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WAYNE ROBERTSON WINS CAREER 1ST FASTRAK NE LATE MODEL TOUR EVENT AFTER BLAIR & PEGHER TANGLE AT MCKEAN’S FINALE By Mike Leone September 24, 2011 (East Smethport, PA)…The Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series returned to McKean County Raceway for the fourth and final time this season on Saturday night. The event was part of the track’s sixth annual “Fall Classic” and was postponed one day by rain. A packed grandstand watched 40 cars compete from Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, New York, and Ontario, Canada for race #18 of the 2011 season. Max Blair and Mike Pegher, Jr. have become the faces of the FASTRAK Northeast Late Models over the past four seasons. Pegher leads Blair 13 to 12 on the Northeast Touring Series all-time win list. Blair is a three-time National Weekly Series Champion beating Pegher the last two seasons. Heading into Saturday night, Pegher had beaten his rival Blair in the past seven Touring events and eight of the last nine to severely cut into Blair’s Tour point lead, which Blair has won two of the past three seasons beating Pegher last year. Saturday night saw Pegher lead the first 23 laps; however, contact was made on the 23rd circuit and then again on lap 24 with Pegher spinning and Blair being put to the tail. Wayne Robertson, a newcomer to FASTRAK in 2011, inherited the lead and held off a furious charge by Joe Martin to capture his first career Northeast Touring Series event win. Robertson became the 10th different winner of the season and milestone 30th all-time in 72 events held all-time. Robertson’s 25-lap win was worth $1,700 after “Friends of McKean County Raceway” put up a $500 bonus. “This is the toughest class I’ve ever raced in,” acknowledged the 29-year-old Corning, New York BRP Can-Am Super Stock graduate. “The competition is unbelievable. This has been a long time coming. The car was coming on at the end; I just wasn’t fast enough, but was in the right place at the right time. I have to thank my crew, family, and beautiful wife.” Pegher drew the pole position looking for his third McKean Tour win of the season. Blair started third and passed Robertson on the opening lap for second with Kyle Zimmerman trailing in fourth, while Martin passed Junior Peters for fifth. Martin worked his way past Zimmerman for fourth on lap four then drove around Robertson for third following a restart on lap six. Josh Holtgraver cracked the top five on lap eight using the outside to drop Zimmerman back another spot. While Blair remained in striking distance as the laps ticked off, Robertson stayed right with Martin as the duo ran side-by-side on laps nine and ten. Robertson nosed ahead for third on lap nine, but Martin would get back by on lap 11 following a caution for Brad Mesler and Adam Ashcroft. The two continued to put on a great show and went side-by-side again on lap 12 with Robertson regaining the spot; meanwhile, Zimmerman re-entered the top five when he passed Holtgraver. At the halfway mark, Pegher and Blair began distancing themselves from the field as Robertson and Martin pulled away from the rest of the field in their battle for third. Blair began chipping into Pegher’s lead on lap 15. A caution for last Saturday’s Touring Series winner, Ryan Montgomery, slowed action with 17 laps scored. Super Late Model standout, Chad Valone, who was making his first career Touring Series start, was on the move from the 12th starting spot. Valone was halfway to the front when he passed Holtgraver for sixth on lap 19 then moved into the top five two laps later after getting past Zimmerman. All eyes quickly shifted back up front as Blair had caught Pegher. On lap 22, Blair got under Pegher in turn two, but Pegher had the momentum to stay in front to lead the lap. Lap 23 saw Blair pull even with Pegher. The two were side-by-side in turn four as contact was made, but Pegher still led the lap. Entering turn one on the 24th circuit, Blair dove low into part of the infield making heavy contact with Pegher. The duo continued contact through turns one and two with Pegher spinning on the backstretch. Blair was put to the tail as Robertson inherited the lead. Robertson would survive one more restart and a furious charge by Martin on the outside to lead the final two laps for the popular win. Robertson was at winner at McKean’s fair event last year in a BRP Can-Am Super Stock. The victory was Robertson’s second in FASTRAK competition as he won a Weekly Series event last month at Eriez Speedway in his Wilkins RV/Tri-City Highway/Valken Wheels/Landrum Springs/Joe Williey Performance Automotive-sponsored #20. Robertson, who got married this summer, has finished in the top 10 in all six of his feature Touring starts. It was Martin’s second runner-up in the past three events and sixth straight top 10 finish after taking some time off after a rough Speedweek. Valone was a close third. Zimmerman, who had finished a season best sixth at his last Touring event, which ironically came at McKean’s fair event, improved that with a fourth place effort. One race after a career best runner-up finish at Sharon, Damian Bidwell turned in another stellar effort advancing from 19th to finish fifth after getting by Holtgraver on lap 24. Holtgraver was sixth for his 11th top 10 of the season and moved into third in points. Hometown racer Steve Dixon finished seventh for his 11th top 10 as well. Jamie Brown recorded his season’s second top 10 in eighth. Brent Rhebergen made his first start in the second Keith Bidwell #17 entry and finished ninth. Dan Angelicchio was the race’s hard charger