MIKE PEGHER STEALS $3,000 TYLER COUNTY FASTRAK NORTHEAST/MOV TOUR RACE AWAY FROM JOE MARTIN

By Mike Leone

September 2, 2011

(Middlebourne, WV)…The Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series headed south on Friday night to join up with the Mid-Ohio Valley Touring Series in a co-sanctioned event for the second straight year as part of the Black Diamond Weekend. A stifling 95-degree day turned into a humid and foggy night as Northeast Tour race #16 drew 37 competitors.

Mike Pegher, Jr. and Joe Martin battled hard for final 18 laps swapping the lead on a few occasions, but it was Pegher stealing the biggest career win away from Martin on a restart with two laps to go in the 30-lap $3,000 to-win feature. Pegher’s leading fifth win of the season was his 13th of his career and broke the tie with him and Blair atop the Touring Series’ all-time win list.

“We really like this place,” expressed the 25-year-old Wexford, Pa. driver. “We’d be here more if it wasn’t for being a three-hour tow. This means a lot to win this race. I was watching for Joe (Martin) on the restart and the inside worked good for me. I have to thank my crew chief Andy Kennedy, car owner Lynn Geisler, and all my sponsors and of course the fans for coming out and supporting us.”

In a first for the Series, Martin and John Volpe were the last two drivers to redraw for their starting positions and the duo drew numbers one and two. Martin took off in the lead, while Doug Horton used the inside to get past Volpe for second. Derek Rogers started sixth and worked his way past Blair and Shawn Jett for fourth on the opening lap, but Blair grabbed the spot on the second circuit. Blair was pressuring Volpe for third when the first caution of the event was displayed for a spin by Kris Southern and Tim Dohm with four laps scored.

When racing resumed, Blair took third from Volpe then on lap six it was a three-wide for the lead racing off turn two with Martin still holding off Horton and Blair. Pegher started in seventh and didn’t enter the picture until taking fourth from Volpe on lap seven. A pair of cautions slowed action with nine laps completed.

Back under green flag racing, Pegher disposed of point leader Blair for third. Pegher then caught Horton and the two raced side-by-side on laps and 11 and 12 with Pegher making the pass using the highline exiting turn four on the 12th lap. At the halfway point, the top four distanced themselves, while 12th starting Dan Angelicchio, who won the last Tour race at Tyler County, cracked the top five taking the spot from K.C. Burdette.

After eight straight green flag laps, Rogers spun to bring out the caution and bunched up the field for another restart with 17 laps recorded. When green replaced yellow, Blair passed Horton for third; meanwhile, Pegher began to put the pressure on Martin. Pegher drove under Martin in turn four to lead lap 18, but Martin didn’t give up as he powered around the outside and down the backstretch to regain the lead on lap 19, while Angelicchio moved up another spot to fourth.

As the laps wound down, Pegher was all over Martin looking for a way around. With the leaders entering turn four for the white flag, Eric Foster spun and thankfully everyone was able to avoid his car. The caution set up a two-lap shootout for the $3,000. Martin again chose the outside, but didn’t get the greatest restart. Pegher had the advantage into turn one as Martin tried to get a run off the top side and use the slingshot move, but Pegher still had enough momentum to hold off Martin’s run.

Pegher would lead the final two laps in the Lynn Geisler-owned, #1 Cochran Automotive/Triple-S Auto Sales/Zero Wraps-sponsored #1c to become the first repeat winner in seven Touring Series events at Tyler County. Pegher has now outgained Blair for six straight races and seven of the last eight to cut into Blair’s point lead, which now stands at 24.

Martin earned $1,500 for a disappointing second, which matched his biggest career pay day from his July 26 Tour win at Dog Hollow Speedway. After sustaining a hard hit last Sunday at Eriez Speedway, which gave Blair a concussion and caused significant damage to his Rocket Chassis, Blair’s clipped car came home in third to maintain his chances at his third championship in four seasons. Angelicchio had a solid run in fourth. Tim Dohm came back from his early race spin and raced through the field to finish fifth in his first Tour start.

