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Mike Leone
IMPERIAL, Penn. (July 25) - Despite a 70% likelihood of thunderstorms and many tracks throughout the four-state region losing their events to Mother Nature, Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway went on with their program as the FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series was able to complete event #9 of 17 on the 2009 slate. Despite the unfavorable weather, 29 drivers from Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia made the trip for the inaugural FASTRAK appearance. A brief heavy shower delayed action nearly one hour during the program, but officials moved the FASTRAK portion through and the feature was completed by 9:15 p.m.
When Max Blair sat upside down at Dog Hollow Speedway on Friday night in his heat race, he probably would have never imagined he'd be able to patch his race car back together, transfer through the B main, and finish seventh in the feature to maintain his point lead. Even more unlikely would have been if you told him he'd have to go home after the races and put his motor in one of his dad's backup cars with little help, get no sleep, and be in victory lane less than 24 hours later at Pittsburgh.
But that's exactly what happened as Blair won the catch your breathe 25-lapper on the lightning-fast "Monster Half-Mile" holding off the stout challenges of Mike Pegher, Jr. and David Scott for his third FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series victory of the season. The $1,200 win was the fifth of his career in Touring Series competition and moved him into sole position of the all-time lead.
"I'm worn out," said the relieved 19-year-old Centerville, Pa. driver. "This is my dad's car because I wrecked mine last night. I didn't get much sleep and that was a long 25 laps…it felt like 100, but that was fun! You could race all over the track. We need two or three more races here! That caution honestly saved me. I saw David (Scott) and I knew Mike (Pegher) was there. It was tough because you needed to drive in deep, but I was afraid I was going to get sideways."
The race almost got off to an ugly start when pole-sitter Joe Martin lost the handle in turn one on the inside of the track. Thankfully everyone missed Martin and he was able to straighten out his mount and pick back up at the tail of the field without drawing a caution.
Martin's spin allowed Blair to power into the lead with fourth starting Scott following and track regular Beau Glemba to advance from fifth to third. Blair quickly pulled away from the field on lap three. After drawing the #11 pill, Pegher wasted no time moving through the pack and was in the top five on lap six when he drove by another track regular Dave Wade.
Blair had a near straightaway lead as he entered lapped traffic on lap eight. Pegher meanwhile advanced to fourth on lap 10 getting around Bobby Powell then drove under Glemba in turn four on lap 13 to grab third. Scott had just erased the straightaway deficit and Pegher quickly joined the battle for the lead on lap 14 with Glemba not far behind making it a four-car race for the lead.
Battles were taking place all over the track, but all eyes were on the lead pack as the four-some flew around the track amidst lapped traffic. Blair led as lap 16 clicked off, but Scott and Pegher had the momentum coming down the frontstretch. Scott had just taken the lead and appeared Pegher would follow, but Martin's #55 came to a rest bringing out the event's first and only caution with 16 laps scored. It was a killer for Scott as it negated the pass.
When green replaced yellow, it was three-wide for the lead in turns one and two. Scott was the odd man out as Pegher got under him to grab second on the 17th circuit. Blair, Pegher, and Scott distanced themselves from the field on lap 18. One driver that started to catch everyone's attention was Dan Karalagas. "The Greek" started way back in 20th and moved into the top five on lap 19 passing Mike Blose; however, just as he was running down Glemba on lap 20 he lost power ending his night.
Back to the front, Pegher closed right in on Blair and was all over the leader for the rest of the way. Pegher tried every move possible using every inch of the racy, wide surface. Pegher had one last shot on the final lap with the lapped car of Garrett Mott ahead, but would lose his momentum, which was critical with the speeds the cars were carrying, as Blair took the checkered flag first.
Blair's win came in his first ever appearance at Pittsburgh in his Eagle Hoist & Winch/Specialty Products/Loney Timber/Moody Welding-sponsored #111. Along with overtaking Dick Barton and Powell as the Touring Series' all-time winner, the victory was Blair's leading 22nd all-time in all FASTRAK-sanctioned events.
While Pegher was a disappointed second, he did improve his night's fortunes as he ended the night scoring the $800 to-win Jook George Memorial for the track's regular division of Pro Late Models. Scott meanwhile was third for the third straight event and fourth time this season to go along with a pair of runner-ups as he just can't get over the hump to win his first career Touring Series race. Scott though trails defending champion Blair by just four points. Glemba, who is coming off his first career win on dirt at Pittsburgh on July 4, was an impressive fourth in his first ever FASTRAK-sanctioned start. Blose, who started 10th, recorded his second straight top five in fifth in as many nights.
Track regular Kyle Lukon finished sixth in his FASTRAK debut. Powell dropped to seventh at the finish. Dan Angelicchio rebounded transferring from the B main to the feature then worked his way from the 19th starting spot to a respectable eighth at the finish. Tommy Schirnhofer, Jr. and Gary Knollinger completed the top 10.
Pegher, Blose, and Glemba won the trio of heat races, while Angelicchio copped the B main. Interesting to note that 48 different drivers competed in the two Touring Series events this weekend at Dog Hollow and Pittsburgh.
FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series Race #9 (25 laps $1,200 to-win): 1. MAX BLAIR (111) 2. Mike Pegher, Jr. (Geisler 1c) 3. David Scott (Powell 100) 4. Beau Glemba (99G) 5. Mike Blose (5) 6. Kyle Lukon (1) 7. Bobby Powell (Bidwell B1D) 8. Dan Angelicchio (14) 9. Tommy Schirnhofer, Jr. (8s) 10. Gary Knollinger (38K) 11. Mark Moats, Jr. (15) 12. Bud Watson (2) 13. John Watson (Horton 48) 14. Dave Wade (76) 15. David Gurrell (31) 16. Ken Chernik (c1) 17. Laura Lukon (84) 18. Garrett Mott (43x) 19. Dan Karalagas (1R) 20. Butch Lambert (27) 21. Rocky Kugel (7KRT) 22. Jason Rider (Johnson 2J) 23. Tom Copeland (98) 24. Joe Martin (55) DNQ: Josh Holtgraver (00), Carl McKinney (6M), Jason Fosnaught (J19), Dennis Niederriter (09), Dennis Curry (8).
Lap leaders: Blair (1-25)
Heat winners: Mike Pegher, Jr., Mike Blose, Beau Glemba
B main winners: Dan Angelicchio
Car count: 29
The FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series will be have next weekend off before making the inaugural trek to Elkins Speedway in Elkins, West Virginia for a $1,500 event on Saturday, August 8.
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