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D&D Auto Recycling Steel Block Bandits
Natural Bridge Speedway
Natural Bridge, VA
June 5, 2011
Round 6 of the Steel Block Bandits season saw the stars of the series take to the Natural Bridge Speedway for the first of three races at Natural Bridge Speedway. 35 cars entered the event, the 2nd annual Dana Dove Memorial paying $2,000 to the winner. Under bright sunny skies the field took to the track with JR Overstreet, Greg Roberson, and Gerald Davis taking the Cline Construction Heat events. The B-Main which featured a battle between David Bennett and young Tanner Kerr saw David Bennett take the Crims Trailer Sales B-Main.
25 cars strong started the Dana Dove Memorial, J.R. Overstreet of Lynchburg, VA made his pole position mean something as he quickly took the lead and Gerald Davis of Delray, WV would move into the second scoring spot. Gerald Davis started the event with a sick machine running on 7 cylinders , and on the dry slick track being underpowered helped his effort as he and Overstreet would battle side by side in the early laps. As the field completed lap sixteen the leaders had caught the tail of the field, and as Gerald Davis went under the lapped machine of Sean Merkel, the two would get together with Gerald Davis slamming into the inside birm in turn one and getting slightly airborne before coming to rest at the bottom of the track. Davis would be unable to continue and Overstreet’s primary challenger was now gone and replaced by Rockbridge Baths, VA driver Booper Bare. The green flag would fall again but for only two more laps when Daniel Brown, Jr of Dooms, VA got into Gilbertsville, PA’s Sean Merkel sending both off the embankment in turn two eliminating both drivers from the field.
The race would then enter a green flag period with JR Overstreet holding a two to three carlength lead over Booper Bare, Walker Arthur of Forest, VA was holding a strong third with little challenge while Justin Williams and Greg Roberson of Waynesboro, VA battled for the fourth spot. As the leaders approached lapped traffic Booper Bare began to close in slightly on the leader and looked set to challenge when the caution flag with twelve to go. A final caution occurred quickly after one more lap was completed when Winchester, VA driver Trever Feathers car went flying out of the park in turn two over the embankment, Feathers would walk away uninjured, but his car would be out of the event.
The final eleven laps clicked off with the top five holding steady and Overstreet once again holding a two to three carlength lead. As the field approached the white flag Bare began a surge and looked to catch the leader off of two, one more last ditch effort in turn four was to no avail though as J.R. Overstreet took his career first win in the Steel Block Bandits series by 0.344 seconds over Bare, the Natural Bridge Speedway track regular and crewmember on the defending Steel Block Bandits champion Walker Arthur’s machine collected the $2,000 check and the Dana Dove Memorial. Booper Bare ran strong all night and secured the second position, Walker Arthur ran consistent and helped his points lead with a third place finish as Justin Williams and Greg Roberson rounded out the top five. John Groome, David Bennett, Chris Barger, Rick Singleton, and Bo Feathers rounded out the top ten.
The D&D Auto Recycling Steel Block Bandits series will take the rest of the month before returning to the Virginia Motor Speedway for the Firecracker 30 on July 9th.
TRACK NOTES: Bo Feathers was driving a Barry Wright chassis this weekend purchased from Steve Francis and still bearing Francis’ sheet metal…..DJ Troutman who won the weekend opener at Eastside Speedway finished 12th at the Bridge……both Kris Eaton(engine) and Don Woodruff(engine) had problems before heat races started and would not turn a competitive lap…..J.R. Overstreet won his heat following a late pass of Matt Cosner, and led flag to flag to win the feature but the evening started out rough for the Lynchburg, VA driver when his car slipped off the banking and outside the track in turn three during warmups….Taking the Steel Block Bandits provisional were Sean Merkel and Mitch Miller, the Natural Bridge Speedway provisional went to Michael Alderman
D&D RECYCLING STEEL BLOCK BANDITS
ROUND 6
NATURAL BRIDGE SPEEDWAY
JUNE 4, 2011
**OFFICIAL RESULTS**
1. 88 J.R. Overstreet
2. 83 Booper Bare
3. 87 Walker Arthur
4. 2 Justin Williams
5. 116 Greg Roberson
6. 21G John Groome
7. 14 David Bennett
8. 1 Chris Barger
9. 99 Rick Singleton
10. 15 Bo Feathers
11. 39 Ricky Knight
12. 7 D.J. Troutman
13. 5 Wes Bonebrake
14. 5H Matt Howsare
15. 41* Tanner Kerr
16. 1K Bruce Kane
17. 117 Kyle Merkel
18. 66C Matt Cosner
19. 08 Michael Alderman
20. 10 Daniel Brown, Jr.
