FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 31, 2011

FASTRAK Northeast Racers Poised to Compete in Richest Northeast Touring Season EVER; THOUSANDS in Additional Cash and Contingencies to be Distributed

By Mike Leone
(Pulaski, PA)…Despite the snowiest winter on record in the western Pa./northeast Ohio area, FASTRAK Northeast officials, speedways, and drivers stayed focused on the thought of spring and have diligently prepared for what promises to be the most exciting season ever in the history of the series in the Northeast region.

After regional FASTRAK racers captured over $100,000 in FASTRAK point fund monies in 2010, the Series’ strong momentum has continued to move like a freight train throughout the Northeast. Over 300 different racers competed in a FASTRAK-sanctioned event in the Northeast in 2010 and that number is expected to continue to grow during 2011 as almost weekly new names are added to the upcoming season’s roster.

Beginning in December, the FASTRAK Northeast Touring series secured a title sponsor for the first time ever! Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC stepped up to present the impressive schedule of 24 events beginning on April 16 at Tyler County Speedway and concluding at Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex on October 8. Over 60% of the 2011 FASTRAK Northeast Touring schedule will pay $1,500 or more to-win!
Not long after the Sweeny title sponsorship was secured, three new weekly speedways, Sharon, Eriez, and Humberstone, elected to be included in the Northeast ranks bringing the total to 16. These additions greatly strengthened the Region’s presence and pushed FASTRAK boundaries to international territories.

The FASTRAK Northeast Touring Series will join three of the most prestigious racing organizations in the nation, joining both the Lucas Oil Late Models at Roaring Knob on April 30, USAC National Sprint Cars at Lernerville Speedway on Memorial Day, Monday May 30, and the World of Outlaw Late Models at Tri-City Speedway’s “Oil Region Classic” on Saturday, September 3.

The Series will also be part of an unprecedented amount of regional speedway’s signature events including Tyler County’s “Black Diamond Weekend”, Sharon Speedway’s “Apple Festival Nationals”, McKean County’s “Fall Classic”, and Roaring Knob’s “Ultimate Fall Fest”. The FASTRAK Late Models will be the featured division at both the Trumbull County’s Fair (Expo Speedway) and the McKean County Fair’s motorsports events on Wednesday, June 29 and Thursday, August 18.

History will be made as FASTRAK goes international when Humberstone Speedway, in Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada hosts the FASTRAK “Canadian National Championship” on Sunday, May 22 as part of their Victoria Day holiday weekend. A beautiful shadowboxed Canadian flag will be presented to the winner of this inaugural international event.

Five straight nights of summertime racing will take place over the Fourth of July week as “Bully Dog” presents the “Cross the Borders” Speedweek. The FASTRAK Late Model marathon will open and close with $2,000 to win events at both Expo (June 29) and Eriez Speedways (July 3). McKean County, Raceway 7, and Pittsburgh Motor Speedway will all present $1,200 to win events throughout the week Thursday through a Saturday. A $3,000 point fund and approximately $12,000 in contingencies will be award to the participants at the end of the inaugural Speedweek.

Some of the offseason’s greatest buzz was heard among Series competitors after the initial announcement of the exciting FASTRAK Northeast “Future Cup” program. Created to showcase the region’s impressive group of 19 and younger racers with one year or less experience, the program will crown its first champion and award a separate $3,000 point fund to the top 10 eligible racers. It is expected that approximately 20 driver will vie for the title in 2011.

Youth, albeit in a different manner, will also be evident during the FASTRAK Northeast season, as Punxsutawney High School Junior, Tori Martin, spearheads the Series’ first charitable event. Her upcoming senior project, “Race for the Cure” will take place at Sharon Speedway in conjunction with the “Bill Emig Memorial” on Saturday, May 28. Martin’s goal is to raise thousands of dollars for the American Cancer Society with the help of FASTRAK and the racing fraternity. A first ever FASTRAK “King of the Hill” paying $500 to-win along with a multitude of other fund raising activities will be part of the festivities.

Through the inclusion of a soon-to-be announced special contingency program, a $5,000 GM 604 crate motor give-a-way compliments Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC, and nightly Hoosier Tire giveaways by regional tire vendors and a pending presenting sponsor, it is expected that over $60,000 in contingencies and certificates towards the purchase of product will be given away to FASTRAK Northeast Touring racers! Approximately $8,000 of additional cash awards will also be available over and above the Northeast Touring Series point fund through the addition of exciting side point fund programs.

For the first time ever, the FASTRAK Northeast will begin to promote and market the Series by offering a full line of apparel featuring t-shirts, hoodies, jackets, hats, and other miscellaneous items to the teams and fans throughout the region. FASTRAK Northeast items will be available at all Northeast Touring events and select FASTRAK Northeast Weekly-sanctioned speedways.

A huge effort has been made throughout the winter to organize and present the first ever FASTRAK Northeast “Fan Guide and Driver Handbook”. The publication will be printed by renowned Mitchell’s Speedway Press located in Oswego, NY. The company has become known throughout the years for their expertise in motorsports publishing.

The 2011 “Fan Guide and Driver Handbook” is expected to be available in May and will be approximately 120 pages filled with hundreds of photos and pertinent information, both historical and current. Drivers competing in a FASTRAK Northeast or Mid-Ohio Valley Touring event will be given the book “free of charge” and it will be available for sale to the fans at all FASTRAK Northeast touring events.

Efforts continue to be made to improve the continuously updated FASTRAK Northeast website at www.fastraknortheast.com.

In the very near future, in-depth profiles, stories, along with eye-catching full-color graphics will be added to individual driver’s pages, along with special areas featuring “Future Cup” drivers, Series sponsors, and other ongoing additions to the Series.

“I never would have believed what the future held for FASTRAK in the Northeast when I traveled with Mike Leone to Gaffney, South Carolina four years ago to meet founder Stan Lester,” explained Northeast Co-Director Vicki Emig. “I continue to say, and can not express adamantly enough, that none of these great things would have been possible without the belief and strong support of our regional promoters, racers, and fans. They all should be recognized for the success of the FASTRAK concept in our area, and we look forward as their regional directors to work on a daily basis for continued improvement and growth.”

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.