June 19, 2012
MWB Graphics & Web Design
Team Blair Racing left Raceway 7 Friday night on a high note. Max Blair captured his first feature win of the season at the Conneaut, OH oval, while Rob finished runner up to Dave Hess Jr. in the unsanctioned open late model special.
After a solid third place finish in the NE FASTRAK Series event at McKean County Saturday night, both Max and Rob prepared their cars for Sunday night at Eriez Speedway. Max would get his second victory of the weekend Sunday night at Eriez, but Rob’s night ended before it even got started. Rob worked all morning to get his car prepared to battle the World of Outlaw regulars on his home turf. Just as he was about to load his car and head for the track, he noticed an abundance of metal shavings in the oil filter. Being without a motor, Rob headed to the track without a car to help Max.
On Friday night, the return of the Super Late Models to Raceway 7 had Bump Hedman starting from the pole position with Dave Lyon on the outside of the front row. Hedman would take the lead from the start with Lyon second. Dave Hess Jr took over the runner-up spot at lap seven after running side by side with Lyon for three laps. One lap later Rob Blair was third and looking for his 36th feature win. At lap ten, Damon Haught spun in turn two, allowing Hess and Blair to close the gap on Hedman, who had never won a Raceway 7 feature.
After the green flag flew, Hess took to the high line and ran next to the leader down the back straight on lap eleven and took over the top spot coming out of turn four. Rob Blair took over second at lap 15 as caution flew, again for a spin by Haught. With only two laps left, Lyon spun from the sixth position setting up a dash for the checkers. Hess led to the checkers, picking up his second-ever Super Late Model feature win at Raceway 7. Blair wound up second. On the final trip down the back straight Russell King came from fifth to third with Jason DuPont grabbing the fourth spot. Chris Hackett wound up fifth.
Matt Latta and Kyle Zimmerman led the 17 Evergreen Lake Park Campground FASTRAK Late Models to the green flag. Latta led the first lap with Max Blair second and Zimmerman third. After a lap one caution, Blair came to the lead just as a six car pile-up occurred on turn four again slowing the action. Joel Prosser came to third behind Latta at lap five. Blair went on to his first Raceway 7 win of the season over Latta, Prosser, Zimmerman, and Mike Mitchell.
McDonald’s Meats Super Late Models:
Heat 1: Rob Blair, Bump Hedman, Russell King, Darrell Bossard, Ross Robinson, Jason Morell, T J Downs, Terry Porter, Damon Haught, Bob Dorman
Heat 2: Mike Knight, Dennis Lunger, Dave Lyon, Dave Hess Jr, Chris Hackett, Brent Rhebergen, Jordan Eck, Paul Grigsby, Ron Davies, Jason DuPont
Feature: Dave Hess Jr, Rob Blair, Russell King, Jason DuPont, Chris Hackett, Bump Hedman, Ross Robinson, Darrell Bossard, Ron Davies, Brent Rhebergen, Bob Dorman, Paul Grigsby, Jordan Eck, T J Downs, Jason Morell, Terry Porter, Dave Lyon, Damon Haught, Mike Knight, Dennis Lunger
Evergreen Lake Park Campground FASTRAK Late Models:
Heat 1: Dave Airgood, Billy Cunningham Jr, Kyle Zimmerman, Bryan Salisbury, Jamie Brown, Bob Pifer, Michael Mitchell, Chris Peterson, Jason Stetson
Heat 2: Chad Wright, Max Blair, Joel Prosser, Matt Latta, Bill Cunningham Sr, Billy Henry, Joe DeFazio, Bob Craig
Feature: Max Blair, Matt Latta, Joel Prosser, Kyle Zimmerman, Mike Mitchell, Bill Cunningham Sr, Billy Henry, Jamie Brown, Dave Airgood, Bob Pifer, Chad Wright, Jason Stetson, Billy Cunningham Jr, Joe DeFazio, Chris Peterson, Bob Craig, Bryan Salisbury
Three-time Northeast Touring and National Weekly Series champion Max Blair entered Saturday night with an unprecedented four straight Tour wins and five victories in the first six events. That streak came to an end on Saturday night at McKean County Raceway.
After finishing 2nd in his heat, Max started the feature event in the 7th position. On a lap 2 restart, Max suffered a flat tire after contact sending his #111 pit side. Max made it back onto the track 1 lap down. Due to NE FASTRAK Series “Lucky Dog” rule (that has been in effect for the past 2 yrs.), Max made up his lap under the next caution flag.
By lap 20, Max had worked his way back into the top five. At the end of the 25 lap event, Max Blair was credited with a hard fought third to maintain his point lead.
Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC Pace Performance FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series Race #7 (25 laps, $1,200 to-win): 1. RYAN MONTGOMERY (12) 2. Mike Pegher, Jr. (Geisler 1c) 3. Max Blair (111) 4. Adam Sixt (6T) 5. Shane Weaver (Ruffner 325x) 6. Butch Lambert (27) 7. Steve Dixon (50) 8. Kyle Wiser (Price 34) 9. Chad Ruhlman (Suppa 4s) 10. Bryce Davis (94) 11. Garrett Mott (43x) 12. Jamie Brown (135) 13. Brad Kling (Powell 100) 14. Junior Peters (00) 15. Justin Smith (22) 16. Bobby Rohrer (11) 17. Pat Willar (39) 18. Jon Lichy (35) 19. Cody Mason (MR1) 20. Brian Knowles (4) 21. Dereck Frank (16) 22. Dave Norton, Jr. (24x) 23. Joe Martin (55) 24. John Over (K2)-DSQ (failed to meet minimum valve spring installed height)
On Sunday night, Max visited Eriez Speedway. Due to the World of Outlaw sanctioned event, the FASTRAK division ran a feature event only. The Dan’s Route 8 Boardwalk Bar and Grill FASTRAK Late Model feature was brought to the green flag by Damian Bidwell and Zack Carley. Bidwell would bring out the first caution, spinning in turn two. When racing resumed defending champion Kyle Zimmerman led the first lap with Bob Dorman coming to second and Max Blair third. At lap six Bruce Hordusky Jr and Bobby Rohrer got together in turn two, again bringing caution over the speedway. When the green flag waved, Blair succeeded in getting by Dorman in turn one and then by the leader in turn four. Dorman came to the lead when Blair and Zimmerman went high the next lap. Blair retook the lead a lap later and went on to the win. Dorman spun from the second spot at lap 15. Zimmerman wound up second with Jamie Brown third, Chad Wright fourth, and Matt Latta fifth.
Feature: Max Blair, Kyle Zimmerman, Jamie Brown, Chad Wright, Matt Latta, Bob Dorman, Zack Carley, Khole Wanzer, Chris Ottaway, Bobby Rohrer, Rob Bates, Damian Bidwell, Jason Genco, Bruce Hordusky.
Team Blair racing plans are up in the air for next weekend. Max will be visiting Raceway 7 Friday night, Sharon Speedway Saturday night for the NE FASTRAK Series “Gary Knollinger Memorial” event, and Eriez Speedway on Sunday. Rob’s plans will be determined by whether or not a motor will be available for next weekend. We’ll keep you posted.
Team Blair would like to thank their 2012 marketing partners for their continued support: Specialty Products, Genesis Shocks, Rohrer Racing, Moody & Son Welding, Craiger Racing Engines, Westcoat Excavating, Mark’s Water Conditioning, MWB Graphics & Web Design, VP Racing Fuel, Hypercoil, Rocket Chassis, Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic, Simpson, Dano Custom Paint, Slavic Custom Shirts, and Race-1
