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POWELL HOLDS OFF PEGHER'S CHALLENGES TO BECOME 6TH DIFFERENT FASTRAK
NE TOURING SERIES WINNER IN 6 RACES AS LATE MODELS RETURN TO EXPO;
DELLINGER DESTROYS STOCKS
By Mike Leone
July 10, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cortland, OH
The FASTRAK Northeast Touring Series made its first ever
appearance at Expo Speedway on Thursday night as Late Models returned
to the Trumbull County Fairgrounds for the first time since 1995.
Twenty-six FASTRAK Late Models from all over western Pennsylvania,
eastern Ohio, and western New York joined 24 Stock Cars that played
in front of a huge crowd as part of the 162nd annual Trumbull County
Fair. A flyover by the Warren Air Force took place following the
national anthem at 6 p.m.
Fresh off a thrilling last lap FASTRAK weekly-sanctioned victory
Sunday at Tri-City Speedway, Bobby Powell did one better winning his
first Northeast Touring Series event of the season holding off a
furious challenge by Mike Pegher, Jr. to become the sixth different
winner in as many Touring events this season. The 25-lap win was
worth a season-high $1,500.
"I don't know what to say," expressed the Waterford, Pa. winner in
victory lane following his first ever Expo race. "I'm exhausted and
need something to drink. I was running in the grass down there. I
have to thank Scott Bidwell and my crew, who work their tails off. I
wouldn't be in a Late Model if it wasn't for Fastrak. We can't
afford to do the big stuff, but because of the motor we can race Late
Models. We're racing for a lot of money now and later."
Tom Snyder, Jr. drew the pole-position and raced into the early lead
with Jay Watson passing Rusty Moore for second. The battle heated up
for runner-up as Moore returned the favor taking second back one lap
later. Then on lap three, it was three-wide for the lead with Watson
coming out on top with an inside move in turn four and fourth
starting Powell moving to second with Snyder and Moore dropping to
third and fourth.
Following a spin by Gary Miller, Jr., Powell overtook Watson on lap
four what would turn out to be the winning move. Dick Barton, who
started 10th, quickly entered contention passing Snyder for third on
lap four and Watson one lap later for second with an inside move off
turn four. Watson though fought back against the Late Model great
taking third back on lap six, while 12th starting Pegher moved to
fourth on lap six past Snyder.
Jon Law went up in smoke bringing out a caution with seven laps
completed. When racing resumed, Pegher took the third spot from
Barton, then drove under Watson in turn three for second on lap
nine. Thirteenth starting Dennis Lunger, Jr. made a great move
diving under defending Touring Series champion Alan Dellinger and
Barton for fourth on lap 14. Dellinger didn't give up regaining
fourth on lap 17.
Up front, Pegher began to reel in Powell on lap 17 and was all over
the leader on lap 18. Dellinger shot to the inside of Watson in turn
two to take third on lap 20 with Lunger following in fourth. Pegher
got under Powell in turn three on lap 21, but Powell shut the door
holding the lead. Powell opened up some ground on lap 22, but Pegher
drove hard under Powell in turns three and four on lap 23, but once
again Powell remained steadfast. Dellinger's strong run ended when
the steering broke in his mount with 23 laps completed. On the
ensuing restart, Moore got sideways and an eight-car melee ensued.
The last two laps went green-to-checkered. Pegher made a strong bid
on lap 24 in turn four again. Pegher got under Powell, but Powell
shut the door as the two made heavy contact. It was a drag race off
turn four as Powell maintained the lead with the white flag waving.
Powell was able to get to the bottom entering turn one and was just
too much on the final lap as he held on for his second career Touring
Series win in the Scott Bidwell-owned, Fame RV Center/Maloney Tool &
Mold/Rich Johnson Electric-sponsored #B1D. The victory was Powell's
fourth of the season overall in FASTRAK competition as he also has
weekly-sanctioned wins at Raceway 7, Mercer, and Tri-City in the last
month.
Pegher's second was his career best effort in Touring Series events.
After four straight did not finishes, Lunger finally put in a
complete night coming home a season-best third. Northeast Touring
Series point leader, Max Blair, maintained his point lead with a
fourth place effort after starting 11th as the Series completed the
halfway point of the sophomore season Barton dropped to fifth at the
finish.
