FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 2, 2011

FASTRAK NORTHEAST YOUNG GUNS PREPARE FOR QUEST TO CAPTURE INAUGURAL FUTURES CUP CHAMPIONSHIP

By Mike Leone
(Pulaski, PA)…As spring inches closer in the Northeast, FASTRAK Late Model racers are putting the final touches to their cars in preparation for what promises to be the most exciting FASTRAK season ever to be put in place.

For the first time ever in the history of Northeast Late Model racing, some of the division’s best young, up and coming drivers throughout the region will have the opportunity to compete for their own prestigious title- the inaugural FASTRK Northeast “Futures Cup” championship. At season’s end, a $3,000 point fund will be paid to the top 10 racers with the champion receiving $1,000 and the inaugural “Futures Cup” and championship jacket. With an outstanding contingent of talented teenagers expected to compete during the 2011 season, the battle for supremacy is expected to be fought to the final checkered flag.

“The creation of our “Futures Cup” has created a phenomenal amount of excitement throughout the winter amongst our group of eligible racers and their families,” expressed fifth year Northeast Director Vicki Emig. “The concept has accomplished exactly what we set out to do for these young drivers; one, show them how important we feel they are to the continued growth of FASTRAK Northeast; and two, give them something to look forward to each and every race night as they accumulate valuable points toward their own championship.”

Damian Bidwell is one of at least eight “Futures Cup” racers that will begin his second year of FASTRAK competition, but the only one to have won a feature in his rookie FASTRAK campaign. The Eldred, Pa. driver will turn 18 on March 9 and is one of the favorites to win the “Futures Cup”. Bidwell is an auto body mechanic and the son of Rich Bidwell- a former E-Mod standout.

Bidwell, a former Mini Stock and Stock Car competitor, won his career first FASTRAK race at Tri-City Speedway last Father’s Day in his #1/2-pint, but has switched to #17 for 2011 in honor of his sponsor and former Super Late Model great Todd Andrews. His future goal is to be racing with the World of Outlaws or Lucas Oil Late Model Series.

Unlike some of the other “Futures Cup” contenders that will begin their second year of FASTRAK, Chad Wright was a raw rookie last season. He moved right out of the go-karts into FASTRAK, but by year’s end you would have never known he was a 16-year-old rookie. The Springboro, Pa. racer won a heat race at Raceway 7 in his second appearance and captured another heat victory at Sharon defeating Max Blair and Butch Lambert. His season’s best finish came at Sharon on July 31 when he finished sixth. He was selected as the 2010 Raceway 7 and Twin-State Auto Racing Club Rookie-of-the-Year.

With 14 championships to Wright’s credit in the go-karts, it won’t be long until Wright is winning FASTRAK races and championships in the Zimmer’s Service Center #6 owned by his parents Keith and Marian. Wright is a nephew of longtime Late Model racer Mickey Wright. His goals are to win races and earn the respect of his fellow racers. After graduating high school, he hopes to obtain a degree in engineering.

Looking forward to his second season in a FASTRAK Late Model is Dave Tackett, Jr., better known as Newt. The 16-year-old student from North East, Pa. started racing at an early age in go-karts and would later capture the rookie-of-the-year honors at both Stateline and Eriez Speedways at the mere age of just 14. Tackett will be behind the wheel of the #68 co-owned by his father and Reuben Schwartz of Schwartz Construction. Tackett credits FASTRAK as a great stepping stone to Super Late Model racing and his goal one day is to win Eldora’s “World 100”.

One of the older “Futures Cup” challengers is 18-year-old Russell Baird, Jr. The Uniontown, Pa. racer was a regular at Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex finishing ninth in points in his rookie FASTRAK season after two years in a Pure Stock. Baird credits FASTRAK for its fairness and equality that the organization represents. He’d love to get a lucky break and be able to compete on the Lucas Oil Late Model Series one day. In the meantime, he’ll drive the #17 FASTRAK for his father Russell, Sr. and attend California University of PA to obtain a masters degree in Secondary Education. Baird is also working on getting a black belt in Shotokan Karate.

Matt Bassaro looks to be the oldest competitor for the “Futures Cup”. The 19-year-old Saint Francis University student lives right down the road from his home track Dog Hollow Speedway in Heilwood, Pa. Bassaro made a handful of starts in both 2009 and 2010 splitting the driving chores with his father and car owner Rudy. His car #72 came from his football number. Bassaro’s goal is to progress through the FASTRAK ranks and eventually into Super Late Models.

One of the youngest returning FASTRAK racers is Shane Weaver. The 14-year-old Marion Center (PA) High School student won’t turn 15 until July 12. Weaver began his racing career in the Mini Stocks at age 12 and proved to his family he was ready to make the move to FASTRAK. In 2011, he’ll again be behind the wheel of the Cliff Ruffner, Sr. #325x. His future goal is to compete in the FASTRAK Grand Nationals and eventually race with the World of Outlaw Late Models.

