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Buckingham "Breaks the Trend" as the only Repeat Winner in 2007 and Shatters three records.
August 4, 2007
(Carnesville, GA)…The FASTRAK Late Model Series rolled into the city
of Rural Retreat VA this past Saturday as Shanon Buckingham of
Morristown TN in his black and red number 44 shattered the record
book. The Series has seen some of the most competitive racing ever
since its 2004 inception with the astounding results in 07 as having
13 different Winners in as many Touring Events; but Buckingham became
the first "repeat winner" of the 2007 season. Buckingham also broke
another record Saturday night as he became the first recipient of the
FASTRAK `engine claim' rule. Buckinghams engine was claimed and the
44 team gladly pulled the engine and sold it to the protesting team
during "post race" tech. Record three: The announcer was informed
during the winners "check presentation" that driver Buckingham and
fiancée Amanda Rowland were to be married this coming Thursday and
that announcement was also made before all the fans at Wythe setting
the pace for the `first ever marriage ceremony' announced at a
FASTRAK event.
"I didn't realize until after the race we had broken the record for
2007 said Buckingham. Having no repeat winners until now in 07 shows
just how competitive crate racing has become. Its not getting easier
to win, it is actually getting harder. Everyone is getting faster and
the drivers are getting better. No one comes to a crate race anymore
and just wins by mistake. You had better be on top of your game when
you come to one of these races. Being the first repeat winner and
this late in the season proves just how tough it really is. Our team
has done a great job this year and it sure helps when you have a
great team behind you. As for breaking the record for the first
engine claimed, well that's one record I could have done without but
FASTRAK does a good job and claiming engines is just part of the
deal. If that's what it takes to keep this racing fair, then I am all
for it".
Car Owner Tom Buckingham stated during post race tech "I appreciate
the engine claim rule FASTRAK has. It keeps the sport fair for
everyone and FASTRAK does a good job with tech. We have been running
FASTRAK for three years and every year they learn and improve in
technical knowledge. The new cam doctor they have is the best thing I
have seen yet. FASTRAK can check the "complete cam profile" now with
the cam still in the engine. That's pretty technical for a regional
racing series if you ask me. That kind of effort only ensures
everyone is equal and that helps this type of racing. I was up into
the early hours of the morning before we got finished with tech
having to take the engine out and sell it, but I had rather do it
that way and go home knowing everyone is 100% legal".
Buckingham claimed the Goodyear "Top Gun" award as the fastest
qualifier however, through the Old 29 Golf Karts inversion, he was
sent to the 5th place starting position. The kids inversion really
mixed up the starting grid with the T1 of Mangum now on the pole, 93
of Bradsher outside, 22P of Peeples, 7 of Cook, 44 of Buckingham and
57 of Cooper making up the first three rows.
29 cars started the main with the T1 of Magum taking the lead early
on only to have a tire slowly going down to bring him into the pits
on lap 21. Buckingham in the meantime had made his way through the
field taking the point with Jason Lawrence in the 54 running closely
in 2nd place and Cooper in the 57 right on his bumper the entire
race. As the top 3 started making their way through lap traffic the
54 and 57 cars got very close but not enough to make a solid bid for
the top spot. Matt Long of NC was having his best finish of the
season but got involved in a late race incident with the 54b of
Umberger. Vic Chandler of NC in the 88 finally had a little luck on
his side with a 6th place finish. "Man was I glad just to finish said
Chandler. Hopefully that monkey is off of our back once and for all.
This is the first time this car has ever been on the track and looks
like its going to be a good one". David `Bad Boy' McCoy passed more
cars than anyone during the night earning him the SUNOCO "Hard
Charger Award" McCoy had a flat early in the race having to go to the
rear of the field but made his way back to an 8th place finish. The
Modern Chevrolet "Tough Luck Award" went to John Llewellyn. Although
Llewellyn took the 4th of July win at Antioch Speedway as luck would
have it, things just did not go his way this weekend. Llewellyn came
into this event leading the points in the FASTRAK Mid East Regional
Championship but tonight certainly did not help his efforts. The 93
of Donald Bradsher of NC had a 4th place finish making it his best
finish of the season after destroying a car at an event June 16th in
Toccoa GA. Local hero Kenny Peeples was gunning for a $1000 bonus if
he could win the event. In an award put up by track owner Fred Brown,
Peeples had won the two previous weekends at Wythe but unfortunately
experienced a mechanical failure.
Feature Results:
44 Shanon Buckingham
54 Jason Lawrence
57 Lee Cooper
93 Donald Bradsher
54b Brandon Umberger
88 Vic Chandler
45 Phil Gann
187 David McCoy
8 Chris Chandler
19 Jason Walls
7 Clinton Cook
19 Jason Walls
7 Clinton Cook
6 David Watts
94 Randy Taylor
88 Harry Cadmus
07 Trevor Agee
77 Scott Agee
90 John Llewellyn
11c Jackie Cook
34 Cody McMahan
B1 Joe Bennett
25 Matt Long
29 Matt Parks
01 Jason Moncus
5 Chase McCormick
97 Joey Steele
T1 Timbo Mangum
22 Kenny Peeples
16b Daniel Baggerly
11k John King
Goodyear "TOP GUN" Award (fast time) 44 Shanon Buckingham
Sunoco "HARD CHARGER" award 187 David McCoy
Modern Chevrolet "TOUGH LUCK" award 90 John Llewellyn
Next Event: August 11th Green Valley Speedway, Glenco AL $3000 to win
(This is the same track night one of the Grand Nationals will be held
at). www.greenvalleyspee dway.com
Labor Day Weekend: $10,000 to win! (check web site for entry form and
information) www.wytheraceway. com
To join our mailing list, simply send an e-mail to fastrakpr-
subscribe@yahoogrou ps.com For more info check out
www.fastrakracing. com
Partners of the FASTRAK Racing Series Include: Goodyear Racing, GM
Performance Parts, Sunoco Race Fuels, Maypole Chevrolet, Duralite
Wheels, PPM Racing Products, Heintz Performance, MK-Direct, Braswell
Carburetion, Mastersbilt Racing Chassis, TNT Racing Chassis, Rocket
Racing Chassis, Modern Chevrolet, Schoenfeld Headers.
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