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Hanover, West Virginia – Rural Retreat, Virginia’s Brandon Umberger led flag-to-flag from his outside front row starting position to score the win in the FASTRAK Racing Series sanctioned Mountain Madness opener at Thunder Mountain Speedway. Night number 1 of the $23,000 double-header weekend marked the first visit of the Fastrak Racing Series to the West Virginia 4/10ths mile oval formerly known as Hatfield-McCoy Speedway. The event drew cars from all over the eastern United States including Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Kentucky, both Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. With the Northeast Region off for the weekend several drivers took the opportunity to venture south and measure some of the competition they are sure to face in the upcoming $250,000 Grand Nationals.
Aaron Barley of Beckley, West Virginia was fastest among the 23 entrants in Shell Racing Solutions Pole Qualifying with a time of 18.320 seconds. Umberger was second quick followed by Chris Meadows, Mike Pegher, Jr. and Steve Dixon. All of whom were locked into the feature by virtue of their qualifying times. The remainder of the field was set by a pair of 8 lap heats. Larry Blankenship of Mooresville, North Carolina won the first heat race and secured the 9th starting spot in the feature while Greenburg, Pennsylvania’s Dan Angelicchio won the final heat race to start 10th.
When the green flag fell over the field, Umberger was able to clear Barley on the outside exiting turn 2 to take the point. Barley tried to counter on the low side through turns 3 and 4 but Umberger kept his momentum up and quelled Barley’s run. Through several caution flags the common theme was Umberger opting for the outside lane for the “Choose-style†double file restarts. Each time Umberger had to turn away hard-charging Barley on the bottom. Back through the field it was an all-out dogfight as drivers maneuvered around the tight-cornered oval. Angelicchio, who started 10th, had worked his way into the 6th position by the race’s halfway point. A late caution with only two laps remaining bunched the field and allowed Barley one final shot at Umberger.
Umberger fended off the multiple challenges from Barley throughout the 30 lap A-Main. Umberger picked up $2000 for his winning effort and moved his 2011 FASTRAK Touring win total to 3. “We had a great race car. I need to thank these guys that work on this car. They were over there working to make it faster while we were up in the booth being interviewed. They credit goes to them, I just drive it. I appreciate Aaron running us clean. I know he could have taken us out, but he gave me room and ran me clean so I appreciate that. We are going to try to make it two in a row tomorrow night.†Umberger said in the Fastrak Victory Lane.
Following Umberger and Barley to the line were Meadows, Angelicchio and Pegher. Former FASTRAK SE/ME Champion Lee Cooper earned hard charger honors for the event after arriving late and missing time trials. Cooper advanced from his 22nd starting position to finish 11th. Saturday night’s Mountain Madness finale at Thunder Mountain will pay $3000 to the winner of the 40 lap A-Main. As always final results are pending laboratory analysis of tire samples taken throughout the event. For more information about the FASTRAK Racing Series visit www.fastrakracing.com For more information about Thunder Mountain Speedway visit www.racethundermountain.com
Partners of the FASTRAK Racing Series include: Hoosier Racing Tires, GM Performance Parts, City Chevrolet, VP Racing Fuels, NOS Energy Drink, Shell Racing Solutions, Old Man’s Garage, Vicci Apparel, TNT Race Cars, Rocket Chassis, RockAuto, FK Rod Ends, Longhorn Chassis, Velocita, and Beyea Headers. To become a partner with the FASTRAK Racing Series, please call 678-935-7304
Fast Qualifier: Aaron Barley 18.320
Heat Winners: Blankenship and Angelicchio
Finish: 1) Brandon Umberger 2) Aaron Barley 3) Chris Meadows 4) Dan Angelicchio 5) Mike Pegher, Jr. 6) Steve Dixon 7) Richard Clew 8) Ted Johnson 9) Chad Hale 10) David Smith 11) Lee Cooper 12) Jordan Dill 13) Rick Solari 14) Pierce McCarter 15) Heath Ellis 16) Kevin Colston 17) Rickey Strattis 18) Vic Chandler 19) David Watts 20) Matt Long 21) Larry Blankenship 22) Brandon Riffe 23) Frankie Johnston
Aaron Barley of Beckley, West Virginia was fastest among the 23 entrants in Shell Racing Solutions Pole Qualifying with a time of 18.320 seconds. Umberger was second quick followed by Chris Meadows, Mike Pegher, Jr. and Steve Dixon. All of whom were locked into the feature by virtue of their qualifying times. The remainder of the field was set by a pair of 8 lap heats. Larry Blankenship of Mooresville, North Carolina won the first heat race and secured the 9th starting spot in the feature while Greenburg, Pennsylvania’s Dan Angelicchio won the final heat race to start 10th.
When the green flag fell over the field, Umberger was able to clear Barley on the outside exiting turn 2 to take the point. Barley tried to counter on the low side through turns 3 and 4 but Umberger kept his momentum up and quelled Barley’s run. Through several caution flags the common theme was Umberger opting for the outside lane for the “Choose-style†double file restarts. Each time Umberger had to turn away hard-charging Barley on the bottom. Back through the field it was an all-out dogfight as drivers maneuvered around the tight-cornered oval. Angelicchio, who started 10th, had worked his way into the 6th position by the race’s halfway point. A late caution with only two laps remaining bunched the field and allowed Barley one final shot at Umberger.
Umberger fended off the multiple challenges from Barley throughout the 30 lap A-Main. Umberger picked up $2000 for his winning effort and moved his 2011 FASTRAK Touring win total to 3. “We had a great race car. I need to thank these guys that work on this car. They were over there working to make it faster while we were up in the booth being interviewed. They credit goes to them, I just drive it. I appreciate Aaron running us clean. I know he could have taken us out, but he gave me room and ran me clean so I appreciate that. We are going to try to make it two in a row tomorrow night.†Umberger said in the Fastrak Victory Lane.
Following Umberger and Barley to the line were Meadows, Angelicchio and Pegher. Former FASTRAK SE/ME Champion Lee Cooper earned hard charger honors for the event after arriving late and missing time trials. Cooper advanced from his 22nd starting position to finish 11th. Saturday night’s Mountain Madness finale at Thunder Mountain will pay $3000 to the winner of the 40 lap A-Main. As always final results are pending laboratory analysis of tire samples taken throughout the event. For more information about the FASTRAK Racing Series visit www.fastrakracing.com For more information about Thunder Mountain Speedway visit www.racethundermountain.com
Partners of the FASTRAK Racing Series include: Hoosier Racing Tires, GM Performance Parts, City Chevrolet, VP Racing Fuels, NOS Energy Drink, Shell Racing Solutions, Old Man’s Garage, Vicci Apparel, TNT Race Cars, Rocket Chassis, RockAuto, FK Rod Ends, Longhorn Chassis, Velocita, and Beyea Headers. To become a partner with the FASTRAK Racing Series, please call 678-935-7304
Fast Qualifier: Aaron Barley 18.320
Heat Winners: Blankenship and Angelicchio
Finish: 1) Brandon Umberger 2) Aaron Barley 3) Chris Meadows 4) Dan Angelicchio 5) Mike Pegher, Jr. 6) Steve Dixon 7) Richard Clew 8) Ted Johnson 9) Chad Hale 10) David Smith 11) Lee Cooper 12) Jordan Dill 13) Rick Solari 14) Pierce McCarter 15) Heath Ellis 16) Kevin Colston 17) Rickey Strattis 18) Vic Chandler 19) David Watts 20) Matt Long 21) Larry Blankenship 22) Brandon Riffe 23) Frankie Johnston