Tri-City Raceway Park
Powell tops Blair for third win in four starts
By Mike Leone
Fastrak Northeast Series
Bobby Powell heads for Tri-City's victory lane. (Todd Battin)
FRANKLIN, Pa. (July 19) — Bobby Powell of Waterford, Pa., led all 25 laps at Tri-City Speedway, fighting off challenges from polesitter Max Blair of Centerville, Pa., for his third Fastrak Northeast touring victory in his last four starts. Powell earned $1,200 in the caution-free 25-lapper that lasted just nine minutes.
“Max and I are really good friends,” Powell said. “We park together, race together — it’s a lot of fun. I talked with Max before the race and we agreed to finish one-two and not wreck each other. I’m sure he’s happy, maybe not as happy as I am."
Blair settled for second, just .63 seconds behind the winner, but the runner-up finish kept him atop the chase for the $5,000 Fastrak Northeast crown as well as Fastrak's national points, worth $10,000. David Scott of Garland, Pa., was third followed by 10th-starting Mike Pegher Jr. of Waterford and Bryan Salisbury of West Springfield, Pa.
The race was the second straight series event to run nonstop at Tri-City as last year’s 30-lapper on Labor Day Weekend won by Carl McKinney did the same.
Notes: Powell drives a Scott Bidwell-owned car sponsored by Fame RV Center, Jay’s Auto Wrecking and Maloney Tool & Mold. ... He has four career series victories, putting him in a three-way tie for the all-time lead with Max Blair and Dick Barton. ... Before Tri-City, the most recent three series events were rained out or postponed. ... Among drivers failing to make the feature: Steve Hollabaugh, Gary Knollinger and Bob Kish. ... Next up for Fastrak Northeast competitors is a July 24-25 at Dog Hollow Speedway in Strongstown, Pa., and Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway.
Fastrak Northeast @ Tri-City: (1) Bobby Powell, (2) Max Blair, (3) David Scott, (4) Mike Pegher Jr., (5) Bryan Salisbury, (6) Butch Lambert, (7) Carl McKinney, (8) Joe Martin, (9) Josh Double, (10) Tommy Schirnhofer Jr., (11) Dan Angelicchio, (12) Jim Frank, (13) Dan Karalagas, (14) John Watson, (15) Bud Watson, (16) Josh Holtgraver, (17) Dereck Frank, (18) Shane Bambarger, (19) Jim Long, (20) Garrett Mott, (21) Jamie Brown, (22) Kyle Zimmerman, (23) Jon Law, (24) Bryan Force. Heat race winners (among 34 cars): Pegher, Powell, Scott, Double. Consolation winners: Bambarger, Karalagas.
