McKean Raceway "Fall Classic"

MCKEAN'S "FALL CLASSIC" TO FEATURE 2 COMPLETE FASTRAK NE TOURING EVENTS FRI & SAT FOR THE 1ST TIME
By Mike Leone

September 18, 2012 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(East Smethport, PA)…After the season's longest downtime, the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC Pace Performance FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series resumed action last Saturday at Sharon Speedway and is now set for the busy, big fall season of racing to wind down season down six. McKean County Raceway will host a doubleheader program this weekend as part of their seventh annual "Fall Classic". Friday and Saturday's races will mark events #21 and #22 as part of the record 25-event 2012 slate.

This will be the first time ever back-to-back Northeast Touring Series events have been contested at McKean! In years past at the "Fall Classic", Friday night was reserved for the Tour and a Weekly Series event was held on Saturday. Sharon Speedway held a similar doubleheader program back on Memorial Day Weekend, which was swept by Max Blair.

"We're really excited to be part of both days at the Fall Classic," expressed the sixth year Northeast Co-Director Vicki Emig. "McKean has been part of FASTRAK Northeast since day and has hosted more Tour events than any other facility. For our racers to be able to compete at one of the region's biggest events both days is awesome! We have to thank MCR's promotional team of Rich Yeager, Ken Leet, Tom Gleason, and Rod Biehler for making this possible."

McKean has been the site of a record 15 Northeast Touring Series events with an amazing 11 different winners! Max Blair leads the way with three victories, while Mike Pegher, Jr. and John Lacki are the only other racers to repeat to date, Todd Andrews, Kyle Drum, Butch Lambert, Robbie Blair, Steve Dixon, Josh Holtgraver, Wayne Robertson, and Ryan Montgomery have recorded single victories.

Blair is closing in on his fourth championship in five years. The 22-year-old Centerville, Pa. racer has a record nine wins this year and enters the weekend with a 100-point lead on Pegher. Pegher has two victories this season and has finished second in points to Blair each of the past two seasons. Chad Ruhlman, a winner this season at Pittsburgh, is six points behind Pegher in third. June 16 MCR winner, Ryan Montgomery, is fourth ahead of Dan Angelicchio, who has finished runner-up at the past two Tour events at McKean this season.

After his best career Tour finish of second last Saturday at Sharon, John Over is just 12 points out of the top five in his first full season on the Tour. Will Thomas III, Butch Lambert, and Pace Performance "Futures Cup" competitor, Shane Weaver, complete the top 10.

The battle for spots 11-15 is hot and heavy. With his first career Tour win last Saturday at Sharon, Chad Wright advanced three spots from 14th to 11th. Wright though is only up two points on Brad Kling, five on Lauren Longbrake, and 14 on Joe Martin. In his first season Touring, Bobby Rohrer is ahead of Jamie Brown by just two points for the 15th points paying spot.

The "Wheelman" Bonus Event Challenge Series for non-qualifiers will be held in addition. Jason Genco (two), Craig Dean (two), Louie Krushansky, Bob Dorman, Junior Peters, Kyle Wiser, Joel Prosser, Jamie Brown, Bobby Pifer, and Nico Dabecco have picked up the non-qualifier wins to date, while W.L. Stile leads the points. An amazing 25 different drivers have scored victories in the 32 races run all-time.

Of course all of the great contingency programs will be in full force. Besides the K&N "Cold Air Induction Dash", 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 will also take place.

There have been 93 Northeast Touring Series races contested with 35 different winners all-time. Max Blair leads nemesis Mike Pegher, Jr. 21 to 15 followed by Dick Barton, Bobby Powell, John Lacki, and David Scott with four, Steve Dixon, Josh Holtgraver and Joe Martin at three, Alan Dellinger, Dan Angelicchio, Robbie Blair, Ryan Montgomery, Will Thomas III, and Wayne Robertson 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, Chad Ruhlman, Matt Latta, & Sammy Stile, and Chad Wright with one victory.

Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC Northeast Touring Series Driver Points (must be Touring member to receive points): 1. Max Blair 661 2. Mike Pegher, Jr. 561 3. Chad Ruhlman 555 4. Ryan Montgomery 500 5. Dan Angelicchio 484 6. John Over 472 7. Will Thomas III 423 8. Butch Lambert 421 9. Matt Latta 401 10. Shane Weaver 369 11. Chad Wright 314 12. Brad Kling 310 13. Lauren Longbrake 309 14. Joe Martin 300 15. Bobby Rohrer 281 16. Jamie Brown 279 17. Josh Holtgraver 233 18. Steve Dixon 226. 19. Justin Tatlow 216 20. Andrew Wylie 197 21. Nolan Dalton 163 22. Eric Wilson 161 23. Wayne Robertson 143 24. Andrew Satterlee 130 25. Junior Peters 128 26. Jason Knowles 106 27. Brian Booher 101 28. Ricky Meglaye, Damian Bidwell & Bryce Davis 99 31. Adam Sixt 91 32. George Kowatic 88 33. Shane Bambarger 86 34. Mike Laughard 66 35. Billy Henry, Jr. 65 36. Rick Singleton 52 37. Tim Sears, Jr. 48 38. Billy Stile III. 44 39. John Lacki 43 40. Pat Willar 39 41. Jon Lichy 38 42. Steve Beatty 36 43. David Scott & Doug Horton 33 45. Jorden Peters 32 46. Jason Stetson 30 47. Shane Hitt 21 48. Matt Harvey 15 49. Robbie Blair 11 50. Scott Smith, Cody Dawson & Jason Longwell 10.

Friday's A Feature Payoff: 1. $1,200 2. $650 3. $450 4. $350 5. $325 6. $300 7. $275 8. $260 9. $255 10. $250 11. $225 12. $210 13. $200 14. $175 15. $165 16. $160 17. $155 18-24. $150.

Friday's Non-Qualifier B Feature Payoff: 1. $125 2. $100 3. $90 4. $85 5. $80 6. $75 7. $70 8. $65 9. $60 10-24. $55. $50 to any driver failing to start either feature.

Saturday's A Feature 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.

Saturday's Non-Qualifier B Feature Payoff: 1. $150 2. $125 3. $115 4. $110 5. $105 6. $100 7. $95 8. $90 9. $85 10-24. $80. $75 to any driver failing to start either feature.

Be sure to stop by the FASTRAK Northeast Apparel Trailer and Travel Boutique for all of the latest apparel, merchandise, and novelties. The 2012 Fan Guide & Driver Handbook will also be on sale.

There is a $50 entry fee on Friday and $75 on Saturday. RACEceivers are required. Transponders (red or yellow) are required. They will be available to rent for $10 per day.

Teams will be permitted to practice on Thursday during the opening night of the Fall Classic, which begins at 7 p.m. On Friday, pits open at 4 p.m. with racing at 7 then on Saturday pits open at 3 p.m. with racing at 6. Pit passes are $25 on Thursday, $30 on Friday, and $35 on Saturday.

McKean County Raceway is a 1/3-mile dirt track located at the McKean County Fairgrounds in East Smethport, Pa. at the intersections of Route 6 and 46. For more information on McKean County Raceway, check out their website at www.mckeancountyraceway.com or call 814-362-6909. The track number on race day is 814-887-2600.

2012 FASTRAK Northeast marketing partners include Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC, Pace Performance, Hoosier Tires, Original Pizza Logs, K&N Filters, The Brake Man, Utsinger's Towing, Precise Racing Products, Genesis Shocks, VP Fuels, Beyea Custom Headers, H&H Racing Equipment, High Gear Speed Shop, Hyperco, Jake's Golf Carts, Lincoln Electric, Wrisco Aluminum, and Wylie Race Cars.

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.