Rumble on the High Banks lives up to name

By: 
Jerry Curry

Ronnie Basham was the Crown Vic High Bank winner. He is pictured here. 

Connor Popplewell won the GAS 50 and the extra race for the division at the recent Rumble on the High Banks at Salem Speedway. 

The recent Rumble on the High Banks at Salem Speeday lived up to its name.

First was action on the smaller inner track for four twenty-five lap features.

The Crown Vics were first with Troy Phillips leading the way on the oval with Jacob Robertson second and J-Rob Masterson third.

Robertson mentioned he would like to have a victory and he made that happen in the Crown Vic Figure 8 race.

Wicker was second and third was John Lister.

The Legend car was not without excitement as a rare event happen and number 11 Ashton Murello did a flip in his car.

Xavier King took the podium top finish with Sam Johnson second and Clayton Bohanon third.

The Scrappers were the last group on the small track. If they were not scrap to start with many were at the end of the race. In fact Justin Fiedler’s, the winner, car was so well destroyed that he chose a walk to victory lane rather than tear up the new straightway.

The action on the high bank was outstanding especially the Crown Vics. It was anybody’s race at any time.

First it was Johnny Miller out to an early lead and dogged by Ronnie Basham.

Basham finally took the lead at lap sixteen in the thirty-five lap race.

Next challenge was defending champion Paul Hartlage with Daniel Durrett in close pursue.

Tyler Payne blew a tire on lap 33 creating a two lap shootout.

Basham held on for his second win of the season.

The Great American Stocks saw early leaders wreck on lap thirty-one of the fifty lap race.   

Jeff Stith made a pass for the lead got loose in turn four collecting leader Austin Baum.

Third place Heath Helton had no place to go and was caught up in the wreck causing extensive damage.

Helton’s crew removed body parts and added two new tires enabling him to ride around hopefully keeping the points lead.

On lap thirty-five it was Alex Ware to the lead followed by Connor Popplewell and local driver Justin Pirtle.

On the last lap it was Popplewell and Ware side by side going in turn four. Ware drifted up and hit the wall and made contact with Popplewell and ripping the side metal off David Bayens car.

Popplewell finished first for his third win at Salem. Bayens was second and Pirtle third.

Ware finished ninth after backing into the wall.  The next race is September 17th.

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