FASTRAK Northeast Response to First Night Concerns
In response in particular to FASTRAK car owner Scott Bidwell and FASTRAK drivers Jay Watson & Chad Myers, and others:
As for the format of Saturday’s Night 1 of the FASTRAK Grand Nationals, all 43 qualified racers received a letter in the mail two weeks in advance explaining the format, purse, fees, etc. as we have done for all of our specials at Mercer Raceway Park throughout the past 10 years. Also, a press release detailing the format was posted on the FASTRAK Northeast website, various message boards, and sent out to our mailing list.
Upon receiving the informational letter, only 4 of the 43 drivers/owners called prior to the event asking about the format; one had no problem with it, another was fairly okay with it once it was explained, while the other two did have reservations. On Saturday, I personally talked to over half of the racers that had questions and not one had a problem with the format.
How many series do you know that the fast qualifier is guaranteed to start on the pole? In the World of Outlaw Late Model & Sprint Car Series, the fast qualifier could start eighth, IF he transfers. The All Star Sprints invert 6 cars for their heat races and the fast qualifier could start 6th, IF he transfers. Many other series simply do pill draws or various inverts. At Lincoln Speedway this past Saturday night, the invert was 6 from qualifying for a $5,000 to-win special. Imagine, Lance Dewease set fast time and had to PASS cars to win…what a concept!
Max Blair Inches One Step Closer To $50,000 With $2,000 Mercer Victory In Night 1 Of The $250,000 FASTRAK Grand Nationals
By Mike Leone
October 4, 2008
Mercer, PA…The FASTRAK Late Models closed out their sophomore season in the Northeast with the running of Night 1 of the $250,000 Grand Nationals on a cold Saturday night at Mercer Raceway Park that saw the temperature dip into the 30s by night’s end. Twenty-seven of the 43 eligible racers were on hand from western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio, and western New York.
Max Blair is one step closer to $50,000. The Centerville, Pa. racer has already won the $10,000 National Weekly Point Championship and the $5,000 Northeast Touring Series Championship. Saturday night, Blair passed veteran Dick Barton to win the 30-lap $2,000 feature in the kickoff of the $250,000 FASTRAK Grand Nationals for the Northeast Region.
“This is awesome I don’t even know what to say, but I can’t wait to go down south,” expressed Blair. “I’m shaking; this is the best thing and the biggest race I’ve ever won. Definitely the highlight of my whole career. If I can go down and compete with those boys I’ll be happy, but man is this the way to start it out. When I started this year I wanted to win and race or two. I never ever dreamed it would work out the way it did this year. The year I’ve had is a once in a lifetime season and I’ll probably never have one again. I’m just enjoying every second of it.”
Mike Pegher, Jr. overtook John Lacki at the start for the early lead. Barton and Blair started fourth and fifth and raced under Lacki for second and third respectively on lap two. After a caution with two laps completed, Barton and Blair took over the top two spots from Pegher. Blair hounded Barton diving under the leader and the two raced side-by-side on laps five and seven. Tom Snyder, Jr., who started sixth, became a contender when he grabbed fourth from the fading Lacki on lap eight.
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