McKean County Raceway
June 16, 2012
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RYAN MONTGOMERY ENDS BLAIR’S WIN STREAK WITH 2ND CAREER FASTRAK NE TOUR WIN & 1ST EVER MCKEAN VICTORY

By Mike Leone
(East Smethport, PA)…The Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC Pace Performance FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series made their first of five stops of the year to McKean County Raceway on Saturday night.  It was race #7 of 25 on the 2012 slate.  McKean was one of the original four FASTRAK-sanctioned tracks when the Northeast Region was created in 2007.  Saturday’s event marked the record 13th Tour event held at the East Smethport, Pa. oval and provided the 11th different winner! 

Three-time Northeast Touring and National Weekly Series champion Max Blair entered Saturday night with an unprecedented four straight Tour wins and five victories in the first six events.  That streak came to an end on Saturday night and it took a 15-year-old to do it.  Ryan Montgomery led all 25 laps of the feature withstanding early challenges by Bobby Rohrer and John Over then a final charge by Mike Pegher, Jr. for his second career Tour win.  The victory was worth $1,200 plus a $100 certificate for being the Genesis Shocks “Top Dog of the Night”.

“I’m worn out,” expressed the Fairmont, West Virginia high school racer after climbing from his car and receiving a roar from the crowd.  “The track was a little bumpy, but it was fast and good.  That was a great race!  I haven’t torn this body up yet this year so all of my sponsors are still on here to be able to thank them.  I also have to thank my parents for giving me the opportunity to do this.  My dad has steel plates in his back so I’m sure he was so nervous watching me that he couldn’t move.” 

Montgomery used the outside lane to power past pole-sitter Bobby Rohrer at the start with Adam Sixt, John Over, and Shane Weaver in tow.  The complexity of the race took a turn when Blair suffered a cut tire from contact on a restart following a tangle by Jon Lichy and Junior Peters with two laps scored.  Back under green conditions, Over and Sixt were swapping third and fourth, while Brian Knowles and Shane Weaver were doing the same for fourth and fifth.

A five-car accident took place on lap four with Joe Martin taking the brunt of the damage.  Martin was selected as The Brake Man “Tough Brake of the Night” for the second time this season.  Over got a tremendous restart when green replaced yellow as he passed both Sixt and Rohrer for the runner-up spot.  After six green flag laps, a pair of cautions slowed action with 9 and 10 laps completed respectively.  Finally another long stretch of green flag racing took place between laps 10-21.

Mike Pegher, Jr. and Weaver had a great side-by-side battle for many laps as the duo swapped the spot back and forth.  Montgomery and Over began distancing themselves from the field as the laps ticked off, while the battle was on for third.  On lap 18, Sixt made the pass stick for third.  Over meanwhile closed on Montgomery and was right on the leader on lap 19. 

Following a caution for a tangle between Knowles and newcomer Cody Mason with 21 laps completed, Pegher was finally able to get by Weaver for good on lap 22.  Rohrer’s season best run came to an end when he looped his car in turn two on lap 23.  This moved 10th starting Pegher up to fourth for the restart.  And on that restart, both he and Blair overtook Sixt for third and fourth.  Pegher made contact with Over coming out of turn four on lap 23.  Pegher allowed Over to get gathered back up without spinning, but was able to take the spot.

Up front, Montgomery had enough to hold on for his first ever McKean County victory in the Jeff Montgomery-owned, T. J. Contracting/High Gear Speed Shop/Mountain State Plumbing/Central Supply Company/Genesis Shocks/Jack’s Recycling/Core Race Products/Bobby Lake Motorsports/Warrior Race Cars-sponsored #12. 

Last season, Montgomery became the youngest ever FASTRAK Tour winner at age 14 when he won at Sharon Speedway on September 17. It was Montgomery’s third top four finish of the season, which moved him into sole possession of fourth place in points as he’s closed in on the second and third positions in points the last two weeks.

Pegher was second for the second straight race as he recorded his fourth top five finish of the season.  Over crossed the finish line in third for what appeared to be his best career Tour finish, but was disqualified in post-race tech for failing to meet the minimum valve spring installed height.  Blair was credited with a hard fought third to maintain his point lead.  Sixt had a great run in fourth for his first career top five in three years of periodic Tour competition.  Weaver turned in a stellar performance for his best career finish easily surpassing his prior best Tour finish of 11th at the same event last year at McKean.

