Michaels Mercer Raceway
Thomas tops Angelicchio for second Fastrak win
By Mike Leone
Fastrak Racing SeriesMERCER, Pa. (July 14) — Former asphalt Late Model standout Will Thomas III of Sharpsville, Pa., advanced from his seventh starting spot and outdueled Dan Angelicchio of Greensburg, Pa., in a back-and-forth battle during the closing laps of Saturday’s Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC Fastrak Northeast feature at Mercer Raceway Park, earning his second series victory.
Thomas, who was making his first-ever appearance at Mercer, earned $1,200 in the Crate Late Model tour’s first race at the 3/8-mile oval in three years.
“It feels great to win these Tour races,” said the 36-year-old Thomas, who has three victories in weekly Fastrak action at Sharon Speedway in Hartford, Ohio, and recently scored his first Fastrak touring victory at Expo Speedway in Cortland, Ohio. “It felt great to get some dirt wins under our belt at Sharon after running pavement cars for a long time. You know you have done something when you come here and win against Blair and Pegher that have won everything in this Fastrak deal."
Angelicchio settled for the runner-up finish, his fifth of the season and third in the tour’s past five events. Josh Double of Bristolville, Ohio, finished third, earning his best series finish since 2010 while fourth-place finisher Max Blair of Centerville, Pa., posted his 11th top five in 14 series starts and Josh Holtgraver rounded out the top five with his best series finish of the season.
Notes: Thomas drives a Rocket Chassis sponsored by Colonial Metals, Barris Supply, All Star Motorstate, Sweet Mfg., and Quarter Master. … Thomas and Angelicchio swapped the lead three times with Angelicchio leading laps 1-9 and 11-20 and Thomas leader lap 10 and laps 21-25. … Mike Pegher Jr. received the Precise Racing Products Hard Charger award for his run from 14th to seventh. … The next race for the Fastrak Northeast tour is July 21 at Sharon Speedway for the $2,000-to-win Sweeney Chevrolet night. Sweeney will giveaway a GM 604 engine to one lucky racer at the event.
Fastrak @ Mercer: (1) Will Thomas III, (2) Dan Angelicchio, (3) Josh Double, (4) Max Blair, (5) Josh Holtgraver, (6) Chad Ruhlman, (7) Mike Pegher Jr., (8) Matt Latta, (9) John Over, (10) Andrew Wylie, (11) Garrett Mott, (12) Steve Dixon, (13) Ryan Montgomery, (14) Jason Knowles, (15) Jamie Brown, (16) Shane Weaver, (17) Rusty Cade, (18) Justin Kreider, (19) Bryan Salisbury, (20) Eric Wilson, (21) Bobby Whitling, (22) Brad Kling, (23) Clay Ruffo, (24) Brian Booher. Heat race winners (among 25 cars): Over, Angelicchio, Thomas. Dash winner: Booher.
