The very first INEX Championship National event in Iowa could not be classified as anything but exciting! Hawkeye Downs Speedway, in Cedar Rapids, proved to be a challenge for every driver on track, in every division during the 2024 Bandolero Nationals. Wyatt Coffey and Bentley Thompson faced off in the Bandits Division for the national title, and TJ Moon and Bryson Nichols went to battle for the Outlaws championship. In fact, all but Coffey suffered some sort of obstacle in Saturday’s championship features.

Saturday’s championship action started off with the Beginner Bandolero Division. Only three cars elected to join the Beginners, with many others electing to move up to Bandits and Outlaws for the 2024 Bandolero Nationals. Doylestown, Wisconsin started from pole and finished in first, but it wasn’t all a walk in the park.

He had Idaho’s Tayton Monroe on his bumper in the first portion of the race, but pulled away to over a two second lead during the middle stage of the race. But as the laps started drawing to a close, Monroe started cut heavily into Tate’s lead.

As the duo took the white flag, Monroe trailed by only one second. Tate crossed the line first, but Monroe was only half a second behind. Following Monroe in third, was Wisconsin’s Brody Thompson.

Two drivers entered the Bandits Championship Feature tied at 1,900 points in the national point standings, meaning, the Bandolero Nationals Championship Feature was the deciding factor for the national title. Wyatt Coffey and Bentley Thompson started first and fifth, respectively.

The first start was called off by race control and the field tried it again. The second start was much improved, with Coffey jumping out to the lead. Thompson was working over Corbin Cannon for second as the field completed Lap 2 and the caution flew for a two-car incident involving Delaney Gray and James Faulkner. Thompson has secured second and restarted on the outside of the Lap 3 restart.

Coffey’s restart was good enough to be fully clear of his competition exiting turn two, as Thompson battled on the outside of Cannon for second. Thompson would cross over Cannon to retake second. Three-wide racing in two rows caused anxiety amongst the drivers, but the caution didn’t fly for them. Instead a single car spin by Flynn caused brought the caution out with seven laps completed. Faulkner, who entered the race fourth in national points, pulled his car off the track and his day was officially over.

The Lap 8 restart witnessed Thompson’s best start, but Cannon still stuck his car to the inside as Coffey put car lengths between his car and theirs. Thompson slipped back to fourth before finding enough space to fit his yellow and orange Bandolero on the low side behind Gerald White III. He is work to find the fastest way around the bottom paid off when White III slipped exiting turn two and slid up and forced Cannon to react, moving up to avoid the threat. Thompson did a two-for-one against them, retaking second.

Not one lap later, the caution flew for a stricken, and inoperable car on the backstretch. The race resumed on Lap 11. White III gave Thompson fits on the restart, challenging him for second once Thompson was able to get back to the low side.

The next caution, on Lap 15, resulted in the field going single file for the next restart. This was a break for Thompson who was running second and would now line up directly behind Coffey. Thompson did exactly what he needed to, and that was to keep close to Coffey’s bumper. All eyes were ready to watch them battle, but then the caution flew for a single car spin.

The field was reracked for a restart on Lap 16. Thompson got an even better restart this time around. The top two in the race and top two in national points hadn’t had their bumpers this close all race long as they traveled down the backstretch. Then the unthinkable happened. Thompson spun on his own from second place in turn four on Lap 17. The rear end stepped out and pulled his car around.

Unfortunately for Thompson, he went to the rear, effectively ending his hopes at a national championship. For Coffey, he had extra breathing room for the championship, but he wanted it all as in 2023, he suffered a similar issue in last year’s Bandolero Nationals at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The Lap 17 restart following Thompson’s spin was the last of the race as Coffey pulled away from second place, winning by over 10 car lengths. But as he crossed the finish line, Emily Billings went for a wild tumble over the turn three banking. Her left side wheels hit Harley Johnson’s right side wheels, sending her car over one time before landing on all four wheels and sliding down the banking. Fortunately, Billings was okay.

For Coffey, the victory secured him the 2024 INEX Bandolero Bandits National Championship. Thompson finished the race in 13th. Joining Coffey in the top five was White III, Landon Thrasher, Truett, and Cannon.

If the Bandits Division race was exciting enough for you, the Outlaws Division race undoubtably was able to satisfy one’s taste. TJ Moon had racked up an impressive resume of races in 2024, which included championships at Winter Nationals and the Cook Out Summer Shootout. His 1,900 points was only three points more than Bryson Nichols. Moon captured the Kooks Headers and Exhaust Fast Qualifier Award on Friday and repeated on Saturday, while Nichols started Saturday’s feature from fourth.

Nichols dropped back to fifth on the initial start as Moon put a few car lengths distance between him and Colt Johnson, who battled Lincoln Johnson. After four laps, Nichols was fourth and Lincoln moved ahead of Colt as the race’s first caution flew for a single car spin on the frontstretch.

