Dirtfan_21
01-19-2009, 08:44 AM
Hermitage, PA…The FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series honored its top 10 racers on Saturday night, January 17. The Normandy Banquet Center played host to the event, which was held in conjunction with the Mercer Raceway Awards Banquet & Dinner. Nearly $15,000 was distributed to the top 10, an increase of 50% over 2007.
The 2008 season was the second year for the Northeast Touring Series as 11 events were contested with 10 different winners. The only event lost was at Mercer Raceway Park on September 13 due to rain. A total of 78 different drivers competed in the 11 events with an average car count of 30 per night.
Max Blair was the Series’ second champion in as many years. Blair was the only driver to repeat with victories in the 11-event slate. The 18-year-old Centerville, Pa. racer won the opening event at McKean County Raceway on May 24 and scored his second win on August 24 at Eriez Speedway. All told, Blair had 7 top 5s and 8 top 10s in his Specialty Products/Loney Timber Management/Moody Welding/Eagle Hoist & Wrench-sponsored #111. Saturday night, Blair received his $5,000 check along with his first ever large mock-up check, an eagle trophy, and a championship jacket.
Following the conclusion of the Touring Series schedule, Blair went on to win Night 1 of the Grand Nationals at Mercer and ended up in a tie for seventh in the final Grand National points. He was the inaugural $10,000 City Chevrolet National Weekly Series Champion. He’ll receive those two honors this Saturday, January 24 at the National Banquet in Nashville, Tennessee.
Dick Barton finished runner-up in Touring Series points for the second straight year despite missing the opening event at McKean and finishing 23rd in the second race at Mercer. From then on, the Ashville, New York veteran recorded 9 straight top 7 finishes including his September 5 win at Dog Hollow in The Bolt Place/Raceway 7-sponsored #28B. Barton’s car owner Melody Nielson accepted on behalf of Barton.
Finishing third in the points was John Lacki, who made the trip down Saturday night coming through blizzard-like conditions from his Sinclairville, New York home. Failing to make the feature at Mercer on Memorial Day and Raceway 7 on July 25 all but eliminated Lacki’s shot at the championship, but otherwise he performed well with a July 4 win at Raceway 7 and had 6 top 5s and 8 top 10s in his own #7 sponsored by B&L Wholesale (Jamestown, NY branch), Bradford Window Company, Duggan & Duggan Construction, and Chub Frank Racing.
Bobby Powell was fourth in his first full year on the Touring Series. The Waterford, Pa. driver had a thrilling win at Expo Speedway on July 10. He also had a third and a fourth along with 6 top 10s in the Scott Bidwell-owned, Fame RV Center/Maloney Tool & Mold-sponsored #B1D.
Tom Snyder, Jr. joined by Barton as the only two drivers to finish in the top 5 in points both years. Snyder was fifth this year. The Mayport, Pa. former Stock Car standout had two runner-ups including a just miss win at Eriez, which would have meant 11 different winners in 11 Touring races. Snyder also had 6 top 10s in his own JR’s Welding-sponsored Faster Chassis #1F.
Dennis Lunger, Jr. really turned around his season to work his way up to sixth in the final points. After four straight did not finishes from Memorial Day through Independence Day, the Albion, Pa. racer bounced back with 5 straight top 8 finishes including a season-best runner-up at Dog Hollow on September 5 in the Schwartz Construction/Penn-Ohio/Carter Lumber/Mucci’s Pizza/Shetler Construction/Erie Marketing/Joe’s Carpentry-sponsored, Reuben Schwartz-owned #17L. Lunger regretted not being in attendance, but some recent medical complications flared up in recent weeks.
Rusty Moore not only competed in his first year in a Late Model, but his first year in any touring series of any kind. The New Castle, Pa. driver drove his own #17M to 5 top 10s including a season best fifth on September 5 at Dog Hollow.
Andy Buckley, the 2001 and 2004 Mercer Raceway Park Stock Car Champion, made the jump up to the FASTRAK Late Models in 2008 and competed with the Touring Series in Rick Robinson’s #34R sponsored by World of Wheels and Robinson Automotive. The Stoneboro, Pa. turned in 4 top 10s performances including a season best seventh at McKean on July 5. His efforts resulted in an eighth place in the final standings.
