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D&D Auto Recycling Steel Block Bandits
May 28, 2011
Thunder Valley Raceway
Central City, PA
Round 4
Memorial Day weekend is one of the biggest
racing weekend’s in the US, and the Steel Block Bandits were no
different with a big show as they headed to western PA to compete in a
35 lap main event as part of Thunder Valley Raceway’s Windmill 100
weekend, a name that pays homage to the large windmill turbines visible
in the mountains that make a breathtaking view on the backstretch.
Originally tapped as the first of a two race weekend along with a $4,011
to win main event Sunday the 29th at Central Pennsylvania Speedway,
became a stand alone event when Central Pennsylvania Speedway shuttered
for the season a couple weeks ago.
21 cars entered the event, along with a strong contingent of 15
Steel Block Bandit member drivers. Two heat events were held with Sean
Merkel of Gilbertsville, PA and Rick Singleton of Hesston, PA took those
events. Notable during the heat events was a troublesome start to the
evening by Walker Arthur who came into the event with the points lead,
after a couple incidents Arthur would fall out of the heat race putting
him towards the back of the main event.
The main event rolled to a quick start with Rick Singleton
assuming the early lead over Kyle Merkel who took the second slot ahead
of DJ Troutman and Sean Merkel. Singleton would pull a couple carlength
length in the early laps over Merkel but by lap twelve Merkel found
himself right on Singleton’s tail with Troutman ready to pounce if the
two leaders made a mistake. 2009 Bandit’s champion Kristian Looney
would then run into trouble in turn four and spin to a stop with damage
to the rear axle, during the caution period leader Singleton would also
fall out of the main event with a broken shock leaving the lead to Kyle
Merkel who was looking for his first Bandit’s win of the season.
The green flag would return to the field and what would follow
would be a clean 13 lap segment of racing that saw Kyle Merkel steadily
pull away from the rest of the field, meanwhile Walker Arthur was moving
up through the field almost stealthily and would pick his way into the
top ten during the middle stages of the main. The second caution would
fall for a slowing Rance Garlock allowing Troutman to close back in on
Merkel. The green flag would fly again though this would be shortlived
when Bo Feathers(driving his son’s car) and Matt Howsare would get
together in turn four with Howsare slowing to a stop with just seven
laps to go.
The final seven laps would see Kyle Merkel again assume a strong
lead as the battle from fifth to seventh would heat up with Booper Bare
fighting to keep a hold of his race long fifth position as Feathers and
Arthur would battle to attempt to take it from him. The checkered flag
would fly as Kyle Merkel took the $2,000 check and his first main event
victory of the season, the Gilbertsville, PA driver has represented the
Keystone State well having now won two of the three events the Steel
Block Bandits have held in Pennsylvania. DJ Troutman would take the
second spot over Sean Merkel, brother of the winning driver, Matt Cosner
would take the fourth spot while Booper Bare would hold onto the fifth
spot. Walker Arthur picked up the Muddslinger Web Services Hard Charger
Award with the sixth spot, Bo Feathers, Matthew Emerick, Matt
Sponaugle, and Rick Hulson would round out the top ten.
Also taking race awards were Kyle Merkel who was the Glory Day’s
Grill Young Bandit, and his crew would also take the RJ Custom Homes
Top Crew award. Rick Singleton would take the Lazer Chassis move of the
Race award on lap one.
The D&D Auto Recycling Steel Block Bandits have a two race
weekend this coming weekend, Friday night June 3rd sees the Bandits at
the Eastside Speedway in Waynesboro, VA, the tour then heads down I-81
to the Natural Bridge Speedway for the second annual Dana Dove Memorial
on Saturday night.
D&D Auto Recycling Steel Block Bandits
Thunder Valley Raceway
May 28, 2011 – Round 4
OFFICIAL RESULTS:
1. 117 Kyle Merkel
2. 7 D.J. Troutman
3. 118 Sean Merkel
4. 66C Matt Cosner
5. 83 Booper Bare
6. 87 Walker Arthur
7. 27 Bo Feathers
8. 85 Matthew Emerick
9. 8 Matt Sponaugle
10. 18H Rick Hulson
11. 39 Tim Smith, Jr.
12. 5 Wes Bonebrake
13. 8L Joe Leavell
14. 5H Matt Howsare
15. 19 Rance Garlock
16. 9Q Kristian Looney
17. 99 Rick Singleton
18. 10C Ryan Christoff
19. 66 Don Woodruff
DNS: Robbie Black 01, Bill Burns 69
Lap Leaders: Rick Singleton 1 – 12, Kyle Merkel 13 – 35
Cautions: 3(lap 12, 25, 28)
Heat 1: SEAN MERKEL, Matt Cosner, Matthew Emerick, Matt
Howsare, Wes Bonebrake, Tim Smith, Jr., Rick Hulson, Ryan Christoff,
Robbie Black DNS: Bill Burns, Don Woodruff
Heat 2: RICK SINGLETON, Kyle Merkel, DJ Troutman, Booper Bare,
Matt Sponaugle, Bo Feathers, Joe Leavell, Kristian Looney, Rance
Garlock, Walker Arthur
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Special thanks to the following: Market
America, D&D Auto Recycling, Ernie D’s Enterprises, Glory Days
Grill, Cecil B. Arthur General Contractors, Bernheisel Race Components
& Lazer Chassis, WRT & Cliff Dove Motorsports Photography,
Revolution Band, Muddslinger Web Services, Walrus Signs &
Embroidery, Hoosier Tires, Advanced Race Wear, Crims Trailer Sales,
Area Auto Racing News, In the Pits Radio 106.7 The Fan, Go Fast Be
Safe, Handy Dans Landscaping, Cline Construction, All About Doors,
Merkel Rebar, ARC Race Cars, Cecil B. Arthur Bucking Bulls & Beef
Farm and Omps Garage.
Erica Miller
Marketing/PR/Special Event Coordinator
Steel Block Bandits
"The REAL men of Steel"
www.steelblockbandits.com
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