|
Mike Leone
STRONGSTOWN, Penn. (July 24) - Scattered thunderstorms stayed away from Dog Hollow Speedway on Friday night allowing the FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series to complete race #8 of 17 on the 2009 slate. The Series' only 2009 stop at Jim and Sharon Michny's Indiana County oval brought out a strong field of 33 competitors from Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, and Maryland.
Tom Snyder, Jr. chased the FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series Championship for the first two years of existence in 2007 and 2008. This season, Snyder has stayed close to home competing primarily at Dog Hollow. On Friday night, Snyder made just his second Touring Series start of 2009, but made it a memorable one as he collected his first career Touring Series victory in the 25-lap feature holding off a bevy of top contenders for the $1,200 prize.
"I knew there were a lot of good cars behind me," described the Mayport, Pa. racer after his biggest career FASTRAK-sanctioned win. "I've been trying to win one of these races for two and half years now and couldn't think of a better place to do it. We had a week off and went over our notes and hit it right on the money. I have to thank all the guys that help me."
Snyder immediately raced into the lead from the pole position with youngsters Andrew Satterlee and Bud Watson in tow. Making just his second FASTRAK start and his debut in his own #5, Mike Blose drove by Mike Pegher, Jr. and Watson for third on lap two before Pegher slipped high in turn four bringing out the caution.
On the ensuing restart, Blose ducked under Satterlee for second. Blose caught Snyder and the two ran side-by-side on lap five, but Snyder was able to get away from Blose on lap seven, while eighth starting Bobby Powell became a factor getting past Satterlee for third.
Another driver slowly working his way to the front was David Scott. After drawing the #10 pill, Scott became a factor passing both Watson and Satterlee for fourth on lap 12. Blose, Powell, and Scott would put on a great show for the fans over the balance of the event. Powell nosed ahead of Blose to take second on lap 14. Lap 16 was a wild lap as the trio went three wide with Scott edging ahead of Blose for third on lap 16. The three were using every inch of the track as Powell retook third from Scott on lap 18 and moved to second one lap later stealing the spot from Blose.
The event's final caution slowed action with 19 laps completed as track regulars Ron Smithley, Bryan Force, and John Eckenrod tangled. When racing resumed, Snyder took off, while the fierce battled continued for second. This time both Blose and Scott would get by Powell for second and third on lap 20.
The last six laps went caution free with Snyder in his Faster Chassis #1F taking the checkered flag first. The victory was Snyder's third of the season at Dog Hollow, which have all come in the past six weeks and his ninth of his career in FASTRAK-sanctioned events, which have all been at Dog Hollow. Snyder became the fifth different Touring Series winner in eight events this season and the 13th different winner in 27 events all-time.
It was a great debut for Blose, one of western Pa's best Super Late Model racers, as he edged out another Super Late Model great in Scott for runner-up. Blose has now begun his effort to qualify for the FASTRAK Grand Nationals. Powell was fourth as he continued his strong stretch of great runs closing the gap on the championship race. Watson held on to fifth as the 16-year-old Late Model rookie recorded his season's second Touring Series top five.
After failing to qualify for the feature at Sunday's event at Tri-City Speedway, West Virginia racer Gary Knollinger rebounded with a solid run coming from 16th to finish sixth. After getting upside down in his heat race, Max Blair patched his #111 back together for the B main, where he transferred into the feature. Blair started last on the grid in 24th, but quietly worked his way to seventh at the finish and more importantly was able to maintain his Touring Series point lead by two over Scott and eight over Powell. Dog Hollow regular Kirby Tucker finished eighth in his first Touring Series start of 2009. Carl McKinney was ninth and Butch Lambert was 10th after starting 19th.
Blose, Cody Hardesty, Snyder, and rookie Joe Martin picked up heat race victories, while John Watson and Tommy Schirnhofer, Jr. copped the twin B mains. The car count was a record for Dog Hollow in their third season of FASTRAK competition and of course the highest in the Series' fourth ever visit.
FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series Race #8 (25 laps $1,200 to-win): 1. TOM SNYDER, JR. (1F) 2. Mike Blose (5) 3. David Scott (Powell 100) 4. Bobby Powell (Bidwell B1D) 5. Bud Watson (2) 6. Gary Knollinger (38K) 7. Max Blair (111) 8. Kirby Tucker (53) 9. Carl McKinney (6M) 10. Butch Lambert (27) 11. Andrew Satterlee (2) 12. Chris Force (68) 13. Cody Hardesty (32) 14. Chris Schneider (55) 15. Tommy Schirnhofer, Jr. (8s) 16. Bryan Force (69) 17. Mike Laughard (38L) 18. John Eckenrod (7) 19. Ron Smithley (13s) 20. Joe Martin (55) 21. Mike Pegher, Jr. (Geisler 1c) 22. John Watson (Horton 48) 23. Ricky Meglaye (5) 24. Dan Angelicchio (14) DNQ: Joey Valenti (8V), Troy Shields (11), Bernie Whiteford (88), Chad Wilds (22c), Quintin Wyandt (McClellan 119), Garrett Mott (43x), Rudy Bassaro (MR7), Dave Baker (Huey 99T), Jeff Enos (11E).
Lap leaders: Snyder (1-25)
Heat winners: Mike Blose, Cody Hardesty, Tom Snyder, Jr., Joe Martin
B main winners: John Watson, Tommy Schirnhofer, Jr.
Car count: 33
|
