April 13
Smoky Mountain Speedway,
Maryville, TN
Sanction: Vision Wheel Steel Block Bandit Series (Rock 'n with the Stars) - $5,000
Information provided by: Series and track reports (last updated April 15, 9:21 pm)
Erwin repeats with Bandits win at Smoky Mountain
Rock 'n with the Stars
- Russell Erwin
- Rusty Ballenger
- Blake Craft
- Tyler Bare
- Tyler Arrington
- Robbie Emory
- Pierce McCarter
- Ryan Tims
- Ellery Leake
- Austin Neely
- Anthony White Jr.
- Derrick Rankin
- James Kelso
- Wes Tilley
- Ryan King
- Dan Breuer
- Landen Zakalowski
- Chad Alley
- Jason Trammell
- Terry Poore
Russell Erwin poses after winning Saturday's Rock 'n with the Stars feature.
What won the race: Second-starting Russell Erwin of Beaverdam, Va., controlled the entirety of Saturday's 50-lap Rock 'n with the Stars feature at Smoky Mountain Speedway, capturing a $5,000 payday. Erwin earned his second straight Vision Wheel Steel Block Bandits Dirt Late Model Challenge Series feature victory and the fourth of his career.
Key notes: Third-starting Rusty Ballenger grabbed the runner-up spot on a lap-17 restart and trailed Erwin the rest of the way, finishing 0.672 of a second back. ... Pole-starting Blake Craft pursued Erwin for the opening 16 circuits before giving way to Ballenger and settling for third. ... Seventh-starting Tyler Bare advanced on the lap-17 restart, finishing fourth. ... Nineteenth-starting Pierce McCarter used a last-lap pass to place seventh. ... Anthony White Jr. improved nine positions and finished 11th. ... Saturday's feature was slowed by three separate incidents and lasted 33 minutes, with 11 drivers completing the distance and 13 running at the finish.
On the move: Pierce McCarter of Pigeon Forge, Tenn., started 19th and finished seventh.
Winner's sponsors: Erwin’s Rocket Chassis carries sponsorship from Erwin Racing, High Farms, Thomas Clarke Performance, Fritz's Care Care, Skippy Johnson Motorsports, Whitten Brothers, Power Source, Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic, Keyser Manufacturing, Collins Signs, Swift Springs, Beyea Custom Headers, Schaeffer's Racing Oil, Penske Racing Shocks by JDS, Motion Sensors, Possum Quarter Farms and M&L Grocery.
Points chase: After Smoky Mountain: 1. Russell Erwin (164); 2. Tyler Bare (155); 3. Dan Breuer (127); 4. Robbie Emory (123); 5. Derrick Rankin (118).
Current weather: Clear, 73°F
Car count: 20
Fast qualifier: Blake Craft
Time: 16.100 seconds
Polesitter: Blake Craft
Heat race winners: Blake Craft, Russell Erwin, Rusty Ballenger
Next series race: April 27, Natural Bridge Speedway (Natural Bridge, VA) $5,000
Editor's note: Updates winner's sponsors.