Charlotte Motor Speedway’s frontstretch quarter-mile played host to the 2025 Bandolero Nationals on Saturday, September 13th. A stacked field of seventy-six Bandolero drivers rolled into Concord, North Carolina, all chasing a championship and bragging rights. Competitors even crossed the Canadian border to take their shot at dominance.
Bandits Division
Friday night set the tone as Cale Weavil pulled off a big upset, stopping a potential Brexton Busch sweep. Busch entered the weekend as the points leader and one of the season’s fastest drivers, with James Behnke his closest rival in a winner-take-all battle. The championship scenario was simple: whoever finished ahead of the other would be crowned champion.
ProFABrication Fastest Qualifier Bryce Castille led the opening lap, but Busch quickly powered past and never looked back. Behnke’s chances unraveled on Lap 7 when his car came to a halt and had to be pushed to the pits. Although his crew eventually returned him to the track, the setback sealed the title for Busch, who cruised to the championship while Behnke limped to the finish.
Outlaws Division
Landon Thrasher continued his strong season, scoring the win and strengthening his points lead in the Outlaw Division. After earning the ProFABrication Fastest Qualifier Award, Thrasher held firm through multiple restarts and withstood heavy pressure from Carson Sherman. The two went door-to-door for 17 laps in one of the weekend’s fiercest battles.
A late caution set up a one-lap shootout. Sherman and Thrasher lined up for the final duel, but heading into Turn 3, Sherman spun and dropped to 19th, ending his weekend in heartbreak. Thrasher avoided the chaos, drove away, and claimed the hardware.
Beginner Division
In the A-feature, Carter Koch stole the lead from ProFABrication Fastest Qualifier Anthony Pedulla on Lap 2. Pedulla spun while running second on Lap 6—a rookie mistake in the Beginner ranks. Koch stretched his advantage by nearly six seconds on the next restart, cruising to his third career win at Charlotte Motor Speedway and his second of the weekend.
The B-feature brought plenty of drama. Hagan Green led the field to the green, but Kipling Knaus slipped past on Lap 2. Green retaliated on Lap 6, using the bumper to spin Knaus and hand the lead to Ellie Hodge. Hodge held firm until two laps to go, but Kelly Kirby charged forward, diving inside down the backstretch to take the top spot and secure his first career victory.
Legends Feature
To close out the day, a 25-lap Legend Car feature capped off the action. From the drop of the green, Max McCollum set the pace out front and had to survive relentless pressure behind him. Brake checks and bumping made the race chaotic, but McCollum never flinched. A late accident shuffled the order, allowing Joel Smith to climb into second and J.R. Allen to settle into third after spending much of the evening in the runner-up spot.
The Bandolero Nationals was one for the books, delivering a weekend full of high-speed action, unexpected upsets, and emerging talent. From Busch’s championship-clinching performance to Thrasher’s clutch Outlaw victory and the breakout wins in the Beginner Division, Charlotte Motor Speedway once again proved why it’s a proving ground for the next generation of racers. Fans left the track buzzing, already anticipating what these rising stars will do when they take to EchoPark Speedway’s quarter-mile in Hampton, Georgia on September 25-26, 2026.
Every Man on Every Crew, LLC. 
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