Legends and Bandoleros raced on Saturday, June 1, at New River All American Speedway (NC). Feature winners were Aiden McConnaughey (Legends feature 1), Max OPalski (Legends feature 2), Rylan Speight (Bandolero feature 1), and Jay Hemenway (Bandolero feature 2). Read the race recap story by Andy Marquis from the track below, as well as provided results.
The first act in the Legends double feature was status-quo with Aiden McConnaughey scoring the win over Brady Price. However, the second race would see a first time winner as Max Opalski, who spends much of his time racing sports cars on road courses, would charge to victory over Levi Canupp and McConnaughey – his first win on an oval.
“That’s my first ever win,” Opalski explained. “I did one race last year. This is my second time ever racing Legends actually. Levi was super quick in the beginning. I’m not sure what happened but one lap he was on my bumper and one lap, he wasn’t. I can imagine there was good racing behind me but it was pretty clear up front and I’m really happy to keep it clean and come home with a win today.
Two different drivers would score their first New River All American Speedway victories in Bandolero competition.
Following postrace inspection in the first Bandolero feature, Rylan Speight was declared the winner just one week removed from sweeping at Carteret County Speedway in similar fashion.
“It felt great to win,” Speight remarked. “At first, when we first got in the Bandolero, we were always at the back and we finally started running up front with everyone else. It’s pretty exciting to win back-to-back races like that.”
Speight was denied the sweep by Jay Hemmenway. Hemmenway led much of the race but had to hold off a hard charging Speight coming to the line.
“I thought [Speight] was going to get me there,” Hemmenway said after the race. “Came out with a win.”
INEX Legend National Qualifier | 25 Laps | 00:13:05.028
1.) #71 – Aiden McConnaughey; 2.) #32 – Brady Price; 3.) #77 – Thomas Martucci Jr; 4.) #28 – Oliver Missner; 5.) #6 – Austin Eckert; 6.) #19 – Max Opalski; 7.) #7 – Levi Canup; 8.) #14 – Mike Ridenour; 9.) #99 – Carsyn Gillikin; 10.) #9 – Brody Rhodes
Legend Car | 25 Laps | 00:07:49.100
1.) #19 – Max OPalski; 2.) #7 – Levi Canup; 3.) #71 – Aiden McConnaughey; 4.) #9 – Brody Rhodes; 5.) #99 – Carsyn Gillikin; 6.) #32 – Brady Price; 7.) #77 – Thomas Martucci Jr; 8.) #28 – Oliver Missner; 9.) #6 – Austin Eckert; 10.) #14 – Mike Ridenour
INEX Bandolero National Qualifier | 15 Laps | 00:05:33.178
1.) #45 – Rylan Speight; 2.) #12 – Jay Hemenway; 3.) #84 – Delaney Gray; 4.) #1 – KrisAnna Sandy; 5.) #15 – Benleigh Sandy; 6.) #3 – Landon Burbage (DQ)
Bandolero | 15 Laps | 00:05:20.757
- #12 – Jay Hemenway; 2.) #45 – Rylan Speight; 3.) #3 – Landon Burbage; 4.) #84 – Delaney Gray; 5.) #1 – KrisAnna Sandy; 6.) #15 – Benleigh Sandy
Photo credits: Toni Jolly
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