D&D Auto Recycling Steel Block Bandits
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
Hagerstown Speedway
“GREG KERR MEMORIAL”
Apr. 30, 2011



Much anticipation has awaited the Steel Block Bandits first visit to the Hagerstown Speedway in Hagerstown, MD. Anticipation was ramped up when the Kerr family added to the purse of the first year event and made it a 30 lapper paying a cool $4,100 to the winner. The response was huge and when everyone had shown up and pulled into the pits 52 cars had entered the event, a new record for the Steel Block Bandits series in the third season of operation. With a two car time trial format allowing a speedy run through time trials, it was Rick Hulson of Glen Burnie, MD setting Market America Fast Time with a time of 19.090 seconds.

Six heat race events ran off with Walker Arthur, J.T. Spence, Kyle Lear, Andy Fries, Rick Singleton, and Booper Bare taking those events. The dash was held next with Booper Bare unable to take the green due to a broken axle hampering his efforts. J.T. Spence took the lead from Walker Arthur and dominated the dash taking the win placing him on the pole for the main event. The last chance qualifiers saw Sean Merkel and Matt Parks take the wins.

When the field lined up for the main event the warmth of the day had become a crisp, cool night, J.T. Spence of Winchester, VA was even crisper behind the wheel. The green flag unfurled and was like waving the red cape in front of the man behind the wheel of the Doug Timmons owned machine. Walker Arthur quickly settled into second place, the 2010 Steel Block Bandits champion biding his time. After a quick caution on the fifth lap slowed the field, the biggest incident of the evening would occur three laps later when entering turn one an accordion effect saw Rick Hulson, Joey Leavell, Bruce Kane(in the Ben Bowie #36), and Sean Merkel get together. At the green once again J.T. Spence pulled away from the rest of the field as much of the battling was taken place in the top 10. Two more cautions would fall on the event with the final flying with thirteen to go. At the final restart it was JT Spence still leading Walker Arthur and Kyle Lear(who had run third all event), Bo Feathers who had used the previous restarts to move up all the way to fourth, Rick Singleton, and a resurgent Tyler Armstrong rounding out the top six.

With a dominant car it would appear that the only way Spence could lose the main event was due to a mechanical issue or lapped traffic, as it would happen both would occur. Spence would develop brake problems with around five to go and then would get together with Paul Cursey in turn one in the waning laps, neither problem would stop J.T. Spence from collecting the 1st Annual Greg Kerr Memorial and the $4,100 winner’s share of the purse as he lead flag to flag to take the win, his second career Steel Block Bandits victory in four starts on the series. Walker Arthur who had run 29 laps in second would be overtaken on the final lap by Severna Park, MD driver Kyle Lear. Tyler Armstrong would pass both Rick Singleton and then Bo Feathers in the final laps to secure fourth, Bo Feathers would parlay a solid run with a fifth place finish. Rounding out the top ten were D.J. Troutman, Rick Singleton, Al Shawver, Jr., Kenny Moreland, and Mike Walls.

Post race awards went to Bo Feathers who claimed the Lazer Chassis Move of the Race, J.T. Spence and the Doug Timmons pit crew took the RJ Custom Homes Top Crew of the Race, Mike Walls earned the Muddslinger Web Services Hard Charger award finishing 10th after starting 18th. Kyle Lear took the Glory Days Grill Young Bandit of the Race award.

The D&D Auto Recycling Steel Block Bandits will move on to The Rock/Allegany County Speedway in Cumberland, MD next weekend Saturday, May 7, 2011.

1. 16T J.T. Spence
2. 1MD Kyle Lear
3. 87 Walker Arthur
4. 11 Tyler Armstrong
5. 00 Bo Feathers
6. 7 D.J. Troutman
7. 99* Rick Singleton
8. 215 Al Shawver, Jr.
9. 24 Kenny Moreland
10. 1W Mike Walls
11. 97 Cody Lear
12. 44 Stevie Long
13. 86 Scott Palmer
14. 117 Kyle Merkel
15. 48 Donnie Farling
16. 15 Matt Parks
17. 36 Bruce Kane
18. 10 Corey Weaver
19. 37 Paul Cursey
20. 82 Andy Fries
21. 16 Pete Weaver
22. 8L Joe Leavell
23. 18H Rick Hulson
24. 117M Sean Merkel
25. 83 Booper Bare

Lap Leaders: J.T. Spence 1 – 30
Cautions: 4
DNQ: Duane Harbaugh, Matt Cosner, Tim Fedder, Wes Bonebrake, Billy Beachler, Rance Garlock, Kelly Putz, Tyler Horst, Justin Weaver, John Groome, Steve Bailor, Corey Weaver, Don Woodruff, Cam Zeigler, Travis Beaver, Davis Lipscombe, Courtney Shreiner, Ryan Christoff, Kristian Looney, Bryan Bernheisel, Joe Leavell, Ben Bowie, Chaz Walls, Derrick Quade, Tanner Kerr, Matt Howsare
DNS: Trever Feathers(rack), Marvin Winters(engine).

Bo Feathers - Lazer Chassis Move of the Race (Lap 10)
Rick Hulson - Market America Fast Time
JT Spence - RJ Custom Homes Top Crew of the Race
Mike Walls - Muddslinger Web Services Hard Charger (Started 18th)
Kyle Lear - Glory Days Grill Young Bandit of the Race

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.