fastrakpr
09-30-2006, 04:01 PM
Press Release 9/30/06
Headquarters (Carnesville GA)
Dennis “Rambo” Franklin squeezes in victory lane at Fastrak Late Model event, Carolina Speedway, Gastonia NC
As the highly anticipated Fastrak Late Model “Heintz Performance 50” headed into the Carolina Speedway in Gastonia NC Friday Sept 29th everyone wondered what to expect. The local teams at Carolina are always very good as the Touring Members of the Fastrak Series have certainly become popular across the entire country. Sponsors were on hand everywhere as The Heintz Performance stores were represented, City Chevrolet of Charlotte NC, Montgomery Towing, Sunoco Race Fuels and surprise guests Don, Doug, Dennis and Dennis Schoenfeld of Schoenfeld Headers. There were also a couple of NASCAR Nextel cup teams represented as the management of several organizations had their “driver development” people on hand including those of Rick Hendrix Racing and Richard Childress Racing.
33 cars took qualifying times as the 22 car of Chris Ferguson proved that he was “the man” to beat taking the fast time of the night. Ferguson laid down the fast lap of the night at 17:79. The “Quick 6” fan inversion on the front straight proved to work in the favor of Johnny Pursley in the E1 car as the drawing moved the 22 of Ferguson to the outside front row. Timbo Mangum after qualifying second quickest was moved to the outside of the third row. Dennis “Rambo” Franklin having a problem with his steering in hot laps and qualifying had to race his way through the heats and started 14th in the main event. The smaller GM crate engine (602) number 2 car of Chris Steele made a great qualifying effort taking the 5th starting spot and started 3rd through the fan inversion.
Austin Dillion “GM development driver” and grandson of the infamous Richard Childress was on hand for his first Fastrak Late Model event as the famous super late model driver Dale McDowell was there as Crew Chief and consultant to the young talented Dillon. Austin son of Mike Dillon a legend in his own right looked good early on but got into a accident on the front straight just having no where to go when the wreck happened.
Ferguson got out front immediately on the start taking as he now leading his first Fastrak main event. On the initial start something happened going into turn two as several cars got together sidelining the 88 car of Paul Grimsley with a reported broken wrist. Ferguson took the lead again but as he approached the 45 of Tullis Ferguson got underneath the rear of his car taking them both into the outside wall and almost completely over it. Both cars were finished for the night. The E1 of Johnny Pursley held the race lead for the remaining forty five laps. Franklin was working his way through the field from his 14th starting position but having to earn every position as the cars of Daniels, Carlson, Steele and others were running very well and Franklin had to really work his way through. It looked as if Franklin would certainly end up the in the 4th position as the cars of Pursley, Billy Thomas and Timbo Mangum were ahead of him as the white flag was thrown. No sooner then they headed into turns one and two a lap car slowed coming off the corner and as the first three cars slowed up to avoid him the number 2 of Franklin barely and I do mean barely got by on the bottom as he moved into the lead down the back straight. You could see that Franklin was elated as he was waving his arm coming under the checkered flag. In the driver interview afterwards Franklin looked very tired as there was no doubt he worked hard coming through the field making the win ever so sweet.
The $25,000 chance at a brand new Chevy Colorado Z71 4x4 truck was furnished by City Chevrolet and it sure looked for a minute as if the chosen “fan in the stand” was about to take it home only going over the bed of the truck by several feet and a perfect line drive. Howard Maxey was the chosen driver to take his chance at the new truck but let’s just say, we are glad he races. Maxey is a great driver in the series and certainly a good sport.
Several drivers commented on the Goodyear tires stating how much they liked them. Chris Steele was quoted as saying “we bought a new right rear but we never bolted it on. The Goodyears are a great tire for several reasons. They don’t glaze over like other brands so you don’t have to grid them every week to get them to work and a brand new tire is not one bit faster than a used tire. The tires we ran on tonight had at least five or six races on them and we will race them again tomorrow night. The Goodyear tire really is helping us with our tire bill this year”.
Don Schoenfeld of Schoenfeld header company spent time in the pit area getting to know the Fastrak series teams and was well pleased with what he saw. Afterwards he was quick to say he really wanted to help these guys any way he could and posted bonus contingencies for the 06 Fastrak Grand National Championship and the 06 Points banquet.
Steve Heintz of Heintz Performance along with several of his team were in the pits most of the afternoon and evening helping and talking with teams. Heintz Performance was also the Partner of the evenings event.
Eric Montgomery of Montgomery Towing was on hand for the event and seems to get more excited about the Fastrak series every time he comes to a race. Eric long time friend of the T1 of Timbo Mangum has been a great supported of the Fastrak Series in 2006.
Danny and Chad Presnell of Bearden Fuels and Sunoco were on hand as they are National Partners of the Series and also of the evenings event. “This thing is growing” said Presnell. “I really can’t wait to the Grand Nationals”.
