Ferguson Goes All In After A Wild Friday Night Fights Topless Race One at Beckley


(Prosperity,West Virginia) The Officials, Teams, Drivers and Fans of the FASTRAK Racing Series was preparing for this weekend since the announcement was made back on Labor Day weekend during the running of the Pro Late Model Nationals in Rural Retreat,Virginia at Wythe Raceway. "Well for the First Time ever in History.. The World Championships will be held in West Virginia at BECKLEY MOTOR SPPEDWAY!! sounded FASTRAK Founder/CEO Stan Lester. Thus with all the preparing that went into action with Promoters Joe & Billie Jo Jackson it was finally time to see all of this promotion from both Beckley Motorsports Park and FASTRAK Companies International to see it in reality and what a great reality it turned out to be.

Open Practice took place on Thursday night and believe it or not there was a great crowd of fans on had who took advantage of the $10.00 Pit Pass to go in the overflow area and see the stars and cars of the FASTRAK Racing Series and after a total of 82 entrants took advantage of the chance to get acquainted with the 3/8 mile speed-plant it was on to Friday night. There we're a total of 85 cars on the grounds for racing action which became the biggest car count in the 9 year tour with the previous record set at 71 FASTRAK Late Models at Lavonia,GA. After a successful Practice night it was time for the bell to ring and get the World Championships Weekend in West Virginia officially underway entitled FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS!! Which consisted of Twin 40's consisted of 2 A-Mains where the Top 20 in the race would transfer to the Qualifying rounds of the $22,000 World Championship. It was a special event also with the FOX Sports cameras rolling ready to capture the emotion and excitement of the FASTRAK Racing Series for the first time ever for tape delayed broadcast and prove the reason why "Premier Pro Late Model Series in the Country" is a true motto to a tee.

After 75 entrants went through the process of elimination and survival of the fastest to make it in the 24 starting spots the first of four A-Main Features came to green for Race #1 and also it was Topless. Topless Late Models is basically a exciting experience with the crew members taking the roof of the cars and it gives a better visual of how the drivers wheels those machines around the track. It was a North Carolina front row with #6p from Union Mills,NC Furman Parton in the Lazier 2 Chassis and #21 G.R. Smith from Cornelius,NC on the front row for the green flag to kick off the bout #1 of Friday Night Fights. Great racing and there's no lying at all it was making the massive crowd at the 3/8th mile track have their jaws wide open with shock and awe as they battled 3 wide and 4 wide taking up every space of the track possible. The 24 Warlords we're driving around the track putting on an awesome performance with good hard racing and not having any issues what so ever just the best race seen by many in years.

The start was insane between GR Smith and Chris Ferguson battling neck and neck with each other from the get go for the first 24 circuits when the race had to be slowed down after a great performance that had the fans come to their feet and applause them as they came down the main straightaway. The 1st yellow fell when #18 when hometown driver TJ Salango hit the wall and slowed down in turn 3. His machine suffered major left front damage which forced him to be the first retiree for the event. To be honest it was a very exciting race which went by very quickly and had the fans on their feet through the whole race waving and cheering their favorites around Beckley Motorsports Park. Caution # 2 and the final yellow flag to slow the event on lap 28 when #2b Frankie Beard from Athens,GA suffered a mechanical failure in turn 3 which ended his night which set up a final 12 lap shootout to decide this race to open up Friday Night Fights.

It was a 3 car battle for the top spot on the final restart which ended with the 2nd and 3rd place machines playing a run down effort to try to catch the #22 Chris Ferguson in the Barry Wright chassis. #20 Wayne Robertson and #111 Max Blair tried everything they absolutely could muster to run down "Fergy" who races also in Supers, Steelheads and yes back to his grassroots FASTRAK as he went on to win race #3 of the season to be the first man to cross the finish line first and put his name first on the list to be locked in the FASTRAK World Championship 75 Lap $22,000 Dollars Main Event.

Friday Night Fights Topless Race #1 Results
1st #22 Chris Ferguson - Mt. Holly,NC
2nd #111 Max Blair - Centerville,PA
3rd #20 Wayne Robertson - Coming,NY
4th #6fp Furman Parton - Union Mills,NC
5th #6 Mike Faykus - Prosperity,WV
6th #1c Mike Pegher Jr. - Cranberry,PA
7th #68 Tyler Cox - Beckley,WV
8th #21 GR Smith - Cornelius,NC
9th #28 Aaron Barley - Maple Fork,WV
10th #25 Matt Long - Concord,NC
11th #77 Brian Connor - Martinez,GA
12th #24 Jimmy Schiltz - Hickory,NC
13th #55 Joe Martin - Mayport,PA
14th #K2 John Over - Uniontown,PA
15th #4 Mike Smith - Rogersville,TN
16th #23 Corey Gordon - Charlotte,NC
17th #77 Joel Prosser - New Martinsville,WV
18th #9 Ryan Atkins - Mt. Airy,NC
19th #25 Chad Justice - Beckley,WV
20th #11 Robby Rorhrer - Eriez,PA
21st #45 Eddie Hambrick - Oak Hill,WV
22nd #22c Tate Hughes - Beaver,WV
23rd #2b Frankie Beard - Toccoa,GA
24th #18 TJ Salango - Beckley,WV

The FASTRAK Racing Series City Chevrolet Touring Divisions would like to thank all of its marketing partners for their great and continuing support. Those 2012 sponsors include: Hoosier Race Tires, VP Racing Fuel, City Chevrolet, Chevrolet Performance Parts, Vicci Apparel, TNT Race Cars, Rocket Chassis, Longhorn Race Cars, RockAuto.com and FK Rod Ends. FASTRAK would also like to welcome Cool Shirt, Five Star Bodies, Hooker Harness, Velocita USA Driving Suits, Beya Headers, Kooks Custom Headers, R2C Filters, Sisco Fire and Safety and Tiger Rear Ends to our line-up of product sponsors. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of the Premier Pro Late Model Series in the Country please contact Stan Lester at the FASTRAK Corporate Office at (678) 935-7304 or Series Director Kelley Carlton at (864) 871-1442. Also Visit the FASTRAK Racing Series online at www.fastrakracing.com and be sure to like us on Facebook and/or follow us on Twitter at @FASTRAK_Racing!!