Colt Johnson quickly cleared Lincoln Johnson on the Lap 5 restart, beginning his chase against Moon. Lincoln’s day became a lot harder when he bobbled in turn two and lost several positions back to ninth. Meanwhile up front, Colt was all over Moon’s bumper. He was to the inside of Moon on Lap 8, taking the lead and pinching Moon high up the track on Lap 9 through turn two.

Landon Burbage, third in Outlaws national points, was running third and had a front row seat should anything happen to the two leaders. He made a move to the inside of Moon but the caution flew for a spun car on the backstretch

The restart with nine laps completed was an exciting one, and seemed to be a pivotal one for the championship. Moon lined up on the outside of Colt Johnson but did not get a good restart as he was three wide with Nichols and Axel Oldenhoff as they entered turn one. Oldenhoff cleared them but Lincoln Johnson reentered the picture, getting to Nichols’ inside into turn three.

Moon had a minor moment through turn 2 the next lap, slotting in behind Nichols. They pair ran fifth and sixth and if they finished in those exact positions, Moon would have a one-point advantage in the standings, but not a secured national championship.

The caution flew once again, another single car spin, bringing the field back together yet again. Nichols caught a break by virtue of running fifth at the time of caution and lined up on the inside. Moon was to his outside. Colt Johnson was on the inside front row with Burbage to his outside for the Lap 12 restart. Nichols went from fifth to second in two corners and Moon was third in just one lap.

Now running second and third, they would both walk away with 1997 points, with the tiebreaker going to Moon, due to him having more 100-point victories. Past halfway, Moon was putting the full court press on Nichols’, looking to his inside off each corner. With 12 to go, Moon completed the pass on Nichols for second place, meaning as they ran, Moon had the championship in that moment.

Nichols was now at the mercy of Oldenhoff but sent his car deep into turn three and to the inside of Moon. Disaster nearly struck as Nichols got free and went up the track and into Moon. Both drivers sailed high. Colt Johnson was pulling away and Oldenhoff along with Burbage got by them both. Now back on the outside, Nichols was left to fend off Moon who was fortunate enough to get to the low side in front of Lincoln Johnson.

Disaster did indeed strike when Lincoln Johnson struck a bump in the track entering turn three. Nichols was right on his right-side door. Johnson’s nose got airborne and shot directly to the right and into Nichols, sending him over the banking spinning. This brought out the yellow and both drivers were sent to the rear for being involved in the caution.

The race resumed on Lap 17 under single file conditions. Drivers gave each other plenty of space on the restart. Burbage took second from Oldenhoff with nine to go, then Moon snatched third from him with seven to go as Nichols ran 13th. But trouble struck Burbage’s efforts for a top five when he spun exiting turn four just as Colt Johnson crossed the line clicking the laps left down to four.

Moon was right in Colt Johnson’s tire tracks, following him every step of the way but it looked as if Johnson might prevail, but with three to go, the caution was displayed a final time when Peyton Harbison went over the turn one banking after getting help from Nichols.

The championship points leader, Moon, wasn’t ready to give up yet. As he and Colt Johnson pulled away from the Oldenhoff, Johnson went wide exiting turn four and Moon turned low. The door was opened and Moon didn’t hesitate to walk through. He scooted by and into the lead with two laps to go. Johnson nudged him in turn two but it didn’t faze Moon in the slightest.

Moon held on to win the 2024 Bandolero Nationals Outlaws Championship Feature, and secured a perfect 2,000-point season and the 2024 INEX Bandolero Outlaws National Championship. Nichols was only able to climb back up to ninth. Colt Johnson held on to finish second, followed by Axel Oldenhoff, Aspyn Lange, and Lincoln Johnson.

The Legend Car Feature was won by Cameron White, with just about a foot separating him and second place Byranna Bruce. Both took different approaches to attacking corners, with White stretching out to an early lead, but Bruce reeled him back towards her Legend Car. In the end, she ran out of time to attempt a clean pass for the win.

The 2024 INEX Championship Nationals tour continues on October 10-12 from BAPS Motor Speedway for the 28th Legend Car Dirt Nationals. The 33rd Legend Car Asphalt Nationals takes place at Dominion Raceway October 24-26. The final championship national event of the year will be Legend Car Road Course World Finals, the 28th edition, at VIRginia International Raceway, November 15-17. All the action from each event can be viewed on uslegendcars.tv.  

