Hammett, PA
July 28, 2013
By Jay Pees

The Sweeney Cars Chevrolet FASTRAK Northeast Touring Series came to Eriez for the second leg of the Triple Crown Summer Sizzler. The original second leg was scheduled for Marion Center July 27 was rained out and will be made up at a date to be determined. The thirty cars entered were divided into four groups for qualifying and heat races. Fastest overall qualifier was Corning, New York's Wayne Robertson, winner of the first leg of the series at Conneaut, OH's Raceway 7.

Robertson timed in at 16.186 and an average speed of 83.405 MPH. Robertson was in group two. The fastest qualifiers for the other groups were Scott Gurdak in group 1, Matt Latta, winner of a 2012 touring event here in group 3 and Dennis Lunger in group 4. Heat winners were Max Blair, Robertson, Latta, and Lunger. Heat race finishes determined the top sixteen starting line-up for the 30-lap, $2000 to win feature. Two B-Mains determined the next eight spots and the high point car not qualified, Bobby Rohrer, was given a provisional starting berth.

After a four-wide salute to the fans the Summer Sizzler for the Sweeney Chevrolet FASTRAK Late Models got underway with Max Blair and Wayne Robertson leading the way. During the pace laps Joel Watson experienced mechanical problems, coming to a halt on the back straight and needing towed to the pit area. When the green fell, Bobby Rohrer's driveshaft also fell, slowing the race immediately.

When racing got underway Blair shot to the lead with Matt Latta getting by Robertson for second on lap two. Robertson charged back, getting alongside Latta at lap five, but unable to complete the pass before Billy Henry spun in turn two, again slowing the field. The top four for the restart were Blair, Latta, Robertson, and Scott Gurdak. At fifteen laps completed Blair caught lapped traffic while Joe Martin headed to the infield with mechanical ails. With nine laps remaining Eric Andrus looped his car in turn three, slowing the field again, and bunching the field behind Blair and Latta. The field only made it to turn two when Joel Prosser and Billy Henry got together in turn two. Robertson came back to second at lap 27 but Blair was opening a lead to six car-lengths at lap 29. Meanwhile Chad Wright moved up to fourth behind Latta. Blair went on to the win, his fourth of the year at Eriez. Following the defending track champion to the checkers were Robertson, Latta, Wright, and Scott Gurdak.

Sweeney Chevrolet FASTRAK Crate Late Models Northeast Touring Series:
Heat 1: Max Blair, Scott Gurdak, Mike Mitchell, Mike Knight, Kyle Zimmerman, Matt Harvey, Mark Tatlovic, Khole Wanzer
Heat 2: Wayne Robertson, Joe Martin, Chad Wright, Dereck Frank, Joey Buccola, Bobby Rohrer, Joel Prosser, Justin Kreider
Heat 3: Matt Latta, Billy Henry, Jason Genco, Bruce Hordusky, Joel Watson, Skip Jackson, Al Brewer
Heat 4: Dennis Lunger, Bobby Whitling, Luke Carlton, Joe Moyer, Jamie Brown, Eric Andrus, Mike Laughard

B-Main 1: Kyle Zimmerman, Joey Buccola, Matt Harvey, Joel Prosser, Bobby Rohrer, Mark Tatalovich, Khole Wanzer
B-Main 2: Joel Watson, Eric Andrus, Jamie Brown, Justin Kreider, Mike Laughard (DNS) Skip Jackson (DNS), Al Brewer (DNS)

Feature: Max Blair, Wayne Robertson, Matt Latta, Chad Wright, Scott Gurdak, Dennis Lunger, Bruce Hordusky, Mike Mitchell, Mike Knight, Luke Carlton, Jamie Brown, Jason Genco, Matt Harvey, Kyle Zimmerman, Bobby Whitling, Joe Moyer, Billy Henry, Joel Prosser, Joey Buccola, Eric Andrus, Dereck Frank, Joe Martin, Justin Kreid, Bobby Rohrer, Joel Watson