By T.J. Buffenbarger
Rossburg, OH – (May 28, 2016) – Christopher Bell made a Sunday stop at Eldora worthwhile by winning the K&L Ready Mix National Racing Alliance feature during the annual Johnny Appleseed Classic. Bell blasted around the top of Eldora inches from its unforgiving concrete to outpace follow NASCAR Camping World Truck Series competitor Rico Abreu for the victory driving and entry for Canadian team owner Miles Hill.
“I just love this place, definitely my favorite track,” said Bell in victory lane. I’ve loved (Eldora) since the first time I came (to Eldora), but it took a long time until I could figure out how to get it done here.”
After passing Devon Dobie for the lead on lap two Bell and Abreu set a torrid pace around the rim of Eldora’s high banks lapping up to fifth position in the main event. Abreu was able to close a couple of times in traffic, Bell made moves through the slower cars as Abreu got picked with five laps to go and allowed Bell to motor away for the victory.
Afterwards Bell remarked on how fun it was to compete at Eldora and make the transition into the Truck Series full time with Abreu.
“It’s really cool we get to race each other a lot, and make the pavement transition with him” said Bell.
Abreu claimed the runner up spot while Randy Hannagan, Butch Schroeder, and Kyle Sauder rounded out the top five.
Bell, Shawn Dancer, Max Stambaugh, and Abreu won heat race events. Phil Gressman won the B-Main.
Johnny Appleseed Classic
Eldora Speedway
Rossburg, OH
Sunday May 28, 2016
Heat Race #1 (8 Laps): 1. 77XX – Christopher Bell, 2. 35 – Ron Blair, 3. 10 – Mitch Brown, 4. 23 – Devon Dobie, 5. 27 – Brad Lamberson, 6. 30 – Hud Horton, 7. 77X – Alex Hill, 8. 91L – Alexis Adgate (First four finishers transferred to the A-Main)
Heat Race #2 (8 Laps): 1. 49 – Shawn Dancer, 2. 22H – Randy Hanagan, 3. 2 – Kyle Sauder, 4. 6S – J.R. Stewart, 5. 5W – Jeff Williams, 6. 22R – Kevin Roberts Jr, 7. 3 – Kyle Locke (First four finishers transferred to the A-Main)
Heat Race #3 (8 Laps): 1. 5M – Max Stambaugh, 2. 16 – Ryan Ruhl, 3. 20B – Butch Schroeder, 4. 85 – Dustin Daggett, 6. 10P – Jim Perricone, 7. 23G – Joe Geibe, 8. 18 – D.J. Lamance (First four finishers transferred to the A-Main)
Heat Race #4 (8 Laps): 1. 24 – Rico Abreu, 2. 11 – Tim Allison, 3. 17 – Jared Horstman, 4. 33M – Matt Westfall, 5. 28 – Phil Gressman, 6. 11R – Chase Ridenour, 7. 10J – Jared DeLong (First four finishers transferred to the A-Main)
B-Main (10 Laps): 1. 28 – Phil Gressman, 2. 11R – Chase Ridenour, 3. 30 – Hud Horton, 4. 27 – Brad Lamberson, 5. 5W – Jeff Williams, 6. 22R – Kevin Roberts Jr, 7. 49T – Gregg Dalman, 8. 23G – Joe Geibe, 9. 77X – Alex Hill, 10. 10J – Jared DeLong, 11. 10P – Jim Perricone, 12. 3 – Kyle Locke, 13. 12R – Nick Roberts, 14. 6 – Sean Hosey, 15. 91L – Alexis Adgate
A-Main (20 Laps): 1. 77XX – Christopher Bell, 2. 24 – Rico Abreu, 3. 22H – Randy Hannagan, 4. 20B – Butch Schroeder, 5. 2 – Kyle Sauder, 6. 85 – Dustin Daggett, 7. 17 – Jared Horstman, 8. 23 – Devon Dobie, 9. 10 – Mitch Brown, 10. 35 – Ron Blair, 11. 5M – Max Stambaugh, 12. 49 – Shawn Dancer, 13. 16 – Ryan Ruhl, 17. 27 – Brad Lamberson, 18. 30 – Hud Horton, 19. 6S – J.R. Stewart, 20. 28 – Phil Gressman.