Tyler County Speedway
Pegher outruns Blair in Fastrak Northeast opener at Tyler
By Mike Leone
Fastrak Northeast Series
Mike Pegher Jr., 23, earned $1,500 for his victory. (Todd Battin)
MIDDLEBOURNE, W.Va. (April 25) — Polesitter Mike Pegher Jr. of Wexford, Pa., overtook reigning series champion Max Blair of Centerville, Pa., on the seventh lap at Tyler County Speedway and went on to win the Fastrak Northeast opener for Crate Late Models. | Slideshow
Blair led the first six laps of the topless event before the 23-year-old Pegher took command and led the rest of the 25-lapper for a $1,500 payday. Pegher, who won last year on the series at Ohio's Raceway 7, becomes the sixth driver to win multiple races in the three-year history of Fastrak Northeast.
Blair settled for second with Gary Knollinger of Triadelphia, W.Va., finishing third. Shawn Jett of Harrisville, W.Va., rallied from 24th to finish fourth and David Scott of Garland, Pa., rounded out the top five.
Notes: Pegher drove a Lynn Geisler-owned car sponsored by Cochran Automotive, Triple-S Auto Sales and MonaVie. ... Pegher has three victories in five Crate Late Model starts in 2009; his other victories came in weekly events at Mercer (Pa.) Raceway Park. ... Third-finishing Gary Knollinger won Tyler County's Fastrak weekly event on April 11 and was competing in his first Fastrak Northeast event. ... Shawn Jett, 20, drove a car with a 5-year-old Crate engine and improved 20 positions in finishing fourth. ... David Scott made his Fastrak Northeast debut in a John and Janet Powell-owned No. 100. ... Fastrak Northeast competitors take a break until two Memorial Day weekend events. Sharon Speedway in Hartford, Ohio, hosts the series on May 23 and Mercer hosts a May 25 event.
Fastrak Northeast @ Tyler County: (1) Mike Pegher Jr., (2) Max Blair, (3) Gary Knollinger, (4) Shawn Jett, (5) David Scott, (6) Kyle Thomas, (7) Dan Angelicchio, (8) Joel Prosser, (9) Jay Watson, (10) Carl McKinney, (11) Chris Schneider, (12) Chad Green, (13) Derek Doll, (14) Cody Hardesty, (15) Shane Hitt, (16) John Watson, (17) Daniel Hill, (18) Jim Quaigg, (19) Zack Dohm, (20) Tom Copeland, (21) Brian Rush, (22) Butch Lambert, (23) Bobby Powell, (24) Bud Watson. Heat race winners (among 26 cars): Knollinger, Dohm, Scott. Consolation winner: Lambert.
