FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series
July 17, 2012
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5-NIGHT ORIGINAL PIZZA LOGS “CROSS THE BORDERS” SPEEDWEEK A SUCCESS FOR FASTRAK NE WITH 4 DIFFERENT WINNERS, RECORD CAR COUNTS & GREAT RACING

by Mike Leone
(Pulaski, PA)…The Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC Pace Performance FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series is well underway for the second half of the season.  Recently, the Series concluded its second annual “Cross the Borders” Speedweek presented by Original Pizza Logs.  The Speedweek featured tremendous racing with four different winners and record car counts set during three of the nights.  Max Blair was the $1,000 champion for the second straight year.

“We couldn’t have been happier again with Speedweek,” acknowledged sixth year Northeast Co-Director Vicki Emig.  “We really have to thank the tracks for supporting this concept and Original Pizza Logs for joining as the Speedweek title sponsor.  Last year went over great and we were thrilled to have the same five tracks back on board.  The racers really supported the Speedweek and once again put on some of the season’s best racing.  The temperatures were stifling almost every day so it’s a tribute to the racers and fans for still coming out like they did.”

Speedweek kicked off at Expo Speedway at the Trumbull County Fair on Wednesday, July 4.  Despite storms in the forecast all day and night, a track record 30 cars turned out eclipsing last year’s mark of 29.  Will Thomas III garnered his first career Tour win and was a big worth $2,000 and gave him the earlier Speedweek point lead.  Fans were treated to fair admission, rides, and grandstand access for just $4!  A severe storm struck shortly after the conclusion of the program.

On Thursday, July 5, McKean County Raceway hosted night #2 and the racers and fans really came out to support this one.  An all-time McKean record 49 cars turned out to race in front of a large crowd!  Max Blair raced to his sixth victory of the season setting an all-time single season win record.  McKean is in its sixth year under FASTRAK.

Raceway 7 hosted their only appearance of the season by the Touring Series on Friday, July 6.  Thirty-three cars were on hand missing last year’s record of 34.  Max Blair made it two-in-a-row adding to his personal best of seven wins on the season.   

Thunderstorms were back in the forecast on Saturday for stop #4 of Speedweek at Pittsburgh’s PA Motor Speedway.  While storms missed most of the day, a cell sat over the speedway forcing an hour delay to the program.  That left for a fast track as Chad Wright flew around the “Monster Half-Mile” with an average speed over 118 miles per hour in the B main.  The feature was a good one with Chad Ruhlman winning his first ever FASTRAK feature.  Pittsburgh was the third track in four days to set a car count record with an impressive 41 cars filling the pits despite the storm chance and 100-degree weather.  Nico Dabecco made a last lap pass of last year’s winner Lauren Longbrake to win the Pace Performance “Futures Cup” Trifecta race.

Eriez Speedway saved the best for last as Matt Latta passed Mike Pegher, Jr. and then held off Blair for his first career victory.  What a night to do it as $2,000 was on the line in front of many of his friends and family.  A great surface was prepared that featured one of the best races of the season as Latta became the Series’ third new winner in five nights. 

Blair was able to outgain Thomas by just three points to win the $1,000 championship.  All in all it was a tremendous week for Thomas, who had never competed before at Expo or McKean and had only a handful of starts total at Raceway 7, Pittsburgh, and Eriez.  Thomas earned $500 for his runner-up. 

Dan Angelicchio had a great Speedweek for the second straight year.  Angelicchio led the Speedweek points in 2011 to come up short on the final night to Blair.  This year, Angelicchio was third over a consistent Mike Pegher, Jr.  Ruhlman and Latta tied for fifth.  Chad Wright ended Speedweek with four straight fifth place finishes to finish seventh in the overall points.  Ryan Montgomery, John Over, and Shane Weaver completed the top 10.  Those 10 racers will share in the $3,000 point fund. 

A total of 89 different drivers competed over the five nights of competition- this was up 11 over last year’s total of 78.  For the second year in a row, 12 racers were in attendance for all five nights with the addition of Lauren Longbrake and W.L. Stile to those in the top 10, while six other drivers missed just one of the events. 