RESULTS

OUTLAWS DIVISION

A Feature 1 (25 Laps): 1. 9-TJ Moon[1]; 2. 24-Colt Johnson[2]; 3. 29-Axel Oldenhoff[6]; 4. 12-Aspyn Lange[12]; 5. 000-Lincoln Johnson[3]; 6. 60-Liam Hammond[7]; 7. 3-Landon Burbage[5]; 8. 110-Ethan Jensen[11]; 9. 80-Bryson Nichols[4]; 10. 11-Carter Stein[9]; 11. 8-Bristol Monroe[15]; 12. 7-Klaire Stine[16]; 13. 2-Dutch Vanderwal[17]; 14. M00-Lily Impellizzeri[8]; 15. (DNF) 57-Peyton Harbison[14]; 16. (DNF) 24M-Blake Michael[13]; 17. (DNF) 41-Mandi Lee[10]

Qualifying 1: 1. 9-TJ Moon, 00:15.193[12]; 2. 24-Colt Johnson, 00:15.248[6]; 3. 000-Lincoln Johnson, 00:15.270[7]; 4. 80-Bryson Nichols, 00:15.301[13]; 5. 3-Landon Burbage, 00:15.399[1]; 6. 29-Axel Oldenhoff, 00:15.425[14]; 7. 60-Liam Hammond, 00:15.639[2]; 8. M00-Lily Impellizzeri, 00:15.646[4]; 9. 11-Carter Stein, 00:15.667[15]; 10. 41-Mandi Lee, 00:15.678[9]; 11. 110-Ethan Jensen, 00:15.691[5]; 12. 12-Aspyn Lange, 00:15.705[8]; 13. 24M-Blake Michael, 00:16.125[10]; 14. 57-Peyton Harbison, 00:16.141[3]; 15. 8-Bristol Monroe, 00:16.285[11]; 16. 7-Klaire Stine, 00:16.380[16]; 17. 2-Dutch Vanderwal, 00:16.523[17]

BANDITS DIVISION

FEATURE (25 Laps): 1. 2-Wyatt Coffey[1]; 2. 38-Gerald White III[6]; 3. 55-Landon Thrasher[9]; 4. T2-Camden Truett[2]; 5. 5C-Corbin Cannon[3]; 6. 76-Oliver Weinkauf[15]; 7. 7-Harley Johnson[16]; 8. 1J-James Behnke[8]; 9. 14-Austin Steinke[17]; 10. 84-Delaney Gray[11]; 11. 4-Wesley Baumeister[4]; 12. 9-Jack Smith[14]; 13. 22-Bentley Thompson[5]; 14. 04-James Monolo[10]; 15. 45-Jordan Bauer[18]; 16. 16-Maci Prowell[19]; 17. 5-Christopher Flynn[20]; 18. 10-Emily Billings[13]; 19. 44-Emersyn Weitzel[23]; 20. 19-Grant Hooker[22]; 21. 66-Evan Johnson[12]; 22. 1VA-Hendrick Case[21]; 23. 007-James Faulkner[7]

Qualifying 1: 1. 2-Wyatt Coffey, 00:15.195[7]; 2. T2-Camden Truett, 00:15.212[20]; 3. 5C-Corbin Cannon, 00:15.233[5]; 4. 4-Wesley Baumeister, 00:15.315[2]; 5. 22-Bentley Thompson, 00:15.340[18]; 6. 38-Gerald White III, 00:15.371[23]; 7. 007-James Faulkner, 00:15.483[8]; 8. 1J-James Behnke, 00:15.489[3]; 9. 55-Landon Thrasher, 00:15.504[19]; 10. 04-James Monolo, 00:15.584[14]; 11. 84-Delaney Gray, 00:15.597[10]; 12. 66-Evan Johnson, 00:15.599[12]; 13. 10-Emily Billings, 00:15.622[4]; 14. 9-Jack Smith, 00:15.630[16]; 15. 76-Oliver Weinkauf, 00:15.692[21]; 16. 7-Harley Johnson, 00:15.728[13]; 17. 14-Austin Steinke, 00:15.773[17]; 18. 45-Jordan Bauer, 00:15.870[1]; 19. 16-Maci Prowell, 00:15.969[15]; 20. 5-Christopher Flynn, 00:16.083[9]; 21. 1VA-Hendrick Case, 00:16.112[6]; 22. 19-Grant Hooker, 00:17.054[11]; 23. 44-Emersyn Weitzel, 00:17.065[22]

BEGINNER BANDOLERO DIVISION

FEATURE (20 Laps): 1. 5-Ransom Tate[1]; 2. 16-Tayton Monroe[3]; 3. 51-Brody Thompson[2]

Qualifying 1: 1. 5-Ransom Tate, 00:16.537[2]; 2. 51-Brody Thompson, 00:16.936[3]; 3. 16-Tayton Monroe, 00:16.961[1]

LEGEND CAR

FEATURE (25 Laps): 1. 38-Cameron White[1]; 2. 12B-Bryanna Bruce[3]; 3. 21-Madi Lange[2]

Qualifying 1: 1. 38-Cameron White[3]; 2. 12B-Bryanna Bruce[1]; 3. 21-Madi Lange[2]