Fastrak Northeast
Expo Speedway
July 4, 2012
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WILL THOMAS III BECOMES FASTRAK NE LATE MODEL TOUR’S NEWEST WINNER OPENING ORIGINAL PIZZA LOGS SPEEDWEEK WITH $2,000 EXPO WIN

By Mike Leone
CORTLAND, OH (July 4) - The Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC Pace Performance FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series held its fifth ever event at the Expo Speedway as part of the 166th annual Trumbull County Fair on Wednesday evening as the second annual five-night Original Pizza Logs “Cross the Borders” Speedweek kicked off.  The 30 cars from five different states that were on hand for race #9 of 25 of the 2012 slate was actually a record for the midweek event at the huge 5/8-mile oval, which has to start at 6 p.m. due to no lights.   

One year ago asphalt Late Model standout Will Thomas III made the switch from pavement to dirt.  After using late last season as a transition, Thomas has been fast from the get go in 2012.  He’s won three Weekly Series events at his home track Sharon Speedway where he currently leads the both the track and FASTRAK points.  In five Northeast Tour starts, he’d recorded three top 10 finishes including a fourth at Sharon on May 27. 

On Wednesday night, Thomas made his debut at Expo a successful one opening Speedweek with the $2,000 feature victory after Series point leader Max Blair had an engine malfunction with six laps to go.  It was Thomas’ first career Tour win as he became the season’s fifth different winner, but third straight different one after Blair started the season winning four of the first five events.  Thomas also became the fourth different winner at Expo in the five races.   

“What a great race,” expressed the 36-year-old Sharpsville, Pa. resident.  “This means a lot to win on this Series.  We’ve won a few at Sharon, but to come here and win a Tour race and start the Speedweek off is really cool.  Max Blair, Mike Pegher, and Joe Martin are so good.  When we unloaded off the trailer, we weren’t nearly as good as them.  It wasn’t the car- it was me.  Once we could get more time we got better, and then Mike had his skirmish, Joe had his problem and Max’s motor.  I tried to tell Max under caution it was smoking; I didn’t want him to lose one, but it’s great to win.  I have to thank my dad, my wife, all of my crew guys.  Russ King was last year’s winner and it didn’t hurt having him help.” 

Joe Martin earned the pole position via his K&N “Cold Air Induction” Dash win, but it was Max Blair using the outside to power into the lead at the start of the 25-lap feature.  Mike Pegher, Jr., Thomas, and Angelicchio filled out the top five after the completion of one lap.  Green flag conditions took place for the first nine circuits and just as Blair had caught lapped traffic and opened up a half-straightaway lead, the event’s first caution was displayed for Pegher, who broke a wheel.  Pegher received The Brake Man “Tough Brake of the Night” for the second time this season. 

Back under green flag condition, Thomas restarted third and began to pressure Martin for runner-up.  On lap 11, Thomas was able to get under Martin going down the backstretch, but was unable to clear him; meanwhile, Eric Wilson moved up to fourth getting by Angelicchio.  Martin slowly cut into Blair’s lead and appeared to be closing rapidly when he slipped high in turn two on lap 15 allowing Blair to pull away.

As this long green flag run continued, Blair opened back up a comfortable lead as the battle continued for second on lap 16 with Martin trying to fend off Thomas, while Wilson had his hands full trying to maintain fourth over a bevy of competitors.  On lap 17, Angelicchio reclaimed fourth from Wilson, and one lap later Thomas finally got under and past Martin going down the backstretch for second. 

Laps 19 and 20 were a game-changer.  Steve Dixon slowed to bring out the caution with 19 laps scored.  On the ensuing restart, Shane Bambarger and Matt Latta brought out the caution.  Under caution, Martin exited the event relinquishing third to Angelicchio.  Back under green flag conditions, seven cars tangled from mid-pack on in turn one.  Angelicchio exited the event giving up third.

On the two prior restarts, Thomas had passed Blair, but the passes were negated due to the cautions.  FASTRAK Northeast rules call for a single file restart if two cautions occur following a caution without a lap being scored.  That was break for Blair, but his smoking race car wouldn’t last as he lost power on the restart allowing Thomas to inherit the lead. 

Matt Long, who was sixth when lap 19 was completed, passed Wilson when racing got underway for second.  Thomas quickly distanced himself from the field and had a straightaway lead on Long with four laps to go.  As Thomas pulled away, the battle was on for second as Long tried to keep his fellow competitors at bay.  The last six laps went caution-free as Thomas became the Series’ 31st different winner in 82 races run-all-time in his Colonial Metals/Barris Supply/All Star Motorstate/Sweet Manufacturing/Quarter Master-sponsored #9. 

Long, who made one Northeast Touring Series start each of the past two seasons with a best finish of 17th last year at West Virginia’s Tyler County Speedway, came across the finish line in second for the $1,000 payday after starting 10th.  Long resides in Concord, North Carolina and competes all over the South in crate Late Model competition.  Long most recently finished 13th at the $5,000 to-win FASTRAK National Event on Saturday night at Tony Stewart’s Eldora Speedway.

“It was a survival out there,” stated Long.  “This one goes out to my crew.  I got mud in my wheel, and that last green I couldn’t see anything.  I ran half-throttle.  Something is messed up in the frontend, and for the HR Brake not to get hot- they do a hell of a job.  I have to thank all of my sponsors.  It takes a lot of people, a lot of friends, and a lot of family to make this all possible.”

It was quite a night for Butch Lambert.  Lambert has a knack for turning what appears to be bad nights into salvageable finishes and Wednesday was certainly one of those.  After getting hit and spun in hot laps, Lambert was able to come from the back of his heat to transfer to the feature where he would start 17th.  Lambert was running 14th on lap 19 when the big accident occurred.  Lambert rode the turn one jersey barriers nearly getting upside down. 