Burdette passed Horton on the final lap to finish sixth. Horton faded to seventh after looking like he may be the favorite early on. Steve Dixon, who flipped in the accident with Blair last Sunday at Eriez, was driving Craig Dean’s #21 renumbered to 50 and came from 20th to finish eighth. Five-time 2011 Tyler County winner Derek Doll was ninth. Daniel Hill, who has a victory at Tyler County this season, raced from 23rd to a respectable 10th place finish.

Jesse Wisecarver was the final car on the lead lap in 17th and won the free Hoosier Tire presented by Utsinger’s Towing and the local Hoosier Tire distributors. Blair and Shane Hitt received the $1,000 Contingency Connection packages presented by the Original Pizza Logs.

The random drawing for the Lincoln Electric Welder valued at approximately $2,500 was won by Shane Hitt. Tyler County FASTRAK sponsor, United Rentals, put up $1,000, which was distributed to 10 drivers, and the following received the $100 drawings: Doll, Volpe, Holtgraver, Southern, Wisecarver, Jett, Fornash, Kyle Thomas, Danny Thomas, and Tom Keplinger.

Blair, Kyle Thomas, Horton, and Kris Southern won the heat races, while Jeff Fornash and C.J. Johnson won the B mains.

Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series Race #16: 1. MIKE PEGHER, JR. (Geisler 1c) 2. Joe Martin (55) 3. Max Blair (111) 4. Dan Angelicchio (14) 5. Tim Dohm (115) 6. K.C. Burdette (KC44) 7. Doug Horton (15c) 8. Steve Dixon (50) 9. Derek Doll (87) 10. Daniel Hill (8) 11. John Volpe (Bidwell B1D) 12. Mike Griffin (11) 13. Josh Holtgraver (00) 14. Kris Southern (K2) 15. Derek Rogers (23) 16. Donald Bradsher (93) 17. Jesse Wisecarver (101) 18. Eric Foster (39) 19. Lester Huffman (29) 20. Shawn Jett (137) 21. Jeff Fornash (99) 22. Rick Strickler (Lake 48) 23. Kyle Thomas (57) 24. Shane Hitt (2*) 25. C.J. Johnson (21J) 26. Danny Thomas (7JR). Note: Josh Holtgraver took a Touring provisional and Lester Huffman a track provisional.

B Main 1 Non-Qualifiers: 3. Dusty Hamrick (X) 4. John Watson (51) 5. Lincoln Campbell (81) 6. Lee Roy Ferguson (32) 7. Melvin Ferguson (4) 8. Chris Reed (5).

B Main 2 Non-Qualifiers: 3. Tom Keplinger (28) 4. Tyler Carpenter (28) 6. Bill Shaffer (55) 7. Jeff Lilly (17) 8. Lauren Longbrake (27).

Heat winners: Blair, K. Thomas, Horton, Southern

B main winners: Fornash, Johnson

Lap leaders: Martin (1-17), Pegher (18), Martin (19-28), Pegher (29-30)

Car count: 37

Lincoln Electric Welder Winner: Shane Hitt

United Rentals $100 Drawings: Derek Doll, John Volpe, Josh Holtgraver, Kris Southern, Jesse Wisecarver, Shawn Jett, Jeff Fornash, Kyle Thomas, Danny Thomas, Tom Keplinger

Utsinger’s Towing Hoosier Tire Giveaway: Jesse Wisecarver

Original Pizza Logs $1,000 Contingency Connection Winners: Max Blair, Shane Hitt

The next event for the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC FASTRAK Northeast Touring Series will be on Saturday, September 17 at Sharon Speedway for a $1,200 to-win event along with a special Australian Pursuit for the “Futures Cup” racers. Sharon will also have a $700 to-win Weekly Series event on Friday the 16th with time trials and a paying dash for the top six cars.

FASTRAK Northeast’s 2011 marketing partners include Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC, Original Pizza Logs, Bully Dog, Contingency Connection, Utsinger’s Towing, and Hoosier Tire.

You can reach co-directors Vicki Emig and Mike Leone at the FASTRAK Northeast office at 724-964-9300. E-mail to info@fastraknortheast.com and snail mail to 4368 Route 422, Pulaski, PA 16143. The office is open daily late mornings and after 1:30 p.m. For more information, check out the FASTRAK Northeast website at www.fastraknortheast.com. Become our fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fastraknortheast.