Tommy Neal and Zack Ore tangled at Bowman Gray Stadium in the Sportsman 100 on Saturday night, which ended up with Ore standing on top of Neal’s car.
Just 22 laps into the 100-lapper, Neal and Ore battled side-by-side for the lead. On the exit of turn two, Neal slid up across Ore’s bumper, sending him spinning head-on into the outside wall down the backstretch. Neal got the car righted quickly, and sped past the field under caution looking for Ore. In turn two, Neal hit Ore in the rear bumper, sending Ore spinning and leaving the two stopped bumper-to-bumper in the middle of the track.
Both drivers quickly exited their cars, and Ore ran over to the passenger side of Neal’s car, then jumped onto the roof of the No. 21 machine before track officials and police arrived to stop the two before anything else transpired.
“I mean, going for the same real estate, I guess,” Ore said. “You know, Tommy come up, I tried to get in behind him, hooked him, and into the wall. I mean, I don’t think it was anybody’s fault. I think it was hard racing. But what happened afterwards was his fault. And, I mean, what are you going to do? You know, you can’t let a man tear you up. And I think it’s going to be okay.”
Ore did not speak with Neal after the race.
“Going for the same real estate, I guess,” Ore said. “Tommy come up, I tried to get in behind him, hooked him, and into the wall. I mean, I don’t think it was anybody’s fault. I think it was hard racing. But what happened afterwards was his fault. And, I mean, what are you going to do? You know, you can’t let a man tear you up. I think it’s going to be okay.”
Ore did not speak with Neal after the race.
“You can’t talk to Tommy,” said Ore. “Tommy’s the same guy that he’s always been for years. The guy turns Mitch Gales, a few races ago. It’s not his fault. Then he gets turned, it’s everybody else’s fault. I don’t know, man. It’s Tommy Neal. He needed to retire about 17 years ago.”
Neal had already left the track and was unable to comment.
Scotte is from North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, living just a few minutes from the historic North Wilkesboro Speedway. Scotte has raced at local dirt tracks for over six years, as well as covering NASCAR and short track races for over a year now, and has a firey passion for all motorsports, working to achieve a career as a driver.