After a pit stop to check the damages, Lambert returned to the speedway and brought his #27 home in third, which also earned him his second Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down” $100 hard charger certificate.  Lambert, who held second place in points for most of the season, had dropped to fifth following his first DNF of the season at Sharon on June 23.  Lambert’s season’s best third was his fourth top five of the season and propelled him into third in points unofficially only three behind Chad Ruhlman for second. 

“I guess it’s better to be lucky than good,” acknowledged the Valencia, Pa. racer.  “It’s pretty cool because I thought I was along for a pretty good ride over there riding the wall, but when I got out my guys were standing there and my wife said get back in the car because you’re good.  I have to listen to what she says and I’m glad I did!  I have to thank all of my guys for bearing this heat and coming out here to do this with me.”

Martin was another racer that was able to salvage his night with a fourth place effort following a pit stop on lap 19 for his third top five of the season.  Martin also received his second straight Genesis Shocks “Top Dog of the Night” for being the highest finisher on Genesis Shocks.  After suffering a flat tire and then getting caught up in the lap 19 melee, John Over was still able to finish fifth following his career best Tour finish of fourth at the last Touring event at Sharon.  It was Over’s fifth top 10 of the season in his first season on the Tour. 

Colton Flinner was making his eighth career Northeast Tour start over the past three seasons and recorded his career best effort in sixth.  Wilson, who lives two miles from the track, was also making his eighth career Tour start and also turned in a career best finish of seventh for the 15-year-old.  Dixon was eighth over Ryan Montgomery.  Fourteen-year-old Lauren Longbrake finished 10th for her best finish of the season and also received the free Utsinger’s Towing Hoosier Tire for being the final car on the lead lap for the second straight race.

Pegher, Martin, and Blair won the heat races, while Latta won the B main.  Martin’s K&N Dash win was his second of the season.  Martin has now earned a spot in the last five dashes and has taken over the “Cold Air Induction” Dash Championship point lead over John Over. 

In the 12-lap E-Mod feature, Richard Michael, Jr. blasted from the fourth starting spot into the lead on the first lap.  Three cautions were all that slowed the Ischua, New York racer as he was never challenged for the $500 victory.  Bud Watson started eighth and passed Joel Watson for second on lap nine.  Joe Watson, who won the heat race, was third over pole-sitter Kari Gasser and Clayton Kennedy.

Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC Pace Performance FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series Race #9 (25 laps, $2,000 to-win): 1. WILL THOMAS III (9)  2. Matt Long (25)  3. Butch Lambert (27)  4. Joe Martin (55)  5. John Over (K2)  6. Colton Flinner (75)  7. Eric Wilson (27W)  8. Steve Dixon (50)  9. Ryan Montgomery (12)  10. Lauren Longbrake (27)  11. Jamie Brown (135)  12. Max Blair (111)  13. Dan Angelicchio (14)  14. Chad Ruhlman (Suppa 4s)  15. Josh Double (38)  16. Shane Bambarger (68B)  17. Charles Daugherty (22)  18. Bobby Pifer (6P)  19. Matt Latta (Bidwell B1D)  20. Bobby Rohrer (11)  21. W.L. Stile (2$)  22. Mike Pegher, Jr. (Geisler 1c)  23. Chad Wright (6)  24. Kyle Lukon (Chernik c1)  25. Brad Kling (Powell 100)-DNS.

DNQ for the feature: Shane Weaver (Ruffner 325x), Bob Diver (23), Robby Barris (32B), Mark Moats (15), Tom Copeland (98).

Heat Winners: Pegher, Martin & Blair
B Main Winner: Latta
K&N Cold Air Induction Dash: 1. Joe Martin  2. Max Blair  3. Mike Pegher, Jr.  4. Will Thomas III
Feature Lap Leaders: Blair (1-19), Thomas (20-25)
Car Count: 30

Genesis Shocks “Top Dog of the Night”: Joe Martin
Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down” Hard Charger: Butch Lambert
Utsinger’s Towing Hoosier Tire Giveaway: Lauren Longbrake
Brake Man “Tough Brake of the Night”: Mike Pegher, Jr.

E-Mod Feature (12 laps, $500 to-win): 1. RICHARD MICHAEL, JR. (17x)  2. Bud Watson (White 53)  3. Joel Watson (92)  4. Kari Gasser (0k)  5. Clayton Kennedy (9)  6. Howard Fraley (217)  7. Andy Buckley (965)  8. Bill Taylor (41)  9. Gary Sullivan (47s)  10. Steve Dixon (Engles 68)  11. Jeff Johnson (27)-DNS.

2012 Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series Results
Date/Track/State/Winner/# of Wins/To-Win Amount/Car Count
April 1 Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex (PA)/Max Blair (1)/$3,000/47
April 20 Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex (PA)/Mike Pegher, Jr. (1)/$1,200/42
May 13 Eriez Speedway (PA)/Max Blair (2)/$1,200/32
May 20 Humberstone Speedway (ON)/Max Blair (3)/$2,000/26
May 26 Sharon Speedway (OH)/Max Blair (4)/$1,500/34
May 27 Sharon Speedway (OH)/Feature to be made up 8/18/12/$1,500/31
June 8 Dog Hollow Speedway (PA) /Max Blair (5)/$1,200/32 (41 between the 2 nights)
June 16 McKean County Raceway (PA)/Ryan Montgomery (1)/$1,200/24
June 23 Sharon Speedway (OH)/Joe Martin (1)/$2,000/35
July 4 Expo Speedway (OH/Will Thomas (1)/$2,000/30