Special thanks to North Carolina driver Matt Long, who participated in the first four nights of competition.  Long raced at Eldora Speedway’s National Event the Saturday before heading east to race.  Long’s best finish was second at Expo worth $1,000.  Mechanical woes cost Long good finishes at both Raceway 7 and Pittsburgh. 

2012 FASTRAK Northeast Touring Series
Original Pizza Logs "Cross the Borders" Speedweek Points

Pos # Driver POINTS
1 111 Max Blair 155
2 9 Will Thomas III 152
3 14A Dan Angelicchio 145
4 1c Mike Pegher, Jr. 142
5 4s Chad Ruhlman 138
B1D Matt Latta 138
7 6 Chad Wright 137
8 12 Ryan Montgomery 133
9 K2 John Over 110
10 325X Shane Weaver 94
11 27 Butch Lambert 93
12 27L Lauren Longbrake 86
13 25 Matt Long 85
14 50 Steve Dixon 71
15 135 Jamie Brown 67
16 27W Eric Wilson 65
17 100 Brad Kling 64
18 2$ W.L. Stile 63
19 c1/1L Kyle Lukon 60
20 00 Josh Holtgraver 53
21 55 Joe Martin 50
11R Bobby Rohrer 50
23 71L Dennis Lunger, Jr. 48
24 7 John Lacki 43
38 Josh Double 43
26 84 Andrew Wylie 42
27 75 Colton Flinner 40
28 68B Shane Bambarger 38
29 15M Mark Moats, Jr. 34
30 D2 Nolan Dalton 33
31 59 Bill Cunningham 30
14R Clay Ruffo 30
29J Jason Genco 30
34 z17 Kyle Zimmerman 29
3 Bruce Hordusky, Jr. 29
36 9R Michael Reft 28
37 75C Matt Cobb 27
00P Junior Peters 27
39 01 Doug Ricotta 24
40 2M Chuck Medved 22
41 8c Dusty Curry 21
42 98C Tom Copeland 20
43 22D Charles Daugherty 19
44c Billy Cunningham 19
45 6P Bobby Pifer 18
1Fr Nico Dabecco 18
47 17 Damian Bidwell 17
99G Beau Glemba 17
49 94 Bryce Davis 16
0 Ryan Scott 16
51 8s Tommy Schirnhofer, Jr. 15
52 126 Bryan Salisbury 14
B4 Steve Beatty 14
54 16F Jim Frank 13
13 Billy Henry, Jr. 13
56 75S Scott Schempp 12
57 21KRT Rocky Kugel 11
84L Laura Lukon 11
59 23D Bob Diver 10
32B Robby Barris 10
20 Wayne Robertson 10
6T Adam Sixt 10
24x Dave Norton, Jr. 10
49 John Haggerty 10
8c Zack Carley 10
69s Jason Stetson 10
24B Brad Mesler 10
21 Craig Dean 10
22 Justin Smith 10
91 Brian Haggerty 10
28F Scott Fitch 10
1s Tim Schram 10
39 Pat Willar 10
81 Justin Tatlow 10
4 Jason Knowles 10
35 Jon Lichy 10
43x Garrett Mott 10
7W Bobby Whitling 10
16F Dereck Frank 10
9S Breyton Santee 10
5M Ricky Meglaye 10
28 Bryant Hank 10
08 Jeff Broniszewski 10
93x Justin Lamb 10
50T Tyler Carson 10
17B Russell Baird, Jr. 10
12G Brian Goebel 10
18 Chris Lander 10
89 01W Khole Wanzer 0


The Original Pizza Log, “The Pizza Treat That’s Fun to Eat,” is a great product for family and casual dining along with cafeteria, lounge, and entertainment facility usage.  The Original Pizza Logs come in a variety of styles to meet any taste such as pepperoni and cheese, Italian sausage & cheese, hot peppers & cheese, taco, and many others.  The company has been in existence since 1986 and distributes nationwide.  For more information, check out their website at www.pizzalogs.com.   

2012 FASTRAK Northeast marketing partners include Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC, Pace Performance, Hoosier Tires, K&N Filters, The Brake Man, Utsinger’s Towing, Original Pizza Logs, Precise Racing Products, VP Fuels, Beyea Custom Headers, Genesis Shocks, 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 and follow us on Twitter @FASTRAKNE