FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 15, 2010

BIG 2-RACE TOURING WEEKEND FOR FASTRAK NORTHEAST WITH $5,000 TO-WIN SATURDAY AT MCKEAN COUNTY & $1,200 SUNDAY AT CENTRAL PA

By Mike Leone
Pulaski, PA…After a two-weekend respite, the FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series will return to action with two big events this weekend beginning Saturday night (June 19) at McKean County Raceway for race #4 and Sunday evening (June 20) at Central PA Speedway for race #5 on the 20-event slate.

The McKean County event on Saturday will be the richest FASTRAK event in the history of the facility and richest in the Northeast since the July 4, 2007 event at Mercer Raceway Park with $5,000 going to the winner of the 40-lap feature.

The event marks the first of three Northeast Touring Series events in less than a month classified as National Events, which pay a minimum of $5,000 to-win. Mercer Raceway Park will host the next on Saturday, July 3 followed by West Virginia Motor Speedway on Saturday, July 10.

“McKean was one of the original four FASTRAK Northeast weekly speedways back in 2007,” stated Northeast Co-Director Vicki Emig. “We’re thrilled to bring this event to them and want to thank them for their excellent support of FASTRAK over the past four seasons. McKean always has a strong car count for their weekly events and has a tough group of competitors from the northern part of our region that are always ready to take on the invaders.”

Sunday’s event at Central PA Speedway will not only be the first FASTRAK-sanctioned event held at the wicked-fast speed plant, but marks the first ever Northeast Touring Series event held in central Pennsylvania The 25-lap feature will pay $1,200 to-win.

“We are excited to finally be able to go to Clearfield,” expressed Northeast Co-Director Mike Leone. “We’ve been trying hard the past few years to secure a Touring Series event, but with their limited specials-only schedule it’s not easy finding a date that’s conducive to both our schedules. Central PA is a fast joint and it’s going to be neutral ground for everyone so it should make for an interesting race. With it following McKean, it’ll allow many guys to stop off on their way home and attract some of the racers from around this area.”

Max Blair opened the season topping a 53-car field at Tyler County Speedway in West Virginia and will lead the Northeast Touring stars into McKean County on Saturday night. The 20-year-old Centerville, Pa. driver was the 2008 champion and currently has just a four-point lead over West Virginia racer Gary Knollinger, who is coming off a fourth and third place efforts at Tyler County and Sharon Speedways on May 15 and 29.

Josh Holtgraver has steadily climbed the point ladder into third just seven points behind Blair following his career first Touring Series win at Sharon. Mike Blose, who also won his career first Touring Series event this season on May 15 at Tyler County, slipped to fourth in points after losing an engine at Sharon.

A total of 71 different drivers have already competed in the three Northeast Touring Series events to date with an average car count of nearly 39 cars. Those numbers should both grow after this weekend.

There have been 37 Touring Series races contested with an amazing 18 different winners all-time in the Northeast Touring Series meaning a new winner at least every other event! Blair currently sits atop the all-time win list at six followed by Dick Barton, Bobby Powell, and John Lacki with four, Mike Pegher, Jr. and David Scott with three, Alan Dellinger with two, and Todd Andrews, Kyle Drum, Frank Guidace, Butch Lambert, Carl McKinney, Dennis Lunger, Jr., Tom Snyder, Jr., Chris Meadows, Jim Frank, Mike Blose, and Josh Holtgraver with one victory.

Current FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series points (must be a Northeast Touring Series member to receive points): 1. Max Blair 90 2. Gary Knollinger 86 3. Josh Holtgraver 83 4. Mike Blose 78 5. Mike Pegher, Jr. 77 6. Butch Lambert 65 7. Bud Watson & Joe Martin 57 9. Dwayne Pond 51 10. Troy Shields 45 11. Dan Angelicchio 44 12. Josh Double 42 13. David Scott 41 14. Rocky Kugel 33 15. Steve Dixon 32 16. Ricky Meglaye & Dave Airgood, Jr. 30 18. Shane Bambarger 27 19. Kyle Zimmerman & Garrett Mott 26 21. Dennis Lunger, Jr. & Jamie Brown 25 23. Dan Karalagas 23 24. Damian Bidwell, Mark Moats, Jr., Bryan Force, Ike Fanton, John Haggerty 10 29. John Over, Bob Kish, John Lacki, Bob Cossell, Jason Fosnaught, Bobby Cossell, Chris Force, Jim Long, Michael Hughes 0.

McKean County Raceway 6/19 Payoff: 1. $5,000 2. $2,500 3. $1,250 4. $750 5. $650 6. $550 7. $500 8. $400 9. $375 10. $350 11. $325 12. $300 13. $275 14. $270 15. $265 16. $260 17. $255 18-24. $250. Non-qualifiers/Tow $100.

Central PA Speedway 6/20 Payoff: 1. $1,200 2. $650 3. $450 4. $350 5. $325 6. $300 7. $275 8. $260 9. $255 10. $250 11. $225 12. $210 13. $200 14. $175 15.$165 16. $160 17. $155 18-24. $150. Non-qualifiers/Tow $50.

A qualifying format will be used on Saturday night at McKean, while the traditional Touring Series format will be used at Central PA on Sunday. Saturday’s format was mailed to our driver list. If you did not receive one and would like one, please contact us. The entry fee for McKean is $125 and the entry fee for Central PA Speedway is $50. Special thanks to Bill Law, who will be awarding a new Hoosier FASTRAK tire to the first non-qualifier Saturday. RACEceivers are mandatory at all Northeast and Mid-Ohio Valley Touring Series events. Any tech questions or information on the RACEceivers, call Brad Hibbard at 330-540-RACE.

On Saturday, pit gates open at 4:30 p.m. with racing at 7 p.m. Pit passes are $30. McKean County Raceway is a 1/3-mile oval located at the McKean County Fairgrounds just south of East Smethport, Pa. near the intersection of Routes 6 and 46. For more information, check out their website at www.mckeancountyraceway.com or call 814-362-6909 (weekdays) and 814-887-2600 (race day).

On Sunday, pit gates open at 3 p.m. with racing at 6 p.m. Pit passes are $30. Central PA Speedway is a 3/8-mile oval located at 1174 Nelson Road in Clearfield, Pa. just minutes from I-80 and Route 322 off the Mount Zion Exit. For more information, check out their website at www.centralpaspeedway.com or call 814-768-FLAG.