coming from 25th to finish 10th, but not enough to maintain his third place point standing. Twenty-two of the original 25 starters finished the race with every driver on the lead lap. Junior Peters was the last one and earned the free Hoosier Tire presented by Utsinger’s Towing. Holtgraver and John Haggerty were the recipients of the $1,000 Contingency Connection packages presented by Original Pizza Logs. Making his first Touring Series start since July 3, 2010, Les Lyon ended the night on a positive note winning the wild 10-lap non-qualifier event. Lyon passed Brian Haggerty on lap seven and held off Canadian Luke Carleton for the $125 victory to become the 14th different winner in 16 events all-time as part of the “Wheelman” Bonus Event Challenge Series. “Every dog has its day,” joked the veteran Sugar Grove, Pa. racer. “This was a long time coming. It’s been a rough year. I had a small stroke earlier this year and came back racing a month ago and it’s been fun.” Matt Harvey was docked two spots for jumping the initial start two consecutive times as Haggerty took the early lead over Lyon. Justin Kreider, who was last year’s “Wheelman” champion, quickly made his way from the 10th starting spot into third passing Harvey on lap two. Kreider though would lose the handle in turn one trying to pass Lyon for second and brought out the caution. On the ensuing restart, Tim Schram passed Harvey for third, but would get sideways on lap six allowing Harvey to regain the spot with Carleton up to fourth. Lyon’s winning move came when he ducked under Haggerty in turn one on lap seven ruining Haggerty’s shot at his second “Wheelman” win of the season at McKean. Carleton made a breathtaking move on lap nine splitting Haggerty and Harvey coming off turn two down the backstretch for second as Harvey followed in third. Carleton quickly ran down Lyon on the final lap and made a last ditch turn four effort going to the outside in turn four, but came up just shy to Lyon’s #45 in what was the night’s best race! Harvey was third in his first ever Touring start. Haggerty dropped to fourth over another newcomer in Jeremy Bucktooth. Heat winners were Pegher, Valone, Blair, and Marhefka, while Butch Lambert and Adam Sixt picked up the heat race wins. Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series Race #18 (25 laps, $1,700 to-win): 1. WAYNE ROBERTSON (20) 2. Joe Martin (55) 3. Chad Valone (56) 4. Kyle Zimmerman (z17) 5. Damian Bidwell (17) 6. Josh Holtgraver (00) 7. Steve Dixon (50) 8. Jamie Brown (135) 9. Brent Rhebergen (Bidwell 17R) 10. Dan Angelicchio (14) 11. Garrett Mott (43X) 12. Todd Smith (21) 13. Andrew Wylie (84) 14. Rob Marhefka (Fetsko 99FM) 15. Adam Sixt (6T) 16. Chad Wright (6) 17. Max Blair (111) 18. Butch Lambert (27) 19. John Haggerty (49) 20. Brad Mesler (24B) 21. Adam Ashcroft (Baker 74) 22. Junior Peters (00) 23. Mike Pegher, Jr. (Geisler 1c) 24. Ryan Montgomery (12) 25. Justin Tatlow (Kratts 81) Note: Dan Angelicchio took a Touring provisional. Non-Qualifier Race (10 laps, $125 to-win): 1. Les Lyon (45) 2. Luke Carleton (20) 3. Matt Harvey (4) 4. Brian Haggerty (91) 5. Jeremy Bucktooth (75) 6. Tim Schram (1s) 7. Scott Fitch (51) 8. Pat Willar (39) 9. Justin Kreider (29) 10. Jason Stetson (69s) 11. Todd Sweet (17)-DNS 12. T.J. Downs (03)-DNS 13. Eric Andrus (Craig 62)-DNS 14. Ike Fanton (41)-DNS 15. Shane Weaver (Ruffner 325x)-DNS. Heat winners: Pegher, Valone, Blair, Marhefka B main winners: Sixt, Lambert Lap leaders: Pegher (1-23), Robertson (24-25) Car count: 40 Utsinger’s Towing Hoosier Tire Giveaway: Junior Peters Original Pizza Logs $1,000 Contingency Connection Winners: Josh Holtgraver, John Haggerty 2011 Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series Results Date/Track/State/Winner/# of Wins/To-Win Amount/Car Count April 30 Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex (PA) Mike Pegher, Jr. (1) $1,200 (37 cars) May 22 Humberstone Speedway (ON) Max Blair (1) $2,000 (16 cars) May 28 Sharon Speedway (OH) Josh Holtgraver (1) $1,500 (41 cars) May 30 Lernerville Speedway (PA) Max Blair (2) $1,500 (46 cars) June 11 Tyler County Speedway (WV) Dan Angelicchio (1) $1,500 (31 cars) June 18 McKean County Raceway (PA) Mike Pegher, Jr. (2) $1,200 (24 cars) June 25 Sharon Speedway (OH) Max Blair (3) $2,825 (35 cars) June 29 Expo Speedway (OH) Russell King (1) $2,000 (29 cars) June 30 McKean County Raceway (PA) Mike Pegher, Jr. (3) $1,200 (39 cars) July 1 Raceway 7 (OH) Steve Dixon (1) $1,200 (34 cars) July 2 Pittsburgh’s PA Motor Speedway (PA) Dan Angelicchio (2) $1,200 (33 cars) July 3 Eriez Speedway (PA) Mike Pegher, Jr. (4) $2,000 (29 cars) July 26 Dog Hollow Speedway (PA) Joe Martin (1) $1,500 (30 cars) Aug. 13 Sharon Speedway (OH) George Kowatic (1) $2,000 (48 cars) Aug. 18 McKean County Raceway (PA) Josh Holtgraver (2) $1,200 (29 cars) Sept. 2 Tyler County Speedway (WV) Mike Pegher, Jr. (5) $3,000 (37 cars) Sept. 17 Sharon Speedway (OH) Ryan Montgomery (1) $1,200 (36 cars) Sept. 24 McKean County Raceway (PA) Wayne Robertson (1) $1,700 (40 cars) The next race will be this Saturday, October 1 at Dog Hollow Speedway for Night 1 of the Grand Nationals for $1,500 to-win. The rain date will be Sunday. The next event for the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC FASTRAK Northeast Touring Series will be on Friday and Saturday, October 7-8 at Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex. Heat races will be run on Friday along with the final “Futures Cup” Trifecta race then Saturday B mains, the 30-lap $2,000 to-win feature, and the non-qualifiers event will be run. 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/ |
