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East Smethport, PA…The FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series completed their inaugural season on Friday night at McKean County Raceway as part of the track’s annual Fall Classic. A Series record 33 cars participated.
Late Model veteran Todd Andrews scored his first career FASTRAK Touring Series victory in the 30-lap Don Hardy Memorial. The win was worth $3,000 for the Eldred, Pa. racer at his home track. Andrews drew the pole position and led from green-to-checkered surviving numerous cautions in the early part of the event and then holding off a strong run by Tommy Schirnhofer, Jr. to score the victory in his #42.
Andrews, the opening night McKean FASTRAK weekly-sanctioned winner, was making just his third Touring start of the season, while Schirnhofer made his first ever FASTRAK-sanctioned start of any kind. Schirnhofer is a regular at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway in the limited late model class with his FASTRAK-legal GM 602 engine. Schirnhofer surprised many with his impressive performance. The Pittsburgh, Pa. resident started fourth and moved past Steve Hollabaugh on the opening lap. Schirnhofer grabbed second from pole-sitter John Haggerty on lap four then set his sights on Andrews.
Andrews though was too much over the course of the event as he took the checkered flag first for the victory. Schirnhofer, who was an unexpected visitor, earned the respect of many with his runner-up finish. Dick Barton followed Schirnhofer into third on lap four, but had to settle for the show position. Barton finished in the top five of all seven Touring events he entered. Tommy Snyder, Jr. surprised many people with his strong outings night in and night out had another great run taking fourth. Alan Dellinger of Hermitage, Pa. advanced from the 10th starting spot to finish fifth and secured the inaugural $5,000 Northeast Touring Series Championship for car owned Bob Williams. Dellinger’s worst finish of the season was a sixth. Completing the top 10 were Haggerty, two-time Series winner John Lacki, Rodney Phillips, Bobby Powell, and Dave Lyon. Heat winners were Dellinger, Barton, Lacki, and Jim Frank, while Dave Powell captured the first ever B main run for the Series.
FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Series Race #8 (30 laps): 1. TODD ANDREWS ($3,000) 2. Tommy Schirnhofer, Jr. 3. Dick Barton 4. Tommy Snyder, Jr. 5. Alan Dellinger 6. John Haggerty 7. John Lacki 8. Rodney Phillips 9. Bobby Powell 10. Dave Lyon 11. Dave Padula 12. Bump Hedman 13. Tim Schram 14. John Watson 15. Jeff Sharp 16. Jim Frank 17. Ike Fanton 18. Mike Wonderling 19. Joe Watson 20. Chris Knuth 21. Randy Hall 22. Steve Hollabaugh 23. Kyle Drum 24. Jeff Teeters DNQ: Scott Myers, Carl McKinney, Tom Kemp, Dan Stives, Bob Vogt, Jr., Chad Myers, Greg Oakes, Bob Kish, Todd Sweet.
Lap leaders: Todd Andrews (1-30)
Heat winners: Alan Dellinger, Dick Barton, John Lacki, Jim Frank
B main winner: Dave Padula
Car count: 33
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