Eriez Speedway
Latta edges Blair in Speedweek finale at Eriez
HAMMETT, Pa. (July 8) — Matt Latta of Conneaut Lake, Pa., led the final 13 laps Sunday at Eriez Speedway to win the fifth and final leg of the Original Pizza Logs Cross the Borders Speedweek on the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC Fastrak Northeast Series. Latta drove the race of his life holding off Eriez dominator Max Blair to earn $2,000 in front of a large crowd.
Blair, twice a winner during the Speedweek, picked up $1,000 for the miniseries title, edging Will Thomas III by three points.
"This is awesome,” said the 20-year-old Latta, a former go-kart racer seasoned as a crew member for Scott Bidwell. "I can't thank my family and Scott Bidwell's family enough for this. They've given me a lot of opportunities the past two years. I shouldn't even have been on the track last year, but all of my sponsors came through for me.”
Latta, who led the first lap before giving way to Mike Pegher Jr. on laps 2-17, maneuvered through lapped traffic in the final laps to hold off Blair while Steve Dixon, Pegher and Chad Wright rounded out the top five.
"I knew Max was behind me on that last restart,” Latta said. "I was hoping we'd stay green and catch lapped traffic and give Pegher something. He was following someone too long and I finally decided I better try and make the move and it paid off.”
Notes: Latt’s car is sponsored by Scott Bidwell, Latta Brothers Racing, Ball & Auto Scrap, Fame RV Center, Maloney Tool & Mold, Springs Body Shop Supplies, Saegertown Hardware, Building Innovations, Dr. Lisa Phelps, BRA-VOR Tool & Die, Crawford Custom Consulting and Fatboy's Saloon. ... Dan Angelicchio went into the last night with a shot at the Speedweek crowd, but a disappointing 12th ended his shot at the title. He finished third in miniseries points. ... The Speedweek drew 89 teams in five events and three tracks set Fastrak car-count records.
Original Pizza Logs Cross the Borders Speedweek: (1) Matt Latta, (2) Max Blair, (3) Steve Dixon, (4) Mike Pegher Jr., (5) Chad Wright, (6) Chad Ruhlman, (7) Bruce Hordusky Jr., (8) Ryan Montgomery, (9) Will Thomas III, (10) Dennis Lunger Jr., (11) John Over, (12) Dan Angelicchio, (13) Shane Weaver, (14) Josh Double, (15) Brad Kling, (16) Jason Genco, (17) Bobby Rohrer, (18) W.L. Stile, (19) Andrew Wylie, (20) Ryan Scott, (21) Lauren Longbrake. Disqualifed: Khole Wanzer. Heat race winners (among 22 cars): Blair, Over. Dash winner: Pegher.
