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Mike Leone
EAST SMETHPORT, Penn. (May 24) - Year two of the FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series opened the season Saturday night where it closed its inaugural season in 2007 at McKean County Raceway. A chilly evening greeted fans for the track's season opener as a strong field of 33 cars made the tow from all over western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio, western New York, and West Virginia.
Eighteen-year-old Max Blair served notice that he's going to be a force to be reckoned with as the third generation racer took the lead on lap two and put on a dominating performance in the 25-lap non-stop feature to earn the $1,200 top prize. The competitive event saw 20 of the original 24 starters finish the race with 17 of them on the lead lap!
"I'm pumped," expressed the Titusville, Pa. speedster. "That was a blast, but I'm exhausted. I don't know if I could have done another five laps. I had no idea where anyone was at and how big of a lead I had. I thought the top was going to be faster, but it went away so I stayed on the bottom and knew if I didn't anything stupid I was going to be okay. The track was awesome. I don't know how anyone could be against FASTRAK. This is the best thing going…it's cheap and you don't need a $40,000 motor. The Super Late Models couldn't have put on a better show than this. Dad didn't want me racing this weekend, but I can't wait to get back to the pits and call him and tell him I won!"
The event's only caution took place on the initial start when cars got jammed together and Friday night's Dog Hollow Speedway winner, Tom Snyder, Jr., came to a rest with front end damage. When racing got underway, western Pennsylvania Stock Car great Andy Buckley took the lead from the pole position. The Stoneboro, Pa. driver was making his Late Model debut and led the first lap with his 602 GM engine.
Blair, who started fourth, snuck ahead of Greg Oakes for the third on the opening lap then made a great move racing off the inside of turn two to power past Mike Wonderling, Sr. and Buckley for the lead. Blair began to extend his lead as the laps ticked off, while Wonderling and Oakes disposed of Buckley for second and third respectively on lap four. Seventh starting Bobby Powell did the same taking fourth from Buckley on lap six. Buckley's fine run ended when he went up in smoke on lap eight.
By lap seven, Blair began to extend his advantage, while Wonderling and Oakes dueled for second. On lap nine, Powell joined the battle making it a three-car race for second. Blair caught lapped traffic on the 10th circuit. The last 15 laps saw Blair do a magnificent job through lapped traffic as he never bobbled winning his first ever race at the East Smethport speed plant in his Specialty Products/Loney Timber Management/Moody Welding/Eagle Hoist & Wrench-sponsored #111.
Blair took the checkered flag first by a straightaway over Oakes, who finally slipped under Wonderling for second just past the start-finish line on the final lap. Wonderling edged Powell for third despite a deflating tire. Jim Frank was fifth.
Dennis Lunger, who won Mercer Raceway Park's season opening steel-block event finished sixth. New York second-year FASTRAK racers John Haggerty and Kyle Drum were seventh and eighth. Former Stock Car great Butch Lambert had a strong run in ninth and defending track champion John Lacki completed the top 10. Heat winners were Wonderling, Blair, Frank, and Oakes, while Jay Watson and Tim Schram copped the B mains.
FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series Race #1 (25 laps): 1. MAX BLAIR ($1,200) 2. Greg Oakes 3. Mike Wonderling, Sr. 4. Bobby Powell 5. Jim Frank 6. Dennis Lunger 7. John Haggerty 8. Kyle Drum 9. Butch Lambert 10. John Lacki 11. Bobby Whitling 12. Justin Kann 13. Carl McKinney 14. Dave Lyon 15. Dan Stives 16. Jay Watson 17. Rusty Moore 18. Tim Schram 19. Scott Jones 20. Dave Norton, Jr. 21. Bob Kish 22. Andy Buckley 23. Dereck Frank 24. Tom Snyder, Jr. DNQ: Steve Hollabaugh, Chad Myers, Todd Sweet, Bert Cleer, Garrett Steven, Kevin Meadows, Jon Law, Roger French, J.R. Wright (illegal)
Lap leaders: Andy Buckley (1), Max Blair (2-25)
Heat winners: Mike Wonderling, Sr., Max Blair, Jim Frank, Greg Oakes
B main winners: Jay Watson, Tim Schram
Car count: 33
The FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series heads next to Mercer Raceway Park on Monday for the "Steel Valley Memorial Day Classic". Race #2 will be another 25-lap $1,200 to-win, $150 to-start event. Race time is 6 p.m. For more information, check out www.mercerracewaypark.com. 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.
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