Greater Cumberland Raceway
Arthur earns $2,000 with victory at Cumberland
By Matt Felten
Allegany County Speedway
Walker Arthur heads toward victory. (Clifford Dove)
CUMBERLAND, Md. (May 7) — Reigning series champion Walker Arthur of Forest, Va., came away with the D&D Auto Recycling Steel Block Bandits victory Saturday in the season opener at Allegany County Speedway.
Arthur grabbed the lead early and never relinquished it in the 30-lap feature that paid $2,000 and helped opened the 5/8-mile oval's season after a month of rainouts. | Slideshow
Arthur started on the outside front row for the main event and took off with the lead over Rick Singleton, D.J. Troutman and polesitter Bo Feathers. Arthur led Singleton throughout the race, including a handful of cautions to win by 10 lengths.
Behind Singleton in second, Troutman was third after getting around Feathers on lap 13. Matt Sponaugle finished fourth after starting ninth and Kyle Merkel grabbed the fifth spot.
Sponaugle and Merkel got around Feathers, who ended up sixth, on lap 22. Sponaugle took fourth from Merkel on the following lap. Matt Cosner and Sean Merkel finished seventh and eighth. Booper Bare, who started 18th, finished ninth and Matt Howsare was 10th.
Steel Block Bandits @ Allegany County: (1) Walker Arthur, (2) Rick Singleton, (3) D.J. Troutman, (4) Matt Sponaugle, (5) Kyle Merkel, (6) Bo Feathers, (7) Matt Cosner, (8) Sean Merkel, (9) Booper Bare, (10) Matt Howsare, (11) Joey Leavell, (12) Matt Emerick, (13) Wes Bonebrake, (14) Corey Weaver, (15) Rick Hulson, (16) Eric Irvin, (17) Kristian Looney, (18) Barry Miller, (19) Ryan Christoff. Scratched: Trever Feathers, Chris Harr. Heat race winners (among 21 cars): B. Feathers, Arthur, Merkel.
