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Mike Leone
HARTFORD, Ohio (September 19) - The FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series headed back to Sharon Speedway for the second and final time this on gorgeous early fall day as part of the second annual "Apple Festival Nationals". Event #14 of 17 on the 2009 slate brought out 33 cars from Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia.
There are some nights when just about everyone is rooting for you including many of your fellow racers to capture elusive career first win. Saturday night was on those situations as 16-year-old Josh Double drove the race of his life in front of his friends and family from nearby Bristolville, Ohio on a night that remembered Bristolville's Russ King. In just his 20th career race, Double passed western Pennsylvania Stock Car great Bobby Whitling for the lead then held off one of western Pennsylvania's top Super Late Model drivers in David Scott to appear to take the win; however, he came up 13 pounds light at the scales.
After the disqualification of Double, the win was given to current Northeast Touring Series point leader David Scott for his second straight win and third of the season. The 25-lap victory was worth $1,200.
"I'm ashamed to be standing here," deadpanned the Garland, Pa. driver, who never minces words. "That kid in the 38 ran a hell of a race…the race of his life. I gave him serious pressure, but he was so good around the top. I just couldn't get up there to get him. He ran a perfect race and those 13 pounds didn't mean anything, but rules are rules and they enforce them in FASTRAK. He came out of go-karts and I actually bought his go-kart for my son."
Making just his second Touring Series start of the season, Whitling took off in the early lead with Double in tow. Max Blair passed rookie Garrett Mott for third on the opening lap. Scott meanwhile started back in eighth, but got an excellent start to move all the way up to fourth after the completion of the first lap. Mike Pegher, Jr. cracked the top five when he passed Mott on lap two.
Whitling led the way and looked strong out front until a pair of cautions slowed action with eight laps completed. When racing resumed, Double was able to get a great restart and have the advantage down the frontstretch into turn one taking Whitling's line away for the lead. Scott and Pegher meanwhile were able to both get by Blair for third and fourth respectively on lap nine. Whitling's shot at his first career FASTRAK win was erased when he got high in turn four allowing Scott and Pegher by for second and third. Two more cautions slowed action with 12 laps completed.
When green replaced yellow, Scott attacked Double and the two ran side-by-side on laps 13, 14, and 15 before the event's final caution with 15 laps completed. The last thing Double wanted to see were anymore cautions that created double-file restarts with Scott alongside. He got what he wanted as he took the lead on the final restart as the last 10 laps spun off green-to-checkered.
Blair grabbed third back from Pegher on lap 16, but Pegher wasn't about to give up as he regained the position one lap later. Double began to stretch out his lead on lap 18 as he ran around the topside of the speedway. Pegher then began to challenge Scott and drew even on lap 20. Pegher ran low and Scott high, while Double opened up a half-straightaway lead.
Double was able to take the checkered flag first for the apparent win in his #38, while Scott held off Pegher, which proved very crucial after Double was disqualified at the scales. Ironically, in the first race at Sharon it was Pegher just holding off Scott after a spirited duel for the win. Scott's win was his ninth overall in FASTRAK-sanctioned events this season in the John and Janet Powell-owned, Bullitt Chassis #100.
"We're just having a blast," expressed Scott. "We're having a phenomenal year. We keep working at it and getting better and better as the year has gone on. There's more pressure now as we keep moving up in the points. The cost of Super Late Models is so outrageous. It's no fun and even if you win you don't have the money to pay for it, and we weren't doing it right."
Scott has now extended his point lead to 19 over Blair heading into the Touring Series finale this Friday night at McKean County Raceway. If Scott can finish 19th or better, something he's done in all 14 events to date, he will win the title in his inaugural FASTRAK season.
Pegher's second allowed him to distance himself a little more in what has been a tight six-man battle for third place in the Touring Series standings all season long. Blair's third locked up a runner-up at the very least in the Touring Series for the defending champion. Bobby Powell finished fourth over a great run by rookie Joe Martin, who recorded his first career Touring Series top five finish.
Carl McKinney's sixth moved him into the top five in points and keeps him in the running for the third spot. Butch Lambert was the race's hard charger coming from 24th to finish seventh for his eighth top 10 in 12 Touring Series starts this season. Kyle Zimmerman, Bryan Salisbury, and Whitling completed the top 10. Heat winners were Scott, McKinney, Pegher and Martin, while Kyle Thomas and Brian Booher won the twin B mains.
FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series Race #14 (25 laps $1,200 to-win): 1. 1. DAVID SCOTT (Powell 100) 2. Mike Pegher, Jr. (Geisler 1c) 3. Max Blair (111) 4. Bobby Powell (Bidwell B1D) 5. Joe Martin (55) 6. Carl McKinney (6M) 7. Butch Lambert (27) 8. Kyle Zimmerman (z17) 9. Bryan Salisbury (26) 10. Bobby Whitling (7W) 11. Garrett Mott (43x) 12. Kyle Layton (99*) 13. John Watson (Horton 48) 14. Bud Watson (2) 15. Dave Airgood, Jr. (42JR) 16. Kyle Thomas (57) 17. Daniel Hill (8) 18. Ben Black (27B) 19. Dan Angelicchio (14) 20. Mike Blose (5) 21. Gary Miller, Jr. (1M) 22. Brian Booher (Hoover 00H) 23. Tommy Dembowski (79) 24. Josh Double (38)-DSQ (light) DNQ: Tyler Dietz (D10), Steve Hollabaugh (3H), Justin Kreider (29), Tom Copeland (98), Gary Knollinger (38K), Tyler Barris (32B), Doug Iorio II (28), Jamie Brown (135), Jeff Porter (14).
Lap leaders: Whitling (1-11), Scott (12-25)
Heat winners: Scott, McKinney, Pegher, Martin
B main winners: Thomas, Booher
Car count: 33
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