FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 17, 2012
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FASTRAK NORTHEAST LATE MODEL RACERS SET FOR ANOTHER CANADIAN INVASION SUNDAY AT HUMBERSTONE

by Mike Leone
(Port Colborne, ON, Can.)…The Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC Pace Performance FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series is set to head north on Sunday to Humberstone Speedway to invade Canada for the second straight year as part of the FASTRAK “Canadian National Championship”.  FASTRAK will be featured in race #4 of 25 on the 2012 slate along with the popular “358” Modifieds as part of the Victoria Day holiday celebration. 

Humberstone signed on as a FASTRAK weekly-sanctioned speedway last season- the first ever outside of the United States!  Last year’s Touring event was the first ever International FASTRAK-sanctioned Touring event.  Humberstone started with just a few cars last season, and a total of 16 competitors participated at last year’s Touring event.  With more cars now competing at Humberstone and more expected to make the trip, a much better car count is anticipated. 

Two of Humberstone’s top cars are the father-son duo of Darren and Jorden Peters.  Darren, the defending track champion, has won the opening two Weekly Series features, while Jorden has finished runner-up both weeks.  Jorden is one of this year’s “Futures Cup” participants.  The Peters also competed in both opening Touring events at Roaring Knob.  Peters Racing Supply is the event presenting sponsor. 

“We have to thank Humberstone for being part of FASTRAK and hosting this event,” expressed sixth year Northeast co-director Vicki Emig.  “General Manager and promoter Bob Davidson has been great to work with the past two seasons and really wants to make FASTRAK work.  Humberstone is a great facility and I know everyone that went last year had a great time.  It’s a lot closer than people realize.  They moved the show along last year at a good clip and once again FASTRAK will run first to allow those to get back on the road at a good time that aren’t staying over.”

Sunday has been selected as round two of six for the K&N Cold Air Induction System fan giveaways!  One lucky fan will win the system, which is valued at up to $500, and is for use on personal vehicles.  The four other Cold Air Induction System giveaways will be on July 8 at Eriez Speedway’s “Cross the Borders” Speedweek finale, Black Rock Speedway’s “Empire State Classic” on August 11, McKean County Raceway’s “Fall Classic” on September 21-22, and Lernerville Speedway’s “Steel City Stampede” on October 26-27.

Sunday’s 30-lap feature winner will pocket $2,000 in addition to the beautiful custom-made cherry-framed Canadian flag trophy presentation!  If enough cars are present, a non-qualifiers event will be run.  Bob Dorman became the 17th different winner in 20 races run all-time with his non-qualifier victory last Sunday at Eriez, while Jamie Brown took over the “Wheelman” Bonus Event Challenge Series point lead.

Though only 16 cars took part in last year’s historic event, the racing was some of the best of the season as the drivers battled two and three-wide on the racey surface throughout the 30-lap event thrilling the packed house.  Max Blair would go on to capture the $2,000 victory and will again lead the troops north for the second annual invasion. 

Blair is once again off to a fast start with the $3,120 season opening “Super Nationals” victory in addition to Sunday’s win at Eriez after charging from 17th to the victory- his 14th Tour win of his career.  Blair, 22 of Centerville, Pa., has a 13-point lead heading into Sunday’s affair in search of his fourth Series title in five seasons. 

After a disappointing season following a career best 2010 season that saw him finish third in points, Butch Lambert is off to his best start ever with three top nine finishes including back to-back top fives to secure the runner-up in points heading into Sunday.  Lambert just missed being the hard charger as he came from 21st to fifth.  Maybe a trip outside the USA will net Lambert his first Touring win in nearly three years and 10 months! 

Top five efforts on Sunday by NY’s Chad Ruhlman and WV’s Ryan Montgomery allowed these two racers to pick up three positions in points moving them into third and fourth respectively.  April 20 Roaring Knob winner Mike Pegher, Jr. currently sits fifth in points after a disappointing night at Eriez. 

Three drivers anxious to make their first racing endeavors outside of the USA are PA’s Chad Wright, OH’s Lauren Longbrake, and WV’s Nolan Dalton.  Wright has been hot of late in Weekly Series action finishing a career best runner-up at Eriez on May 6, capturing his first career Raceway 7 victory on May 11, and finishing fifth last Saturday at Sharon Speedway.  

Longbrake, who finished 12th in points last year, is hoping to do the entire tour in 2012 and is coming off her first career heat race win last Sunday.  Dalton meanwhile is a former Super Late Model racer that made the move to FASTRAK last season.  This is his first year on the Tour and finds himself currently 10th in points after two straight 11th place finishes.

