April 22, 2017
East Smethport, PA
By: Jay Pees

Under cool but dry conditions McKean County Raceway initiated their 2017 season with the Jim and Mike Duffy Memorial Spring Classic for the Super Late Models. When the checkers fell it was Max Blair in Victory Lane after leading the entire distance from the pole position. Blair also proved victorious in the Little Power Shop RUSH Crate Late Model feature, taking the lead at lap four of the twenty lap distance.

Max Blair started from Super Late Model pole position and was never challenged over the distance to pick up his first McKean County Raceway feature win of 2017 and his third overall in the young season. Dave Hess Jr wound up second with Dave Scott third, Greg Oakes fourth, and Bobby Rohrer filling out the top five.

Only one caution slowed the event that saw Blair extend his lead to as much as half a straight-a-way at times but Hess able to begin closing the gap in traffic when Blair had contact from a lapped machine.

Dennis Lunger and Wyatt Scott brought the Little Power Shop RUSH Crate Late Models to green with Lunger leading until lap four when Blair made his way to the front. At the halfway point it was Blair over Lunger, Scott, Eric Wilson, and Paul Grigsby.

Shortly after halfway C J Irons came to a halt on the front straight next to the wall. After a caution dor a spin by Erin Peters at lap 14, Wilson got to third with five laps remaining. A caution for a spin by J J Mazur on lap 16 and another for a spin by Greg Beach with two left set up the final run to the checkers.

On the final trip through turns three and four Wilson made the pass on Lunger for third but then slid high, allowing Lunger, Chad Homan, and Scott to get by for second, third, and fourth behind Blair with Wilson settling for fifth.

Super Late Model
Heat 1: Damian Bidwell, Dave Scott, Max Blair, Bill Dorman, Bobby Rohrer, Jason Dobson

Heat 2: Greg Oakes, Dave Hess, Nate Hill, Devon Hill, Joe Layfield

Feature: Max Blair, Dave Hess, David Scott, Greg Oakes, Bobby Rohrer, Bill Dorman, Nate Hill, John Weaver, Devin Lewis, Jason Dobson, Joe Layfield, Damian Bidwell

Little Power Shop RUSH Late Models:
Heat 1: Wyatt Scott, Paul Grigsby, Dennis Lunger, Chad Homan, J J Mazur, Andy Michael

Heat 2: Max Blair, R J Pistner, Jason Tingue, Brad Mesler, Paul Norman, Erin Peters

Heat 3: Greg Beach, Eric Wilson, Kyle Murray, Randy Raynor, C J Irons, T J Downs

FEATURE: Max Blair, Dennis Lunger, Chad Homan, Wyatt Scott, Eric Wilson, Brad Mesler, Jason Tingue, Paul Grigsby, JJ Mazur, Paul Norman, Greg Beach, Kyle Murray, Erin Peters, Randy Ralyea, RJ Pistner, Andy Michael, CJ Irons, TJ Downs