FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 16, 2011
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FASTRAK Northeast “Futures Cup” CLASS OF 2011 BEGINS QUEST FOR CHAMPIONSHIP; Races to be held at Sharon and Roaring Knob

By Mike Leone
(Pulaski, PA)…With the onslaught of what has been the rainiest spring in recent memory, the anticipation to begin racing weighs heavy on the minds of all FASTRAK Northeast Late Model racers, but none more than the young drivers who look forward to being crowned the inaugural FASTRAK Northeast “Futures Cup” champion.

As it stands now, 15 nineteen and younger racers with less than two years of experience have become FASTRAK members sealing their opportunity to compete for what has created a phenomenal amount of excitement throughout the winter months for them, their friends, families and crew members. Several other racers meet the criteria and still have the ability to join FASTRAK and participate in the “Futures Cup” program.

“As I’ve watch the FASTRAK Northeast Region develop over the past few years, it was increasingly evident that the FASTRAK Late Models have become a perfect division for young drivers to participate,” explained fifth year Northeast Co-Director Vicki Emig. “It continually amazes me when I watch them how exceptionally talented they are as they battle side-by-side with our region’s best. With this in mind I felt it was vital to create a program that they could be showcased in, while at the same time give them something to call their own and strive for.”

The basis of the program mirrors the National Weekly Series point system with the exception of two individual race scores being added to their best 15 finishes. After careful consideration, events have been slated to take place at Sharon Speedway on Saturday, June 4 and Roaring Knob on Friday, October 7. These races will pay $200 to-win with a payoff back through. The number of laps will be determined based on car count. The “Futures Cup” racers of course will also be able to run in those night’s regularly scheduled events.

“We wanted to try to pick dates and venues that would work for the majority of our racers,” explained fifth year Northeast Co-Director Mike Leone. “Sharon is centrally located and is on a night when three of our Saturday-sanctioned speedways aren’t running and Roaring Knob is at the end of the year when there are no conflicting events.”

Already FASTRAK Futures cup racers are making their presence known in a big way as they compete throughout the region. Sitting atop the standings are Newt Tackett and Ryan Montgomery. Both have already scored strong second place feature finishes at Tri-City and Lernerville Speedways and are in just their first year of FASTRAK competition.

Tackett, 16 of North East, PA, was also one of two drivers to break the track record at Sharon Speedway’s opening night, and then came close to scoring his first FASTRAK victory as he battled with both Rob and Max Blair to the end, at Tri-City’s opener.

Although Montgomery does have a win at I-77 and second place at Lernerville, those came at un-sanctioned speedways and will not count towards “Futures Cup” points. At Lernerville, the 14-year-old Fairmont, WV driver waged an impressive battle with eventual winner Kyle Zimmerman right down to the finish.

The only driver to have already scored a FASTRAK feature event win in his young career is Damian Bidwell, as he did so last year at Tri-City Speedway. The 18-year-old Eldred, Pa. youngster currently sets in third in the “Futures Cup” standing despite a rocky start to the 2011 season.

Raceway 7 and the Twin-State Auto Racing Club’s 2010 Rookie-of-the-Year, Chad Wright, also a second year FASTRAK competitor, is sure to be a strong contender for the inaugural title as he continues to improve with each event. His best finish of the young season came on opening night at Sharon when the 17-year-old Springboro, Pa. resident crossed the finish line in 11th.

Female competitor Alessa Young, a regular at New Jersey’s New Egypt Speedway, finds herself setting in fifth position. The 18-year-old West Chester, Pa. native began her racing career at just 10 years old and is a five-time quarter midget champion. Young recorded three top five finishes at New Egypt in 2010 is sure to make a strong run at the title for the female contingent.

With only four starts in a FASTRAK Late Model, 14-year-old Clay Ruffo has already shown that he has the ability to develop into a serious FASTRAK racer. He showed his raw talent in the stock car ranks at Mercer in 2010, and local railbirds are not counting out this Mercer, Pa. teenager to soon be battling at the front of the “Futures Cup” ranks.

Fourteen-year-old Shane Weaver of Marion Center, Pa. has put everyone on notice that he is serious about competing for the “Futures Cup” title. With his home track, Dog Hollow, being a victim of the rain for the first four weeks, Weaver has made the long trip to Sharon Speedway on two different occasions as well as the Northeast Touring Series event at Roaring Knob to begin accumulating finishes towards the championship.

