Steel Block Bandits

6/19/2023

Steel Block Bandits

NEELY SCORES REDEMPTION WITH DOMINATING WYTHE VICTORY

( Rural Retreat, Va) Beautiful blue skies and fall- like temperatures greeted teams and drivers as they gathered for their second visit to Fred Brown’s 53 year old Wythe Raceway which sits in the southwest corner of the Commonwealth state. After a rainout on Friday night, the scene was set for round 8 of the 2023 Bad Company Tour with a $5000 paycheck awaiting one Steel Block Bandits Dirt Late Model Challenge driver.

With fifteen drivers signed in, all the drivers would qualify in one group and set up their heats that will determine their starting position for the 35 lap feature. In HGR's Truck & Trailer Sales, Inc. qualifying, Derick Quade set down a quick lap of 17.357 and held off Brad Lowe but Austin Neely laid down a lap of 17.314 to grab his second Bandit pole of the year and the $200 from Bryan Sullivan.

Two seven lap heats were up next with two Tennessee residents bringing the Dirt Freak Racewear Heat to green. Neely and Brad Lowe drag races to turn one before Lowe eased out front to lead his first lap of the season. Neely pressured the Knoxville driver and would sneak by on lap two to gain the top spot. As the field completed lap four, Michael Alderman broke a ball joint shooting him into the front stretch wall which collected Tyler Bare Racing and Tyler Arrington as well. Arrington would continue while Alderman and Bare were forced to go pit side. Neely wins the heat over Lowe, Matt Long Racing and Robbie Emory.

The Scott Service Company heat saw Quade and Jeff Parsons on the front row. Parsons got a jump on the initial start which was called back and forced the rookie point leader back one row. Quade scoots away to a huge advantage and gets the heat win over Parsons, Matt Glanden Racing Derrick Rankin Racing #72 and Dan Breuer.

With the heats complete, the feature was next which had Neely and Quade on row one. The two bright white machines brought the field to full song with Neely jumping out to the early lead bringing Quade, Lowe and Parsons with him. Bare, who went to a backup car, started shotgun on the field and was steadily climbing his way into the top 10. Neely catches the tail end of the field and finds himself having difficulty maneuvering around the lap car of Samuel Bryant. This allows Quade to close right up to the New Tazwell resident before a caution slowed the pace.

After the restart, Parsons who was running third started to fade as Lowe would get by. As the field exited turn two, Quade’s Longhorn Chassis came to a halt and would go pit side with a broken fan blade. Derrick Rankin also leaves the event with an engine problem. Neely races out to huge lead but the best battle was between Lowe and Emory as they challenged for the second spot but no one has anything for Neely and he easily scores his first series win over Lowe, Emory, Breuer and Parsons.

Neely was relieved in victory lane; “I was having Bristol flashbacks when I got behind that lapped car and I wasn’t going to let this one slip away. I’ve never raced here but it has a lot of the same characteristics as Bulls Gap and the Taz so I just drew my notes from that. This place is a lot of fun, it’s smooth and fast, great job by the track crew and thanks to all the fans who came out tonight.” Neely becomes the eighth different winner in the eight series races this year.

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BANDITS BITES:

Rookie points leader Parsons has a strong third place run going before fading in the closing laps. He will expand his points lead with a fifth place finish.
Quade’s bid for his first win falls short once again as a fan blade breaks. Originally the team thought it was a broken motor but later discovered the fan problem.
Bare battles back after going to a back up car, keeping him in the championship conversation.
*Emory has a strong run but needed a tad bit more forward bite. The Delaware driver should make up some points after his DNF at VMS.
*Brad Lowe continues his strong resurgence with great qualifying efforts and now his first podium. Lowe has switched shock manufacturers and it has taken his program to new heights.
Dan Breuer lays down another top four finish and continues his impressive season. Breuer and team are hitting on all cylinders this season.