Steel Block Bandits

Vision Wheel Steel Block Bandits Tour Gets New Own...
Erwin's Patience Proof Positive In Capturing Secon...
Swann Named Vision Wheel Steel Block Bandits Serie...
Vision Wheel Steel Block Bandits Tour Gets New Own...

Vision Wheel Steel Block Bandits Tour Gets New Own...

4/16/2024 -
Three races into its fourth season, the Vision Wheel Steel Block Bandits Late Model Challenge series is under new ownership. Tour founder and presiden
Erwin's Patience Proof Positive In Capturing Secon...

Erwin's Patience Proof Positive In Capturing Secon...

4/16/2024 -
Maryville, TN (4-13-24) Russell Erwin of Beaverdam, Virginia captured his second straight win and third consecutive top-three finish in as many starts
Swann Named Vision Wheel Steel Block Bandits Serie...

Swann Named Vision Wheel Steel Block Bandits Serie...

4/11/2024 -
Fayetteville, NC - As the Series progresses to its third race of the year at Smoky Mountain Speedway this weekend, Joseph Swann, the current race dire

-

Vision Wheel Steel Block Bandits Tour Gets New Ownership

Vision Wheel Steel Block Bandits Tour Gets New Ownership

4/16/2024
Three races into its fourth season, the Vision Wheel Steel Block Bandits Late Model Challenge series is under new ownership. Tour founder and president Jim Long Jr. of Stedman, N.C., has sold the series in equal shares to his stepdaughter, Hope Wade, and to Jason Walls,...more
Erwin's Patience Proof Positive In Capturing Second Straight Stee

Erwin's Patience Proof Positive In Capturing Second Straight Stee...

4/16/2024
Maryville, TN (4-13-24) Russell Erwin of Beaverdam, Virginia captured his second straight win and third consecutive top-three finish in as many starts on the 2024 Vision Wheel Steel Block Bandit Late Model Challenge Series. He did so while patiently settling behind a...more
Swann Named Vision Wheel Steel Block Bandits Series Director

Swann Named Vision Wheel Steel Block Bandits Series Director

4/11/2024
Fayetteville, NC - As the Series progresses to its third race of the year at Smoky Mountain Speedway this weekend, Joseph Swann, the current race director and former Series photographer, has been elevated as the Series director of the Vision Wheel Steel Block Bandits Dirt...more
ROUSE RUMBLES TO WIN IN BANDITS SEASON OPENER

ROUSE RUMBLES TO WIN IN BANDITS SEASON OPENER

4/3/2024
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Michael Rouse broke out the broom Saturday night (March 30) at Fayetteville Motor Speedway, sweeping the night to kick off the 2024 Vision Wheel Steel Block Bandits Dirt Late Model Challenge season. Rouse, of Wilson, N.C., set quick time in...more

