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By Mike Leone
May 24, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
East Smethport, PA…Year two of the FASTRAK Northeast Late Model
Touring Series opened the season Saturday night where it closed its
inaugural season in 2007 at McKean County Raceway. A chilly evening
greeted fans for the track's season opener as a strong field of 33
cars made the tow from all over western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio,
western New York, and West Virginia.
Eighteen-year- old Max Blair served notice that he's going to
be a force to be reckoned with as the third generation racer took the
lead on lap two and put on a dominating performance in the 25-lap non-
stop feature to earn the $1,200 top prize. The competitive event saw
20 of the original 24 starters finish the race with 17 of them on the
lead lap!
"I'm pumped," expressed the Titusville, Pa. speedster. "That
was a blast, but I'm exhausted. I don't know if I could have done
another five laps. I had no idea where anyone was at and how big of
a lead I had. I thought the top was going to be faster, but it went
away so I stayed on the bottom and knew if I didn't anything stupid I
was going to be okay. The track was awesome. I don't know how
anyone could be against FASTRAK. This is the best thing going…it's
cheap and you don't need a $40,000 motor. The Super Late Models
couldn't have put on a better show than this. Dad didn't want me
racing this weekend, but I can't wait to get back to the pits and
call him and tell him I won!"
The event's only caution took place on the initial start when
cars got jammed together and Friday night's Dog Hollow Speedway
winner, Tom Snyder, Jr., came to a rest with front end damage. When
racing got underway, western Pennsylvania Stock Car great Andy
Buckley took the lead from the pole position. The Stoneboro, Pa.
driver was making his Late Model debut and led the first lap with his
602 GM engine.
Blair, who started fourth, snuck ahead of Greg Oakes for the third on
the opening lap then made a great move racing off the inside of turn
two to power past Mike Wonderling, Sr. and Buckley for the lead.
Blair began to extend his lead as the laps ticked off, while
Wonderling and Oakes disposed of Buckley for second and third
respectively on lap four. Seventh starting Bobby Powell did the same
taking fourth from Buckley on lap six. Buckley's fine run ended when
he went up in smoke on lap eight.
By lap seven, Blair began to extend his advantage, while
Wonderling and Oakes dueled for second. On lap nine, Powell joined
the battle making it a three-car race for second. Blair caught
lapped traffic on the 10th circuit. The last 15 laps saw Blair do a
magnificent job through lapped traffic as he never bobbled winning
his first ever race at the East Smethport speed plant in his
Specialty Products/Loney Timber Management/Moody Welding/Eagle Hoist
& Wrench-sponsored #111.
Blair took the checkered flag first by a straightaway over
Oakes, who finally slipped under Wonderling for second just past the
start-finish line on the final lap. Wonderling edged Powell for
third despite a deflating tire. Jim Frank was fifth.
Dennis Lunger, who won Mercer Raceway Park's season opening steel-
block event finished sixth. New York second-year FASTRAK racers John
Haggerty and Kyle Drum were seventh and eighth. Former Stock Car
great Butch Lambert had a strong run in ninth and defending track
champion John Lacki completed the top 10. Heat winners were
Wonderling, Blair, Frank, and Oakes, while Jay Watson and Tim Schram
copped the B mains.
FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series Race #1 (25 laps): 1. MAX
BLAIR ($1,200) 2. Greg Oakes 3. Mike Wonderling, Sr. 4. Bobby
Powell 5. Jim Frank 6. Dennis Lunger 7. John Haggerty 8. Kyle
Drum 9. Butch Lambert 10. John Lacki 11. Bobby Whitling 12.
Justin Kann 13. Carl McKinney 14. Dave Lyon 15. Dan Stives 16.
Jay Watson 17. Rusty Moore 18. Tim Schram 19. Scott Jones 20.
Dave Norton, Jr. 21. Bob Kish 22. Andy Buckley 23. Dereck Frank
24. Tom Snyder, Jr. DNQ: Steve Hollabaugh, Chad Myers, Todd Sweet,
Bert Cleer, Garrett Steven, Kevin Meadows, Jon Law, Roger French,
J.R. Wright (illegal)
Lap leaders: Andy Buckley (1), Max Blair (2-25)
Heat winners: Mike Wonderling, Sr., Max Blair, Jim Frank, Greg Oakes
B main winners: Jay Watson, Tim Schram
Car count: 33
The FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series heads next to Mercer
Raceway Park on Monday for the "Steel Valley Memorial Day Classic".
Race #2 will be another 25-lap $1,200 to-win, $150 to-start event.
Race time is 6 p.m. For more information, check out
www.mercerracewaypa rk.com. 2008 FASTRAK Northeast Touring Series
associate sponsors thus far are Race 1, Fame RV Center, Yoder's
Performance Specialty & PRC, Bullitt Chassis, and Fred Beans Parts.
To join our mailing list, simply send an e-mail to fastrakpr-
subscribe@yahoogrou ps.com. Mike Leone and Vicki Emig can be reached
at 724-964-9300. E-mail to info@fastraknorthea st.com and snail mail
to 4368 Route 422, Pulaski, PA 16143. For more information, check out
www.fastraknortheas t.com.
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