Hesston Speedway
Singleton grabs Bandits victory at Hesston
HESSTON, Pa. (May 11) — Rick Singleton of Huntingdon, Pa., continued a successful early-season stretch with his first career Steel Block Bandits victory Saturday at Hesston Speedway.
�Singleton took the checkers ahead of Gene Knaub of Dover, Pa., and Andy Anderson of Bunker Hill, W.Va., for a $1,500 payday. George Dixon Jr. and 19th-starting Andy Fries, the reigning series champ, rounded out the top five.
Rick Hulso and and Dominic Defino started on the front row of the 35-lapper with Defino out front when a lap-two caution appeared for Billy Beachler’s spin. Singleton and Knaub moved into second and third on the restart, and Knaub took second from Singleton before tracking down Defino.
Knaub took the lead on lap 17 and Defino slowed two laps later with a flat tire. Another caution quickly appeared when Bruce Kane clipped a tire, collecting Khi Swanger and Troy Swindell.
On the next two restarts, Knaub opened up leads on Singleton, but a lap-31 caution marked the race’s turning point. After a double-file restart, Singleton got a strong run down the backstretch on the top side to sweep into the lead.
A final caution on the white-flag lap set up a green-white checkered finish, and Singleton kept Knaub in check for the victory.
Notes: Singleton’s No. 99 is sponsored by Rick Singleton Rental. ... The series made its first of three appearances at Hesston. ... Next up for the series is a May 18 event at Susquehanna Speedway Park in Newberrytown, Pa.
Steel Block Bandits @ Hesston: (1) Rick Singleton, (2) Gene Knaub, (3) Andy Anderson, (4) George Dixon Jr., (5) Andy Fries, (6) Tyler Armstrong, (7) Tim Smith Jr., (8) Kris Eaton, (9) Robbie Black, (10) Rick Hulson, (11) Derek Rodkey, (12) Troy Swindell, (13) Dominic Defino, (14) Mike Duck, (15) Rance Garlock, (16) Bruce Kane, (17) Khi Swanger, (18) Billy Beachler, (19) Curtis Heath. Heat race winners (among 19 cars): Black, Garlock, Knaub.
