Steel Block Bandits Official Results for Grandview

Cline Construction Co. Steel Block Bandits Grandview Speedway Bechtellsville, PA July 31, 2010 The Steel Block Bandits ended the month of July with a trip up north to the Grandview Speedway. Saturday evening would see a homecoming as Kyle Merkel, who started his racing career at Grandview, pull off the big win. 27 cars signed in for competition in the $2,000 to win event. The D&D Auto Recycling Heats went to Ron Kline, Kyle Merkel, and Brian Shuey. The Crim’s Trailer Sales B-Main went to Nate Christman. When the field took to the track for the 40 lap main event at the famous 1/3 mile NASCAR sanctioned oval it was Kyle Merkel taking the lead. And it was a torrid pace set by the leader as Kyle Merkel had caught the rear end of the field by lap four with Ron Kiine running behind him. The first caution would fall on lap seven when the car of Mark Malcolm would run into problems into turn four. At the green Kyle Merkel surged back into his lead while Brian Shuey advanced past Ron Kline and secured the second spot. Coming up from 8th starting spot Mike Kellner began to advance and would move past Shuey into the second spot as the field passed the halfway point. As Kyle Merkel began to negotiate lapped traffic Kellner gave chase, and on the twenty-sixth circuit Kellner would use the lapped traffic to his advantage and secure the lead. The caution would quickly follow for an incident involving Grant Adams. And as the field circulated under caution Mike Kellner’s night would come to an end when he pulled into the pit area with mechanical issues. Kyle Merkel was now back in the lead with 2009 Grandview Track Champion and current track points leader Brian Shuey on his tail. A rash of cautions allowed Shuey several oppurtunites to close. And also coming up strong was Andy Fries who had moved up from 12th and was looking to move well up into the top five. But after getting in the loose stuff at the top of the track shortly before the 7th caution flew with 8 to go for TJ Mayberry and Chuck Schutz in four, Fries’ challenge had slowed. One final caution would fall with 5 to go, allowing Shuey one last oppurtunity to close on Merkel. But over the final 5 laps Kyle Merkel pulled away. Kyle Merkel would sail under the checkered flag, scoring his first career Steel Block Bandits main event victory at his home track and would pull his machine into Ernie D’s Victory Lane. Brian Shuey would cross the line second, with Randy Stoudt and Ron Kline following. Andy Fries and Bruce Kane would duel over the final laps with Fries taking fifth over Kane. Bandits point leader Walker Arthur would run 7th, with B-Main winner Nate Christma, Danny Snyder, and William Henning rounding out the top 10. The Cline Construction Co. Steel Block Bandits series will take the month of August off before returning to action September 4th at the West Virginia Motor Speedway for the Hillbilly 50. CLINE CONSTRUCTION STEEL BLOCK BANDITS OFFICIAL RESULTS(40 laps) 1. 117 Kyle Merkel 2. 5* Brian Shuey 3. 610 Randy Stoudt 4. 3 Ron Kline 5. 82 Andy Fries 6. 1K Bruce Kane 7. 87 Walker Arthur 8. 37 Nate Christman 9. 4S Danny Snyder 10. 80 William Henning 11. 72 Wayne Pfiel 12. 70 Kurt Spotts 13. ZT-1 John Giesler 14. 18 Johnny Favinger 15. 93 Rick Todorow 16. 704 Cory Fleming 17. 27R T.J. Mayberry 18. 22R Randall Paxton 19. ONE Chuck Schutz 20. 10JR Daniel Brown, Jr. 21. 57 Mike Kellner 22. 64 Grant Adams 23. 8L Joey Leavell 24. 9K Mark Malcolm 25. 28 Gerald Davis Lap Leaders: Kyle Merkel 1 – 25, Mike Kellner 26, Kyle Merkel 27 – 40 Cautions: 8(7, 10, 11, 26, 27, 29, 32, 35) Provisionals: STEEL BLOCK BANDITS(Joey Leavell, Daniel Brown, Jr.), Grandview Speedway(Kurt Spotts) DNQ: Ron Chrisman, Jr., Drew Weisser D&D Auto Recycling Heats Heat 1: Ron Kline, Bruce Kane, Danny Snyder, John Giesler, Gerald Davis, Mark Malcolm, Joey Leavell, Kurt Spotts, Nate Christman Heat 2: Kyle Merkel, Chuck Schutz, Mike Kellner, William Henning, Walker Arthur, Randall Paxton, Wayne Pfiel, Rick Todorow, Daniel Brown, Jr. Heat 3: Brian Shuey, Randy Stoudt, Grant Adams, Andy Fries, Johnny Favinger, Cory Fleming, T. J. Mayberry, Ron Chrisman, Jr., Drew Weisser Crims Trailer Sales B-Main B-Main: Nate Christman, T.J. Mayberry, Wayne Pfiel, Rick Todorow, Ron Chrisman, Jr., Kurt Spotts, Drew Weisser, Daniel Brown, Jr. DNS: Joey Leavell Special thanks to the following: Steel Block Mafia, Cline Construction, Ernie D’s Enterprises, Glory Days Grill, D&D Auto Recycling, Revolution Band, Muddslinger Web Services, Walrus Signs & Embroidery & Dehaven Well Drilling. "The REAL men of STEEL" Written by Clifford Dove.