Justin Kann competed in FASTRAK for the first time and finished ninth in points. His season best finish was fifth on June 20 at Dog Hollow and followed that up with a seventh at Raceway 7 on July 4. The Hesston, Pa. racer drove the John Powell-owned, K&K Driveway Sealing/Rick Singleton Rentals/Mactown Outfitters/Ritchey’s Sandblasting/G&R Excavating-sponsored, Bullitt Chassis #100.
Completing the top 10 in points was Jay Watson edging out Jim Frank by a mere two points. The Conneaut, Ohio veteran had a season best second at Mercer on the Memorial Day to go along with a sixth and a seventh in his own #7x sponsored by C&C Lawn Care and Polchosky Excavating.
Following the top 10 presentation, FASTRAK Northeast Co-Directors Vicki Emig and Mike Leone presented Scott Myers with a plaque in honor of his efforts to actually jump-start this concept in the Northeast. Myers, of Franklin, Pa., organized an informational meeting with local drivers and track promoters in November 2006 that was conducted by FASTRAK founder Stan Lester. Prior to the meeting, Myers tried selling the series to Emig in hopes that FASTRAK could have a home at Mercer in 2007 and possibly coordinate this series in the Northeast. Even though Emig told Myers no at the time, the meeting was held only a couple miles from Emig’s office, which she and Leone attended and the rest was history.
Mercer Raceway Park track announcer, Mike Dutko, emceed the event and thanked associate sponsors Race 1, Fame RV Center, Yoder’s Performance Specialty & PRC, Bullitt Chassis, and Fred Beans Parts, along with Bob Williams for handling the Goodyear Tire sales and Series officials Jim Dutko, Rich Berry, Brad Hibbard, and Randy Myers.
The 2009 Touring Series scheduled is hoped to be finalized by the end of the month.
Final 2008 FASTRAK Northeast Touring Series Points (only Touring Series members were eligible to receive points): 1. MAX BLAIR 325 2. Dick Barton 308 3. John Lacki 291 4. Bobby Powell 287 5. Tom Snyder, Jr. 284 6. Dennis Lunger, Jr. 265 7. Rusty Moore 239 8. Andy Buckley 225 9. Justin Kann 203 10. Jay Watson 200 11. Jim Frank 198 12. Bob Kish 188 13. Roger French 168 14. Mike Pegher, Jr. 158 15. Steve Hollabaugh 157 16. Jon Law 146 17. Carl McKinney 144 18. Kevin Meadows 138 19. Bert Cleer 127 20. Chad Myers 125 21. Bob Diver 120 22. Dereck Frank 114 23. Kyle Drum 75 24. Bobby Whitling 67 25. Brian Booher 62 26. Bob Dorman 48 27. Todd Sweet 46 28. Tommy Schirnhofer, Jr. 38 29. Steve D’Apolito 37 30. Bryan Salisbury, & Dave Airgood, Jr. 10 32. Frank Guidace, Dan Karalagas, Gary Miller, Jr., Tim Schram, Mike Wonderling, Sr., Tommy Kronenwetter, Mike Lesky, John Eckenrod, Rocky Kugel, Sammy Stile, Alan Dellinger, Aaron Ridley, Tyler Dietz, Jeff Enos, Tony Hyde, Ron Smithley, Dan Angelicchio, Dave Lyon, Kyle Zimmerman, Jason Fosnaught, Bump Hedman, Greg Oakes, Chad Wilds, Alex Anderson, Dave Norton, Jr., Butch Lambert, Ben Black, Bryant Hank, Bob Vogt, Jr., Chris Haines, Jim Laughard, Dan Stives, Dave Osterberg, Gary Stahl, Scott Jones, Jason Stanke, John Haggerty, Kirby Tucker, Roger Laughlin, Chris Angelicchio, Joe Zulinsky, Wayne Mohawk, Mike Anderson (Jr.), Garrett Stephen, Bert Blackson, Tom Copeland, Chris Knuth 0.
