CONCORD, N.C. - Rain was the big winner Saturday during the third round of INEX Winter Heat at the Lowe's Motor Speedway fifth-mile. Its victims were the Bandolero Bandits, Young Guns and Beginner Bandits.
With a steady drizzle and temperatures hovering near 40, officials pulled the plug on the Bandolero classes except for the Outlaws class with just heat races complete. No make-up date has been set for the Bandolero features, but will likely take place Jan. 26, the next time WH visits the fifth-mile, with double Bandolero features. More information will be released at a later date.
While their younger counterparts couldn't race, the Outlaws braved the slick conditions with Nathan Rodgers unseating Kendall Sellers at the top of podium. Bailey Daniels was third with Dawn Eagens fifth.
All classes struggled in the slick rainy conditions, but the finish in the Thunder Roadster class was the same as the first two weeks with Jesse Bunnell walking away from the rest of the field.
Clay Hair took his familiar No. 29 to the winner's circle in the Masters division. Eddie Harwell gave chase, but could not catch Hair in the wet conditions. Jeff Turner continued his consistency with another third-place finish. Jimmy Gurley and Gary Shannon followed.
Mitchell Coble was the top Pro driver this week, beating Tyler Green for the victory. Matthew Stover was third with Parker Hammons and Jordan Paschal following.
Jimmy Heavlow had finished second in the Young Lions division both rounds before, both times to Dylan Presnell. Saturday, Heavlow turned the tables on Presnell, collecting the first place plaque, but Presnell gave it all he had, driving from the back to finish second. Devon Jones recovered from a mid-race spin to finish third with Bryan Truex and Austin Leitner rounding out the top five.
Dennis Kiser came out victorious in a tough battle with Ryan Blaney in the Semi-Pro division. Kyle Pierce was third with Sam McAulay and Matt Harris following.
Round four of Winter Heat kicks off Jan. 5 at the inside road course at LMS. The event is worth full INEX road course points to RACEceiver Legends and Thunder Roadsters.
The Finishes:
Outlaws
1. Nathan Rodgers
2. Kendall Sellers
3. Bailey Daniels
4. Dawn Eagens
5. Jared Hick
6. Marcus Limehouse
7. Jake Morris
8. Jason Wells
9. Scott Beaver
Thunder Roadsters
1. Jesse Bunnell
2. Phil Bonfield
3. Steve Carter
4. Ed Evans
5. Benny Mingo
6. Terry Horak
7. Jim Fluharty
Masters
1. Clay Hair
2. Eddie Harwell
3. Jeff Turner
4. Jimmy Gurley
5. Gary Shannon
6. Chip Ferguson
7. Bob Petry
8. Bruce Silver
9. Steve Beck
10. Bill Baldwin
11. Jan Ingram
12. David Denham
13. Glenn Jamieson
Pro
1. Mitchell Coble
2. Tyler Green
3. Matthew Stover
4. Parker Hammons
5. Jordan Paschal
6. Kyle Beattie
7. Christin Pahud
8. Daniel Moskowitz
9. Steven Daniels
10. Rob Hall
Semi-Pro
1. Dennis Kiser
2. Ryan Blaney
3. Kyle Pierce
4. Sam McAulay
5. Matt Harris
6. Michael Brown
7. Gene Kirila
8. Matt Lundstrom
9. Johnny Lovero
10. Steven Ross
11. Chris Moore
12. Kara Clarke
13. John Ellenburg
14. Jermane Donley
15. Cody Johnson
16. Jordan Penninger
17. Jonathan Ross
18. Daniel Hemric
19. Landon Bullock
20. Jamie Smith
21. Justin Boston
Young Lions
1. Jimmy Heavlow
2. Dylan Presnell
3. Devon Jones
4. Bryan Truex
5. Austin Leitner
6. T.J. Hicks
7. Krisitin Keys
8. Timmy Hill
9. Bailey Freeman
10. Derrick Ramey
11. Tyler DeVault
12. Ronnie Bassett, Jr.
13. Brock Baldwin
14. Travis Braden
15. Tyler Strickland
16. Jordan Stillwell
17. Tyler Kivett
18. Cody Blackburn
19. Robert Kurzmarski
20. Hayden Reeves
31. Harrison Rhodes