7/10/2016
County Line Raceway
Banal Draws "The Line" In Elm City Showdown
(Elm City, NC) Overcoming early season adversity and thrusting himself back into championship contention, Steve Banal turned away a late race charge from Dustin Mitchell to score his 1st career series victory and the $3,000 payday in FUEL's inaugural visit to County Line Raceway.
21 FUEL Late Models lined the grid for Klotz Synthetic Lubricants Time Trials where Donald Bradsher would blister the track with a lap of 14.939 seconds. Bradsher edged out Matt Long for Fast Time accolades and would follow up his pole run with a win in the D&E Marine Dash over Long and Banal.
In Hoosier Racing Tire Heat Race #1, local product Michael Batten would earn a popular win. In Heintz Performance Heat Race #2, Brent Robinson would make a late race pass for the lead and hold on for the win over championship leader Jonathan Edwards Jr.
In the City Chevrolet Performance Main Event, Bradsher would spring to the early lead building nearly a 1.5 second advantage. Lap traffic became a challenge as side by side racing was in abundance throughout the field in the 19 lap stretch of green flag racing that set the tone for the evening. Bradsher's lead would literally be "cut" short as contact with lap traffic forced Bradsher to the pits with a flat tire. Banal, who had closed in on Bradsher ever so slightly before the caution flew, inherited the lead. Seizing the opportunity, Banal flexed his muscle at the point. Long and Christian Joyner were in a heated battle trying to fend off challenges from Dustin Mitchell. Mitchell eventually surged into the runner-up spot and set his sights on the race leader. With laps winding down, Banal would be tested as Dustin Mitchell stalked the leader in search of his first series win as well. Ultimately, Mitchell could not close the gap enough to give himself a chance for victory and Banal would hold on for the win. Mitchell would follow the 1st time FUEL winner to the stripe with Joyner, Long, and Michael Batten rounding out the Top 5.
Up next for the FUEL Racing Series is a return trip in 2016 to Friendship Speedway in Elkin, NC for a $3,000 to win / $300 to start main event.
For more information about FUEL Racing Series you can visit the website (fuelracingseries.com), find us on Facebook (FUEL Racing Series), and follow us on Twitter (@FUEL525SERIES).
Partners of the FUEL Racing Series include: City Chevrolet Performance Parts, Hoosier Racing Tire, Klotz Synthetics, KRC Components, FK Rod Ends, Mega Plumbing of the Carolinas, B&B Motorsports, Flag To Flag, Kenny Lamb Racing Engines, Heintz Brothers Performance, Performance Tees, D&E Marine, WP Racing Shocks, Renegade Race Fuels, JRi Shocks, Beyea Headers, VP Racing Fuels, To The Point, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, AR Bodies, Ntense Graphcs, Velocita, Superior Trailers, Local Race Chat, and Thomas Clarke Performance.
City Chevrolet Performance Unofficial Feature Results (*Pending Tire Test)
- Steve Banal
- Dustin Mitchell
- Christian Joyner
- Matt Long
- Michael Batten
- Brent Robinson
- Cy Nelms Jr
- Hunter Bailey
- Robbie Emory
- Daniel Baggerly
- Bobby Bottoms
- Austin Holcombe
- Cy Nelms Sr
- Donald Bradsher
- Jonathan Edwards
- Bryan Mullis
- Chuck Smith
- Tim Neighbors
- Mark Dysart
- Matthew Bissette
- Gary Dillon
Klotz Synthetic Lubricants Pole: Donald Bradsher 14.939
D&E Marine Dash Winner: Donald Bradsher
Hoosier Racing Tire Heat Race #1 Winner: Michael Batten
Heintz Performance Heat Race #2 Winner: Brent Robinson