Nico Dabecco of Pittsburgh, Pa. campaigned a limited schedule in 2010, but did score five top 10 finishes. Dabecco recorded a career best sixth at Pittsburgh’s PA Motor Speedway and also finished seventh in his first ever start at Mercer Raceway Park. Dabecco’s uncle is Dan Karalagas and the “Team Freek & Greek” duo will return in 2011 in their #1F and #G1.

The final returning FASTRAK racer is Alessa Young. The West Chester, Pa. racer will turn 18 on March 25 and is a regular at New Jersey’s New Egypt Speedway where she recorded three fifth place finishes in 2010. Young began racing at age 10 in quarter midgets winning five Grand National Championships and also the MCQMRC Driver and Sportsman of the Year in 2009. Her goal is to be the first female to win a track championship at New Egypt and to continue racing and go to college. Young drives for her father Tim in the Young’s Garage #38.

So far five new racers to the FASTRAK ranks have thrown their hat into the ring for a run at the 2011 “Futures Cup” championship. The driver with the most previous auto racing experience is Bobby Rohrer, Jr. The 19-year-old University of Edinboro student is the son of Eriez Speedway owner, Bobby Rohrer.

The Waterford, Pa. racer started his racing career at age 14 in the Sportsman division at Eriez before making the move to the Limited Late Models after three seasons. In his first full season in the Limited Late Models, Rohrer captured the championship. Rohrer is coming off a two-win season at Eriez and will now make the move to FASTRAK with Eriez adding the division in 2011. Rohrer feels FASTRAK is the next step in his progression up the racing ladder. He’ll be behind the wheel of the Bonnell’s Collision Center/Eriez Speedway/Burger King/Glover Trucking-sponsored #11.

Despite turning just 14 years of age last September, Clay Ruffo turned a lot of heads in the Stock Car division at Mercer Raceway Park in 2010. The Mercer (PA) High School student finished third in points with seven top five finishes! Ruffo started in the go-karts at age seven, but loves the Late Model division. He knows there are a lot of good drivers and is anxious to start the season in the #14R owned by his father Corey. Ruffo hopes to one day race with the World of Outlaw Late Models.

One of the biggest winners of all the “Futures Cup” contenders is Blane Krott. The Bradford, Pa. resident turned 16 in November, but already has over 100 wins to his credit. Krott started racing at age six on the asphalt in go-karts before moving to dirt and eventually into Mini Stocks and Pure Stocks. Last season, Krott won 20 Pure Stock features including his biggest accomplishment to date- the “Little Guy Nationals” at Mercer Raceway Park where he said he was down on power, tires, and money. Krott will drive the Kinzua Water Services #72 owned by his father Mike.

The youngest of all of the racers is Eric Wilson. The eighth grader at Lakeview High School in Cortland, Ohio will turn 14 on April 24. He’s a third-generation racer that comes from a family with rich racing history throughout eastern Ohio. Wilson began competing in go-karts at age seven before moving into the Mod Lites last season where he was named Rookie-of-the-Year at Deerfield Raceway. He credits FASTRAK for being a well organized series that fits in his family’s budget and is a logical move up from the Mod Lites. His goal is to win a FASTRAK feature at age 14 and continue to do well academically to be able to keep racing and go to college. Wilson will drive the #27 owned by his parents.

Not much older than Wilson is Ryan Montgomery- another driver that will turn 14 soon. The Fairmont, West Virginia driver is another go-kart graduate that began his racing at age seven. In the go-karts, Montgomery learned to quickly adapt to new tracks and how to give feedback to his dad. Last August, he moved up to the E-Mod division and quickly picked up a feature win at Roaring Knob. Nicknamed “Flying Ryan,” Montgomery has already made his crate Late Model debut at Florida’s East Bay Raceway Park and is expected to compete regularly at Roaring Knob.

“We look forward to promoting and publicizing the “Futures Cup” during the upcoming season with just as much enthusiasm as the Northeast Touring and National Weekly standings,” stated Northeast co-Director Mike Leone. “Our goal is to make these racers into our FASTRAK stars of tomorrow. We’ve already seen extremely talented teenage drivers make their mark in FASTRAK like Max Blair, who won the National Weekly and Northeast Touring Series Championships at age 18, along with Bud Watson, Josh Double, and others.”

FASTRAK member drivers in the Northeast and Mid-Ohio Valley that are 19 years old or younger and do not have more than one “full” season of prior FASTRAK competition will be eligible for this program. Those who have competed in Super Late Models, Big-Block Modifieds, or Sprint Cars will be ineligible. A full season is considered eight races or more.

The program will be based off the National Weekly Series points where drivers accumulate their best 15 finishes at FASTRAK-sanctioned events. Then as an added twist, there will be three “Futures Cup” races held; one in the Northeast, one in the Mid-Ohio Valley, and one championship event at Roaring Knob on Friday, October 7. These events will allow these racers to add points on top of their “best 15” point tally (Note: drivers will only be able to compete in one of the events and the championship race at Roaring Knob.)

The first FASTRAK events for the new season will take place on Saturday, April 2 at Pittsburgh’s PA Motor Speedway and Tyler County Speedway, while the first Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC Northeast and Mid-Ohio Valley Touring Series event will hit the track on Saturday, April 16.

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.