Erwin Marches Through Dixieland to Notch Second Series Win
177
6/18/2021

6/18/2021

Steel Block Bandits


Erwin Marches Through Dixieland to Notch Second Series Win

(Elizabeth City, NC) June 19,2021A massive overflow crowd from the Tidewater region of Virginia and the Outer Banks of the Tarheel state gathered just off Highway 158 in Elizabeth City, North Carolina on a picture perfect June evening for the debut of a much anticipated event.It was Round 4 of the SouthAtlantic DieselSteel Block Bandits Dirt Late Model Challenge presented by Racing for Heroes at Red’s spectacular, Dixieland Speedway. Eighteen of the East coast’s very best Limited drivers gathered on the grounds of a speedway that is celebrating its 39th year of racing excellence.The night began with qualifying and for the third straight race, Russell Erwin claimed Bryan Sullivan’s $200 as he dashed to the pole. Up next would be the two 8 lap heat races that would set the field for the 40 lap $4000 to win showdown on the coast.In the HGR's Truck & Trailer Sales, Inc. Heat race number 1, Shaun Harrell would slip past an unaware Erwin as the two battled it out for the right to lead the field to green later. Harrell would grab the win as Erwin later admitted to “being too comfortable� allowing Harrell to sneak by.Heat number 2 saw Willie-Crystal Milliken and Dustin Mitchell on the front row for the Scott Service Company heat race. Milliken would out duel Mitchell to earn the outside pole.The stage was set for the first ever event on the 3/8ths mile oval for the Bandits as the energy level exploded when D.j. Garrett led the field out with the Stars and Stripes perched on his driver’s door. Two old rivals who knew each other well, raced off into turn one door to door only to be slowed by a yellow as Mason Price and Brad Rigdon tangled in turn one with Rigdon’s car underneath Price. Harrell would slip past Milliken for an early lead while Erwin , Milliken and Michael Rouse waged a battle royale for the top 5 spots.On lap 10 Erwin made a bold move and reeled in Harrell to overtake the lead but the fastest car on the track was Rouse as he pulled to the rear deck of Milliken for third. As the two exited turn 2, Milliken took the high side of a lapped car as Rouse tried to make it three wide. The lapped car unknowing that Rouse was there cut down on the Love’s Sweet Poatoes MasterSbilt Race Cars ending his bid for back to back wins. Meanwhile Erwin survives several restarts to cross the finish line a second ahead of Harrell with Milliken , Cy Nelms Jr and John Staton rounding out the top 5.Erwin was pleased with his effort- “ Man since 311, this thing has been incredible, Eric Erwin and I have made some great strides on this thing and now it’s just down to me getting the job done.� “Three and four was racey but down here in one and two it got dirty so I was just protecting. We made some ground in the points deal, I hate Derick had problems but I’m sure those guys will bounce back.�———————————————————-Notable tid bits:In his Bandit debut, Cy Nelms masterfully scores a fourth place finish in his CT525 powered machine. Nelms avoided several wrecks and at the finish, was hounding Milliken for the third spot.Milliken and Harrell bounce back after disappointing runs at Halifax County Motor Speedway last weekend. Milliken will make up a ton of points on Quade after his misfortune late in the event.Great runs for Brad Rigdon, Sherman Underwood and Clint Hodges. Rigdon and Underwood held serve as hometown favorites against the touring regulars with 7th and 9th place runs. Hodges arrives late starts in the rear of his heat, races his way through the field to grab a 8th place finish that should propel him back into the top 5 in points.Can’t leave Dixieland without mentioning the incredible staff and the enormous crowd that turned out to see the Bandits ride. ———————————————————Up next:The Bandits reach the halfway mark of the season on July 17-18 as we travel to the Queen City for a $3000 to win show followed by a $5000 to win feature at the The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

Steel Block Bandits Dirt Late Model ChallengeDixieland Speedway (Elizabeth City, North Carolina)June 18, 2021Feature Finish1)Russell Erwin 2)Shaun Harrell 3)Willie Milliken 4)Cy Nelms 5)John Staton 6)Brent Robinson 7)Brad Rigdon 8)Clint Hodges 9)Sherman Underwood 10)Mason Price 11)Joey Cascell 12)DJ Garrett 13)Derick Quade 14)Dustin Mitchell 15)Ray Millard 16)Michael Rouse 17)Jake Riethmeier

Back to News

Upcoming Events

Schedule TBA



Driver Registration




Vision Wheel
Arizona Sport Shirts
Bobby Taylor Oil Co
Carolina Concrete Finishing
Earnhardt Technologies Group
East Coast Towing
Gen3 Performance Imaging
Hardison Suspension Technologies
HGR Truck and Trailers
Hoosier Tire
MW Transport
Mega Plumbing
MJ Price Construction
New Point Light  Design
Penske Racing Shocks
Power Source
Raphine Transport
Scott Service Company
VP Racing Fuels
Midwest Sheet Metal
MD3 Nose by Five Star
XS Power Batteries
Race City Performance
JJ Supply of North Carolina
Racing Radios