On September 14, 2022, U.S. Legend Cars International and INEX announced a change to age requirements to race Bandoleros and Legend Cars, lowering the age to drive in both types of cars for the first time since the cars launched nearly three decades ago. The rumors and speculation of the age change dealt with drivers coming up the ranks that have very well-known NASCAR champion fathers.
For the first time since the announcement, Legends Nation addressed “the elephant in the room.”
Effective immediately as of the announcement in 2022, children seven years of age and up could race Bandoleros, with the former rule being eight years old minimum. For Legends, children 10 and up could race Legends, with the prior rule requiring a driver to be 12 years of age.
At the time of the change, Brexton Busch, son of NASCAR champion Kyle Busch, who currently races in Bandolero competition, was seven years old. Additionally, Keelan Harvick, son of NASCAR champion, who currently races Legends, was 10 years old. The rule change allowed both Busch and Harvick to immediately race in Bandolero and Legend Cars competition respectively where they were not allowed prior to the change.
Rumors swirled heavily across the nation on the reason for the rule changes at the time, however, it died down until recently.
On Tuesday, July 2, 2024, LN asked INEX directly if the rule changes were specifically made to allow Busch and Harvick to race in INEX competition.
“The decision to lower the minimum ages for Bandoleros and Legend Cars was in response to the trend of drivers starting their careers at an earlier age,” said Josh Roller, Communications Manager for INEX, in their official response. “U.S. Legend Cars International and INEX is committed to assisting in the development of the next generation of racers, and lowering the ages for both our cars was the next step in developing the future of motor racing.”
Both Busch and Harvick have multiple wins in their respective divisions of racing, including this week at Charlotte Motor Speedway (NC) during the Cook Out Summer Shootout Series, where Busch won the Bandolero Bandits feature on Monday and Harvick won the Legends Young Lions feature on Tuesday.
What do you think? Was the rule change made specifically for Brexton Busch to race in Bandoleros and Keelan Harvick to race in Legends, or was the timing a coincidence? Tell us on our LN Facebook page by clicking here. Photo credits: INEX
