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LATE RACE PASS ALLOWS BLAIR TO BECOME 1ST REPEAT WINNER IN FASTRAK
NORTHEAST LATE MODEL TOURING SERIES SUNDAY AT ERIEZ
By Mike Leone
August 24, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hammett, PA
For the second straight season, the FASTRAK Northeast
Late Model Touring Series made a visit to Bobby Rohrer's Eriez
Speedway on Sunday night. Despite threatening weather that caused an
hour and half delay to the start of the racing program, 24 cars from
all over western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio, and western New York
turned out for race #8 of 12.
Tom Snyder, Jr. looked primed for his first career FASTRAK Northeast
Touring Series victory, but the FASTRAK National Weekly Series and
Northeast Touring Series point leader, Max Blair, had other ideas.
Blair used late traffic to his advantage passing Snyder with five
laps to go to become the first repeat winner of the season in the 25-
lap feature.
"I got shuffled back there," acknowledged the Centerville, Pa. 18-
year-old in victory lane following the $1,200 win. "I started
picking them off one at a time and didn't know if I could get him
(Snyder). I had to make a split second decision in traffic and it
worked it. People say there is no money in this division, but the
numbers speak for themselves. We're racing for $5,000 in the
Northeast Touring Series, $10,000 in the National Weekly, and $50,000
in the Grand Nationals later this season."
Snyder took off from the pole position, while Butch Lambert passed
Carl McKinney for second on the opening lap. Fourth starting John
Lacki finally worked his way past McKinney for third on lap four.
Lacki then slowly closed on Lambert on lap seven before the event's
first and only caution with seven laps completed when defending
Series champion Alan Dellinger got bunched up in a heavy pack of cars
and got spun around. Just Kann also got collected in the accident.
Blair, who started seventh, fell back to eighth earlier on then began
making his way forward. Blair passed Dennis Lunger, Jr. for fourth
on lap eight then drove under Lacki down the backstretch for third on
lap 10. Blair continued his march to the front when he dove low and
grabbed second from Lambert in turn two on lap 14.
With the race past the halfway mark, Blair set his sights on Snyder,
who had a four car-length lead. Blair cut into the advantage each
lap and was on the leader's bumper on lap 17. Snyder drove a great
race as he protected the bottom. Snyder had traffic in sight on lap
20. On the following lap, Snyder tried to pick off the lapped car of
Kann in turn four, but his slight hesitation allowed Blair to sneak
by both Kann and Snyder to lead lap 21.
The last 18 laps went non-stop and Blair was too much to allow Snyder
a shot to take the lead back. Blair backed up his win the night
before at McKean County Raceway, which clinched him the track
championship, with his second career Touring Series win in his
Specialty Products/Loney Timber/Moody Welding/Eagle Hoist & Winch-
sponsored #111. Blair now has 12 overall FASTRAK wins on the season
matching Barton's total over the past two seasons for tops on the win
chart.
Snyder turned in a great effort, but surely a disappointing second
matching his runner-up on July 4 at Raceway 7. Lambert started third
and was able to hold onto the position for a career best Touring
Series performance in his first ever Touring Series top five. Lacki
came home fourth for his fourth top five of the season. After four
straight did not finishes, Lunger has put together three straight top
fives with a fifth place effort to climb the point ladder.
Completing the top 10 were Bobby Powell, Dick Barton, Bob Dorman, Jim
Frank, and Alan Dellinger. Heat winners were Powell, Dellinger, and
Dave Lyon.
Please note: results are unofficial pending a cylinder head protest
by Lunger's team of the Blair #111. If a change is a necessary, a
press release will follow this week.
FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series Race #8 (25 laps $1,200
to-win): 1. MAX BLAIR (111) 2. Tom Snyder, Jr. (1F) 3. Butch
Lambert (27) 4. John Lacki (7) 5. Dennis Lunger, Jr. (17L) 6.
Bobby Powell (Bidwell B1D) 7. Dick Barton (Nielson 28B) 8. Bob
Dorman (19) 9. Jim Frank (14*) 10. Andy Buckley (Robinson 34R) 11.
Carl McKinney (6M) 12. Jay Watson (7x) 13. Alan Dellinger (Williams
8) 14. Jon Law (14) 15. Kenny Meadows (Welsch 49) 16. Rusty Moore
(17M) 17. Dereck Frank (16*) 18. Bob Vogt, Jr. (30) 19. Bert Cleer
(51) 20. Todd Sweet (17) 21. Justin Kann (100) 22. Roger French (-
1) 23. Dave Lyon (14L) 24. Bob Kish (5)-DNS.
Lap leaders: Snyder (1-20), Blair (21-25)
Heat winners: Bobby Powell, Alan Dellinger, Dave Lyon
Car count: 24
Next up for the FASTRAK Northeast Touring Series will be race #9 of
12 on Friday, August 29 24 at Dog Hollow Speedway in Strongstown,
Pa. The event will pay $1,200 to-win, $150 to-start. Racing begins
at 6:00 p.m. Dog Hollow will be followed by Tri-City Speedway's
first ever Touring event on Saturday and Sunday, August 30-31.
Sunday's 30-lap feature will pay $2,000 to-win, $200 to-start.
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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