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Mike Leone
E. SMETHPORT, Penn. (July 5) - The FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series returned to McKean County Raceway on Saturday night, July 5 for the second of three stops at the East Smethport, Pa. oval for race #5 of the 12-race series. For the second straight night, sunny skies was a relief to the drivers, fans, and track promoters as the biggest crowd of the season turned out at MCR.
Seven years ago Kyle Drum was the youngest driver to ever win an Empire Super Sprint (ESS) race at the age of 17. Drum had a successful albeit short Sprint Car career, and when the FASTRAK Late Models were announced last year, Drum made the switch to the full-fender cars for the first time in his career.
At McKean's last event on June 26, Drum ran the best race of his Late Model career coming up short by less than one-half of car-length to the veteran Dick Barton. On Saturday night, Drum ran a flawless race leading all 25 laps, hitting his marks, and never missing a beat through lapped traffic to score his first career Late Model win. The victory was worth $1,200 as Drum became the fifth different Touring Series winner in as many races this season.
"We've been trying so hard since last year," expressed the Wayland, New York 23-year-old winner. "This is great. Tom Taber did a great job, and I have to thank my dad. It's tough to beat Dick Barton."
Drum overtook pole-sitter Dan Stives at the start with Barton trailing. On lap two, fifth starting John Haggerty moved into third past Stives with Bobby Powell trailing. Haggerty looked strong as he drove to the inside of Barton in turn four to take second on lap four. A caution for Garret Stephen and Justin Kann brought out the caution with seven laps completed.
The next 14 laps would go non-stop as Drum began to pull away by the halfway point of the event. On lap 16 Drum had a straightaway lead over Haggerty when he entered lapped traffic. Touring Series point leader, Max Blair, started sixth and advanced to third on lap 19 when he drove to the inside of Barton in turn three on lap 19. Haggerty's strong run ended when he drove into turns three and four too hard getting into lapped cars and spinning with 21 laps completed.
One more caution was all that slowed Drum from his victory lane celebration in his T&J Auto Parts/Carpenters Local 85-sponsored #47. Blair edged Barton for second. Lacki completed a strong weekend after his win at Raceway 7 on Friday night to finish fourth after starting 12th. Mike Wonderling, Sr., who finished third in the first Touring Series event this season at McKean, had a solid run to finish fifth. Wayne Mohawk made his first start of the season and finished sixth after starting 20th. Seventh through 10th were Andy Buckley, Steve Hollabaugh, Tim Schram, and Rusty Moore. A long night the night before at Raceway 7 with some torn up cars kept the car count to a season-low 25 cars. Winning the heat races were Blair, Lacki, and Haggerty.
FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series Race #5 (25 laps $1,200 to-win): 1. KYLE DRUM (47) 2. Max Blair (111) 3. Dick Barton (Nielson 28B) 4. John Lacki (7) 5. Mike Wonderling, Sr. (z1) 6. Wayne Mohawk (64) 7. Andy Buckley (Robinson 34R) 8. Steve Hollabaugh (3H) 9. Tim Schram (1s) 10. Rusty Moore (17M) 11. Tom Snyder, Jr. (1F) 12. Bobby Powell (Bidwell B1D) 13. Jim Frank (14*) 14. Bert Cleer (51) 15. Chad Myers (01) 16. Roger French (-1) 17. Jon Law (Sweet 17) 18. John Haggerty (49) 19. Dave Norton, Jr. (24x) 20. Justin Kann (Powell 100) 21. Garret Stephen (79) 22. Dan Stives (41) 23. Tommy Kronenwetter, Jr. (4K) 24. Dennis Lunger (17L) 25. Bob Kish (5)-DNS.
Lap leaders: Kyle Drum (1-25)
Heat winners: Max Blair, John Lacki, John Haggerty
Car count: 25
Next up for the FASTRAK Northeast Touring Series will be race #6 of 12 this Thursday, July 10 at the Expo Speedway at the Trumbull County Fairgrounds in Cortland, Ohio. The event will pay $1,500 to-win, $175 to-start. Pit gates open at 3 p.m. with hot laps at 5:30 and racing at 6 p.m.
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.
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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