Lernerville Speedway
May 30, 2011
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KING RIDES RIM TO BEAT BLAIR DUO FOR CAREER 1ST FASTRAK WIN IN INAUGURAL LERNERVILLE EVENT OVER THE 46-CAR FIELD; KING CAPTURES OVERALL BILL EMIG MEMORIAL “WILD CARD” WEEKEND CHAMPIONSHIP

By Mike Leone
SARVER, Penn. (May 30) - The Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series concluded the two-event Bill Emig Memorial “Wild Card Weekend” on Monday night at Lernerville Speedway. It was race #4 on the 23-race 2011 Touring Series slate as FASTRAK shared the Memorial Day special with the USAC National Sprint Car Series. The first ever FASTRAK-sanctioned event at the Sarver, Pa. oval drew a season-high 46 cars with drivers from five states including Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, and New York.

Russell King has quickly made a statement this weekend in his FASTRAK Late Model debut. After finishing second on Saturday night at Sharon to Josh Holtgraver, King used the outside to charge from the eighth position to power to the lead and held off the Blair duo on Monday night to capture the $1,500 second leg of the Bill Emig Memorial. King was also crowned the $500 Bill Emig Memorial “Wild Card Weekend” Champion after two nights of racing and cards draws and also received an engraved championship wall clock plaque.

“This is an honor winning this,” stated the 22-year-old Bristolville, Ohio racer. “Bill Emig was a Modified guy and we’re all Mod people. He let a lot of guys drive his cars. The Emigs are a very good family and also did a lot with Mercer Raceway Park. I’m having so much fun! This FASTRAK program is a good deal and I have to thank Vicki (Emig) and everyone. I was rolling around good on the outside and I knew I was pretty good when I passed Max (Blair). I just steered clear of the lapped cars, but I never let my guard down. Robbie (Blair) was good on the bottom and he’s the type of guy that will search around and find the right line. I’m just pumped about this!”

Three-time Sharon Speedway FASTRAK Weekly Series winner, Joe Martin, drew the pole-position and took off in the lead, while Holtgraver, who was looking for a sweep of the weekend, moved from fourth to second on the opening lap with seventh starting Max Blair finding his way to third. George Kowatic spun to bring out the caution with one lap scored.

When racing resumed, Max drove under Holtgraver for second, while King was halfway to the front when he passed last year’s Western PA Rookie-of-the-Year Billy Stile III for fourth. Another caution brought action to a halt when Butch Lambert and Mike Blose spun on opposite ends of the speedway with two laps completed. On the ensuing restart, King passed Holtgraver for third, while 10th starting Robbie Blair cracked the top five for the first time.

Max drove to the outside of Martin to lead lap four. Robbie used the inside to drive under Holtgraver for fourth on the fifth circuit. The event’s final caution was displayed for an incident involving Shane Hitt, Ricky Meglaye, and Lambert with six laps scored. The final 19 laps of the event would go caution-free. When green replaced yellow, Lernerville star Mike Pegher, Jr. was able to race his way into the top five taking the position away from Holtgraver.

A three-car race for second ensued and it was three-wide off turn four on lap nine with King grabbing the spot over Martin and Robbie. Robbie then dove under Martin in turn four on the following lap to snag the third spot. Using the highline, King quickly closed on Max, who was running the bottom. The young stars ran side-by-side beginning on lap 13 and continuing through lap 16. Max would lead the 13th lap, but King used the old slingshot move going from the top of the speedway in turn four and then slid under the leader down the frontstretch into turn one to officially lead lap 14. After running side-by-side for the next two laps, King was able to start distancing himself from the pack.

It wasn’t until lap 19 when King caught the back of the pack and would have to deal with lapped traffic for the remainder of the race. King continued to stretch his lead, but was in heavy lapped traffic on lap 23. King was able to clear those cars without any trouble then had his hands full on the final lap as a gaggle of cars slowed his run to the finish. King though used patience and still took the checkered flag by a margin of victory of 2.078 seconds.

King became the fourth different winner in as many events in 2011 and the 26th different all-time FASTRAK Northeast Touring Series winner in the 58 races held all-time in the King Bros.-owned, Essroc Italcementi/Integra Shocks/Schaeffer’s Oil-sponsored #56.

Robbie closed on his son Max on the final lap, but wasn’t able to make the move as Max came home second. Pegher took fourth after getting by Martin on lap 13. Martin dropped to fifth. Completing the top 10 were Steve Dixon, Holtgraver, 19th starting John Volpe, Mike Blose, who came back from the early spin, and 18th starting Kyle Lukon.

Even though it wasn’t quite what Brian Lessley had in mind when he entered his first weekend of FASTRAK Northeast Touring competition driving the John and Janet Powell #100, the Orbisonia, Pa. driver made it a clean sweep winning both non-qualifier events at Sharon and Lernerville Speedways. Lessley led all 10 laps of the event for the $150 win.

