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By Rich Berry & Mike Leone
June 23, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Lakeville, OH…Alan Dellinger from Hermitage, Pennsylvania topped the 25-lap FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series race at Ohio’s Lakeville Speedway on Saturday night. The $1,200 victory was Dellinger’s first ever FASTRAK-sanctioned victory of any kind giving him yet another division to add to his impressive resume. It was the Series’ first stop to the Bob and Judy Schipper’s owned facility, as 11 drivers from three states made tows ranging from two to six hours to support the Series’ fifth event.
Tom Snyder, Jr. and Dave Padula won the two heat races to start the evening, as the top eight drivers redrew for their starting positions for the feature. New York drivers Greg Oakes and Jon Law made up the front row as the feature event went to the green flag.
The majority of the competitors used the high outside line of the speedway. The outside edge of the oval is ringed by a high-banked rim, as this was the fast way around if drivers hit it right. If they didn’t, it meant trouble, and the drivers were ready to go on the track that they all seemed to term as “fun”.
Oakes, from Franklinville, NY, used the inside groove to move nose ahead of Law into the lead as the green light lit up. Law quickly felt a challenge from fourth starting Alan Dellinger at lap two. Dellinger was using the inside to perfection as they were side-by-side for second coming to lap three when the first caution flag of the event appeared for a spin by Mike Snyder, who was again subbing for Rodney Phillips, on the backstretch.
On the double file restart, Oakes pulled back ahead using the outside line. Sixth starting Tom Snyder got to second by a nose at the scoring line on lap four inches ahead of Dellinger working the bottom. Dellinger charged hard into turn one on the inside and shot past Oakes for the lead. However, he slid high and lost his momentum, and Oakes shot down with speed off of the banking and regained the lead down the backstretch. Lap five had Oakes leading Dellinger, Snyder, Law, and Tom Kemp. Working lap six, Dellinger tried the slide job pass again entering turn one. Again, Oakes shot back past exiting turn two with the slingshot down the banking.
A spin by Chad Myers on lap seven brought out the second caution period of the race, and it would be the final caution of the event as the last 18 laps went green-to-checkered. Oakes chose the outside for the restart, and he raced side-by-side with Dellinger as racing resumed. At the line for lap eight, they were still door-to-door with Oakes still retaining the lead by inches. This time through turn one, Dellinger got a good run on the bottom and nosed ahead of Oakes. Oakes came back on the inside, but could only get up alongside Dellinger’s Bob Williams-owned, yellow #8 car.
On lap nine, Dellinger gained the lead for good. Oakes and Snyder trailed, with John Watson now fourth after starting eleventh. Law remained fifth, but lost the spot to Kemp on lap 12. Dellinger continued to stretch his lead in front, as the fifth position remained a hotly contested spot. Dave Padula took fifth from Kemp on lap 17, as Dellinger continued to set sail in front.
At the checkered flag, it was Dellinger taking a convincing victory. Oakes was second for his best Series finish to complete a busy week for their team, as their engine required work, triggered by losing a radiator hose at McKean County Raceway a week before. Snyder of Mayport, PA, turned in a solid run for third- his best Series finish after coming up light in his apparent victory at Raceway 7 on June 15, as the Stock Car division graduate continues to make impressive runs. Watson from Rome, Ohio was fourth, ironically the only driver from Ohio at the race in his home state. Padula’s six hour tow from his Greencastle, PA home netted him fifth place at the finish. Completing the finishing order was Kemp, Steve Hollabaugh, Carl McKinney, Mike Snyder, Chad Myers, and Jon Law.
With point leader Dick Barton skipping the event combined with Dellinger’s victory, Dellinger has taken over the point lead in the $5,000 to-win Northeast Touring Series Championship, which will pay down 10 spots. Oakes’ runner-up moves him to second in points
FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Series Race #5 (25 laps): 1. ALAN DELLINGER ($1,200), Hermitage, PA. 2. Greg Oakes, Franklinville, NY. 3. Tom Snyder, Jr., Mayport, PA. 4. John Watson, Rome, OH. 5. Dave Padula, Greencastle, PA. 6. Tom Kemp, Batavia, NY. 7. Steve Hollabaugh, Guys Mills, PA. 8. Carl McKinney, Cranberry Twp., PA. 9. Mike Snyder (for Rodney Phillips) Punxsutawney, PA. 10. Chad Myers, Oil City, PA. 11. Jon Law, Friendship, NY.
Lap leaders: Greg Oakes (1-7), Alan Dellinger (8-25)
Heat winners: Tom Snyder, Jr. & Dave Padula
Car count: 11
The next event is Wednesday, July 4 at Mercer Raceway Park. The “Yankee 40†will pay $5,000 to-win. Pits open at 2:30 with grandstands at 3:30, hot laps at 5:15, and racing at 6 p.m. For more info check out www.mercerracewaypark.com,
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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.