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Mike Leone
MARKLEYSBURG, Penn. (June 26) - The FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series made their first of two appearances of the season Saturday night at the scenic Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex. A field of 25 cars from four states turned out for race #6 on the 20-event slate.
After finally breaking into the winner's column last Sunday night at Central PA Speedway, Mike Pegher, Jr. returned to victory lane six days later to become the first repeat winner of the season in FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series competition. Pegher's victory came in the 25-lap feature and the victory was worth $1,200.
After drawing the number one pill, Pegher moved into the early lead over Butch Lambert, Joe Martin, John Over, and Bobby Cossell. Cossell passed Over for third on lap three as the lead cars inched away from the field. By lap 10, race leader Pegher had caught the back of the pack and was beginning to work race traffic. Pegher continued to build on his lead, as he worked his way through race traffic.
Current point leader and 10th starter, Max Blair, passed Over for fifth on lap 18, as the race appeared destined to run caution-free. That all changed on lap 21 when Steve Dixon slipped high in turn four; his car contacted the outside wall, and flipped onto its roof to stop the race for the first time.
Pegher controlled the restart over Lambert, Martin, Blair, and Cossell. Working lap 23, Martin got turned around by a lapped car to bring out the caution again. On the next attempted restart, a tangle in turn two involved several cars. Dan Angelicchio got the worst of it, as his car ended up on its roof.
The final two-lap run to the finish saw Pegher lead the way to the finish for his fifth career Northeast Touring victory moving him just one behind all-time leader Blair in the Lynn Geisler-owned, #1 Cochran Automotive/Triple-S Auto/MonaVie-sponsored #1c.
Lambert capped a solid run with a strong second place finish- his best of the season. Cody Hardesty made a late charge to finish third after starting 13th for his career best Touring Series finish. Blair was fourth as he continues to lead the points by 16 over Pegher. Gary Knollinger was fifth and moved to third in points. Ricky Meglaye, Andrew Wylie, Bud Watson, Rick Stricker, and Cossell rounded out the top ten. Heat winners were Cossell, Wylie, and Meglaye.
FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series Race #6 (25 laps, $1,200 to-win): 1. MIKE PEGHER, JR. (Geisler 1c) 2. Butch Lambert (27) 3. Cody Hardesty (32) 4. Max Blair (111) 5. Gary Knollinger (38K) 6. Ricky Meglaye (5) 7. Andrew Wylie (84) 8. Bud Watson (2) 9. Rick Strickler (48) 10. Bobby Cossell (50C) 11. Kyle Lukon (1) 12. Josh Holtgraver (00) 13. Derek Doll (87) 14. Dusty Hamrick (X) 15. John Over (K2) 16. Troy Shields (11) 17. Joe Martin (55) 18. Dan Karalagas (G1) 19. Russell Baird, Jr. (17) 20. Dan Angelicchio (14) 21. Michael Howell (23) 22. Garry Sisson (88) 23. Steve Dixon (50) 24. Mike Lewis (98) DNQ: Jayme Beck (92)-DSQ (unsportsmanlike conduct)
Lap leaders: Pegher (1-25)
Heat winners: Cossell, Wylie, Meglaye
Car count: 25
The FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series will resume action this Wednesday evening, June 30 at the Expo Speedway at the Trumbull County Fairgrounds in Cortland, Ohio for a $2,000 to-win event followed by the $6,000 to-win event at Mercer Raceway Park on Saturday, July 3.
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