Hesston Speedway
May 11, 2013
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Singleton tops Steel Block Bandits on ‘Night of Power' opener at Hesston
 
Hesston PR
HESSTON, PA (May 11) - Hesston Speedway opened its 2013 season with the "Night of Power" featuring the Steel Block Bandits. Rick Singleton, Bill Henney, Rick Potter, Eric Boozel and Andy Hockenberry captured the first wins of the new season.
 
The Steel Block Bandits made their first of several 2013 appearances. A redraw of the top 12 put Rick Hulson and Dominic Defino on the front row for the scheduled 35-lap Semi-Late Model Sportsman feature. Defino jumped out to the lead at the start. A caution appeared on lap two as Billy Beachler spun.  Soon after the restart, Singleton and 7th starting Gene Knaub began to close in making a three car race for the lead.   After Knaub took second from Singleton, he soon set his sights on Defino, making the pass for the lead on lap 17.
 
Two laps later Defino slowed with a flat tire to bring out the caution. On the restart, a three car incident occurred after Bruce Kane clipped a tire, collecting Khi Swanger and Troy Swindell. On the next restart, Knaub powered into the lead and began to open some distance between him and Singleton. Knaub once again pulled out to the lead after another restart on lap 28, but a caution on lap 31 became the turning point of the race. After a double file restart, Singleton, got a strong run through the turn and down the backstraight on the top side fo the track to take over the lead for Knaub.
 
A final caution on the white flag lap put the race into overtime of 36 laps and set up a green-white-checker finish. On the final double file restart, Singleton motored back in front and crossed the checker flag first for the $1,500 to win. Knaub followed closely in second with Andy Anderson close behind. George Dixon Jr and 19th starting Andy Fries finished fourth and fifth.
 
Tyler Armonstrong, Tim Smith, Jr., Kris Eaton, Robbie Black and Hulson rounded out the top 10. Heats were won by Black, Rance Garlock and Knaub.
 
Track Champion Bill Henney returned to victory lane once again to win $700, in a thrilling race that came down to the final laps.   Dave Brown lead the first 10 laps before 6th starting Mike Desch took control on lap 11. After a double file restart on that same lap, Brown once again gained the lead until Desch took over on lap 14. Meanwhile 8th starting Henney has worked his way into second and Henney and Desch soon began an exciting side-by-side battle for the lead. As the duo came around for the two-to-go signal, Henney took control and lead the rest of the 25-lap championship race. Desch, Brown, Jesse Snyder and Boyd Brode rounded out the top five. Heats were won by Henney and Ryan Sager.
 
Rick Potter lead all 20 laps of the Hobby-Modified championship winning $500. Carl Snare stayed in pursuit during the entire race to finish second. Justin Queen advance from eighth to finish third with Andy Los and Mike Shoemaker rounding out the top five. Heats were won by Potter and Snare.
 
Eric Boozel also had a strong performance to win the $250 Roadrunner championship. Boozel roared from fourth on the grid to take the lead on the first lap and lead all 15 laps. Cale Martin finished second after starting seventh with Brandon Conrad, Kolton Wagner, and EJ Johnson rounding out the top five. Boozel and Martin won the heads.
 
Andy Hockenberry won the Penn-Mar Vintage Coupe feature over Steve Wenrich, Paul Bacchus, Alan Pahulick and Fred Thompson.

Steel Block Bandits
Finish (Feature Start) Car Number / Driver / Hometown / Payoff

1. (4) 99* / Rick Singleton / Huntingdon, PA / $1,500
2. (7) 1 / Gene Knaub / Dover, PA / $700
3. (6) 1 / Andy Anderson / Bunker Hill, WV / $500
4. (5) 77 / George Dixon Jr / Huntingdon, PA / $400
5. (19) 82 / Andy Fries / Mercersburg, PA / $325
6. (8) 11 / Tyler Armstrong / St, Thomas, PA / $275
7. (12) 39 / Tim Smith Jr / McVeytown, PA / $240
8. (3) 15e / Kris Eaton / 0 / $225
9. (11) 01 / Robbie Black / Queen, PA / $200
10. (1) 18 / Rick Hulson / 0 / $190
11. (17) 14 / Derek Rodkey / Belleville, PA / $175
12. (18) 21* / Troy Swindell / Claysburg, PA / $175
13. (2) 1md / Dominic Defino / 0 / $175
14. (16) 73 / Mike Duck / James Creek, PA / $175
15. (10) 19 / Rance Garlock / Three Springs, PA / $175
16. (9) 1k / Bruce Kane / 0 / $160
17. (13) 88 / Khi Swanger / 0 / $160
18. (15) 21 / Billy Beachler / 0 / $160
19. (14) 71 / Curtis Heath / Broad Top City, PA / $160

Heat Winners - Black, Garlock, Knaub