Bonus Money:
Johnny Pursley: “Quik 6” drawing (Hy Bridge Auto) and also a fan
Chris Steele: Cash drawing in the drivers meeting (City Chevrolet)
Cash to the fans “:tennis ball throw” (Bearden Oil, Sunoco Fuels)
Rambo Franklin: Winning the feature “topless”
Event Partners:
Heintz Performance
City Chevrolet
Montgomery Towing
Sunoco Fuels-Bearden Oil Company
Hy-Bridge Automotive
50 Lap Main Finishing Results:
2 Rambo Franklin
00 Billy Thomas
E1 Johnny Pursley
T1 Timbo Mangum
2 Chris Steele
08 Buddy Smith
18D Matthew Daniels
82 George Reese
27 Donald Brasher
90 Gary Puckett
17s Shane Roberts
G97 Roger Phillips
46 Will Shuffler
S1 Brian Sipe
9D Todd Bevis
c12 Chris Carlson
48 Bill Field
28 Greg Pilgrim
22 Chris Ferguson
45 Ronnie Tullis
88 Bill Peters
25 Boz Daughtery
88 Paul Grimsley
Fastrak Racing Series Marketing Partners:
Goodyear Racing Tires, General Motors Performance Parts, Maypole Chevrolet, Ohlins Technologies, Sunoco Fuels, Bearden Oil Company, Duralite Wheels, CTC Photos. PPM Racing Products, Rapture Racing Carbs, Racing News, Raceiver, Dirt Late Model Magazine.
Manufacturer Cup Participants:
Mastersbilt Racing Chassis, Rocket Racing Chassis, TNT Racing Chassis.
The Fastrak Racing Series is a GM crate engine late model dirt racing series and utilizes both the GM 604 and 602 crate engines. Fastrak was started in 2004 as the “first” late model touring series with crate engines in dirt. The Series is compiled of 7 Regions throughout the Nation and 26 weekly sanctioned tracks. The drivers of the series will compete for a $250,000 National Championship in 2006 at three tracks in three days Oct 19-20-21.
The Series anticipates 10 Regions for the 2007 season as it also continues to expand its “weekly sanctioned track program” for the 07 season paying each track champion for their efforts as well as Regions and the Grand Nationals. The 2007 Points fund is anticipated of being dramatically increased possibly making it the largest in dirt late model racing.
Fastrak started an Open Wheel Modified division in 2006 with the 2007 season anticipated as growing very quickly.
www.fastrakracing.com
Headquarters (Carnesville GA)
Dennis “Rambo” Franklin squeezes in victory lane at Fastrak Late Model event, Carolina Speedway, Gastonia NC
As the highly anticipated Fastrak Late Model “Heintz Performance 50” headed into the Carolina Speedway in Gastonia NC Friday Sept 29th everyone wondered what to expect. The local teams at Carolina are always very good as the Touring Members of the Fastrak Series have certainly become popular across the entire country. Sponsors were on hand everywhere as The Heintz Performance stores were represented, City Chevrolet of Charlotte NC, Montgomery Towing, Sunoco Race Fuels and surprise guests Don, Doug, Dennis and Dennis Schoenfeld of Schoenfeld Headers. There were also a couple of NASCAR Nextel cup teams represented as the management of several organizations had their “driver development” people on hand including those of Rick Hendrix Racing and Richard Childress Racing.
33 cars took qualifying times as the 22 car of Chris Ferguson proved that he was “the man” to beat taking the fast time of the night. Ferguson laid down the fast lap of the night at 17:79. The “Quick 6” fan inversion on the front straight proved to work in the favor of Johnny Pursley in the E1 car as the drawing moved the 22 of Ferguson to the outside front row. Timbo Mangum after qualifying second quickest was moved to the outside of the third row. Dennis “Rambo” Franklin having a problem with his steering in hot laps and qualifying had to race his way through the heats and started 14th in the main event. The smaller GM crate engine (602) number 2 car of Chris Steele made a great qualifying effort taking the 5th starting spot and started 3rd through the fan inversion.
Austin Dillion “GM development driver” and grandson of the infamous Richard Childress was on hand for his first Fastrak Late Model event as the famous super late model driver Dale McDowell was there as Crew Chief and consultant to the young talented Dillon. Austin son of Mike Dillon a legend in his own right looked good early on but got into a accident on the front straight just having no where to go when the wreck happened.
