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Mike Leone
ROSSBURG, Ohio (July 31) - Some of the greatest dirt track racers in the history of motorsports have strapped in behind the wheel and tackled the Big E at Eldora Speedway as the Rossburg, Ohio ½-mile speedway has hosted some of the biggest dirt track races known to mankind.
On Saturday, the FASTRAK Late Model Racing Series made their annual pilgrimage to Tony Stewart's famous speed plant. FASTRAK Northeast again had a strong representation of some of its best racers as 12 drivers from western Pennsylvania and West Virginia made the trip across the Buckeye State to take on the southern stars.
In the past, the Northeast racers have put up a strong fight, but weren't able to overcome the more experienced crate Late Model racers from the South and Midwest; however, that all changed Saturday night. In 2009, Pittsburgh's Josh Holtgraver finished eighth. On Saturday night, Holtgraver put on a dominating performance for much of the event leading the first 38 laps before being overtaken by Royce Bray just a lap before an expired motor was a heartbreaking end to his night.
Mike Pegher, Jr., started in 10th, missed the early accidents, and then drove around Bray on the outside on lap 43 for his first lead of the race. Pegher then was able to hold off Bray to take the checkered flag first earning the big $5,000 payoff- one year after finishing fifth.
It was the Wexford, Pa. driver's second FASTRAK National win in July as Pegher won the biggest race of his career earlier in the month at Mercer Raceway Park when he took the $6,000 victory in the Lynn Geisler-owned, #1 Cochran Automotive/Triple-S Auto/MonaVie-sponsored #1c. Pegher's Rocket Chassis took the prestigious "Chassis Challenge Cup" on Saturday for his 10th overall FASTRAK win in 2010.
"Winning tonight is definitely the biggest dream in racing Late Models," expressed the 24-year-old Pegher. "That's pretty much anyone's dream to win here at Eldora. It means a lot to win this Chassis Challenge Cup. Mark Richards builds these cars and helps us out."
Georgia's Bray beat South Carolina racers David Smith and Chris Cantrell to finish second. Butch Lambert turned in his best ever effort in a major race as the Mars, Pa. driver came from 20th to finish fifth. Going into Eldora, Lambert had recorded two straight fourth place finishes and five top four finishes in the past nine Northeast Touring events in his Bagel Bites/RAM Transit/Fannie's Friends Pet Cremation/Austin's A1 Bleach/Kozminski Auto Body-sponsored #27.
Right outside the top five was Wheeling, West Virginia's Gary Knollinger, who was fresh off his career first Northeast Touring Series win two days prior at Sharon Speedway. Knollinger improved on his 10th place finish from one year ago. Another Northeast racer, Dan Angelicchio, came home seventh.
Other Northeast racers in attendance with their finishes in parentheses were Damian Bidwell (12th), Garrett Mott (13th), Holtgraver (14th), Dave Airgood, Jr. (15th), Steve Dixon (16th), Bryan Force (17th), Kyle Lukon (18th), and Andrew Wylie (DNQ).
FASTRAK Late Model Racing Series National Event (50 laps, $5,000 to-win): 1. MIKE PEGHER, JR. (Geisler 1c) 2. Royce Bray (Harris 21) 3. David Smith (11) 4. Chris Cantrell (114) 5. Butch Lambert (27) 6. Gary Knollinger (38K) 7. Dan Angelicchio (14) 8. Dan Breuer (B7) 9. Steve Cooke (17c) 10. Ryan Atkins (9) 11. Lee Cooper (57) 12. Damian Bidwell (1/2-Pt) 13. Garrett Mott (43x) 14. Josh Holtgraver (00) 15. Dave Airgood, Jr. (42Jr) 16. Steve Dixon (50) 17. Bryan Force (31) 18. Kyle Lukon (1) 19. Chris Steele (2) 20. R.J. Otto (1) 21. Shannon Buckingham (50) 22. David Watts (04) 23. Forrest Trent (4Q) 24. Mike Covington (15C) DNQ: Jake Eaton (29E), Kevin Colston (38), Andrew Wylie (84), Brandon Williams (95), Jensen Ford (83).
Fast Qualifier: Breuer 17.775
B main winner: Knollinger
Lap leaders: Holtgraver (1-38), Bray (39-42), Pegher (43-50)
Car count: 29
The FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series will be in action next Friday and Saturday, August 6 and 7 at Dog Hollow and Hesston Speedways. Events #12 and 13 will pay $1,200 to-win each.
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