FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 12, 2011

5TH SEASON FOR FASTRAK NORTHEAST TOURING SERIES OPENS SATURDAY AT TYLER COUNTY; “TOPLESS 25” CO-SANCTIONED WITH MOV

By Mike Leone
(Middlebourne, WV)…After an offseason filled with positive news and exciting announcements for FASTRAK Northeast, it’s time to get things underway on the track! Season number #5 for the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring series kicks off this Saturday, April 16 at West Virginia’s Tyler County Speedway. The event will again be co-sanctioned with the Mid-Ohio Valley Touring Series. A rain date of Saturday, April 23 has been secured.

Last year’s event drew an all-time Northeast record 53 cars for the “Topless 25” event, which was won by Max Blair, who went on to capture his second Touring Series crown. Last year, over $35,000 in cash and contingencies were paid out to the top 15 Northeast and top 10 MOV racers. Once again, the roofs will be coming off Saturday as fans will get an exciting view to watch these racers wheel their cars around the ¼-mile “bullring” for the $1,500 top prize.

“We always love going to Tyler County,” expressed Northeast co-Director Vicki Emig. “The events always attract a strong field of cars and Tyler’s configuration and the competitiveness of our cars makes just about everyone a threat to win. We’re thrilled Tyler stepped up to schedule four co-sanctioned events and a separate MOV event this season. We really enjoy working with Frank Wilson and new promoter Darren Dodd.”

Blair will lead the charge south into West Virginia for the Northeast contingent. The 21-year-old is ready to embark on what he hopes to be his third championship in four seasons. Blair is equipped with a new Rocket Chassis as he’s coming off a second place finish in a Weekly Series event last Saturday at Sharon Speedway. Blair is also chasing his third National Weekly Series Championship.

All of last year’s top 15 racers are expected to be back on the Touring slate with the exception of the late Gary Knollinger, who tragically passed away on Christmas Day from injuries suffered in accident along Route 40 in Wheeling, West Virginia. Knollinger was the 2010 MOV Touring Series Champion as well.

Newcomers to the Touring Series in 2011 include last year’s BRP Can-Am 360 Late Model Champion Wayne Robertson of Corning, New York and another top BRP racer in Jr. Peters, who is expected to make many Touring Series starts. All Star Late Model driver Darren Peters from Canada has made the move to FASTRAK in 2010 and will follow the Touring Series. Ohio’s Josh Double finished 16th in last year’s Touring Series points and is planning on following the trail in his third season of competition. Former asphalt Late Model racer Robbie Marhefka made the move into FASTRAK late last season and is intending to follow the Touring Series.

Hard charging John Volpe, who set a new record at Sharon Speedway last Saturday, will be teamed up with Scott Bidwell for their first full season of competition together. After a year hiatus, Touring Series regular Tommy Snyder, Jr. is back in FASTRAK. Dog Hollow Speedway standout, Mike Laughard, will make a run at the Touring Series title for the first time. “Futures Cup” racers Damian Bidwell and Ryan Montgomery are planning on chasing after the Touring Series. Youngsters Bobby Cossell IV and Jamie Brown are expected to compete in more Touring Series events.

“We couldn’t be prouder of our impressive list of racers,” stated Northeast co-Director Mike Leone. “Every year the car counts have grown and the talent keeps getting better and better. This year we have the strongest list of Touring members assembled to date as even our past Touring regulars just keep getting better and better. Joe Martin is a prime example; a rookie that won a Weekly race in 2008, and really improved last year winning his first Touring feature and finished 7th in points. Joe won out of the box last Saturday at Sharon and will make his first run at the championship.”

Kyle Thomas, who finished runner-up in the 2010 MOV points, opened the Tyler County season last Saturday night topping a 28-car field for their first Weekly Series event. The best from the MOV and Tyler County will be on hand to battle the Northeast’s contingent like the $3,000 Black Diamond Labor Day Weekend winner Dusty Hamrick along with Shane Hitt, Daniel Hill, Derek, Joel Prosser, Shawn Jett, Kris Southern, John Watson and many others.

The Utsinger’s Towing “Hoosier Tire Giveaway” program will begin Saturday night awarding a new FASTRAK Hoosier tire to the driver running last on the lead lap at the finish.

There have been 54 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 Mike Pegher, Jr. nine to eight followed by Dick Barton, Bobby Powell, John Lacki, and David Scott with four, Alan Dellinger & Steve Dixon 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, Dusty Hamrick, and Bud Watson with one victory.

FINAL 2010 FASTRAK Northeast Touring Series Top 15: 1. Max Blair 2. Mike Pegher, Jr. 3. Butch Lambert 4. Gary Knollinger 5. Josh Holtgraver 6. Bud Watson 7. Joe Martin 8. Dan Angelicchio 9. Steve Dixon 10. Bryan Force 11. Dan Karalagas 12. Mike Blose 13. Kyle Zimmerman 14. Kyle Lukon 15. Troy Shields
FINAL 2010 FASTRAK Mid-Ohio Valley Touring Series Top 10: 1. Gary Knollinger 2. Kyle Thomas 3. Mike Pegher, Jr. 4. Josh Holtgraver 5. Shane Hitt 6. K.C. Burdette & Joel Prosser 8. Aaron Barley 9. Shawn Jett 10. Dan Karalagas.

Tyler County April 16 payoff: 1. $1,500 2. $800 3. $500 4. $400 5. $370 6. $335 7. $315 8. $300 9. $280 10. $275 11. $250 12. $240 13. $225 14. $200 15.$190 16. $185 17. $180 18-24. $175. Bonus Event for non-qualifiers to be held if 30 or more cars paying $150 to-win, $80 to-start. Tow/Non-qualifiers $75.

RACEceivers are mandatory at all Northeast Touring Series events. There is a $75 entry fee. Any tech questions or information on the RACEceivers, call Brad Hibbard at 330-540-RACE.

Gates open at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday with hot laps at 7 followed by racing. Pit passes are $26. Adult grandstand admission is $12. Fans arriving between 4:30-5:30 p.m. will receive $2 off adult admission.

Tyler County Speedway is a ¼-mile high-banked dirt oval located at the Tyler County Fairgrounds in Middlebourne, West Virginia. For more information, check out their website at www.tylercountyspeedwayonline.com. The track phone is 304-758-2660.

FASTRAK Northeast’s 2011 marketing partners include Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC, The Original Pizza Logs, Bully Dog, Contingency Connection, Utsinger’s Towing, and Hoosier Tire.

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.