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Chester, SC (July-19) To those in attendance here tonight at I-77 Speedway, it was certainly clear as to how successful FASTRAK Series founder Stan Lester has been in creating a series where not only the racing is back in the hands of the driver, but also how critically important it is for a sanctioning body like FASTRAK to be consistent and unwavering in maintaining the high standard it has set in ensuring a level playing field for everyone interested in competing in the FASTRAK Modern Chevrolet Southeast Touring Series.
Owen Osteen of Woodruff S.C. scored a popular win here tonight becoming the 10th different winner in the last 10 events on the FASTRAK Modern Chevrolet Southeastern Touring Series. In addition to taking home the winners check of $2000.00, Osteen also collected valuable points in the FASTRAK City Chevrolet Weekly Racing Division as well.
With what is beginning to be regarded as perhaps the longest streak of different winners of any major racing series in the country, all eyes will be fixed on Rural Retreat, VA’s Wythe Raceway July 26th, site of the next event on the FASTRAK Modern Chevrolet Southeastern Touring Series schedule.
Because of the “level playing field” environment FASTRAK assures all competitors, it is conceivable to believe the current streak could remain intact for the remainder of the points paying events on the schedule leading up to FASTRAK’S $250,000 GRAND NATIONALS set to begin October 3.
Tonight though, it was all Osteen. During practice, Osteen was quickest and went on to grab the pole, circling the 4/10 mile oval in 19.246 seconds. Ray Dockery of Marshville, NC was second fastest followed by Concord, NC’s Matt Long, Timbo Mangum of Lancaster, SC., current FASTRAK Modern Chevrolet Southeastern Touring Series point leader Lee Cooper of Greer, SC., followed by Ron Parker of Lawndale NC who trails Cooper in Southeast Touring Series points going into tonight’s 40 lap Main Event.
Upon completion of qualifying, a redraw of the top 6 qualifiers in I-77’s Victory Lane, would set the field. Timbo Mangum would once again lead the field to the green flag for the second FASTRAK Modern Chevrolet Southeast Touring Series event in a row, followed by Osteen, Dockery, Lee Cooper, Long and Ron Parker.
Next up, in traditional FASTRAK fashion where fans interact with drivers, Ron Parker and Matt Long went into the main grandstand with 50 pounds of candy that each donated for this event.
As each driver crossed the track into the grandstands, both were immediately greeted by scores of fans as they tried to make their way to the top of the grandstands where they eventually threw candy down to the waiting sea of children below, behind the main grandstand. Parker and Long also supplied candy for the children assembled in the infield as well.
Ms. Regina Funderburk of Great Falls, SC performed a stunning and moving rendition of our National Anthem prior to the evenings Main Events.
With virtually everyone in the grandstands on their feet, the always enthusiastic I-77 Speedway crowd watched, as Mangum and Osteen would lead the field to the green flag in the night’s featured FASTRAK Modern Chevrolet Southeastern Touring Series event. Osteen quickly jumped out in front of Mangum as the field headed into turn one on the opening lap. As Osteen led the charge down the back stretch, Mangum drove deep into turn three getting alongside Osteen mid way through the corner. As Osteen and Mangum exited turn four, they touched briefly before Osteen finally cleared the determined Mangum at the start finish line completing lap one.
Uncharacteristic of I-77 Speedway, in the events fifth lap, it was apparent that only one groove could be established as Cooper, John Llewellyn and Brandon Umberger quickly discovered, as each driver experimented with different lines around the track, but quickly fell back in line in what looked like a 12 car freight train.
At the ten lap mark, Osteen was in command with Mangum tucked in closely behind, followed by Ray Dockery, Matt Long, Lee Cooper, Ron Parker and Ronnie Mosley. Even with just one groove to work with, the field remained tight. A large portion of the fans in attendance were still on their feet
As the laps clicked off, it became apparent that with single file conditions, contact or a mistake could end up determining the outcome of the event.
In the events 15th lap, two battles were beginning to take shape. Cooper began pressuring Long for the fourth spot, and just behind them, Mosley and Parker were engaged in a spirited battle of their own for the fifth spot.
