FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 19, 2010

NORTHEAST DRIVERS READY TO COMPETE IN FASTRAK GRAND NATIONALS FINALE; FATHER-SON DUO ROB & MAX BLAIR CURRENTLY TIED FOR $30,000 TO-WIN CHAMPIONSHIP

By Mike Leone
Rural Retreat, VA…After several hundred FASTRAK Late Model events throughout the country ranging from Weekly Series events up to $10,000 to-win National events in 2010, it all comes down to one night and it’s this Saturday night, October 23 at Wythe Raceway in Rural Retreat, Virginia. Night 3 of the FASTRAK Grand Nationals will decide this year’s $30,000 champion amongst a point fund that will pay the top 24 positions along with a bonus event for drivers outside the top 24 paying $1,200 to-win!

“2010 has been a phenomenal year for FASTRAK Northeast with a record-setting 15 tracks sanctioned and approximately 300 drivers taking part in a FASTRAK-sanctioned event in the Northeast,” explained fourth year Northeast Co-Director Vicki Emig. “Already at least $60,000 in FASTRAK point monies have already been earned by drivers hailing from the Northeast via the National Weekly Series, Northeast Touring Series, and Mid-Ohio Valley Touring Series. The Northeast drivers have put themselves in a tremendous position heading into the finale at Wythe as that $60,000 figure could easily soar to over $75,000 and possibly much, much more!”

A strong contingent of Northeast drivers is expected to travel south led by the father-son duo of Robbie and Max Blair of Centerville, Pa. How many times in the annals of racing history have a father and son found themselves tied as they prepare to vie for a national championship? This scenario in itself sets the stage for a storybook ending, one that regardless of the outcome will become a lifetime memory for both.

Max, the 20-year-old 2008 and 2010 National Weekly Series and Northeast Touring Series Champion and winner of Night 1 of the Grand Nationals at Mercer on October 2; Robbie, the 40-year-old two-time All Star Late Model Champion, winner of the $5,000 FASTRAK National Event at McKean County Raceway on June 19, and winner of Night 2 of the Grand Nationals at Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex on October 9; both could certainly be considered odds on favorites to win this prestigious title.

“In just a short four years, the Northeast Region has become a force to be reckoned with throughout the nation,” stated fourth year Co-Director Mike Leone. “All of the regional FASTRAK sanctioned promoters should be extremely proud of the fact that they have given their racers the opportunity to participate in all of the various levels of the FASTRAK program. When the final results of the Grand Nationals are added to the point fund monies already attained in the Northeast Region the number is going to be astounding!”

Seventeen year old Bud Watson has also put himself in a fantastic position to bring home a large amount of money from the huge Grand National Point Fund. When 2009 Northeast Touring Series championship car owners John and Janet Powell recently tapped young Watson to takeover the wheel for David Scott, this partnership quickly turned heads. The Conneaut, Ohio racer won his first Northeast touring event at Tri-City Speedway in only his third starts for the Powells and continued on with several top five finishes including a fifth at Mercer’s Night 1 and a third at Roaring Knob’s Night 2. This team has high hopes heading into the Grand National finale and a bright future has been forged by joining young driving talent with a veteran car owner and chassis builder.

Steve Dixon has already proven himself to be a strong contender wherever he appears. In his first season of FASTRAK, the Smethport, Pa. racer has already captured two Northeast Touring events along with several other victories. The 30-year-old has shown that he is an extremely versatile driver no matter the venue and is expected to adapt very quickly to the high-banked red clay oval known as the “Talladega of Dirt” - Wythe Raceway.

Veteran driver Mike Blose brings years of Late Model experience to the Grand Nationals. The quiet, reserved New Bethlehem, Pa. shoe in his familiar red #5 will be a strong and steady force amongst the Northeast contingent. One of only four drivers in the Northeast to record two top 10 finishes in the first two nights of the Grand Nationals, Blose has set himself up for a strong placing in the final standings.

Butch Lambert will embark on his third consecutive trip south to the Grand Nationals. The always consistent Mars, Pa. native has become one of the strongest supporters of FASTRAK by competing in all of the 2010 Northeast Touring events along with several National events. The 37-year-old has proven he can take his car to the front on many occasions this season regardless of his starting position and is sure to improve upon his current Grand National standing.

West Virginia’s Gary Knollinger has probably logged more miles than any other FASTRAK driver in the Northeast this season. Through his efforts, he captured the Mid-Ohio Valley Touring Series championship along with a strong fourth place finish in the Northeast Touring Series. This hard charging 38-year-old driver earned the seventh highest score amongst the Northeast contenders.