“I’ll tell you what I’m real impressed with these crate engines,” stated Lessley. “There’s a lot more power than I thought. I also always drove Rockets, but after driving this Bullitt, I don’t think I want to get back in one. This FASTRAK deal is really great and impressed by everyone that runs the program. We didn’t have time to make adjustments after the heat races, but was able to between the B mains and this race so that really helped.”

Lessley held off an early challenge from Mark Moats, Jr. and only one caution on the first lap slowed his run to the checkered flag in the Bullitt Chassis. Moats was second in his first Northeast Touring Series start of the season. Touring regular Troy Shields made his way from sixth to finish third. In her first ever race at Lernerville, Pittsburgh’s PA Motor Speedway regular Laura Lukon came from the 12th starting spot to finish fourth over 14-year-old “Futures Cup” driver Shane Weaver, who came from the back after an early spin. Fourteen-year-old Lauren Longbrake of Columbus, Ohio finished seventh and continues to lead the “Wheelman” Bonus Event Challenge Series points.

Five heat races were run for the second straight event and those races were won by Hitt, Stile, King, Dixon, and Pegher. The two loaded B mains were taken by Meglaye and Lambert.

Pennsboro, West Virginia driver Kyle Thomas made the tow up to compete in his first Northeast Touring Series event of the season and finished in 18th as the last car on the lead lap and earned the free FASTRAK Hoosier Tire presented by Utsinger’s Towing and regional Hoosier Tire distributors.

The Original Pizza Logs presented the Contingency Connection packages and those two minimum $1,000 contingency prizes were won by Joe Martin and Billy Stile III.

The inaugural Bill Emig Memorial “Wild Card Weekend” was a rousing success as 59 different drivers competed over the two days. Both Sharon and Lernerville Speedways were thrilled with their car counts of 41 and 46 cars respectively and the quality racing both nights. The top five drivers in points shared in the $1,500 cash, while positions 6-15 received valuable contingencies. More information and the final points will be released soon.

Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC FASTRAK Late Model Northeast Late Model Touring Series Race #4 (25 laps, $1,500 to-win): 1. RUSSELL KING (56) 2. Max Blair (111) 3. Robbie Blair (W11) 4. Mike Pegher, Jr. (Geisler 1c) 5. Joe Martin (55) 6. Steve Dixon (50) 7. Josh Holtgraver (00) 8. John Volpe (Bidwell B1D) 9. Mike Blose (5) 10. Kyle Lukon (1) 11. Dan Angelicchio (14) 12. Rocky Kugel (14) 13. Bobby Whitling (7W) 14. Josh Double (38) 15. Kyle Zimmerman (z17) 16. Michael Mitchell (19) 17. Mike Laughard (38L) 18. Kyle Thomas (57) 19. Shane Hitt (2*) 20. Ricky Meglaye (5) 21. Butch Lambert (27) 22. Billy Stile III (51) 23. Colton Flinner (75) 24. George Kowatic (5).

Non-Qualifier Bonus Event (10 laps, $150 to-win): 1. Brian Lessley (Powell 100) 2. Mark Moats, Jr. (15) 3. Troy Shields (11) 4. Laura Lukon (84) 5. Shane Weaver (Ruffner 325X) 6. Mike Lewis (98) 7. Lauren Longbrake (27) 8. Randy Kerns (21R) 9. Sam Eichelberger (27x) 10. Rich Logan, Jr. (33L) 11. Joe Moyer (LeComte 32) 12. Tyler Barris (32B) 13. Dan Karalagas (G1)-DSQ 14. Ryan Montgomery (12)-DNS 15. Andrew Satterlee (2)-DNS 16. Robbie Marhefka (99FM)-DNS 17. Patrick Willar (39)-DNS 18. Jamie Brown (135)-DNS 19. Rick Strickler (Lake 48)-DNS 20. Andrew Wylie (84)-DNS 21. Bobby Cossell IV (50c)-DNS 22. Clay Ruffo (14R)-DNS.

Heat winners: Hitt, Stile, King, Dixon, Pegher
B main winners: Meglaye, Lambert
Feature lap leaders: Martin (1-3), Max Blair (4-13), King (14-25)
Car count: 46

Original Pizza Logs “Contingency Connection” $1,000 package winners: Joe Martin, Billy Stile III
Utsinger’s Towing “Hoosier Tire” Giveaway: Kyle Thomas

The Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series will have this weekend off before heading to the Mountaineer State for a pair events on Friday, June 10 at the newly configured 3/8-mile West Virginia Motor Speedway and on Saturday, June 11 at Tyler County Speedway for the Topless 25. Both events will pay $1,500 to-win.

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.