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FASTRAK NE Tour Speedweek Pittsburgh 7/7/12 story & results
CHAD RUHLMAN WINS THRILLER AT PITTSBURGH FOR 1ST EVER FASTRAK LATE MODEL WIN IN NIGHT 4 OF ORIGINAL PIZZA LOGS NE TOUR SPEEDWEEK; PITTSBURGH RECORD 41 CARS COMPETE; DABECCO WINS “FUTURES CUP†RACE
By Mike Leone
July 7, 2012 (Imperial, PA)… The Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC Pace Performance FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series headed south back into Pennsylvania for the first and only appearance of the season at Pittsburgh’s PA Motor Speedway on Saturday night for leg #4 of the second annual five-night Original Pizza Logs “Cross the Borders†Speedweek.
Despite temperatures approaching the 100-degree mark, race #12 of the 25-event 2012 slate produced an all-time Pittsburgh FASTRAK car count record of 41 competitors from five different states. It was the third time in four nights a track experienced a record car count! A thunderstorm hit during preliminary action and forced action to be delayed until dark.
Chad Ruhlman came out on a top of a thrilling 25-lap feature on a lightning-fast surface to capture his first career FASTRAK win and became the third different Speedweek winner in four nights. In his first year on the Northeast Touring Series, Ruhlman used his big track experience from years racing at Eldora Speedway and got a break when Max Blair got crossed up in lapped traffic to record his first ever Pittsburgh win. The victory was worth $1,200 and moved him to within one point of Mike Pegher, Jr. for second, who followed him across the finish line, in the season long standings.
“I finally won at Pittsburgh,†exclaimed the 42-year-old Bemus Point, New York racer. “This is huge- it’s the crown jewel for me. We’ve been coming here a lot of years and absolutely sucked in a Late Model! We came down for the Pittsburgher about 10 years ago and stunk the place up. I told Katrina I have to go to someplace and a have a ride full-time so I can learn to run these big tracks so we went to Eldora (Speedway) and eight years later we win at Pittsburgh! This place is so much fun. I could hug the grader driver or whoever else waters this place. Earl Baltes would be proud of what you have.â€
Ruhlman drew the pole position as he and Tommy Schirnhofer, Jr. quickly pulled away from the field. After one lap scored, Shane Weaver was running third with Pegher advancing halfway to the front from his eighth starting spot. On lap two, Ryan Montgomery, who entered the night second in Tour points, passed both Pegher and Weaver to take third.
Following a caution for Laura Lukon, who got into the fence with two laps scored, Max Blair was on the charge. Blair started 10th for the second straight night and powered into fourth past Pegher and Weaver on lap three, while Montgomery continued his charge driving under Schirnhofer in turn four to take second. Blair then shot under and past Schirnhofer in turn two on lap five to take third before Rocky Kugel brought out the caution with five laps scored.
When racing resumed, Blair drove under Montgomery in turn four to take second then put a slider on Ruhlman one-half lap later to grab the lead on the eighth circuit. The top three cars of Blair, Ruhlman, and Montgomery began to pull away as the laps ticked off under green. Expo Speedweek winner Will Thomas III became a factor when he took fourth from Schirnhofer on lap 10.
Blair began to extend his lead as the battles were on behind him for second and fourth. Track regular Beau Glemba was flying around the outside of the speedway. Glemba started 21st and moved into the top five on lap 13. Glemba then charged around Thomas to take fourth on lap 15.
Blair encountered lapped traffic on lap 16. Blair went to the bottom and tried getting under Lambert, but couldn’t make the pass as he made contact with Lambert. Blair was sideways on the bottom of the speedway as Ruhlman, Montgomery, and Glemba all went by for the top three positions.
A lot of things took place on lap 19 as three cautions slowed action, which took out contenders Glemba, Schirnhofer, Kyle Lukon, and Josh Holtgraver. It was a heartbreaking end for Glemba after an impressive run around the “Monster Half-Mile†with just a GM 602 crate. Glemba was awarded The Brake Man “Tough Brake of the Nightâ€. Also under caution, Blair pitted as these turns of events really shook up the lineup.
