Banal Edges Milliken In Lancaster Thriller

Banal Edges Milliken In Lancaster Thriller

(Lancaster, SC) With many fans on their feet and others cheering from the edge of their seat, 2017 Series Champion Steve Banal withstood a furious and relentless challenge from Willie Milliken Saturday night at Lancaster Motor Speedway Caskey/Munn to pick up his 2nd series win of the 2019 season. As the checkered flag waved, the thrilling photo finish left the two competitors separated by 0.061 seconds ending an epic battle that lasted for most of the 30 Lap Main Event.

In Renegade Racing Fuel-Ford’s Fuel South East Master Distributor Time Trials, Banal posted the fastest time of the evening with a lap of 19.821 seconds. Banal backed up his fast qualifying lap with a win in PRO FABrication, Inc Heat Race #1 while Cherokee Speedway winner Shaun Harrell cruised to victory in SRI Dirt & Drag Heat Race #2 earning a spot on the outside of Row 1 for the feature.

At the drop of the Green Flag, Banal sprinted to the lead of the City Chevrolet Main Event. Milliken quickly slid by Harrell for 2nd as the Top 3 opened up some space between themselves and the rest of the field. Milliken wasted no time in launching his pursuit of the top spot and soon slipped by the race leader only to see the caution flag fly before the lap could be officially scored. Though Banal would reassume the lead, the war for the top spot was just beginning. As Banal attempted to take advantage of his good fortune, the "Wild Child" turned up the heat. Lap after lap the two series veterans clashed with Banal protecting the inside lane and Milliken building up momentum on the outside. Determined to make it a three-way battle for the win, Harrell joined the lead duo as each driver began to move around the race track looking for maximum traction and speed. As the laps wound down, Milliken committed himself to the outside and pulled up to the quarter panel of the race leader on numerous occasions. As the Top 3 rolled down the back straightaway on the white flag lap, Banal remained committed to bottom while Milliken gathered momentum from the top of Turn 3 and turned inside of Banal as the competitors drag raced to the start/finish line. Edging the persistent Milliken by less than one car length, Banal scored the victory in one of the most exciting races in series history. Harrell, Robbie Emory, and Adam Yarbrough rounded out the Top 5.

Our sincerest appreciation goes out to Lancaster Speedway, their staff, and their fans for their support. Up next for the FUEL Racing Series is a trip to Fayetteville Motor Speedway on Saturday April 20th.

For more information about FUEL you can visit the website ( www.fuelracingseries.com ), find us on Facebook (FUEL Racing Series), and follow us on Twitter (@FuelLateModels)

Partners of the FUEL Racing Series include: Chevrolet Performance, Rick Hendrick City Chevrolet, Hoosier Tire South Dirt Oval, Renegade Racing Fuel-Ford's Fuel South East Master Distributor, FK Rod Ends, Velocita, SRI Dirt & Drag, PRO FABrication Inc, Elk Outdoors LLC, Ntense Graphics, and Thomas Clarke Performance.

Lancaster Speedway 4/6/19
City Chevrolet Main Event Results
(Pending Lab Test Results)

1) Steve Banal #8B
2) Willie Milliken #1
3) Shaun Harrell #3
4) Robbie Emory #9E
5) Adam Yarbrough #57
6) Derek Rogers #23
7) Corey Gordon #27
8) Pat Lindsay #89
9) Kevin Godwin #G2
10) Manley Chaney #308
11) Bryson Harper #20H
12) Mike Huey #4
13) Timbo Mangum #T1
14) Travis Stoner #99
15) Austin Holcombe #8A
DNS - Ron Parker #17
DNS - Mac Huey #5H