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Mike Leone
CORTLAND, Ohio (July 8) - After a busy two-race weekend, the FASTRAK Northeast Touring Series will be right back in action with a special midweek show this Thursday, July 10 at the Expo Speedway at the Trumbull County Fairgrounds during their 162nd annual Fair. The event will mark the third straight year auto racing has taken place during the Trumbull County Fair, but first for the Late Models since 1995. The Stock Cars will also be part of the program with racing beginning early at 6 p.m.
"It's a pleasure to be part of the Trumbull County Fair," acknowledged FASTRAK Northeast Co-Director Vicki Emig. "We ran out of time last year putting the event together, but Fairboard President Bud Rogers is thrilled to see FASTRAK make its debut and anxiously awaits the return of Late Models. There is a long, storied history of Late Models in the Youngstown-Warren area so this is a long-awaited event for many fans and racers in that area."
The Expo event will mark race #6 of 12 of the sophomore season of the FASTRAK Northeast Touring Series. The 25-lap feature will pay $1,500 to-win, $175 to-start. Thus far there have been five different winners in as many events. Max Blair opened the season off with a victory at McKean County Raceway on May 24 and has held the point lead ever since with a second, a third, and a pair of 12th place finishes. Two nights later, Frank Guidace made his Touring Series debut a successful one winning the "Steel Valley Classic" at Mercer on Memorial Day. After three weeks off, the Touring Series made their first of two appearances to Dog Hollow Speedway and it was defending champion Alan Dellinger picking up the victory. New Yorkers John Lacki and Kyle Drum were victorious in the Independence Day Weekend events at Raceway 7 and McKean County last Friday and Saturday respectively.
"A lot of people are looking forward to Thursday," stated FASTRAK Northeast Co-Director Mike Leone. "The weather is supposed to be perfect with sunny skies and temps in the upper 70s. Expo's 5/8th mile will be the biggest track the FASTRAK cars have ever raced on here in the Northeast. In fact, there has yet to be a race on a half-mile speedway in two seasons for FASTRAK. There's a pretty good chance we'll see a sixth different winner in six races with standout drivers like Dick Barton, Bobby Powell, Tom Snyder, Jr., Jay Watson, Dennis Lunger, Mike Pegher, Jr., Andy Buckley, Rusty Moore, Justin Kann, and more in hot pursuit of their first wins. Very few of the FASTRAK racers have ever run Expo so it will be a new experience for many."
Joining the FASTRAK Late Models will be the Stock Cars in a 20-lap $500 to-win, $50 to-start event. Raceway 7 and Sharon Speedway rules will be used. The last two seasons have been upset victories by local racers Stan Woomer and Bruce Redman.
Current FASTRAK Northeast Touring Series points as of 7/5/08 (must be a Touring member to receive points): 1. Max Blair 150 2. John Lacki 136 3. Rusty Moore 129 4. Tom Snyder, Jr. 119 5. Justin Kann 115 6. Bobby Powell 113 7. Dick Barton 112 8. Andy Buckley 104 9. Jay Watson 103 10. Roger French 92 11. Bob Kish 91 12. Jon Law 90 13. Jim Frank 89 14. Steve Hollabaugh & Dennis Lunger 86 16. Chad Myers 74 17. Kyle Drum 63 18. Kevin Meadows & Bert Cleer 62 20. Bob Diver 60 21. Dereck Frank 36 22. Bobby Whitling 35 23. Carl McKinney 33 24. Mike Pegher, Jr. 32 25. Brian Booher 28 26. Todd Sweet & Steve D'Apolito 20 28. Tommy Schirnhofer, Jr., Bob Dorman, & Dave Airgood, Jr. 10 31. Frank Guidace, Dan Karalagas, Gary Miller, Jr., Tim Schram, Mike Wonderling, Sr., Tommy Kronenwetter, Jr., John Eckenrod, Rocky Kugel, Alan Dellinger, Jeff Enos, Ron Smithley, Dan Angelicchio, Dave Lyon, Bump Hedman, Greg Oakes, Alex Anderson, Dave Norton, Jr., Butch Lambert, Bob Vogt, Jr., Chris Haines, Dan Stives, Dave Osterberg, Gary Stahl, Scott Jones, John Haggerty, Kirby Tucker, Roger Laughlin, Chris Angelicchio, Wayne Mohawk, Mike Anderson (Jr.), Garret Stephen, Bert Blackson, Tom Copeland 0.
FASTRAK Late Model Feature payoffs for Expo: 1. $1,500 2. $800 3. $500 4. $400 5. $370 6. $335 7. $315 8. $300 9. $280 10. $275 11. $250 12. $240 13. $225 14. $200 15. $190 16. $185 17. $180 18-24. $175. Tow/Non-qualifiers $75.
Pits open at 3 p.m. on Thursday with hot laps at 5:30 and with racing at 6 p.m. Admission for the fair, rides, and the races is only $7 and pit passes are just $20. There is a $75 entry fee for FASTRAK. The Goodyear G45 or G50 tires are mandatory. They will be available at the track for $128 each or by calling BWR Performance at 330-509-1999.
Expo Speedway is located at the Trumbull County Fairgrounds just north of Route 305 on Hoagland-Blackstub Road in Bazetta Township, Cortland, Ohio. For more information, check out www.trumbullcountyfair.com or call 330-637-6010
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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