After two straight finishes outside the top 10, Butch Lambert had a solid run in sixth for his fifth top 10 of the season to hold down the runner-up spot in points.  Steve Dixon made just his third Tour start of the season, but recorded his third top seven finish in seventh.  Dixon started 19th and was even collected in an early race accident as earned the $100 Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down” Hard Charger Award. 

After finishing runner-up and winning the last non-qualifier event, Kyle Wiser started his first career A feature and had a nice run to finish eighth after starting 18th.  Wiser, who won Friday night at Path Valley Speedway, towed all of the way from Orbisonia, Pa. to compete for the first time ever at McKean.  Chad Ruhlman was ninth over Bryce Davis, who rallied back to complete the top 10 after an early race spin. 

Rohrer was the final car on the lead lap at the finish in 16th and earned the free Hoosier Tire presented by Utsinger’s Towing.  Lambert, Ruhlman, and Pegher won the heat races.  Jamie Brown qualified for his second K&N “Cold Air Induction” Dash and led every lap for the $100 certificate holding off Martin for his first victory to become the sixth different winner in seven events.  Martin received a $50 K&N certificate, while Brad Kling and Garrett Mott received $25 cash for their first dash starts. 

Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC Pace Performance FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series Race #7 (25 laps, $1,200 to-win): 1. RYAN MONTGOMERY (12)  2. Mike Pegher, Jr. (Geisler 1c)  3. Max Blair (111)  4. Adam Sixt (6T)  5. Shane Weaver (Ruffner 325x)  6. Butch Lambert (27)  7. Steve Dixon (50)  8. Kyle Wiser (Price 34)  9. Chad Ruhlman (Suppa 4s)  10. Bryce Davis (94)  11. Garrett Mott (43x)  12. Jamie Brown (135)  13. Brad Kling (Powell 100)  14. Junior Peters (00)  15. Justin Smith (22)  16. Bobby Rohrer (11)  17. Pat Willar (39)  18. Jon Lichy (35)  19. Cody Mason (MR1)  20. Brian Knowles (4)  21. Dereck Frank (16)  22. Dave Norton, Jr. (24x)  23. Joe Martin (55)  24. John Over (K2)-DSQ (failed to meet minimum valve spring installed height)

Heat Winners: Lambert, Ruhlman & Pegher
K&N Cold Air Induction Dash: 1. Jamie Brown  2. Joe Martin  3. Brad Kling  4. Garrett Mott.
Feature Lap Leaders: Montgomery (1-25)
Car Count: 24

Genesis Shocks “Top Dog of the Night”: Ryan Montgomery
Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down” Hard Charger: Steve Dixon (+12)
Utsinger’s Towing Hoosier Tire Giveaway: Bobby Rohrer
Brake Man “Tough Brake of the Night”: Joe Martin

2012 Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series Results
Date/Track/State/Winner/# of Wins/To-Win Amount/Car Count
April 1 Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex (PA)/Max Blair (1)/$3,000/47
April 20 Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex (PA)/Mike Pegher, Jr. (1)/$1,200/42
May 13 Eriez Speedway (PA)/Max Blair (2)/$1,200/32
May 20 Humberstone Speedway (ON)/Max Blair (3)/$2,000/26
May 26 Sharon Speedway (OH)/Max Blair (4)/$1,500/34
May 27 Sharon Speedway (OH)/Feature to be made up 8/18/12/$1,500/31
June 8 Dog Hollow Speedway (PA) /Max Blair (5)/$1,200/32 (41 between the 2 nights)
June 16 McKean County Raceway (PA)/Ryan Montgomery (1)/$1,200/24

The next race for the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC Pace Performance FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series will be Saturday, June 23 at Sharon Speedway for the second annual Gary Knollinger Memorial paying $2,000 to-win.

2012 FASTRAK Northeast marketing partners include Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC, Pace Performance, Hoosier Tires, Original Pizza Logs, K&N Filters, The Brake Man, Utsinger’s Towing, Precise Racing Products, Genesis Shocks, VP Fuels, Beyea Custom Headers, H&H Racing Equipment, High Gear Speed Shop, Hyperco, Jake’s Golf Carts, Lincoln Electric, Wrisco Aluminum, and Wylie Race Cars.

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.