Full race results can be viewed on the next page…
