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By Mike Leone
June 15, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Bushnell, OH).After a rain out at Eriez Speedway on May 27, the FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series made their second appearance of the season at Raceway 7 on Friday night for the opening night of the three-race weekend. The season’s largest crowd and highest car count watched John Lacki score the win over the 22-car field. Fans witnessed two and three-wide racing all night long and just three of the 20 finishers were lapped in the competitive field from top to bottom.
Tom Snyder, Jr. drove the race of his life as he said it was the most fun he had ever had in a race car, but it was all for not as the former Stock Car standout and Late Model rookie lost a heartbreaker at the scales coming up 15 pounds light and handing the win to John Lacki. Snyder and Lacki thrilled the crowd with their exciting battle keeping the fans on the edge of their seats for the entire 25-lap distance, but in the end it was Lacki celebrating on the frontstretch for the $1,200 victory.
“That was a heck of a race,” exclaimed the Sinclairsville, New York winner. “I certainly got passed and he (Snyder) was really fast. I feel bad for him. I’ve never been one to be lucky, but we’ll take this one. He’s disappointed, but I’m sure he’ll take a lesson from this one. I have to thank my good buddy Chub Frank. He helps me quite a bit with this car. Last week I was whining to him and he told me to quit whining and sit up on the wheel. Hopefully tonight he’ll find out I did!”
Lacki pulled the number one pill and took the early advantage with Snyder holding down second. John Watson had a great start passing veteran Mark Osburn and newcomer Jim Frank for third on the opening lap. Veteran Alan Dellinger started seventh and worked into contention on lap two taking the position from Frank. Snyder closed on Lacki and the two were side-by-side on lap three. The following lap saw Snyder take a peek on the inside of turns one and two only to see Lacki have enough momentum off the top side of the speedway to maintain the lead.
Dellinger and Osburn ran Watson down as the trio were three-wide for third on lap four. Dick Barton, who won the inaugural Touring race on May 25, started 11th and cracked the top five on lap six when he took the position away from Osburn. The incredible racing continued all throughout the pack as eyes began to shift to Jay Watson. The May 18 winner and runner-up at the May 25 Touring event started 12th and became a factor when he ran down Barton and Dellinger. The three raced three-wide on lap 10 with Watson and Barton moving past Dellinger. Watson’s fine run ended with a flat tire, but luckily got saved by Larry Kugel’s spin with 14 laps completed. Watson changed tires and restarted on the tail.
When racing resumed, Snyder continued to pressure Lacki. The two, who have never competed together, put on an excellent duel. By lap 17 Snyder was all over Lacki as Lacki protected the bottom, while Snyder was trying to make the outside work. Barton, who inherited fourth when Jay Watson pitted, caught John Watson and those two put on their own race going side-by-side on lap 19.
Snyder made what was thought to be the winning pass on lap 20 when he drove his car in hard on the outside of turn four to sneak past Lacki to edge past the leader at the start-finish line with the thrilling move. Snyder opened up some ground pulling away slightly in the ensuing laps, while a three-car race developed for second. Barton and Watson continued to race hard while they ran Lacki down. Barton made the pass for third on lap 23, but Watson didn’t give up as he pulled even on the final lap and would actually nip Barton for the spot.
After Snyder failed to make weight, Lacki, a former steel-block winner at Raceway 7 and the May 18 Freedom Raceway winner, was credited with the victory in his B&L Wholesale Supply/Bradford Window Company/Lema’s Pizza/Craiger’s Race Engine-sponsored, Phantom Graphics-lettered #7. “I have to thank the FASTRAK people for making this happen,” explained Lacki. “I feel blessed to win one of these first races. This FASTRAK deal is pretty exciting and I can see already that there are going to be a lot of guys that are going to win races. This is no big operation, no toterhome, or enclosed trailer, just a 1996 truck and an open trailer, but it’s a good car. We’re looking forward to going to McKean tomorrow and giving that a go. That’s a totally different track and setup.”
John Watson and Barton moved up to second and third with Dellinger and Greg Oakes completing the top five. Sixth through tenth were Osburn, Frank, Carl McKinney, Jay Watson who came back through the field after restarting last on lap 15, and Steve Hollabaugh. Heat winners over the 22-car field were Barton, Dellinger, and Oakes.
Newcomers to the Series included four McKean County Raceway regulars led by Lacki, who skipped the opening Touring event due to the weather and stayed closer to home to run his E-Mod at Freedom Raceway, Jim and Dereck Frank, and Mike Wonderling, Jr., along with Dog Hollow Speedway regular J.R. Wright and Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway regular Sarah Schrum, who is the teenage daughter of former Sprint Car standout Jeff Schrum.
FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Series (25 laps): 1. JOHN LACKI ($1,200) 2. John Watson 3. Dick Barton 4. Alan Dellinger 5. Greg Oakes 6. Mark Osburn 7. Jim Frank 8. Carl McKinney 9. Jay Watson 10. Steve Hollabaugh 11. Mike Wonderling, Jr. 12. Jon Law 13. Larry Kugel 14. Tom Kemp 15. Rodney Phillips 16. Jack Nutter 17. Dereck Frank 18. Chad Myers 19. Sarah Schrum 20. J.R. Wright 21. Bump Hedman 22. Tom Snyder, Jr.-DSQ (light)
Lap leaders: Lacki (1-19), Snyder (20-25)
Heat winners: Dick Barton, Alan Dellinger, Greg Oakes.
Car count: 22
The next event is Saturday at McKean County Raceway featuring a 25-lap $1,500 to-win feature. McKean 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.
Then on Sunday, Eriez Speedway will host a 25-lap $1,500 to-win feature. Eriez is located outside of Erie, Pa. in Hammett, Pa. Take Interstate 90 to exit 8 (Route 8). Go south on Rte 8 approximately 2.5 miles towards Hammett, Pa to Tate Rd. Turn right onto Tate Rd and follow until the “T” intersection. At the “T” turn left onto Lake Pleasant. Go approximately .3 miles to Sampson Rd and turn right. Eriez Speedway is on the left. For more info check out www.eriez-speedway.com or call 814-796-6747.
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Partners of the FASTRAK Racing Series Include: Goodyear Racing, GM Performance Parts, Maypole Chevrolet, Duralite Wheels, PPM Racing Products, Heintz Performance, MK-Direct, Braswell Carburetion, Mastersbilt Racing Chassis, TNT Racing Chassis, Rocket Racing Chassis, Modern Chevrolet and Schoenfeld Headers.