Eriez Speedway
Max Blair bags another Fastrak victory at Eriez
By Jay Pees
Eriez SpeedwayHAMMETT, Pa. (July 28) — Max Blair of Centerville, Pa., led all the way in Sunday’s Fastrak Racing Series event at Eriez Speedway for a $2,000 victory on the Crate Late Model organization’s Northeast tour.
In a repeat of the tour’s previous trip to Eriez, Blair beat Wayne Robertson of Corning, Calif., to the finish in claiming his fourth series victory of the season and his 18th overall.
Robertson followed up his victory in the tour’s event Friday at Raceway 7 in Conneaut, Ohio, with his runner-up finish. Matt Latta of Conneaut Lake, Pa., was third for his second top-three series finish on the weekend with Chad Wright of Springboro, Pa., and Scott Gurdak of Bear Lake, Pa., rounding out the top five.
Blair and Robertson led the field to green on the front row. 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 Latta getting by Robertson for second on lap two. Robertson charged back, pulling alongside Latta at lap five, but he was unable to complete the pass before Billy Henry spun in turn two to slow the field.
Blair caught lapped traffic a lap 15 while Joe Martin headed to the infield with mechanical ails. With nine laps remaining Eric Andrus looped his car in turn three to bunch the field behind Blair and Latta for a restart. The field only made it to turn two when Joel Prosser and Billy Henry got together.
Robertson retook the second spot on lap 27 but Blair stretched his lead to six car-lengths by lap 29. Blair went on to the win, his fourth of the year at Eriez.
Sunday’s race was part of a planned tripleheader weekend for the tour, but Saturday’s race at Marion Center (Pa.) Speedway was rained out. It will be made up at a date to be determined.
Fastrak @ Eriez: (1) Max Blair, (2) Wayne Robertson, (3) Matt Latta, (4) Chad Wright, (5) Scott Gurdak, (6) Dennis Lunger, (7) Bruce Hordusky, (8) Mike Mitchell, (9) Mike Knight, (10) Luke Carlton, (11) Jamie Brown, (12) Jason Genco, (13) Matt Harvey, (14) Kyle Zimmerman, (15) Bobby Whitling, (16) Joe Moyer, (17) Billy Henry, (18) Joel Prosser, (19) Joey Buccola, (20) Eric Andrus, (21) Dereck Frank, (22) Joe Martin, (23) Justin Kreid, (24) Bobby Rohrer, (25) Joel Watson. Heat winners (among 30 cars): Blair, Robertson, Latta, Lunger. Consolation winners: Zimmerman, Watson.