Back under green conditions, Ruhlman opened up his lead, while Pegher and Thomas found themselves in second and third. Montgomery began dropping through the pack before exiting the event ruining another top run for the defending Pace Performance “Futures Cup†champion.
Ruhlman pulled away by a straightaway as the last six laps went caution-free as he became the Series’ 32 different winner in 85 races run all-time in the Terry Suppa-owned, Raineater Wiper Blades/Cargo Auto Parts/Spartan Tool/Rand Machine-sponsored Rayburn Race Car #4s.
Pegher’s fourth top four finish in the past six races including three runner-up finishes have propelled him into second in points after a slow start to the season. Thomas worked his way from 11th to finish a Pittsburgh career best third to regain the Speedweek point lead by four over Blair and Dan Angelicchio heading into the final night at Eriez.
Matt Latta turned in an impressive performance for his best Speedweek finish in fourth. Latta came all the way from 23rd to earn his first Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down†$100 Hard Charger certificate in his first ever race at Pittsburgh. Chad Wright also had a strong run to the front coming from 20th to finish fifth for the third straight night and received the Genesis Shocks “Top Dog of the Night†for the first time this year! After the rain, Wright turned the fastest lap of the night at over 118 mph in the B main!
Completing the top 10 were Angelicchio, Davey Johnson from 26th, Michael Reft, Blair from the tail, and Kyle Lukon. After taking his third straight provisional, Butch Lambert bounced back to finish 16th and received the free Utsinger’s Towing Hoosier Tire awarded by Imperial Heights Garage for being the final car on the lead lap.
Heat winners were Steve Beatty, Reft, Blair, Schirnhofer, and Pegher, while Wright and Glemba won the B mains. Will Thomas won the K&N “Cold Air Induction†Dash for the second straight night and received the $100 certificate.
Lauren Longbrake was credited with her second career non-qualifier win following the disqualification of Justin Lamb in the eight-lap event. Longbrake started from fourth and led lap one only to lose it on lap two to Lamb. Lamb led the final seven laps for the apparent victory, but was disqualified in post race tech failing to correct his spoiler support height from earlier in the night.
Longbrake’s win was worth $125 for the 14-year-old Columbus, Ohio racer in the LKR Company/Wyers Body Shop/Streetwerks/W&W Plumbing/Race 1/Ace Irons & Metal/Baker Welding-sponsored Rocket Chassis #27.
W.L. Stile passed Jeff Broniszewski on lap seven for third then was credited with a career best non-qualifier finish of second following Lamb’s disqualification. Stile overtook Jamie Brown, who was crashed out on lap one, for the season-long “Wheelman†point lead. Broniszewski was third over Tyler Carson and Russell Baird, Jr.
Nico Dabecco saved the best for last running down Lauren Longbrake and passing her for the win coming out of turn four at the checkered flag to capture the $200 Pace Performance “Futures Cup†Trifecta race #1 win.
Dabecco started alongside Longbrake, but faded back to fourth before coming back to the front. Dabecco passed Eric Wilson on lap two for third. Dabecco raced side-by-side with Shane Weaver on laps three, four and five before making the pass stick for second on lap five. Dabecco began closing the gap on Longbrake with each successive lap. Dabecco closed on lap nine then made the winning slider on the final lap for the win by just 0.072 seconds in the Dan Karalagas-owned Treasure Hunt Jewelers/D&T Towing/Frankland Rearend-sponsored #1Freek. Weaver, Wilson, and Clay Ruffo completed the field.
Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC Pace Performance FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series Race #12 (25 laps, $1,200 to-win): 1. CHAD RUHLMAN (Suppa 4s) 2. Mike Pegher, Jr. (Geisler 1c) 3. Will Thomas III (9) 4. Matt Latta (Bidwell B1D) 5. Chad Wright (6) 6. Dan Angelicchio (14) 7. Davey Johnson (Flinner 75) 8. Michael Reft (9R) 9. Max Blair (111) 10. Kyle Lukon (1) 11. Shane Weaver (Ruffner 325x) 12. Mark Moats, Jr. (15) 13. Brad Kling (Powell 100) 14. Chuck Medved (2M) 15. Dusty Curry (8) 16. Butch Lambert (27) 17. Ryan Montgomery (12) 18. Nico Dabecco (Karalagas 1Fr) 19. Beau Glemba (99G) 20. Josh Holtgraver (00) 21. Tommy Schirnhofer, Jr. (8) 22. Steve Beatty (B4) 23. Matt Long (25) 24. Scott Schempp (75) 25. Rocky Kugel (21KRT) 26. Laura Lukon (84). Note: Butch Lambert took a Series provisional and Davey Johnson took a Track provisional.)
Non-Qualifier (8 laps, $125 to-win): 1. Lauren Longbrake (27) 2. W.L. Stile (2$) 3. Jeff Broniszewski (08) 4. Tyler Carson (50T) 5. Russell Baird, Jr. (17) 6. Brian Goebel (12G) 7. Chris Lander (18) 8. Jamie Brown (135) 9. Bryant Hank (28) 10. Justin Lamb (93x)-DSQ (spoiler support) 11. Ricky Meglaye (5)-DNS 12. John Over (K2)-DNS 13. Tom Copeland (98)-DNS 14. Eric Wilson (27W)-DNS 15. Clay Ruffo (14R)-DNS.
Heat Winners: Beatty, Reft, Blair, Schirnhofer & Pegher
B Main Winners: Wright & Glemba
K&N Cold Air Induction Dash: 1. Will Thomas III 2. Josh Holtgraver 3. Chuck Medved 4. Rocky Kugel 5. Matt Long-DNS.
Feature Lap Leaders: Ruhlman (1-7), Blair (8-15), Ruhlman (16-25)
Car Count: 41
Genesis Shocks “Top Dog of the Nightâ€: Chad Wright
Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down†Hard Charger: Matt Latta
Utsinger’s Towing Hoosier Tire Giveaway: Butch Lambert (Imperial Heights Garage)
Brake Man “Tough Brake of the Nightâ€: Beau Glemba
By Mike Leone
July 7, 2012 (Imperial, PA)… The Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC Pace Performance FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series headed south back into Pennsylvania for the first and only appearance of the season at Pittsburgh’s PA Motor Speedway on Saturday night for leg #4 of the second annual five-night Original Pizza Logs “Cross the Borders†Speedweek.
Despite temperatures approaching the 100-degree mark, race #12 of the 25-event 2012 slate produced an all-time Pittsburgh FASTRAK car count record of 41 competitors from five different states. It was the third time in four nights a track experienced a record car count! A thunderstorm hit during preliminary action and forced action to be delayed until dark.
Chad Ruhlman came out on a top of a thrilling 25-lap feature on a lightning-fast surface to capture his first career FASTRAK win and became the third different Speedweek winner in four nights. In his first year on the Northeast Touring Series, Ruhlman used his big track experience from years racing at Eldora Speedway and got a break when Max Blair got crossed up in lapped traffic to record his first ever Pittsburgh win. The victory was worth $1,200 and moved him to within one point of Mike Pegher, Jr. for second, who followed him across the finish line, in the season long standings.
“I finally won at Pittsburgh,†exclaimed the 42-year-old Bemus Point, New York racer. “This is huge- it’s the crown jewel for me. We’ve been coming here a lot of years and absolutely sucked in a Late Model! We came down for the Pittsburgher about 10 years ago and stunk the place up. I told Katrina I have to go to someplace and a have a ride full-time so I can learn to run these big tracks so we went to Eldora (Speedway) and eight years later we win at Pittsburgh! This place is so much fun. I could hug the grader driver or whoever else waters this place. Earl Baltes would be proud of what you have.â€
Ruhlman drew the pole position as he and Tommy Schirnhofer, Jr. quickly pulled away from the field. After one lap scored, Shane Weaver was running third with Pegher advancing halfway to the front from his eighth starting spot. On lap two, Ryan Montgomery, who entered the night second in Tour points, passed both Pegher and Weaver to take third.