To join our mailing list, simply send an e-mail to fastrakpr-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Mike Leone and Vicki Emig can be reached at 724-964-9300. E-mail to info@fastraknortheast.com and snail mail to 4368 Route 422, Pulaski, PA 16143. For more information, check out www.fastraknortheast.com.
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The 2008 season was the second year for the Northeast Touring Series as 11 events were contested with 10 different winners. The only event lost was at Mercer Raceway Park on September 13 due to rain. A total of 78 different drivers competed in the 11 events with an average car count of 30 per night.
Max Blair was the Series’ second champion in as many years. Blair was the only driver to repeat with victories in the 11-event slate. The 18-year-old Centerville, Pa. racer won the opening event at McKean County Raceway on May 24 and scored his second win on August 24 at Eriez Speedway. All told, Blair had 7 top 5s and 8 top 10s in his Specialty Products/Loney Timber Management/Moody Welding/Eagle Hoist & Wrench-sponsored #111. Saturday night, Blair received his $5,000 check along with his first ever large mock-up check, an eagle trophy, and a championship jacket.
Following the conclusion of the Touring Series schedule, Blair went on to win Night 1 of the Grand Nationals at Mercer and ended up in a tie for seventh in the final Grand National points. He was the inaugural $10,000 City Chevrolet National Weekly Series Champion. He’ll receive those two honors this Saturday, January 24 at the National Banquet in Nashville, Tennessee.
Dick Barton finished runner-up in Touring Series points for the second straight year despite missing the opening event at McKean and finishing 23rd in the second race at Mercer. From then on, the Ashville, New York veteran recorded 9 straight top 7 finishes including his September 5 win at Dog Hollow in The Bolt Place/Raceway 7-sponsored #28B. Barton’s car owner Melody Nielson accepted on behalf of Barton.
Finishing third in the points was John Lacki, who made the trip down Saturday night coming through blizzard-like conditions from his Sinclairville, New York home. Failing to make the feature at Mercer on Memorial Day and Raceway 7 on July 25 all but eliminated Lacki’s shot at the championship, but otherwise he performed well with a July 4 win at Raceway 7 and had 6 top 5s and 8 top 10s in his own #7 sponsored by B&L Wholesale (Jamestown, NY branch), Bradford Window Company, Duggan & Duggan Construction, and Chub Frank Racing.
Bobby Powell was fourth in his first full year on the Touring Series. The Waterford, Pa. driver had a thrilling win at Expo Speedway on July 10. He also had a third and a fourth along with 6 top 10s in the Scott Bidwell-owned, Fame RV Center/Maloney Tool & Mold-sponsored #B1D.
Tom Snyder, Jr. joined by Barton as the only two drivers to finish in the top 5 in points both years. Snyder was fifth this year. The Mayport, Pa. former Stock Car standout had two runner-ups including a just miss win at Eriez, which would have meant 11 different winners in 11 Touring races. Snyder also had 6 top 10s in his own JR’s Welding-sponsored Faster Chassis #1F.
Dennis Lunger, Jr. really turned around his season to work his way up to sixth in the final points. After four straight did not finishes from Memorial Day through Independence Day, the Albion, Pa. racer bounced back with 5 straight top 8 finishes including a season-best runner-up at Dog Hollow on September 5 in the Schwartz Construction/Penn-Ohio/Carter Lumber/Mucci’s Pizza/Shetler Construction/Erie Marketing/Joe’s Carpentry-sponsored, Reuben Schwartz-owned #17L. Lunger regretted not being in attendance, but some recent medical complications flared up in recent weeks.
Rusty Moore not only competed in his first year in a Late Model, but his first year in any touring series of any kind. The New Castle, Pa. driver drove his own #17M to 5 top 10s including a season best fifth on September 5 at Dog Hollow.
Andy Buckley, the 2001 and 2004 Mercer Raceway Park Stock Car Champion, made the jump up to the FASTRAK Late Models in 2008 and competed with the Touring Series in Rick Robinson’s #34R sponsored by World of Wheels and Robinson Automotive. The Stoneboro, Pa. turned in 4 top 10s performances including a season best seventh at McKean on July 5. His efforts resulted in an eighth place in the final standings.