Ferguson got out front immediately on the start taking as he now leading his first Fastrak main event. On the initial start something happened going into turn two as several cars got together sidelining the 88 car of Paul Grimsley with a reported broken wrist. Ferguson took the lead again but as he approached the 45 of Tullis Ferguson got underneath the rear of his car taking them both into the outside wall and almost completely over it. Both cars were finished for the night. The E1 of Johnny Pursley held the race lead for the remaining forty five laps. Franklin was working his way through the field from his 14th starting position but having to earn every position as the cars of Daniels, Carlson, Steele and others were running very well and Franklin had to really work his way through. It looked as if Franklin would certainly end up the in the 4th position as the cars of Pursley, Billy Thomas and Timbo Mangum were ahead of him as the white flag was thrown. No sooner then they headed into turns one and two a lap car slowed coming off the corner and as the first three cars slowed up to avoid him the number 2 of Franklin barely and I do mean barely got by on the bottom as he moved into the lead down the back straight. You could see that Franklin was elated as he was waving his arm coming under the checkered flag. In the driver interview afterwards Franklin looked very tired as there was no doubt he worked hard coming through the field making the win ever so sweet.
The $25,000 chance at a brand new Chevy Colorado Z71 4x4 truck was furnished by City Chevrolet and it sure looked for a minute as if the chosen “fan in the stand” was about to take it home only going over the bed of the truck by several feet and a perfect line drive. Howard Maxey was the chosen driver to take his chance at the new truck but let’s just say, we are glad he races. Maxey is a great driver in the series and certainly a good sport.
Several drivers commented on the Goodyear tires stating how much they liked them. Chris Steele was quoted as saying “we bought a new right rear but we never bolted it on. The Goodyears are a great tire for several reasons. They don’t glaze over like other brands so you don’t have to grid them every week to get them to work and a brand new tire is not one bit faster than a used tire. The tires we ran on tonight had at least five or six races on them and we will race them again tomorrow night. The Goodyear tire really is helping us with our tire bill this year”.
Don Schoenfeld of Schoenfeld header company spent time in the pit area getting to know the Fastrak series teams and was well pleased with what he saw. Afterwards he was quick to say he really wanted to help these guys any way he could and posted bonus contingencies for the 06 Fastrak Grand National Championship and the 06 Points banquet.
Steve Heintz of Heintz Performance along with several of his team were in the pits most of the afternoon and evening helping and talking with teams. Heintz Performance was also the Partner of the evenings event.
Eric Montgomery of Montgomery Towing was on hand for the event and seems to get more excited about the Fastrak series every time he comes to a race. Eric long time friend of the T1 of Timbo Mangum has been a great supported of the Fastrak Series in 2006.
Danny and Chad Presnell of Bearden Fuels and Sunoco were on hand as they are National Partners of the Series and also of the evenings event. “This thing is growing” said Presnell. “I really can’t wait to the Grand Nationals”.
Bonus Money:
Johnny Pursley: “Quik 6” drawing (Hy Bridge Auto) and also a fan
Chris Steele: Cash drawing in the drivers meeting (City Chevrolet)
Cash to the fans “:tennis ball throw” (Bearden Oil, Sunoco Fuels)
Rambo Franklin: Winning the feature “topless”
Event Partners:
Heintz Performance
City Chevrolet
Montgomery Towing
Sunoco Fuels-Bearden Oil Company
Hy-Bridge Automotive
50 Lap Main Finishing Results:
2 Rambo Franklin
00 Billy Thomas
E1 Johnny Pursley
T1 Timbo Mangum
2 Chris Steele
08 Buddy Smith
18D Matthew Daniels
82 George Reese
27 Donald Brasher
90 Gary Puckett
17s Shane Roberts
G97 Roger Phillips
46 Will Shuffler
S1 Brian Sipe
9D Todd Bevis
c12 Chris Carlson
48 Bill Field
28 Greg Pilgrim
22 Chris Ferguson
45 Ronnie Tullis
88 Bill Peters
25 Boz Daughtery
88 Paul Grimsley
Fastrak Racing Series Marketing Partners:
Goodyear Racing Tires, General Motors Performance Parts, Maypole Chevrolet, Ohlins Technologies, Sunoco Fuels, Bearden Oil Company, Duralite Wheels, CTC Photos. PPM Racing Products, Rapture Racing Carbs, Racing News, Raceiver, Dirt Late Model Magazine.
Manufacturer Cup Participants:
Mastersbilt Racing Chassis, Rocket Racing Chassis, TNT Racing Chassis.
The Fastrak Racing Series is a GM crate engine late model dirt racing series and utilizes both the GM 604 and 602 crate engines. Fastrak was started in 2004 as the “first” late model touring series with crate engines in dirt. The Series is compiled of 7 Regions throughout the Nation and 26 weekly sanctioned tracks. The drivers of the series will compete for a $250,000 National Championship in 2006 at three tracks in three days Oct 19-20-21.
The Series anticipates 10 Regions for the 2007 season as it also continues to expand its “weekly sanctioned track program” for the 07 season paying each track champion for their efforts as well as Regions and the Grand Nationals. The 2007 Points fund is anticipated of being dramatically increased possibly making it the largest in dirt late model racing.
Fastrak started an Open Wheel Modified division in 2006 with the 2007 season anticipated as growing very quickly.
www.fastrakracing.com