21. 27 Trever Feathers
22. 118 Sean Merkel
23. 28 Gerald Davis
24. 95 Mitch Miller
25. 18H Rick Hulson
Lap Leaders: J.R. Overstreet 1 – 40
Time of Race: 29:47.589
Cautions: 5
Cline Construction Heat Races:
Heat 1: J.R. OVERSTREET, Matt Cosner, Booper Bare, Rick Singleton, Bo Feathers, Rick Hulson, John Robinson, Kenny Geer, Drew Weisser, Mitch Miller, John Michael, Ricky Almond
Heat 2: GREG ROBERSON, John Groome, Ricky Knight, Matt Howsare, D.J. Troutman, Wes Bonebrake, Trever Feathers, Tanner Kerr, Tim Stalnaker, Sean Merkel, Michael Alderman, Lewis Hudson
Heat 3: GERALD DAVIS, Chris Barger, Walker Arthur, Justin Williams, Kyle Merkel, Daniel Brown Jr., David Bennett, Bruce Kane, R.E. Cubbage DNS: Don Woodruff, Kris Eaton
Crim Trailer Sales B-Main: DAVID BENNETT, Tanner Kerr, Bruce Kane, Trever Feathers, Sean Merkel, Ricky Almond, Drew Weisser, R.E. Cubbage, Kenny Geer, John Michael, Micheal Alderman, Lewis Hudson, Mitch Miller, John Robinson, Tim Stalnaker DNS: Don Woodruff, Kris Eaton
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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.
Natural Bridge Speedway
Natural Bridge, VA
June 5, 2011
Round 6 of the Steel Block Bandits season saw the stars of the series take to the Natural Bridge Speedway for the first of three races at Natural Bridge Speedway. 35 cars entered the event, the 2nd annual Dana Dove Memorial paying $2,000 to the winner. Under bright sunny skies the field took to the track with JR Overstreet, Greg Roberson, and Gerald Davis taking the Cline Construction Heat events. The B-Main which featured a battle between David Bennett and young Tanner Kerr saw David Bennett take the Crims Trailer Sales B-Main.
25 cars strong started the Dana Dove Memorial, J.R. Overstreet of Lynchburg, VA made his pole position mean something as he quickly took the lead and Gerald Davis of Delray, WV would move into the second scoring spot. Gerald Davis started the event with a sick machine running on 7 cylinders , and on the dry slick track being underpowered helped his effort as he and Overstreet would battle side by side in the early laps. As the field completed lap sixteen the leaders had caught the tail of the field, and as Gerald Davis went under the lapped machine of Sean Merkel, the two would get together with Gerald Davis slamming into the inside birm in turn one and getting slightly airborne before coming to rest at the bottom of the track. Davis would be unable to continue and Overstreet’s primary challenger was now gone and replaced by Rockbridge Baths, VA driver Booper Bare. The green flag would fall again but for only two more laps when Daniel Brown, Jr of Dooms, VA got into Gilbertsville, PA’s Sean Merkel sending both off the embankment in turn two eliminating both drivers from the field.
The race would then enter a green flag period with JR Overstreet holding a two to three carlength lead over Booper Bare, Walker Arthur of Forest, VA was holding a strong third with little challenge while Justin Williams and Greg Roberson of Waynesboro, VA battled for the fourth spot. As the leaders approached lapped traffic Booper Bare began to close in slightly on the leader and looked set to challenge when the caution flag with twelve to go. A final caution occurred quickly after one more lap was completed when Winchester, VA driver Trever Feathers car went flying out of the park in turn two over the embankment, Feathers would walk away uninjured, but his car would be out of the event.