Cortland, Ohio’s Eric Wilson turned 14 on April 24 and in doing so became eligible to be a FASTRAK member and a “Futures Cup” competitor. Also coming straight out the go-kart ranks into a FASTRAK Late Models, Wilson has already shown glimpses of great promise in just his first few starts at Sharon. Given the opportunity to log more events under his belt in the upcoming weeks Wilson could possibly make a strong late season bid for the title.

Working towards his master’s degree in Secondary Education, progressing towards holding a black belt in Shotkan Karate, and driving and maintaining an FASTRAK Late Model are not always the goals of most 18 year-old teenagers, but those are exactly what is on the plate of Russell Baird, Jr. this year. There is no doubt that the Uniontown, Pa. racer has the inaugural FASTRAK “Futures Cup” title at the top of his achievement list and this accomplishment is by no means out of the realm of possibility.

Team Greek’s dog in the fight is 14-year-old Nico Dabecco of Pittsburgh. Another third-generation driver, Dabeeco has already gained experience on many of the Northeast regional speedways competing in Mini Stocks at just 12 years of age then FASTRAK Late Models last season. Mentored by his uncle, FASTRAK driver Dan Karalagas and family, Dabecco could be a threat at anytime to win the title with his natural abilities.

Newcomers to FASTRAK in 2011 are Canadians Darren and Jorden Peters. Father Darren will be competing in the Northeast Touring Series, while 14-year-old Jorden will be a regular at new FASTRAK Weekly Series member track Humberstone Speedway. In fact, Jorden finished third in Friday night’s opener at the track in a race won by Darren.

Another female competitor, Lauren Longbrake, will be making the long trip with her father from Columbus, OH to compete in many of the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC FASTRAK Northeast Touring events. Although just in her first year of FASTRAK Late Model racing, this 14-year-old former go-kart racer is sure to gain valuable experience throughout the summer and finish well in the “Futures Cup” standings.

Three other FASTRAK member “Futures Cup” eligible racers have unfortunately been unable to record an event, mostly due to the extremely wet weather the Northeast has experienced. Matt Bassaro, Joe Long, and Bobby Rohrer, Jr’s home tracks have all been unable to complete an event to date. There is no doubt that when these young drivers are given the opportunity to compete they to will carve their mark and presence in the 2011 “Futures Cup” ranks.

“It is our goal to begin to build this fine group of young talented drivers into our “Stars of Tomorrow”, expressed Leone. “Throughout the season, I’m sure regional race fans are going to be as impressed by them as we are. It’ll be really be exciting to crown the inaugural FASTRAK “Futures Cup” Champion and recognize the top 10 at our awards banquet. We’ll all be proud to know that this exceptional group of young drivers cut their teeth within our FASTRAK ranks- some of which will someday become our region’s Late Model superstars!”

In a continued effort to promote the “Futures Cup drivers,” an awesome shirt has been designed by industry leader ASI Racewear for the Class of 2011 “Futures Cup” participants. It will be unveiled and available beginning over Memorial Day Weekend. Also, several pages of the new 2011 FASTRAK Northeast Fan Guide and Driver Handbook have been dedicated to these drivers and will highlight them individually enabling fans throughout the entire Northeast region to enjoy and recognize them when they visit a speedway near them.

Again, those drivers 19 and under that have no more than one year of FASTRAK experience can begin now to accumulate FASTRAK “Futures Cup” points and compete in the events by simply becoming a member of FASTRAK. Membership forms are available online under the Membership link at www.fastraknortheast.com

FASTRAK Northeast’s 2011 marketing partners include Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC, Original Pizza Logs, Bully Dog, Contingency Connection, Utsinger’s Towing, and Hoosier Tire.

You can reach co-directors Vicki Emig and Mike Leone at the FASTRAK Northeast office at 724-964-9300. E-mail to info@fastraknortheast.com and snail mail to 4368 Route 422, Pulaski, PA 16143. The office is open daily late mornings and after 1:30 p.m. For more information, check out the FASTRAK Northeast website at www.fastraknortheast.com. Become our fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fastraknortheast.