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Mike Leone
CORTLAND, Ohio (July 10) - The FASTRAK Northeast Touring Series made its first ever appearance at Expo Speedway on Thursday night as Late Models returned to the Trumbull County Fairgrounds for the first time since 1995. Twenty-six FASTRAK Late Models from all over western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio, and western New York joined 24 Stock Cars that played in front of a huge crowd as part of the 162nd annual Trumbull County Fair. A flyover by the Warren Air Force took place following the national anthem at 6 p.m.
Fresh off a thrilling last lap FASTRAK weekly-sanctioned victory Sunday at Tri-City Speedway, Bobby Powell did one better winning his first Northeast Touring Series event of the season holding off a furious challenge by Mike Pegher, Jr. to become the sixth different winner in as many Touring events this season. The 25-lap win was worth a season-high $1,500.
"I don't know what to say," expressed the Waterford, Pa. winner in victory lane following his first ever Expo race. "I'm exhausted and need something to drink. I was running in the grass down there. I have to thank Scott Bidwell and my crew, who work their tails off. I wouldn't be in a Late Model if it wasn't for Fastrak. We can't afford to do the big stuff, but because of the motor we can race Late Models. We're racing for a lot of money now and later."
Tom Snyder, Jr. drew the pole-position and raced into the early lead with Jay Watson passing Rusty Moore for second. The battle heated up for runner-up as Moore returned the favor taking second back one lap later. Then on lap three, it was three-wide for the lead with Watson coming out on top with an inside move in turn four and fourth starting Powell moving to second with Snyder and Moore dropping to third and fourth.
Following a spin by Gary Miller, Jr., Powell overtook Watson on lap four what would turn out to be the winning move. Dick Barton, who started 10th, quickly entered contention passing Snyder for third on lap four and Watson one lap later for second with an inside move off turn four. Watson though fought back against the Late Model great taking third back on lap six, while 12th starting Pegher moved to fourth on lap six past Snyder.
Jon Law went up in smoke bringing out a caution with seven laps completed. When racing resumed, Pegher took the third spot from Barton, then drove under Watson in turn three for second on lap nine. Thirteenth starting Dennis Lunger, Jr. made a great move diving under defending Touring Series champion Alan Dellinger and Barton for fourth on lap 14. Dellinger didn't give up regaining fourth on lap 17.
Up front, Pegher began to reel in Powell on lap 17 and was all over the leader on lap 18. Dellinger shot to the inside of Watson in turn two to take third on lap 20 with Lunger following in fourth. Pegher got under Powell in turn three on lap 21, but Powell shut the door holding the lead. Powell opened up some ground on lap 22, but Pegher drove hard under Powell in turns three and four on lap 23, but once again Powell remained steadfast. Dellinger's strong run ended when the steering broke in his mount with 23 laps completed. On the ensuing restart, Moore got sideways and an eight-car melee ensued.
The last two laps went green-to-checkered. Pegher made a strong bid on lap 24 in turn four again. Pegher got under Powell, but Powell shut the door as the two made heavy contact. It was a drag race off turn four as Powell maintained the lead with the white flag waving. Powell was able to get to the bottom entering turn one and was just too much on the final lap as he held on for his second career Touring Series win in the Scott Bidwell-owned, Fame RV Center/Maloney Tool & Mold/Rich Johnson Electric-sponsored #B1D. The victory was Powell's fourth of the season overall in FASTRAK competition as he also has weekly-sanctioned wins at Raceway 7, Mercer, and Tri-City in the last month.
Pegher's second was his career best effort in Touring Series events. After four straight did not finishes, Lunger finally put in a complete night coming home a season-best third. Northeast Touring Series point leader, Max Blair, maintained his point lead with a fourth place effort after starting 11th as the Series completed the halfway point of the sophomore season Barton dropped to fifth at the finish.
Late Model rookie Tyler Dietz turned in a career best finish in sixth after the youngster started 24th over another Late Model rookie Roger French, who started 16th. Mike Wonderling, Sr. was eighth with Jim Frank and 19th starting Bob Diver completing the top 10. Winning the heat races over the 26-car field were Pegher, Wonderling, and Moore.
After a disappointing end to a great run in the FASTRAK feature, Alan Dellinger hopped into the Stock Car and destroyed the competition leading from green-to-checkered in the 15-lap event. The victory was worth $500 for the Hermitage, Pa. driver, who started his standout racing career at Expo in the very same division in the 70s.
Dellinger started fourth and had the lead on the backstretch of the first lap from pole-sitter Bruce Redman. Dellinger pulled away every lap and won the non-stop event by more than a straightaway in the Steve Burns-owned, Penn-Ohio Contracting/Penn Construction/Legacy Products-sponsored #70B.
Chris Haines, who was also doing double duty, passed Redman in turn four on lap eighth to finish second. Last Friday's Raceway 7 big winner, Dave Ferringer, snuck past Redman on the final lap to finish third. Redman, who won last year's Expo event, dropped to fourth over Jason Reagle, who got to the track just in time to run his heat race. Scoring heat race victories over the 24-car field were Rusty Wheeler and Dellinger.
FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series Race #6 (25 laps $1,500 to-win): 1. BOBBY POWELL (Bidwell B1D) 2. Mike Pegher, Jr. (Geisler 1C) 3. Dennis Lunger, Jr. (17L) 4. Max Blair (111) 5. Dick Barton (Nielson 28B) 6. Tyler Dietz (10) 7. Roger French (-1) 8. Mike Wonderling, Sr. (z1) 9. Jim Frank (14*) 10. Bob Diver (23) 11. Tom Snyder, Jr. (1F) 12. John Lacki (7) 13. Chad Myers (01) 14. Andy Buckley (Robinson 34R) 15. Alan Dellinger (Williams 8) 16. Rusty Moore (17M) 17. Kevin Meadows (Welsch 49) 18. Chris Haines (35H) 19. Jay Watson (7x) 20. Scott Jones (Stanke 44) 21. Tom Copeland (98) 22. Jon Law (14) 23. Ben Black (27B) 24. Gary Miller, Jr. (1m) 25. Mike Lesky (5L) 26. Justin Kann (Powell 100).
Lap leaders: Tom Snyder, Jr. (1-2), Jay Watson (3), Bobby Powell (4-25)
Heat winners: Mike Pegher, Jr., Mike Wonderling, Sr., Rusty Moore
Car count: 26
Stock Cars (15 laps, $500 to-win): 1. ALAN DELLINGER (Burns 70B) 2. Chris Haines (35H) 3. Dave Ferringer (02) 4. Bruce Redman (27) 5. Jason Reagle (888) 6. Rusty Wheeler (44) 7. Charlie Jasinski (11A) 8. Steve D'Apolito (84) 9. Allan Hudzik (30H) 10. Jackson Humanic (17) 11. Rick Robinson (Buckley 965) 12. Tom Miller (17) 13. Larry Root (22x) 14. Terry Wheeler (2W) 15. Bill Simmons (33) 16. Bill Cramer (42) 17. Randy Wyant (11T) 18. Sam Ritenour (77) 19. Jamie Duncan (67J) 20. Stan Woomer (2) 21. Matt Thomas (54)-DNS 22. John Fox (14)-DNS 23. Ed Snyder, Jr. (039)-DNS 24. Scott Jones (Stanke 44)-DNS.
Lap leaders: Alan Dellinger (1-15)
Heat winners: Rusty Wheeler, Alan Dellinger
Car count: 24
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