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$250,000 FASTRAK GRAND NATIONALS FOR THE NE KICKS OFF SATURDAY AT
MERCER; CHASE FOR THE $50,000 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP BEGINS
By Mike Leone
October 1, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mercer, PA
After a yearlong chase for National Weekly Series and
Touring Series points, it's now down the $250,000 Grand Nationals
where every eligible FASTRAK Late Model driver starts fresh with zero
points in the chase to determine the $50,000 National Champion in a
little over two weeks.
It all begins this Saturday night at Mercer Raceway Park as 43
eligible Northeast racers will begin to accumulate points before
meeting up with the other regions across the nation as everyone comes
together at Friendship Speedway in Elkin, North Carolina on October
15 and 16 in Night 2 then off to Wythe Raceway in Rural Retreat,
Virginia on October 17 and 18 for the Night 3 conclusion.
The FASTRAK Late Models will begin the night Saturday with one-lap
qualifying. The top 24 will be inverted in the heats. The remaining
cars will be lined up heads up on time staggered through the heat
races. All transferring cars from the heats to the feature will get
their times back. A pill will be draw to determine the invert of the
feature (4, 6, 8, 10). After the invert the remaining transferring
cars are heads up on time. The B main will be lined up straight up
on time with the transferring cars tagging the back of the 30-lap
feature.
"This is the second straight year each FASTRAK Region has been able
to hold the First Night for their racers," explained Northeast Co-
Director Mike Leone. "In the past it was three nights in the south
for the entire nation. Last year's race was run in junction with the
final Touring event at McKean so we're happy this year this event
stands on it's on for only eligible racers. Last year there were 21
eligible drivers and this year we've more doubled that to 43, which
is roughly half of the competing legal FASTRAK racers in the
Northeast."
Max Blair will lead the charge into Mercer. The 18-year-old
Centerville, Pa. driver is the apparent $10,000 National Weekly
Series Champion and has already locked up the $5,000 Northeast
Touring Series Championship along with weekly championships at both
McKean County Raceway and Tri-City Speedway. Blair now sets his
sights on the $50,000 prize beginning Saturday.
Dog Hollow Touring and last year's $5,000 Mercer winner Dick Barton,
Expo Touring winner Bobby Powell, Mercer champion Frank Guidace,
Raceway 7 champion and Mercer winner Jay Watson, Raceway 7 Touring
winner and Pittsburgh champion Mike Pegher, Jr., Dog Hollow champion
Dan Angelicchio, Raceway 7 Touring winner John Lacki, Tri-City $2,000
Touring winner Carl McKinney, McKean Touring winner Butch Lambert,
Dog Hollow winner Tommy Snyder, Raceway 7 winner Dennis Lunger,
Mercer winners Rusty Moore and Brian Booher, veteran Steve Hollabaugh
will be the favorites competing for Saturday's $2,000 prize and
crucial points.
It will be a double dip for late model fans as the Super Late Models
invade Mercer on Saturday for the first time since March 31, 2007.
Also in action will be the E-Mods for $2,000 to-win and double Mini
Stock features. The night is being presented by McElwain Motors.
"We're looking forward to this night," expressed 10th year Mercer
owner and Northeast Co-Director Vicki Emig. "We're proud to host
Night 1 of the FASTRAK Grand Nationals especially after losing our
second Touring event to Mother Nature. What a treat for Late Model
fans it will be to see not only the best of the best in FASTRAK, but
the Supers as well and a huge E-Mod event. It will be a unique show
that should draw in some exceptional talent from all divisions. I'd
be remised if I didn't thank McElwain Motors for coming on board big
at The Park this season and helping making this event possible."
43 eligible FASTRAK member racers that completed a minimum of 9
events: Dave Airgood, Jr., Alex Anderson, Mike Anderson, Jr., Chris
Angelicchio, Dan Angelicchio, Dick Barton, Max Blair, Brian Booher,
Andy Buckley, Bert Cleer, Steve D'Apolito, Bob Diver, Bob Dorman,
Kyle Drum, Dereck Frank, Jim Frank, Roger French, Frank Guidace, John
Haggerty, Chris Haines, Steve Hollabaugh, Justin Kann, Bob Kish, John
Lacki, Butch Lambert, Jon Law, Dennis Lunger, Jr., Dave Lyon, Carl
McKinney, Kevin Meadows, Gary Miller, Jr., Rusty Moore, Chad Myers,
Dave Padula, Mike Pegher, Jr., Bobby Powell, Ron Smithley, Tom
Snyder, Jr., Gary Stahl, Dan Stives, Kirby Tucker, Jay Watson, Bobby
Whitling. Any driver not on this list that feels they are eligible
needs to contact 724-964-9300 ASAP.
FASTRAK feature payoff for Mercer: 1. $2,000 2. $1,000 3. $625 4.
$525 5. $450 6. $425 7. $400 8. $350 9. $325 10. $300 11. $275 12.
$265 13. $250 14. $225 15. $215 16. $210 17. $205 18-24. $200.
Tow/Non-qualifiers $100.
Pits open at 2:30 p.m. and the grandstands at 3:30 on Saturday. Hot
laps begin at 5 with FASTRAK Late Model time trials following and
racing at approximately 6 p.m. Adult admission is $15 with students
6-15 $7 and while kids five and under are free. The family pass,
which admits mom, dad, and up to four kids, is $35. Pit passes are
$30. The rain date for the event is Saturday, October 11.
Mercer Raceway Park is a 3/8-mile dirt track located just minutes
from both Interstates 79 & 80 just off Route 19 at 555 Fairground
Road, Mercer, PA. For more information, check out
www.mercerracewaypa rk.com or call the office at 724-964-9300. For
information on race day, call the track at 724-662-1310
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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