Brandon Umberger Captures Fastrak Mountain Madness Opener at Thunder Mountain

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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

Feature 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



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