THE SEASON IS ALMOST HERE

The Mid-Atlantic region is enduring a cold and snowy winter, but springtime
and the Cline Construction Steel Block Bandits racing season are just around the corner. Who will be the first Bandit driver to find them self in the Ernie D's Enterprises Victory Lane?

The Bandits are sure to heat things up as the series competes in 13 races at nine different tracks in five states in 2010. Currently, forty-two drivers and teams have registered to compete in the limited late model series this year.

Current Bandits champion, Kristian Looney of Bridgewater, Va., will be forced
to contend with an onslaught of talented drivers if he is to score two championships in-a-row. Looking to dethrone Looney is returning Bandit drivers like Gerald Davis of Delray, W.Va., and Kris Eaton of Winchester, Va. They finished second and third in points in the 2009 season.

Additionally, many new Bandit drivers are looking to make their mark in the series. Competitors like Waynesboro, Va.’s Joey Leavell, Forest, Va.’s Walker Arthur, as well as Winchester’s Jonathan DeHaven and Allen Brannon are looking to take home a checkered flag or two.

Not only is a series championship on the line, but the series also features the Glory Days Grill Steel Block Bandits Young Guns points championship. Open to drivers 25 years-old and younger, this competition should see a spirited battle as defending Young Gun champion, Bubby Tharp, Jr., of Stephens City, Va., puts his title on the line. To secure a second championship, Tharp will have to fend off drivers like Kyle “Hurricane” Merkel of Gilbertsville, Pa., Winchester’s Tanner Kerr, and the ever-impressive Daniel Brown, Jr., of Waynesboro, Va.

This year’s theme, “The Road to the Rock”, seems very appropriate as the series will visit the Alleghany County Speedway (The Rock) in Cumberland, Md., three times this season. The season will begin there on April 9th and 10th
with a $3000 to win-$200 to start 40-lapper. The series will revisit the facility on June 13th with a $1500 to win event. Finally, the competitors will make the trek back to the Rock to finish out the season on October 21st, 22nd and 23rd as the series will sanction the Western Maryland Nationals. A champion will be crowned as the Bandits compete in a $5000 to win event.

Another $5000 to win race highlights the schedule on Sept. 4. The Bandits will sanction the Hillbilly 50 at the West Virginia Motor Speedway in Mineral Wells for a 50-lap event. This will be the second trip to that speedway as the
Bandits race there on May 29th for a $2500 to win event. The World of Outlaw Late Model Series will be there that weekend, as well.

The series invades Pennsylvania for the first time as two tracks host Bandits races. Hesston Speedway hosts a $1500 to win race on June 12th while Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville opens its doors to the Bandits on July 31st for $2000 to win.

Fans can mark Natural Bridge Speedway on their calendars twice this year.
The Virginia track will host a couple of $2000 to win events for the Bandits.
The first will be on June 5th and the second race will be held on Sept. 11th.
The night before the 11th, the series will travel to Waynesboro, Va.’s, Eastside Speedway for the second annual Chris Loan Memorial on Sept. 10th. This will
be a $1500 to win, 40-lap feature.

The Natural Bridge-Eastside combo is the final two-race weekend of the season. Two others are on the schedule, as well.

Beckley Motor Speedway in West Virginia welcomes the Bandits on June 18th with twin 20s, $1000 to win each. The following night the series will travel to Friendship Speedway in Elkin, N.C., for $2000 to win.  Also, the Hesston-Cumberland races in June are on the same weekend.

Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway will play host to the Bandits for a $2000 to win event on July 10th.

Series promoter, Danny Wilson, has amassed quite a series and schedule considering the fact that this series was not formed until March of 2009.
Wilson has indicated that one more track could possibly be added to the schedule by the end of February.

Now if you like a party, well the Bandits will have one of those this year, too. On March 20th, the Glory Days Grill in Winchester, Va., will host the first
annual Steel Block Bandits car show and season-opening party.  The event will be held from noon to 6 p.m with door prizes, food, a band and so much more.

Many Bandit drivers will be there to sign autographs and display their cars. Also, Ms. Motorsports, Danielle Wilson, of Stephens City, Va., will be there to sign autographs, as well. Ms. Wilson became the first Virginia resident to win the title of Ms. Motorsports in the competition’s 25-year history.

She was crowned at the 25th Len Sammons Motorsports Race Car and Trade Show, which was held at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pa.
The Steel Block Bandits series displayed its show car and had a booth at this event, as well as the annual Dirt Trackin’ Show in York, Pa., earlier this year.

For further information on the upcoming Bandits season, please continue to check steelblockbandits.com, turn5turnaround.com, vadirtlovers.com and the Steel Block Bandits facebook and myspace pages.

Special thanks to the following: Cline Construction, Ernie D’s Enterprises, Glory Days Grill, Bernheisel Race Components & Lazer Chassis, WRT & Cliff Dove Motorsports Photography, D&D Auto Recycling, Revolution Band, Muddslinger Web Services, Walrus Signs & Embroidery, Dehaven Well Drilling, All Recovery, Hoosier, Advanced Race Wear, American Paint Company, Crims Trailer Sales, EastGate Plaza, The STOP, Gold Gym, Area Auto Racing News and Ms Motorsports 2010.

“The REAL men of STEEL”

 Special thanks to the following: Cline Construction, Ernie D’s Enterprises, Glory Days Grill, Bernheisel Race Components & Lazer Chassis, Cliff Dove Motorsports Photography, D&D Auto Recycling, Revolution Band, Muddslinger Web Services, Walrus Signs & Embroidery and Dehaven Well Drilling