Following a caution for Laura Lukon, who got into the fence with two laps scored, Max Blair was on the charge. Blair started 10th for the second straight night and powered into fourth past Pegher and Weaver on lap three, while Montgomery continued his charge driving under Schirnhofer in turn four to take second. Blair then shot under and past Schirnhofer in turn two on lap five to take third before Rocky Kugel brought out the caution with five laps scored.
When racing resumed, Blair drove under Montgomery in turn four to take second then put a slider on Ruhlman one-half lap later to grab the lead on the eighth circuit. The top three cars of Blair, Ruhlman, and Montgomery began to pull away as the laps ticked off under green. Expo Speedweek winner Will Thomas III became a factor when he took fourth from Schirnhofer on lap 10.
Blair began to extend his lead as the battles were on behind him for second and fourth. Track regular Beau Glemba was flying around the outside of the speedway. Glemba started 21st and moved into the top five on lap 13. Glemba then charged around Thomas to take fourth on lap 15.
Blair encountered lapped traffic on lap 16. Blair went to the bottom and tried getting under Lambert, but couldn’t make the pass as he made contact with Lambert. Blair was sideways on the bottom of the speedway as Ruhlman, Montgomery, and Glemba all went by for the top three positions.
A lot of things took place on lap 19 as three cautions slowed action, which took out contenders Glemba, Schirnhofer, Kyle Lukon, and Josh Holtgraver. It was a heartbreaking end for Glemba after an impressive run around the “Monster Half-Mile†with just a GM 602 crate. Glemba was awarded The Brake Man “Tough Brake of the Nightâ€. Also under caution, Blair pitted as these turns of events really shook up the lineup.
Back under green conditions, Ruhlman opened up his lead, while Pegher and Thomas found themselves in second and third. Montgomery began dropping through the pack before exiting the event ruining another top run for the defending Pace Performance “Futures Cup†champion.
Ruhlman pulled away by a straightaway as the last six laps went caution-free as he became the Series’ 32 different winner in 85 races run all-time in the Terry Suppa-owned, Raineater Wiper Blades/Cargo Auto Parts/Spartan Tool/Rand Machine-sponsored Rayburn Race Car #4s.
Pegher’s fourth top four finish in the past six races including three runner-up finishes have propelled him into second in points after a slow start to the season. Thomas worked his way from 11th to finish a Pittsburgh career best third to regain the Speedweek point lead by four over Blair and Dan Angelicchio heading into the final night at Eriez.
Matt Latta turned in an impressive performance for his best Speedweek finish in fourth. Latta came all the way from 23rd to earn his first Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down†$100 Hard Charger certificate in his first ever race at Pittsburgh. Chad Wright also had a strong run to the front coming from 20th to finish fifth for the third straight night and received the Genesis Shocks “Top Dog of the Night†for the first time this year! After the rain, Wright turned the fastest lap of the night at over 118 mph in the B main!
Completing the top 10 were Angelicchio, Davey Johnson from 26th, Michael Reft, Blair from the tail, and Kyle Lukon. After taking his third straight provisional, Butch Lambert bounced back to finish 16th and received the free Utsinger’s Towing Hoosier Tire awarded by Imperial Heights Garage for being the final car on the lead lap.
Heat winners were Steve Beatty, Reft, Blair, Schirnhofer, and Pegher, while Wright and Glemba won the B mains. Will Thomas won the K&N “Cold Air Induction†Dash for the second straight night and received the $100 certificate.
Lauren Longbrake was credited with her second career non-qualifier win following the disqualification of Justin Lamb in the eight-lap event. Longbrake started from fourth and led lap one only to lose it on lap two to Lamb. Lamb led the final seven laps for the apparent victory, but was disqualified in post race tech failing to correct his spoiler support height from earlier in the night.
