NASCAR kids crowned champions

By Tim Packman, Turner Sports Interactive
August 15, 2001
3:27 PM EDT (1927 GMT)

CONCORD, N.C. -- There were some proud NASCAR papas at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on Tuesday night as Stephen Wallace and Tim Andrews picked up Legends Racing championships.

Wallace, the 13-year-old son of Winston Cup driver Rusty Wallace, had to sweat it out for a win until the 10th and final night of competition in his Young Guns Bandolero division.

Andrews, the son of Winston Cup crew chief Paul Andrews, picked up the inaugural Thunder Roadster championship.

Tyler Green

The OdoBan Legends Summer Shootout Series ran each Tuesday night this summer on the quarter-mile inner track at Lowe’s.

Wallace came into the night third in points, seven markers behind series leader Brent Raymer. He started on the pole and even though he finished third in the race, he bested Chris Dilbeck by one point for the championship after Raymer spun during the race. It was Wallace’s second Bandolero crown after winning the Bandits division in 1999.

“This is great, we’ve really worked hard on this all year to do this,” he said in Victory Lane. “I wasn’t sure what happened back there with the other two (Raymer and Dilbeck), but I’d really like to thank my mom and dad for being there for me.”

With that, proud parents Rusty and Patti Wallace came into Victory Lane with dad giving his son a huge congratulatory embrace. Rusty Wallace, who was celebrating his 45th birthday that day, was all smiles.

“One point! You beat them by one point,” he said excitedly to his son. “I’ll tell you what, this is just great to come out here on my birthday and see him win this, I am so proud. It makes my 43rd-place finish at Watkins Glen last week seem minimal now.”

Andrews was leading the Thunder Roadster division coming into the night with two wins, eight top-10 finishes and a five-point lead over Mickey Lawson. After starting on the pole, the 18-year-old led from green to checkers and solidified his championship.

“Wow, we did it, we really did it,” an obviously excited Andrews said afterwards. “This is so great to be the first champion in this new Legends division.

“I couldn’t have done this without my dad’s help and mom’s support. He really put some hours in working on this car all summer.”

Andrews’ younger brother Troy won the Bandolero Young Guns crown in 1998 and competed in the Legends Semi Pro division this year.

Also on Tuesday night, Tyler Green, son of NASCAR driver Mark Green, earned his second consecutive victory in the Bandolero Bandits division.