Both of these battles provided the best racing of the night to this point as Cooper and Long raced down the back stretch side by side on numerous occasions. As difficult as making a clean pass had been, both Long and Cooper gave each other plenty of racing room. As determined as each driver was, contact was not going to decide it. On lap 17, Cooper drove deep into turn one managing to get to Longs inside. Midway through the corner, Cooper began to lose the back of his car and in a display good sportsmanship; Cooper hesitated in getting back into the gas so as not to run into Long. With his momentum slowed, Cooper would briefly become part of the Parker and Mosley battle that had been heating up over the last 3 laps.
On lap 20, Colt Smith of Woodruff, SC., began to slow exiting turn two. Smith would take his car to the pits where overheating would end his night.
At the head of the field, Osteen had moved out to a six car length advantage over Mangum by the races 21st circuit, but Mangum was beginning to erase Osteen’s lead. Behind the leaders, Parker and Mosley found themselves once again in a dead heat for the sixth spot. On six occasions, Parker and Mosley had been side by side. In front of them, Cooper had pulled away and caught back up with Long to renew their battle for the fourth position.
Meanwhile, Mangum could close the gap entering the corners at either end of the speedway, but Osteen clearly had the advantage on the straight-aways. As Mangum tried to find a quicker way around the track, Dockery was consistently chipping away at the advantage Mangum had enjoyed over the third place Dockery.
Across the stripe completing lap 23, Osteen had jumped out to a three second lead as Mangum had fallen into the clutches of the hard charging Dockery. It was no longer a question of could Dockery pass Mangum, but when.
Exiting turn two headed down the back stretch, Mangum hand-grenaded his engine. Running through the oil his expired motor deposited onto the track surface, Mangum spun entering turn three, backing his car into the wall bring out the nights first caution
To underscore how important points have become at this stage of the season, experiencing bad luck in two consecutive events, may have compromised the South Carolina native’s quest for the FASTRAK Series City Chevrolet Weekly Racing Division National Championship
With 24 laps in the books, Osteen would lead the field back to green ahead of Dockery, Long, Cooper, Parker and Mosley.
Before completing the lap, the hotly contested battle between Parker and Mosley through-out the entire race, reached the next level as contact between the two in turn four brought out the events second caution. While both were able to continue, Parker brought his car into the pits to the attention of his crew. With no visible damage, Parker rejoined the field but was relegated to the rear of the field on the restart
After just two laps of caution, Osteen led the field back to the restart, jumping out to a two car length lead going into turn one ahead of Dockery, Long, Cooper, and Ross Puckett who had quietly moved up into the fifth position.
In the handful of laps remaining, Osteen seemed to experience difficulty keeping his car down low on his exit from turn four, allowing Dockery to close the gap. Dockery was relentless in turns three and four where something as thin as a sheet of paper probably wouldn’t fit between the two cars. But, as had been the case all night, Osteen dominated on the straight-aways.
With three laps left in the contest, Osteen and Dockery were nose to tail going into turns one and two, suddenly, Osteen bobbled. With Dockery tucked in so closely behind, the slip worked to Osteen’s advantage, as the only thing Dockery could do was lift, allowing Osteen to get a better jump on the exit of turn two.
With almost everyone in attendance on their feet, Osteen and Dockery were still nose to tail as they took the white flag. Entering turns one and two for the last time,
Dockery was content to stay tucked in behind Osteen at this end of the speedway opting instead to mount his challenge in turns three and four where he had been so strong in the closing laps
Driving deep into turn three, Dockery was able to get a fender inside of Osteen on the exit of turn four, but Osteen had been the dominant car all night on the straight-aways and powered his car across the line first taking the win and becoming the 10th different winner in the last 10 events on the FASTRAK Modern Chevrolet Southeastern Touring series.
Top 12
UNNOFICIAL RESULTS
1 0 Owen Osteen Woodruff SC
2 8d Ray Dockery Marshville NC
3 25 Matt Long Concord NC
4 57 Lee Cooper Greer SC
5 90p Ross Puckett
6 90 John Llewellyn Knoxville TN
7 46 Will Shuffler Morganton NC
8 54B Brandon Umberger Rural Retreat VA
9 8p Ron Parker Lawndale NC
10 9 Ronnie Mosley Chester SC
11 T1 Timbo Mangum Lancaster SC
12 45 Colt Smith Woodruff SC
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