Longbrake’s win was worth $125 for the 14-year-old Columbus, Ohio racer in the LKR Company/Wyers Body Shop/Streetwerks/W&W Plumbing/Race 1/Ace Irons & Metal/Baker Welding-sponsored Rocket Chassis #27.
W.L. Stile passed Jeff Broniszewski on lap seven for third then was credited with a career best non-qualifier finish of second following Lamb’s disqualification. Stile overtook Jamie Brown, who was crashed out on lap one, for the season-long “Wheelman†point lead. Broniszewski was third over Tyler Carson and Russell Baird, Jr.
Nico Dabecco saved the best for last running down Lauren Longbrake and passing her for the win coming out of turn four at the checkered flag to capture the $200 Pace Performance “Futures Cup†Trifecta race #1 win.
Dabecco started alongside Longbrake, but faded back to fourth before coming back to the front. Dabecco passed Eric Wilson on lap two for third. Dabecco raced side-by-side with Shane Weaver on laps three, four and five before making the pass stick for second on lap five. Dabecco began closing the gap on Longbrake with each successive lap. Dabecco closed on lap nine then made the winning slider on the final lap for the win by just 0.072 seconds in the Dan Karalagas-owned Treasure Hunt Jewelers/D&T Towing/Frankland Rearend-sponsored #1Freek. Weaver, Wilson, and Clay Ruffo completed the field.
Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC Pace Performance FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series Race #12 (25 laps, $1,200 to-win): 1. CHAD RUHLMAN (Suppa 4s) 2. Mike Pegher, Jr. (Geisler 1c) 3. Will Thomas III (9) 4. Matt Latta (Bidwell B1D) 5. Chad Wright (6) 6. Dan Angelicchio (14) 7. Davey Johnson (Flinner 75) 8. Michael Reft (9R) 9. Max Blair (111) 10. Kyle Lukon (1) 11. Shane Weaver (Ruffner 325x) 12. Mark Moats, Jr. (15) 13. Brad Kling (Powell 100) 14. Chuck Medved (2M) 15. Dusty Curry (8) 16. Butch Lambert (27) 17. Ryan Montgomery (12) 18. Nico Dabecco (Karalagas 1Fr) 19. Beau Glemba (99G) 20. Josh Holtgraver (00) 21. Tommy Schirnhofer, Jr. (8) 22. Steve Beatty (B4) 23. Matt Long (25) 24. Scott Schempp (75) 25. Rocky Kugel (21KRT) 26. Laura Lukon (84). Note: Butch Lambert took a Series provisional and Davey Johnson took a Track provisional.)
Non-Qualifier (8 laps, $125 to-win): 1. Lauren Longbrake (27) 2. W.L. Stile (2$) 3. Jeff Broniszewski (08) 4. Tyler Carson (50T) 5. Russell Baird, Jr. (17) 6. Brian Goebel (12G) 7. Chris Lander (18) 8. Jamie Brown (135) 9. Bryant Hank (28) 10. Justin Lamb (93x)-DSQ (spoiler support) 11. Ricky Meglaye (5)-DNS 12. John Over (K2)-DNS 13. Tom Copeland (98)-DNS 14. Eric Wilson (27W)-DNS 15. Clay Ruffo (14R)-DNS.
Heat Winners: Beatty, Reft, Blair, Schirnhofer & Pegher
B Main Winners: Wright & Glemba
K&N Cold Air Induction Dash: 1. Will Thomas III 2. Josh Holtgraver 3. Chuck Medved 4. Rocky Kugel 5. Matt Long-DNS.
Feature Lap Leaders: Ruhlman (1-7), Blair (8-15), Ruhlman (16-25)
Car Count: 41
Genesis Shocks “Top Dog of the Nightâ€: Chad Wright
Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down†Hard Charger: Matt Latta
Utsinger’s Towing Hoosier Tire Giveaway: Butch Lambert (Imperial Heights Garage)
Brake Man “Tough Brake of the Nightâ€: Beau Glemba