The final eleven laps clicked off with the top five holding steady and Overstreet once again holding a two to three carlength lead. As the field approached the white flag Bare began a surge and looked to catch the leader off of two, one more last ditch effort in turn four was to no avail though as J.R. Overstreet took his career first win in the Steel Block Bandits series by 0.344 seconds over Bare, the Natural Bridge Speedway track regular and crewmember on the defending Steel Block Bandits champion Walker Arthur’s machine collected the $2,000 check and the Dana Dove Memorial. Booper Bare ran strong all night and secured the second position, Walker Arthur ran consistent and helped his points lead with a third place finish as Justin Williams and Greg Roberson rounded out the top five. John Groome, David Bennett, Chris Barger, Rick Singleton, and Bo Feathers rounded out the top ten.
The D&D Auto Recycling Steel Block Bandits series will take the rest of the month before returning to the Virginia Motor Speedway for the Firecracker 30 on July 9th.
TRACK NOTES: Bo Feathers was driving a Barry Wright chassis this weekend purchased from Steve Francis and still bearing Francis’ sheet metal…..DJ Troutman who won the weekend opener at Eastside Speedway finished 12th at the Bridge……both Kris Eaton(engine) and Don Woodruff(engine) had problems before heat races started and would not turn a competitive lap…..J.R. Overstreet won his heat following a late pass of Matt Cosner, and led flag to flag to win the feature but the evening started out rough for the Lynchburg, VA driver when his car slipped off the banking and outside the track in turn three during warmups….Taking the Steel Block Bandits provisional were Sean Merkel and Mitch Miller, the Natural Bridge Speedway provisional went to Michael Alderman
D&D RECYCLING STEEL BLOCK BANDITS
ROUND 6
NATURAL BRIDGE SPEEDWAY
JUNE 4, 2011
**OFFICIAL RESULTS**
1. 88 J.R. Overstreet
2. 83 Booper Bare
3. 87 Walker Arthur
4. 2 Justin Williams
5. 116 Greg Roberson
6. 21G John Groome
7. 14 David Bennett
8. 1 Chris Barger
9. 99 Rick Singleton
10. 15 Bo Feathers
11. 39 Ricky Knight
12. 7 D.J. Troutman
13. 5 Wes Bonebrake
14. 5H Matt Howsare
15. 41* Tanner Kerr
16. 1K Bruce Kane
17. 117 Kyle Merkel
18. 66C Matt Cosner
19. 08 Michael Alderman
20. 10 Daniel Brown, Jr.
21. 27 Trever Feathers
22. 118 Sean Merkel
23. 28 Gerald Davis
24. 95 Mitch Miller
25. 18H Rick Hulson
Lap Leaders: J.R. Overstreet 1 – 40
Time of Race: 29:47.589
Cautions: 5
Cline Construction Heat Races:
Heat 1: J.R. OVERSTREET, Matt Cosner, Booper Bare, Rick Singleton, Bo Feathers, Rick Hulson, John Robinson, Kenny Geer, Drew Weisser, Mitch Miller, John Michael, Ricky Almond
Heat 2: GREG ROBERSON, John Groome, Ricky Knight, Matt Howsare, D.J. Troutman, Wes Bonebrake, Trever Feathers, Tanner Kerr, Tim Stalnaker, Sean Merkel, Michael Alderman, Lewis Hudson
Heat 3: GERALD DAVIS, Chris Barger, Walker Arthur, Justin Williams, Kyle Merkel, Daniel Brown Jr., David Bennett, Bruce Kane, R.E. Cubbage DNS: Don Woodruff, Kris Eaton
Crim Trailer Sales B-Main: DAVID BENNETT, Tanner Kerr, Bruce Kane, Trever Feathers, Sean Merkel, Ricky Almond, Drew Weisser, R.E. Cubbage, Kenny Geer, John Michael, Micheal Alderman, Lewis Hudson, Mitch Miller, John Robinson, Tim Stalnaker DNS: Don Woodruff, Kris Eaton
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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.