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Mike Leone
ERIE, Penn. (August 24) - For the second straight season, the FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series made a visit to Bobby Rohrer's Eriez Speedway on Sunday night. Despite threatening weather that caused an hour and half delay to the start of the racing program, 24 cars from all over western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio, and western New York turned out for race #8 of 12.
Tom Snyder, Jr. looked primed for his first career FASTRAK Northeast Touring Series victory, but the FASTRAK National Weekly Series and Northeast Touring Series point leader, Max Blair, had other ideas. Blair used late traffic to his advantage passing Snyder with five laps to go to become the first repeat winner of the season in the 25-lap feature.
"I got shuffled back there," acknowledged the Centerville, Pa. 18-year-old in victory lane following the $1,200 win. "I started picking them off one at a time and didn't know if I could get him (Snyder). I had to make a split second decision in traffic and it worked it. People say there is no money in this division, but the numbers speak for themselves. We're racing for $5,000 in the Northeast Touring Series, $10,000 in the National Weekly, and $50,000 in the Grand Nationals later this season."
Snyder took off from the pole position, while Butch Lambert passed Carl McKinney for second on the opening lap. Fourth starting John Lacki finally worked his way past McKinney for third on lap four. Lacki then slowly closed on Lambert on lap seven before the event's first and only caution with seven laps completed when defending Series champion Alan Dellinger got bunched up in a heavy pack of cars and got spun around. Just Kann also got collected in the accident.
Blair, who started seventh, fell back to eighth earlier on then began making his way forward. Blair passed Dennis Lunger, Jr. for fourth on lap eight then drove under Lacki down the backstretch for third on lap 10. Blair continued his march to the front when he dove low and grabbed second from Lambert in turn two on lap 14.
With the race past the halfway mark, Blair set his sights on Snyder, who had a four car-length lead. Blair cut into the advantage each lap and was on the leader's bumper on lap 17. Snyder drove a great race as he protected the bottom. Snyder had traffic in sight on lap 20. On the following lap, Snyder tried to pick off the lapped car of Kann in turn four, but his slight hesitation allowed Blair to sneak by both Kann and Snyder to lead lap 21.
The last 18 laps went non-stop and Blair was too much to allow Snyder a shot to take the lead back. Blair backed up his win the night before at McKean County Raceway, which clinched him the track championship, with his second career Touring Series win in his Specialty Products/Loney Timber/Moody Welding/Eagle Hoist & Winch-sponsored #111. Blair now has 12 overall FASTRAK wins on the season matching Barton's total over the past two seasons for tops on the win chart.
Snyder turned in a great effort, but surely a disappointing second matching his runner-up on July 4 at Raceway 7. Lambert started third and was able to hold onto the position for a career best Touring Series performance in his first ever Touring Series top five. Lacki came home fourth for his fourth top five of the season. After four straight did not finishes, Lunger has put together three straight top fives with a fifth place effort to climb the point ladder. Completing the top 10 were Bobby Powell, Dick Barton, Bob Dorman, Jim Frank, and Alan Dellinger. Heat winners were Powell, Dellinger, and Dave Lyon.
Please note: results are unofficial pending a cylinder head protest by Lunger's team of the Blair #111. If a change is a necessary, a press release will follow this week.
FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series Race #8 (25 laps $1,200 to-win): 1. MAX BLAIR (111) 2. Tom Snyder, Jr. (1F) 3. Butch Lambert (27) 4. John Lacki (7) 5. Dennis Lunger, Jr. (17L) 6. Bobby Powell (Bidwell B1D) 7. Dick Barton (Nielson 28B) 8. Bob Dorman (19) 9. Jim Frank (14*) 10. Andy Buckley (Robinson 34R) 11. Carl McKinney (6M) 12. Jay Watson (7x) 13. Alan Dellinger (Williams 8) 14. Jon Law (14) 15. Kenny Meadows (Welsch 49) 16. Rusty Moore (17M) 17. Dereck Frank (16*) 18. Bob Vogt, Jr. (30) 19. Bert Cleer (51) 20. Todd Sweet (17) 21. Justin Kann (100) 22. Roger French (-1) 23. Dave Lyon (14L) 24. Bob Kish (5)-DNS.
Lap leaders: Snyder (1-20), Blair (21-25)
Heat winners: Bobby Powell, Alan Dellinger, Dave Lyon
Car count: 24
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