What won the race: Regaining the lead when Tyler Bare slowed with a flat tire after making contact with a spinning competitor on lap 36, fourth-starting Walker Arthur of Forest, Va., paced the final 14 circuits to win Saturday's $5,000 Vision Wheel Steel Block Bandits Series stop at Natural Bridge Speedway. Arthur led twice for 41 laps (2-28, 37-50) to nab his first career Steel Block Bandits victory and his first win of any kind since topping a $2,500 unsanctioned Limited Late Model race on April 15, 2023, at Halifax County Motor Speedway in Brinkleyville, N.C.

Quotable: “That one time, I’m not sure if it was Russell (Erwin) or Robbie (Emory), pulled up beside me, but I appreciate them driving me clean,” Arthur said. “It takes a whole lot to stay off of somebody out here. I’m wore out, I’m too old for this ... we need slow and slippery racetracks. But I got lucky, I hate that (flat tire) happened for Tyler.”

Key notes: Second-starting Tyler Bare of Rockbridge Baths, Va., led laps 29-36 before tangling with a lapped car and flattening his right-rear. He advanced three spots in the first six laps after changing the tire and settled for fourth. ... Robbie Emory led the opening lap from the pole before giving way to Arthur and fading as low as fifth on lap 22. He rebounded to regain the runner-up spot on lap 38 and trailed Arthur the final 13 laps, finishing a scant 0.302 of a second back. ... Series points leader Russell Erwin improved five positions and finished third. He was going for three straight tour wins. ... Jack Brown gained nine spots and finished sixth. ... Saturday's feature was slowed by eight incidents and lasted 44 minutes, with nine drivers completing the distance and 12 running at the finish.

On the move: Larry Ramsey of Lexington, Va., started 22nd and finished ninth.

Winner's sponsors: Arthur’s Kryptonite Chassis is powered by a Vic Hill Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from Farm Service Company Inc., Cecil B. Arthur Beef Farm & Buckin’ Stock, Kubota Farm Service Equipment, Hoosier Tire, Integra Racing Shocks and All About Wraps.

Points chase: After Natural Bridge: 1. Russell Erwin (164); 2. Tyler Bare (155); 3. Dan Breuer (127); 4. Robbie Emory (123); 5. Derrick Rankin (118).

Current weather: Clear, 59°F

Car count: 31

Fast qualifier: Tyler Bare

Time: 15.037 seconds

Polesitter: Robbie Emory

Heat race winners: Robbie Emory, Dan Breuer, Blake Craft, Walker Arthur

Consolation race winners: Jeff Witt, Billy Beachler

Provisional starters: Landen Zakalowski, Frank Caricofe

Next series race: May 11, Cherokee Speedway (Gaffney, SC) $7,500