Late Model rookie Tyler Dietz turned in a career best finish in sixth
after the youngster started 24th over another Late Model rookie Roger
French, who started 16th. Mike Wonderling, Sr. was eighth with Jim
Frank and 19th starting Bob Diver completing the top 10. Winning the
heat races over the 26-car field were Pegher, Wonderling, and Moore.
After a disappointing end to a great run in the FASTRAK feature, Alan
Dellinger hopped into the Stock Car and destroyed the competition
leading from green-to-checkered in the 15-lap event. The victory was
worth $500 for the Hermitage, Pa. driver, who started his standout
racing career at Expo in the very same division in the 70s.
Dellinger started fourth and had the lead on the backstretch of the
first lap from pole-sitter Bruce Redman. Dellinger pulled away every
lap and won the non-stop event by more than a straightaway in the
Steve Burns-owned, Penn-Ohio Contracting/ Penn Construction/ Legacy
Products-sponsored #70B.
Chris Haines, who was also doing double duty, passed Redman in turn
four on lap eighth to finish second. Last Friday's Raceway 7 big
winner, Dave Ferringer, snuck past Redman on the final lap to finish
third. Redman, who won last year's Expo event, dropped to fourth
over Jason Reagle, who got to the track just in time to run his heat
race. Scoring heat race victories over the 24-car field were Rusty
Wheeler and Dellinger.
FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series Race #6 (25 laps $1,500
to-win): 1. BOBBY POWELL (Bidwell B1D) 2. Mike Pegher, Jr. (Geisler
1C) 3. Dennis Lunger, Jr. (17L) 4. Max Blair (111) 5. Dick Barton
(Nielson 28B) 6. Tyler Dietz (10) 7. Roger French (-1) 8. Mike
Wonderling, Sr. (z1) 9. Jim Frank (14*) 10. Bob Diver (23) 11. Tom
Snyder, Jr. (1F) 12. John Lacki (7) 13. Chad Myers (01) 14. Andy
Buckley (Robinson 34R) 15. Alan Dellinger (Williams 8) 16. Rusty
Moore (17M) 17. Kevin Meadows (Welsch 49) 18. Chris Haines (35H)
19. Jay Watson (7x) 20. Scott Jones (Stanke 44) 21. Tom Copeland
(98) 22. Jon Law (14) 23. Ben Black (27B) 24. Gary Miller, Jr.
(1m) 25. Mike Lesky (5L) 26. Justin Kann (Powell 100).
Lap leaders: Tom Snyder, Jr. (1-2), Jay Watson (3), Bobby Powell (4-
25)
Heat winners: Mike Pegher, Jr., Mike Wonderling, Sr., Rusty Moore
Car count: 26
Stock Cars (15 laps, $500 to-win): 1. ALAN DELLINGER (Burns 70B) 2.
Chris Haines (35H) 3. Dave Ferringer (02) 4. Bruce Redman (27) 5.
Jason Reagle (888) 6. Rusty Wheeler (44) 7. Charlie Jasinski (11A)
8. Steve D'Apolito (84) 9. Allan Hudzik (30H) 10. Jackson Humanic
(17) 11. Rick Robinson (Buckley 965) 12. Tom Miller (17) 13. Larry
Root (22x) 14. Terry Wheeler (2W) 15. Bill Simmons (33) 16. Bill
Cramer (42) 17. Randy Wyant (11T) 18. Sam Ritenour (77) 19. Jamie
Duncan (67J) 20. Stan Woomer (2) 21. Matt Thomas (54)-DNS 22. John
Fox (14)-DNS 23. Ed Snyder, Jr. (039)-DNS 24. Scott Jones (Stanke
44)-DNS.
Lap leaders: Alan Dellinger (1-15)
Heat winners: Rusty Wheeler, Alan Dellinger
Car count: 24
Next up for the FASTRAK Northeast Touring Series will be race #7 of
12 on Friday, June 25 at Raceway 7 south of Conneaut, Ohio. The
event will pay $1,200 to-win, $150 to-start. Racing begins at 7:30
p.m.
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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