Justin Kann competed in FASTRAK for the first time and finished ninth in points. His season best finish was fifth on June 20 at Dog Hollow and followed that up with a seventh at Raceway 7 on July 4. The Hesston, Pa. racer drove the John Powell-owned, K&K Driveway Sealing/Rick Singleton Rentals/Mactown Outfitters/Ritchey’s Sandblasting/G&R Excavating-sponsored, Bullitt Chassis #100.
Completing the top 10 in points was Jay Watson edging out Jim Frank by a mere two points. The Conneaut, Ohio veteran had a season best second at Mercer on the Memorial Day to go along with a sixth and a seventh in his own #7x sponsored by C&C Lawn Care and Polchosky Excavating.
Following the top 10 presentation, FASTRAK Northeast Co-Directors Vicki Emig and Mike Leone presented Scott Myers with a plaque in honor of his efforts to actually jump-start this concept in the Northeast. Myers, of Franklin, Pa., organized an informational meeting with local drivers and track promoters in November 2006 that was conducted by FASTRAK founder Stan Lester. Prior to the meeting, Myers tried selling the series to Emig in hopes that FASTRAK could have a home at Mercer in 2007 and possibly coordinate this series in the Northeast. Even though Emig told Myers no at the time, the meeting was held only a couple miles from Emig’s office, which she and Leone attended and the rest was history.
Mercer Raceway Park track announcer, Mike Dutko, emceed the event and thanked associate sponsors Race 1, Fame RV Center, Yoder’s Performance Specialty & PRC, Bullitt Chassis, and Fred Beans Parts, along with Bob Williams for handling the Goodyear Tire sales and Series officials Jim Dutko, Rich Berry, Brad Hibbard, and Randy Myers.
The 2009 Touring Series scheduled is hoped to be finalized by the end of the month.
Final 2008 FASTRAK Northeast Touring Series Points (only Touring Series members were eligible to receive points): 1. MAX BLAIR 325 2. Dick Barton 308 3. John Lacki 291 4. Bobby Powell 287 5. Tom Snyder, Jr. 284 6. Dennis Lunger, Jr. 265 7. Rusty Moore 239 8. Andy Buckley 225 9. Justin Kann 203 10. Jay Watson 200 11. Jim Frank 198 12. Bob Kish 188 13. Roger French 168 14. Mike Pegher, Jr. 158 15. Steve Hollabaugh 157 16. Jon Law 146 17. Carl McKinney 144 18. Kevin Meadows 138 19. Bert Cleer 127 20. Chad Myers 125 21. Bob Diver 120 22. Dereck Frank 114 23. Kyle Drum 75 24. Bobby Whitling 67 25. Brian Booher 62 26. Bob Dorman 48 27. Todd Sweet 46 28. Tommy Schirnhofer, Jr. 38 29. Steve D’Apolito 37 30. Bryan Salisbury, & Dave Airgood, Jr. 10 32. Frank Guidace, Dan Karalagas, Gary Miller, Jr., Tim Schram, Mike Wonderling, Sr., Tommy Kronenwetter, Mike Lesky, John Eckenrod, Rocky Kugel, Sammy Stile, Alan Dellinger, Aaron Ridley, Tyler Dietz, Jeff Enos, Tony Hyde, Ron Smithley, Dan Angelicchio, Dave Lyon, Kyle Zimmerman, Jason Fosnaught, Bump Hedman, Greg Oakes, Chad Wilds, Alex Anderson, Dave Norton, Jr., Butch Lambert, Ben Black, Bryant Hank, Bob Vogt, Jr., Chris Haines, Jim Laughard, Dan Stives, Dave Osterberg, Gary Stahl, Scott Jones, Jason Stanke, John Haggerty, Kirby Tucker, Roger Laughlin, Chris Angelicchio, Joe Zulinsky, Wayne Mohawk, Mike Anderson (Jr.), Garrett Stephen, Bert Blackson, Tom Copeland, Chris Knuth 0.
To join our mailing list, simply send an e-mail to fastrakpr-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Mike Leone and Vicki Emig can be reached at 724-964-9300. E-mail to info@fastraknortheast.com and snail mail to 4368 Route 422, Pulaski, PA 16143. For more information, check out www.fastraknortheast.com.
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