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NASCAR Sprint-Cup Series
VIDEO: Daniel Hemric Wins Legends Million
Watch Video: Daniel Hemric won the inaugural Legends Million and an unprecedented $250,000 with the victory on Saturday night...
Media Release  |  Posted July 17, 2010   Concord, NC
Flippin' Out! Daniel Hemric does a back flip after winning the inaugural LEGENDS MILLION on Saturday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. (Image: SPEED)
Kannapolis, N.C., native Daniel Hemric won the inaugural Legends Million, the largest grassroots race in history, at Charlotte Motor Speedway, taking home an unprecedented $250,000 with the victory.

• Race Results: Legends Million - Saturday, July 17, 2010 - Charlotte Motor Speedway
• Photo Gallery: Legends Million - Saturday, July 17, 2010 - Charlotte Motor Speedway
















Leading the first 89 laps of the 100-lap A-Feature, it looked as if pole-sitter Doug Stevens was going to complete a perfect weekend by winning the Legends Million. Stevens was the fastest qualifier on Thursday, then led all 20 laps of his Friday heat race, securing the pole for Saturday’s main event.

Stevens was able to keep a hard-charging Hemric at bay for 51 laps by staying on the bottom of the race track, but with pressure form Hemric, Stevens’ car slid up the track going into Turn 1 on Lap 89. That small miscue was all Hemric needed to take over the lead with just 11 laps to go. Stevens wasn’t ready to give up, riding Hemric’s bumper for next few laps, before Hemric’s machine pulled away by several car lengths.

Stevens held on to finish second, followed by Steven Cantrell, David Ragan and Tyler Green.

Hemric knew he had to be in the right place at the right time to make the move for the win.

“I knew the car was good enough to run with the best of them out there,” Hemric said. “He finally made a mistake. I didn’t expect him to. He never does. But he made that one little mistake and that’s all I needed.

“I wasn’t going to drive into him,” Hemric continued. “I tried to respect him and he definitely respected me. When he made that mistake it just opened the door. The car was just so good I was able to pull away.”

Hemric didn’t have immediate plans for the $250,000 he earned with the victory.

“I’m just glad I was able to bring home the win for the locals and glad to keep the money here in Charlotte,” he said.

Heavy rain and thunderstorms moved through the speedway area early in the evening, affecting some of the racing action, but moved out quickly enough for the Legends Million A-Feature drivers to compete on a dry racing surface.

While many drivers struggled to maintain grip on a wet race track, Sean Rayhall, from Winston, Ga., was dominant through the first three-quarters of the Semi-Pro/Young Lions A-Main. Rayhall led the first 37 laps of the race, when a caution came out for a spin by Kason Plott. During the restart, Rayhall spun his tires and second-place Brady Boswell took advantage of the misstep to assume the race lead.

However by Lap 46, Rayhall and Boswell found themselves in lapped traffic and Boswell made contact with one of the slower cars, allowing Rayhall to retake the lead and win the event. Rayhall’s car was fast all weekend, taking the victory in both the Semi-Pro/Young Lions and Legends Million heat races in which he was entered on Friday. By virtue of his victory, the 16-year-old Rayhall earned $25,000.

Dusty Summers finished second, followed by Boswell, Gray Gaulding and Hunter Bledsoe.

Brian Sockwell, of Brown Summit, N.C., took home the victory in the Masters division A-Main with a dominating performance, leading 44 laps of the 50-lap event. Starting in the 11th position, Sockwell quickly made his way through the field, taking over the point position on the sixth lap. Sockwell never looked back, lapping the majority of field en route to his $30,000-to-win victory.

The most intense battle on the track was between Brian Weimer and Jason Rochelle for the second position. The two traded spots for 17 laps until making contact in Turn 4 while racing to the checkered flag. The encounter sent Rochelle spinning into the infield grass, while Weimer held on to finish in second.

Will Cagle came home in the third spot, followed by Eddie Harwell, Rochelle and Ira Laughy.

Through the “Deal or No Deal” option, Semi-Pro/Young Lions division driver Gray Gaulding and Masters division driver Brian Sockwell gave up a portion of their A-Main winnings to start in the 31st and 32nd spots respectively in the Legends Million A-Feature. The only female driver in the A-Feature, Kenzie Ruston, and NASCAR Daytona 500 winner, Geoff Bodine, started in the 33rd and 34th spots by virtue of two promoter’s choice provisionals.

The Bandolero Cars participated in the final round of the Bandolero Triple Crown, a three-night event with feature races in each of the three divisions: Bandolero Outlaws, Bandits and Beginner Bandits.

• Race Results: Legends Million - Saturday, July 17, 2010 - Charlotte Motor Speedway
• Photo Gallery: Legends Million - Saturday, July 17, 2010 - Charlotte Motor Speedway

Bandolero Triple Crown champions included John Holleman, of Winston-Salem, N.C., in the Bandolero Outlaws division; Clayton Weatherman, of Wentzville, Mo., in the Bandolero Bandits division; and Reed Hatchett, of Knoxville, Tenn., in the Bandolero Beginner Bandits division. Saturday night’s Bandolero feature winners included Myatt Snider, of Charlotte, N.C., in the Bandolero Outlaws division; Clayton Weatherman, of Wentzville, Mo., in the Bandolero Bandits division; and Matt Craig, of Kannapolis, N.C., in the Bandolero Beginner Bandits division. Legend Car and Bandolero racing continues Tuesday night, July 20, at Charlotte Motor Speedway, with the Kangaroo Express Summer Shootout Series. Round seven of the 10-week series will be Double Points Night featuring school bus racing. Spectator gates open at 4:30 p.m.
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