FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 22, 2010

MCKEAN TO HOST 2nd & FINAL FASTRAK NORTHEAST LATE MODEL TOURING SERIES EVENT ON FRIDAY; SPECIAL WEEKLY EVENT SATURDAY PART OF 2-DAY FALL CLASSIC

By Mike Leone
East Smethport, PA…The FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series is beginning to wind down with just two events remaining on the 2010 schedule of events. On Friday night, September 24, race #19 of 20 will take place at McKean County Raceway. McKean will not only host a Touring Series event on Friday, but FASTRAK will also be on the schedule Saturday night in a special increased Weekly Series purse event as part of the two-day “Fall Classic”.

Earlier this season McKean hosted one of the two “National” FASTRAK events held in the Northeast with Robbie Blair picking up the $5,000 victory for his first ever Touring Series win. Friday’s race will have $1,200 on the line to the 25-lap winner. John Lacki, who won the first ever Touring Series event held at McKean back in 2007, is the only repeat winner in Touring Series competition at McKean. Lacki was also a winner in 2009 and will look to become a three-time Touring Series winner at the East Smethport, Pa. oval on Friday night. Other Touring Series winners at McKean include Todd Andrews, Max Blair, and Butch Lambert.

“We always look forward to going to McKean County,” stated fourth year Northeast Region Co-Director Vicki Emig. “McKean was one of the original four weekly-sanctioned FASTRAK speedways back in 2007 and has stuck with FASTRAK since day one. They’ve been a big supporter of the FASTRAK concept and always hold a minimum of two Touring Series events per season. McKean always boasts one of the highest weekly car counts in the Region. The northwestern Pennsylvania and southwestern New York racers are competitive bunch and known McKean inside out. They always pose a strong challenge when the Touring Series comes to town. We really have to thank Ken Leet, Rich Yeager, and Tom Gleason of McKean for their 100% backing and look forward to working with them more in the future.”

Like Sharon Speedway last weekend, McKean is also offering a two-day, two complete shows for FASTRAK. In addition to the Touring Series event on Friday night, the final Weekly Series event will be held on Saturday. Thanks to some sponsorship, the typical $750 to-win amount has been boasted by $500 up to $1,250 to-win! Note: In the event that Friday’s Touring Series event is rained out, Saturday’s Weekly Series event would become the Touring Series event.

“This should be a great weekend for FASTRAK,” stated fourth year Northeast Co-Director Mike Leone. “The Fall Classic is one of the biggest weekend race events in the region and we’re thrilled FASTRAK has again been included both days. We expect a big field of cars at McKean. Drivers will not only be jockeying for important positioning in the Touring Series with just two events remaining, but Saturday will also be their last chance to improve upon their standing in the 50-position paying National Weekly Series.”

The 2010 Northeast Touring Series has been a very competitive one with 12 different winners in 18 races! Will there be a 13th different one on Friday? Max Blair and Mike Pegher, Jr. lead the way with four wins a piece; however, five of the last eight races have produced first time winners and not a sixth if Blair had not held off Josh Double! Blair leads Pegher in the Touring Series standings and simply needs to show up at the final two events or finish 19th or better Friday night to clinch his second championship in the past three seasons.

Justin Kreider continues to lead the new “Wheelman” Bonus Event Challenge Series. The Linesville, Pa. driver leads Jason Genco by 28 points. Genco of Jamestown, Ny. has been victorious in the past two events at Sharon and Raceway 7 as he’s just missed out on transferring to the feature by one spot both nights.

There have been 52 Northeast Touring Series races contested with 25 different winners all-time in the Northeast Touring Series meaning nearly a new winner nearly every other event. Blair leads Pegher nine to seven followed by Dick Barton, Bobby Powell, John Lacki, and David Scott with four, 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, Josh Holtgraver, Robbie Blair, Jonathan Davenport, Gary Knollinger, Joe Martin, Steve Dixon, Dusty Hamrick, and Bud Watson with one victory.

McKean September 24 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. Bonus Event for non-qualifiers to be held if 30 or more cars paying $125 to-win, $55 to-start. Tow/Non-qualifiers $50.

Current Northeast Touring Series points (must be a Northeast Touring Series member to receive points): 1. Max Blair 585 2. Mike Pegher, Jr. 531 3. Butch Lambert 499 4. Gary Knollinger 480 5. Josh Holtgraver 468 6. Bud Watson 446 7. Joe Martin 315 8. Dan Angelicchio 314 9. Dan Karalagas 266 10. Steve Dixon 262 11. Bryan Force 252 12. Mike Blose 212 13. Troy Shields 188 14. Kyle Zimmerman 170 15. Josh Double 166 16. David Scott 165 17. Kyle Lukon 150 18. Shane Bambarger 141 19. Garrett Mott 130 20. Ricky Meglaye 125 21. Dwayne Pond 123 22. Damian Bidwell 113 23. Jamie Brown 107 24. Bob Cossell IV 98 25. John Haggerty 96 26. Dave Airgood, Jr. 89 27. Rocky Kugel 86 28. Robbie Blair 84 29. Michael Mitchell 59 30. Dennis Lunger, Jr. 51 31. Ike Fanton 49 32. Bob Kish 38 33. Chris Force 33 34. John Over 31 35. Jim Long 30 36. John Lacki & Michael Hughes 23 38. Mark Moats, Jr., 10 39. Jason Fosnaught 0.

RACEceivers are mandatory at all Northeast Touring Series events. There is a $50 entry fee. Any tech questions or information on the RACEceivers, call Brad Hibbard at 330-540-RACE.

McKean will have an open practice on Thursday night beginning at 7 p.m. Pit admission is $25. On Friday night, gates open at 4 p.m. with racing at 7. Pit passes are $30. McKean County Raceway is a 1/3-mile dirt track located at the McKean County Fairgrounds in East Smethport, Pa. at the intersections of Route 6 and 46. For more information on McKean County Raceway, check out their website at www.mckeancountyraceway.com or call 814-362-6909. The track number on race day is 814-887-2600.