Mixed Bag Results for Future Stars Academy at Kentucky Nationals

Mixed Bag for Future Stars Drivers at Kentucky Speedway
SPARTA, KENTUCKY – Members of the Future Stars in Racing Academy had  
an up and down weekend at the Bandolero and Young Lions Legends Car  
Nationals last weekend.

Kyle Benjamin wheeled his No. 71 Wrangler Jeans Bandolero Bandits car  
to the class championship, on the way becoming the youngest winner in  
the event’s ten-year history. Benjamin took the lead on lap 21 of the  
25-lap feature race and never looked back in capturing the Nationals  
title. This big win erases the heartbreak of losing Atlanta Motor  
Speedway’s Thursday Thunder championship by a mere two points. In a  
jubilant Victory Lane, Benjamin celebrated the moment with his  
parents, grandfather and crew chief. The highlight of Victory Lane  
was seeing the nine-year-old race car driver marvel at his seven-foot  
tall championship trophy.

Caylie Duncanson, of De Pere, Wisc. had high hopes of qualifying for  
the A-Main in the Bandolero Bandits division. Caylie’s weekend just  
seemed to be missing by one spot. In her heat race, she needed to  
finish fifth and barely missed, coming home sixth. Caylie started the  
B-Main on the outside pole and quickly sped to the lead. The next lap  
she hit the bump in Turn One and looped her No. 118 race car. The  
remainder of the ‘Last-Chance” race was an up and down affair, seeing  
Caylie just missing two more wrecks in front of her and having to  
come from the back each time. With two laps to go, she made her way  
to fifth place, trying to catch the fourth-place car for the last  
transfer spot into the main event. Duncanson was disappointed, but  
gained valuable national even experience.

Ryan Glenski returned to Kentucky Speedway with hopes of winning the  
Nationals in the Bandolero Young Guns division. Last year’s runner-up  
in this event had an uncharacteristic weekend, qualifying 17th, which  
lined him up sixth in the third heat race. ‘Rocket Jr.’ showed why he  
has won 20 features this season, bringing his No. 28 RG Excavating to  
a second-place finish in the heat. Glenski lined up seventh for the  
25-lap main event and quickly started his charge to the front at the  
drop of the green flag. By lap ten, Ryan had powered his way into  
third place with his sights set on the lead. On lap 17, disaster  
struck the 2007 Young Guns WinterNationals Champion when he was  
turned around entering the first corner. His hope of winning the  
nationals was done.

Justin Lloyd had an interesting weekend. He detonated the engine in  
his No. 43 Legends car and seemed done for the weekend. Younger  
brother Andrew Lloyd lent him his engine, which turned around  
Justin’s weekend. Justin was fifth-fastest qualifier on Sunday and  
let wire-to-wire in his heat race. Justin lined up fourth for the 30- 
lap main event and struggled in the outside groove, dropping back as  
far as 11th. He recovered for a seventh place finish in the Young  
Lion’s event.

Sam McAulay did not have the qualifying lap he was looking for and  
was forced to race his way into the main event. He powered his No. 12  
MB Motorsports race car to an impressive fourth-place finish in his  
heat race. Sam lined up for the Young Lions main event in fifteenth  
starting position. At the drop of the green flag, Sam began to move  
his way forward, approaching the top ten. His great run was halted  
when the No. 48 of Dylan Ames was turned around in front of Sam who  
had no place to go. The handling on McAulay’s racer simply went away  
after the incident and the remainder of the race proved to be  
frustrating for the Huntersville, N. C. teenager. He eventually  
dropped out with handling problems on lap 18.

Matt Stover, in his BB&T Mortgage No. 26  Legends car was fast right  
out of the trailer. Both days, he was consistently in the to four  
fastest car cars and on Sunday, recorded the second quick time. On  
Sunday his day took a turn for the worse when a technicality  
disallowed his second-fastest time trial. This forced Matt to start  
dead last in his heat race, with only five cars transferring to the  
main event. Stover was on a mission and fought his way to a third- 
place finish in the ten-lap heat race. The Gastonia, N.C. teen lined  
up ninth for the Nationals race and was determined to charge to the  
front. Disaster struck for the 2007 Atlanta Motor Speedway Thursday  
Thunder Semi-pro champion when his immaculate race car was spun out  
in Turn One, relegating him to last position. Stover’s chance for a  
top-five finish ended at that point.

The Future Stars Academy was well-represented in Kentucky, with mixed  
results. For the Bandolero drivers, the biggest race of the season is  
over. For the Legends Car drivers, the biggest race on the schedule  
remains on the calendar at Las Vegas in October. Under blue skies in  
Kentucky the Future Stars in Racing were fast and showed  
determination, but more important, the sportsmanship it takes to be a  
true champion.


These drivers are being helped in his career by training from Future  
Stars in Racing Academy. The Academy helps prepare young drivers for  
success outside the car in public speaking; sponsor presentations;  
working with the media and behavior on and off the track. Future  
Stars in Racing is the exclusive driver development partner with the  
ASA Late Model Series. Marketing partners include Safety-Kleen,  
Awesome Racewear and Sunbelt Web Solutions. The Academy features a  
staff with decades of experience in all aspects of motorsports. To  
learn more about the racers and the Academy, go to  
www.futurestarsinracing.com.



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