Joe Martin finished 10th at last year’s Humberstone event.  Martin, who is 11th in driver points, is unable to attend Sunday, but will send his #55 north to support the event and accumulate owner’s points.  His driver will be Super Late Model standout Robbie Blair, father of Max.  The elder Blair has three big FASTRAK wins to his credit including the $5,000 to-win National Event at McKean County Raceway and Night 2 of the FASTRAK Grand Nationals at Roaring Knob in 2010.  Last year, Robbie captured the $2,000 Tour finale win at Roaring Knob before heading down south where he earned the $20,000 runner-up honors in the Grand Nationals!

Because passports or NY enhanced licenses are required for entry into Canada, for the second straight year FASTRAK Northeast will again offer travel money to eligible teams thanks to Niagara Falls, New York based Original Pizza Logs. 

The following teams are guaranteed $150 in addition to the posted purse: Josh Holtgraver #00, Dan Angelicchio #14, Scott Bidwell #B1D, Kyle Zimmerman #z17, George Kowatic #5, Lauren Longbrake #27, Chad Wright #6, Terry Suppa #4s, John Over #K2 & Lewy Kratts #81.  The next three alternates eligible if any of the above do not attend are Will Thomas #9, Nolan Dalton #D2, and Bobby Rohrer #11.

Of course all of the great contingency programs will be in full force including the K&N “Cold Air Induction Dash” and fan giveaway, the Brake Man “Tough Brake of the Night”, Genesis Shocks “Top Dog of the Night”, Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down” Hard Charger, and the Utsinger’s Towing Hoosier Tire Giveaway.  Decal packages will be again be available on Sunday for these programs.  Drivers are reminded that decals are required to be eligible for these awards with the exception of The Brake Man.

There have been 76 Northeast Touring Series races contested with 30 different winners all-time. Mike Pegher, Jr. and nemesis Max Blair are tied with 14 a piece followed by Dick Barton, Bobby Powell, John Lacki, and David Scott with four, Steve Dixon and Josh Holtgraver at three, Alan Dellinger, Dan Angelicchio, Joe Martin, and Robbie Blair 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, Jonathan Davenport, Gary Knollinger, Dusty Hamrick, Bud Watson, Russell King, George Kowatic, Ryan Montgomery, and Wayne Robertson with one victory.

Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC Northeast Touring Series Driver Points (must be Touring member to receive points): 1. Max Blair 113  2. Butch Lambert 100  3. Chad Ruhlman 93  4. Ryan Montgomery 90  5. Mike Pegher, Jr. 86  6. John Over 81  7. George Kowatic 78  8. Justin Tatlow 76  9. Will Thomas III 72  10. Nolan Dalton 71  11. Joe Martin 69  12. Damian Bidwell 62  13. Dan Angelicchi0 61  14. 00 Josh Holtgraver 59  15. Chad Wright & Bobby Rohrer 58  17. Lauren Longbrake 54  18. Wayne Robertson 49  19. Ricky Meglaye 48  20. Brad Kling 47  21. Shane Weaver 46  22. Billy Stile III & Andrew Wylie 44  24. Adam Sixt 36  25. Darren Peters 34  26. David Scott & Matt Latta 33  28. Jamie Brown, Billy Henry, Jr. & Steve Dixon 30  31. Rick Singleton 22  32. Shane Hitt 21  33. Jason Knowles, Jorden Peters & Tim Sears, Jr. 20  36. Doug Horton 11  37. Andrew Satterlee, Eric Wilson, Mike Laughard, Scott Smith, Steve Beatty & Junior Peters 10.

Humberstone A Feature Payoff: 1. $2,000  2. $1,000  3. $625  4. $525  5. $450  6. $425  7. $400  8. $350  9. $325  10. $300  11. $275  12. $265  13. $250  14. $225  15. $215  16. $210  17. $205  18-24. $200

Non-Qualifier B Feature Payoff: 1. $175  2. $150  3. $140  4. $135  5. $130  6. $125  7. $120  8. $115  9. $110  10-24. $105.

Pit gates will officially open at 5 p.m.; however, teams will be able to enter the pits earlier.  Hot laps are scheduled for 6:30 with racing at 7:15 p.m.  Pit passes are $30, while grandstand admission is the following: $17adults, $15 students/seniors, $5 age 8-12, and kids seven and under are free.  There is a $100 entry fee.  RACEceivers and transponders are required.  Transponders rentals for those that don’t have them are $20.  

Humberstone is a 3/8-mile clay oval owned by Pete and Linda Cosco and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2010.  Humberstone is located on Highway 3 two miles east of Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada.  From Peace Bridge in Fort Erie/Buffalo: Take Q.E.W. to the 2nd cut-off, which is Thompson Rd. Go down the ramp, and keep to the right hand side of the road turning onto Highway # 3 going towards Port Colborne and the track is approximately 14 miles down the road on the right hand side.  For more information, check out their website at www.humberstonespeedway.com or call 905-834-4002 or 905-935-2886.