Long-time Pittsburgh’s PA Motor Speedway racer, Kyle Lukon, broadened his boundaries this summer when he left his home track to compete in the McKean County Raceway $5,000 to-win National event. Since then, the just turned 21-year-old Burgettstown, Pa. resident has become nearly a regular supporter in Northeast Touring Series events as he finished the year with four straight top six finishes! The Duquesne University student has made his first Grand National endeavor and will head south to somewhat of a familiar and comfortable setting on the huge half-mile.

Coming off a phenomenal third place performance at this past Saturday night’s $10,000 to-win National Event at West Virginia Motor Speedway, Dan Angelicchio has proven that at any time he can be a factor while racing with the best. The Greensburg, Pa. driver also turned in a runner-up in the National Event at McKean along with a seventh place at Eldora Speedway’s National Event this summer. Had it not been for a last lap spin at Mercer, the 22-year-old racer would find himself even higher up in the current Grand National standings.

Making a return trip south for the second straight year is Troy Shields. The 50-year-old is hoping for a better result that he did last year when he ended up upside down at Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tn. Earlier this season, the Acme, Pa. driver ended a five-year winless drought when he won a Weekly Series event at Roaring Knob. Shields competed in more Northeast Touring Series events than ever before finishing 15th in points with a Touring best fifth place effort at Expo Speedway.

Though he finds himself in a deficit in the Grand National points, Mike Pegher, Jr. would certainly be one of the favorites to win the finale at Wythe. Had it not been for a tangle with a lapped car while leading at Roaring Knob, it’s likely the Wexford, Pa. driver would most likely be near the very top of the Grand Nationals standings. The 24-year-old led the Northeast Touring Series with five victories and finished second in points as well as winning the $5,000 National Event at Eldora and the MOV Touring Series event at WVMS. He also finished second in the National Weekly Series points and third in the Mid-Ohio Valley Touring Series points. His seven major victories alone in 2010 were worth $17,000!

Two drivers tied with 45 points are Joe Martin and Jamie Brown. Martin has had a strong sophomore season with his first career Touring Series win this summer at Dog Hollow Speedway along with Weekly Series wins at Sharon and Dog Hollow. He outshined the competition at Mercer’s $6,000 National Event on July 3 setting fast time and came back as second fastest at Night 1 of the Grand Nationals. The 2009 Western PA Rookie of the Year is sure to be another great representative of the Northeast contingent.

Brown of Jamestown, New York has quietly improved throughout his second season of FASTRAK competition. The 20-year-old really came on late in the season with a fifth place in the finale at McKean against a 42-car field, qualified for the Grand National feature at Mercer, and charged from 17th to ninth at Roaring Knob’s Night 2.

Other Northeast drivers that competed in both Grand National nights in the Northeast and would be eligible to compete in the bonus event at Wythe are four-time Roaring Knob winner Ricky Meglaye, Shane Bambarger, Mercer champion Kyle Zimmerman, three-time Roaring Knob winner Rick Strickler, Sharon Touring Series winner Josh Holtgraver, 19-year-old Bobby Cossell IV, New Jersey’s Steve Davis, 58-year-old rookie Michael Hughes, and rookie two-time Roaring Knob winner Billy Stile III.

“We could not be prouder of the group of drivers heading south for Night 3 at Wythe,” expressed Emig. “This is what FASTRAK is all about. Look over this list of drivers and all facets of racing are representative. Robbie Blair and Mike Blose are two of the most respective Super Late Model drivers in western Pa., while Knollinger, Lambert, Dixon, and Shields have made their way to FASTRAK as heavy hitters in other divisions of racing.

“The most exciting aspect of this group is simply the talented youth that have rose to the top this season and are preparing themselves for what is sure to be an experience of a lifetime,” continued Emig. “Collectively between the ages of 17 and 25, Max Blair, Bud Watson, Dan Angelicchio, Kyle Lukon, Mike Pegher, Joe Martin and Jamie Brown are the future of our sport and I have no doubt in their ability to mix it up with the best FASTRAK talent in the country. I’m sure they will make us all proud when all is said and done.”

Practice begins at 5:30 p.m. on Friday night and following action, there will be a pit party with free food at 9 p.m. open to everyone from the grandstands. Hot laps begin at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday followed by qualifying, heat races, last chance races, the 50-lap Grand National feature, and the bonus event for racers outside the top 24 in points that competed all three nights of the Grand Nationals. Pit passes are $25 on Friday night and $35 on Saturday with a special two-day pit pass of $50.

Also note, on Saturday at noon, there will be a 2011 drivers meeting at the tech building open to everyone.

Wythe Raceway is located just minutes off I-81 at 164 Race Track Road in Rural Retreat, Virginia. For more information, check out their website at www.wytheraceway.com or call the office Monday through Friday at 276-223-9804 or the track on race day at 276-686-4261.