Tri-City Raceway Park
Watson fights off Lukon at Tri-City for first victory
FRANKLIN, Pa. (Sept. 5) — Bud Watson earned his first Late Model victory Sunday at Tri-City Speedway, capturing the Fastrak Northeast portion of the Oil Region Labor Day Classic.
Watson overtook Gary Knollinger with a three-wide move on the third lap, then held off a furious last-lap charge by Kyle Lukon for a 25-lap victory.
"I'm shaking like crazy," said Watson, 17, of Conneaut, Ohio. "This is the first one I've ever won in a Late Model. The last time I won (mod liet) it was a last-lap shootout too. We had a good run. I figured if I just held my line I'd be OK
"Racing Kyle (Lukon) at the end, I knew that he was in a good position on the outside, and I had to make a charge at the end. We touched a little, but rubbing's racing."
Lukon settled for second while series points leader Max Blair was third, inching closhing to another series championship. Dan Angelicchio and Butch Lambert rounded out the top five.
Fastrak Northeast @ Tri-City: (1) Bud Watson, (2) Kyle Lukon, (3) Max Blair, (4) Dan Angelicchio, (5) Butch Lambert, (6) Gary Knollinger, (7) Mike Pegher Jr., (8) Josh Holtgraver, (9) Josh Double, (10) Jim Frank, (11) Dan Karalagas, (12) Rod Laskey, (13) Kyle Zimmerman, (14) Jamie Brown, (15) Bobby Whitling, (16) Andrew Wylie, (17) Chad Wright, (18) Nico Dabecco, (19) Marshal Shunk, (20) Tyler Barris, (21) Jeff Broniszewski, (22) Doug Iorio II, (23) Shane Bambarger, (24) John Volpe. Heat race winners (among 25 cars): Holtgraver, Frank, Watson. Consolation winner: Brown.
