Satterlee Scores Three State Flyer Victory at NBS
Greg Satterlee of Rochester Mills, PA scored his first career Three State Flyers super late model victory Saturday night at Natural Bridge Speedway. Satterlee, who started fifth on the grid, made the winning pass on lap 21 when he overtook two-time Sunoco Fall Classic winner Jamie Lathroum. Satterlee’s victory, worth $3,500, continues a string of impressive runs during the month of June. This month, Satterlee has finished outside the top five just one time.
Twenty-eight super late models signed into the pit area to do battle on the 3/8 mile dirt oval. Three preliminary heat races took place to set the starting line-up for the feature event. While all drivers qualified for the A-main, the top two drivers would move into the Dash for Cash.
Heat race number three would turn out to be a sign what was to come in the A main as Satterlee won heat race number three over Lathroum, which transferred both drivers to the all important Dash for Cash. The top two drivers from each heat race drew a pill for their starting position in the Dash. Satterlee drew a number five and he finished right where he started. His fifth place finish in the Dash would mean he would start fifth in the A-main. The preliminary heat race winners were Satterlee, Ronnie Dehaven, Jr., and Jeremy Miller. Lathroum was victorious in the Dash for Cash. Dehaven, Jr. picked up the fastest qualifier trophy for the super late models.
With Jamie Lathroum, one of the best regional super late model drivers, on the pole die hard dirt fans were already writing his name on the big check. However, Satterlee and a host of top names in the business had other plans. Lathroum jumped out to the lead from the pole position. Local standout, Greg Roberson held down the runner-up spot for the first five laps but the man on the move was Satterlee. Satterlee started fifth and was up to third by the end of the opening lap. Five laps later he moved around Roberson for second and set his sights on Lathroum. Lathroum was a master at working lapped traffic and opened up a slight lead each time the leaders worked through the back of the field.
The caution flag flew on lap nineteen for a spin by Bo Feathers. The caution flag gave Satterlee a chance to adjust his driving line and close up on the back bumper of Lathroum for the restart. Lathroum brought the field back to the green flag but this time Satterlee stayed glued to his back bumper. On lap twenty-one, off of turn four, Satterlee used the outside line to blast past Lathroum. Once out in front it was Satterlee’s turn to battle the lapped traffic. Making his first ever visit to Natural Bridge Speedway, Satterlee looked as if he had raced there all his life. A late race caution for debris gave Lathroum one last shot at Satterlee but Satterlee would not be denied.
Following Satterlee and Lathroum across the stripe were Walker Arthur, DeHaven, Jr., and Jason Covert. Arthur was solid all night and never raced outside the top three. DeHaven, Jr. came to life late in the feature using the extreme high side and settled for a fourth place finish. Two-time defending Three State Flyer champion, Jason Covert, advanced three positions to finish in the top five.
Ricky Fox, who won the last feature he competed in at Natural Bridge, led the field to green in the sportsman event and jumped out to the early lead. Michael Taylor, who started fifth, was the man marching to the front. It took Taylor just ten laps to move into the runner-up spot and set his sights on Fox. Taylor and Fox raced like professionals racing side by side lap after lap for the top spot. Finally, with just seven laps to go, Taylor made the move under Fox and scored his second win of the season. Eric Groah also made a late race pass on Fox and finished second. Fox held on for third, followed by Shad Cooper and Todd Campbell.
Chip Glass made his first visit for Natural Bridge Speedway in 2012 a memorable one in the street stock division. Glass started fourth but was leading at the end of lap one. Glass opened up a five car length lead as Bobby Thompson and David Brogan battled for the second spot. Brogan appeared to have the faster car but could not find away around Thompson. The race long battle between Thompson and Brogan allowed Glass to cruise to the victory in the caution free event. Thompson kept Brogan behind him the entire race and the two finished second and third. Cecil Cash and Tom Guthrie rounded out the top five.
Howard Hall and Lee Brooks had yet another classic battle at the front of the pure stock feature. Hall jumped to the lead on the opening lap from his third place starting spot. Hall, Brooks, and Todd Garrett raced nose to tail throughout the twenty lap feature. Brooks made several runs on Hall but Hall had the power and control to stay atop the leader board. Hall and Brooks made slight contact several times with Brooks losing ground each time. Brooks would regroup and chase down Hall but he could not find away around the veteran. Hall and Brooks had the fans on their feet the final lap as the two raced off turn four. Hall crossed the stripe 0.238 seconds ahead of Brooks. Garrett held on for third, followed by Jennings Vest and Daniel Barbour.
Corey Almond picked up his third win of the season and extended his point lead in the All-American division. Ryan Kassab led the first five laps of the feature before Almond made his move around Kassab. Brandon Link followed Almond around Kassab and the top five remained unchanged the remainder of the twenty laps. At the drop of the checkered flag the top five were Almond, Link, Kassab, Mike Lawhorne, and Rich Zowaski.
The Virginia Sprint Series returns to Natural Bridge Speedway this Saturday night, June 30. Five other divisions will also be on hand to compete in regular feature events. Gates will open at 4:00, with hot laps scheduled for 6:15. In just two weeks, NBS will host a special steel block invitational on Friday night, July 6.