Mike Pegher Jr. Goes Back-to-Back with Northeast Series Win at Roaring Knob
MARKLEYSBURG, Pa. (June 26, 2010) –After taking more than two months to score his first FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series victory of the year, Mike Pegher Jr. wasted little time earning his second series win. Pegher of Cranberry Township, Pa., backed up his win at Central PA Speedway last Sunday with another victory when the tour visited Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex Saturday night. Pegher earned $1,200 for the triumph.
On the start of the 25-lap race, Pegher moved into the lead over Butch Lambert, Joe Martin, John Over, and Bobby Cossell. Cossell passed Over for third on lap three as the lead cars inched away from the field. By lap 10, race leader Pegher had caught the back of the pack and was beginning to work race traffic. Pegher continued to build on his lead, as he worked his way through race traffic.
Current point leader and 10th-place starter Max Blair passed Over for fifth on lap 18 as the race appeared destined to run caution-free. That all changed on lap 21 when Steve Dixon slipped high in turn four. His car contacted the outside wall and flipped onto its roof to stop the race for the first time.
Pegher controlled the restart over Lambert, Martin, Blair, and Cossell. Working lap 23, Martin got turned around by a lapped car to bring out the caution again. On the next attempted restart, a tangle in turn two involved several cars. Dan Angelicchio got the worst of it, as his car ended up on its roof.
The final two-lap run to the finish saw Pegher lead the way to the finish for his fifth career Northeast Touring victory, moving him just one behind all-time leader Blair in the Lynn Geisler-owned, #1 Cochran Automotive/Triple-S Auto/MonaVie-sponsored #1c.
Lambert capped a solid run with a strong second-place finish, his best of the season. Cody Hardesty made a late charge to finish third, after starting 13th for his career best Touring Series finish. Blair was fourth as he continues to lead the points by 16 over Pegher. Gary Knollinger was fifth and moved to third in points.
FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series Race #6 (25 laps, $1,200 to-win): 1. MIKE PEGHER, JR. (Geisler 1c) 2. Butch Lambert (27) 3. Cody Hardesty (32) 4. Max Blair (111) 5. Gary Knollinger (38K) 6. Ricky Meglaye (5) 7. Andrew Wylie (84) 8. Bud Watson (2) 9. Rick Strickler (48) 10. Bobby Cossell (50C) 11. Kyle Lukon (1) 12. Josh Holtgraver (00) 13. Derek Doll (87) 14. Dusty Hamrick (X) 15. John Over (K2) 16. Troy Shields (11) 17. Joe Martin (55) 18. Dan Karalagas (G1) 19. Russell Baird, Jr. (17) 20. Dan Angelicchio (14) 21. Michael Howell (23) 22. Garry Sisson (88) 23. Steve Dixon (50) 24. Mike Lewis (98) DNQ: Jayme Beck (92)-DSQ (unsportsmanlike conduct)
Lap leaders: Pegher (1-25)
Heat winners: Cossell, Wylie, Meglaye
Car count: 25
The FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series will resume action this Wednesday evening, June 30 at the Expo Speedway at the Trumbull County Fairgrounds in Cortland, Ohio for a $2,000 to-win event followed by the $6,000 to-win event at Mercer Raceway Park on Saturday, July 3.
You can reach co-directors Vicki Emig and Mike Leone at the FASTRAK Northeast office at 724-964-9300. E-mail toinfo@fastraknortheast.com and snail mail to 4368 Route 422, Pulaski, PA 16143. The office is open daily late mornings and after 1:30 p.m. For more information, check out the FASTRAK Northeast website at www.fastraknortheast.com. Become our fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fastraknortheast.
