FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 24, 2011
________________________________________

BLAIR WINS $2,000 HISTORIC INAUGURAL FASTRAK “CANADIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP” AT HUMBERSTONE IN 1ST TOURING RACE OUTSIDE OF USA

by Mike Leone
(Port Colborne, ON)…After two rainouts at Tyler County Speedway in the first three events, the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring headed north of border to Canada’s Humberstone Speedway to complete Race #2 of the 23-event slate. The FASTRAK “Canadian National Championship” marked the first ever FASTRAK Touring Series event outside of the USA and just second ever FASTRAK-sanctioned International event as Humberstone completed their first ever show on May 13.

Max Blair will go down in the history books as the winner of the first ever “Canadian National Championship” after capturing the 30-lap $2,000 to-win feature event. Blair came from sixth and passed Josh Double on lap five for the winning move. Blair then rode a consistent line around the bottom of the speedway to become the Northeast Touring Series’ all-time feature winner, while his competitors diced it up, swapping positions back and forth at a torrid pace using every inch of the racey 1/3-mile oval.

“I’m ready to come back here again,” exclaimed the 21-year-old Centerville, Pa. winner, who also received a custom, cherry-framed Canadian flag trophy. “I’d love to see another Touring race here. There aren’t this many tracks that are this racey. You could race all over. This is so cool to win this race and it means a lot. I have to thank my dad, crew, and sponsors. Without them none of this would be possible.”

Fourteen-year-old “Futures Cup” contender Jorden Peters drew the pole position of the event and lined up alongside teenage standout Josh Double. Double used the high line to race to the early lead. Peters brushed the inside jersey barrier in turn four on lap one allowing fourth starting Wayne Robertson and Blair to move by for second and third.

Canada’s Darren Peters, who won the opener at Humberstone, was quickly coming to the front. Peters started 11th and passed his son Jorden for fourth on lap three. Blair caught Robertson and the two ran side-by-side for second on lap four with Blair nosing ahead. Blair then immediately ran down Double, who was running the highline and drove under the Ohio racer on lap five.

Double fought hard and pulled even with Blair on lap six, but Blair was able to find bite off the bottom to maintain the lead. Darren Peters used the inside to race past Robertson for third on lap six, while ninth starting Steve Dixon went up top to take fourth from Robertson on lap eight. Dixon continued his way to the front taking third from Peters on lap nine before the event’s only caution when 14-year-old West Virginia “Futures Cup” racer, Ryan Montgomery, lost the handle and spun.

When green replaced yellow the action really began to heat up, Robertson regained his composure taking back forth from Peters then nipped Dixon for third at the start-finish line of lap 11. It was three-wide for second on lap 12 with Robertson getting by Dixon and Double. Double found the perfect outside line to race back ahead of Robertson on lap 13 and then Dixon dropped Robertson back to fourth on lap 17.

While the three-car race continued for second, Mike Pegher, Jr. and Peters were having quite the duel for fifth swapping that position back and forth. Dixon put quite the slider on Double in turn four for second on lap 22. Meanwhile, back up front Blair had to deal with lapped traffic on lap 24 and made a great inside move to slip past four lapped cars. At the same time it was three-wide for second with Double and Robertson nosing back ahead.

The unbelievable side-by-side racing wouldn’t end as on lap 28 the trio again three-wide this time with Robertson taking second and Dixon third. On lap 29, Dixon overtook Robertson for good, but up front Blair was simply too much as he captured his all-time leading 10th career Northeast Touring Series win in his Specialty Products/Westcoat Excavating-sponsored #111. The defending two-time Series champion also took over the point lead.

Dixon held on for second place, which was worth $1,000. Robertson, who won a BRP Can-Am 360 Late Model race at Humberstone last season, was a close third over a strong run by Double. Peters claimed fifth.

Canadian Luke Carelton had an impressive run in his first ever Touring Series event coming from 14th to finish sixth. Pegher, who won the Touring Series opener at Roaring Knob, was a disappointing seventh. Ed Carley came from 13th to finish eighth driving the Ron Baker #74. Butch Lambert was ninth ahead of Joe Martin, who has three Weekly Series wins this season at Sharon Speedway. New York’s Jamie Brown was the last car on the lead lap and won the Utsinger’s Towing Hoosier Tire giveaway.

Original Pizza Logs sponsored the travel package that awarded $150 to the top FASTRAK Northeast Touring Series teams. Original Pizza Logs also presented the Contingency Connection program, which awards two $1,000 certificate packages. On Sunday evening, Dixon and Montgomery were the two recipients.

Double and Dixon won the two non-stop heat races. Only one caution slowed the FASTRAK action all night long as the drivers put on an excellent show for the fans as part of the track’s Victoria Day celebration. Sixteen drivers from New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, and Canada made the tow for the inaugural event in threatening weather. After some showers throughout the morning and early afternoon, skies cleared and it turned out to be a beautiful late afternoon and evening in eastern Ontario. Despite the 7:15 p.m. start, the FASTRAK feature, which was the second of the program, was over by 9 p.m.

Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series Race #2: 1. MAX BLAIR (111) 2. Steve Dixon (50) 3. Wayne Robertson (20) 4. Josh Double (38) 5. Darren Peters (1P) 6. Luke Carleton (20) 7. Mike Pegher, Jr. (Geisler 1c) 8. Ed Carley (Baker 74) 9. Butch Lambert (27) 10. Joe Martin (55) 11. Jamie Brown (135) 12. Garret Stephen (79) 13. Jorden Peters (1J) 14. Damian Bidwell (17) 15. Adam Sixt (6T) 16. Ryan Montgomery (12).

Heat winners: Double, Dixon
Lap leaders: Double (1-4), Blair (5-30)
Car count: 16

Utsinger’s Towing Hoosier Tire Giveaway: Brown
Original Pizza Logs $1,000 Contingency Connection Winners: Dixon, Montgomery

The Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series will be back in action this week for the Bill Emig Memorial “Wild Card Weekend” at Sharon Speedway in Hartford, Ohio on Saturday (May 28) and Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, PA on Monday (May 30). Both events will pay $1,500 to-win and there will be a separate point fund around both events.

FASTRAK Northeast’s 2011 marketing partners include Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC, 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.