Umberger Collects Triple Crown Finale At Princeton

(Princeton, West Virginia) – The 8th Annual 2013 $30K FASTRAK Triple Crown has been positively a spectacle that everyone has been bragging about since the races got started at both Beckley Motorsports Park and Wythe Raceway. Photo-Finishes to decide the race winners we’re some of the closet ever for the “Premier Pro Late Model Series in the Country” celebrating the “Decade of Speed Tour”. On Friday night #33 Rocket of Chris Meadows was able to fend off #8 Rocket of Ron Parker by just 0.018 hundredths of a second. History would again repeat itself at the 1/2mile Wythe Raceway where on the final 2 laps remaining. At the line 0.045 hundredths #11 David Smith would prevail over #2 Dennis Franklin. Now the finale of the 2013 FASTRAK $30K Triple Crown set its sights on a full moon Sunday evening at Princeton Raceway. When it all concluded it was monumental also.

The overall quick qualifier in “VP Race Fuels for the Pole Qualifying” of the 27 FASTRAK Late Models signed in was #33 Chris Meadows with a time of 17.416 seconds. After the 3 Heats Races won by #33g Shane Greco, #41 Joe Cox and #23 Corey Gordon. The field was set after the autograph “meet and greet” and the Fireworks and 4-wide salute concluded it was go time to decide the winner of the finale of the 2013 FASTRAK Triple Crown for the City Chevrolet Touring Division at Princeton Raceway.

On the initial start #33 Chris Meadows would pull out to the early lead but the likes of #2 Dennis Franklin was closing in as well with #44w Brandon Umberger both in Barry Wright chassis’. There was frantic 30-4 wide racing going on through the entire field as the always exciting that Princeton Raceway’s 4/10th mile track configuration always provides. Caution #1 would fall on lap 7 when 2 cars, #27 Ashley Brewster and #2 Jordan Bland locked up and spun unison to the bottom off turn 2. Caution quickly fell again one lap later after the 3-wide battle for a brakes issue on the Rocket chassis of #6 Mike Faykus Jr off turn 2. On the restart the lead was up for contention again. To the bottom #44w Brandon Umberger then took it to the top shelf and went on to take the lead from #33 of Meadows taking #2 Dennis Franklin with him and putting Meadows back to 3rd.

As the race got restarted again this segment was prevailed as the long green flag run of the race with the best dirt track racing any one could ever witness as the leader Umberger would continue to hold off Franklin, Smith, Parker, Hambrick and other while even negotiating thru the back marker cars which at times gave the leaders trouble getting around. On lap 27 while stuck trying to get by lap traffic #2 Dennis Franklin was finally able to capitalize on Umberger but quickly the yellow would fly as #38 Eric Feuchtenberger would spin off turn 2 right in front of the leaders causing everyone to scamper high-low to avoid the machine. A few more cautions would fall for debris and another solo spin by #38 Feuchtenberger again to put him in the pits for the evening. On the restart we’re in a big accordion affect coming to the green which quickly was called off and in doing so #33 Chris Meadows ended up with damage along with #23 Corey Gordon and #39 Henry Hornsby III. On the restart #2 Dennis Franklin who came up one spot shy to victory Saturday at Wythe Raceway took it topside one more time and closed in on Umberger to take the lead away in the late rally. In the process #68 Tyler Cox in his Masterbilt hit hard into the wall. During post-race contact from RPMX Motorsports PR it was confirmed he broke his wrist.

The final remaining 10 laps of the race was the most intense pulsating turn of events that set the outcome of victory that witnessed in a long time. Ron Parker and David Smith we’re in 2 races last night. Trying to get the win at the finale at Princeton Raceway but also they we’re battling it out 1st and 2nd for the 2013 FASTRAK Triple Crown Title. A 6 lap shootout would continue after the yellow on #39 David Collins issues. Green flag and a green car was also rallying to the front also the #45 Rocket of Eddie Hambrick. However heartbreak would visit the Pole driver as the rear-end broke. This just spiraled things for more drama which continued with the incident from there. On the restart as Hambrick started coming back to the front Smith and Parker for the 2013 FASTRAK Triple Crown championship would continue duking it out for the title. Caution would fall for #99 Teddy Tate slowing it up for a 5 lap shootout. Also the fantastic drama continued.

On the restart with Franklin pulling away at the point trouble would hit the 2 Time and Defending FASTRAK City Chevrolet Division champion. As they roared into turn 1 #11 TNT Race Cars chassis of David Smith would slowly creep to an innocent halt in turn 1. The drive-shaft was what broke on the TNT ending his night and chance at the 2013 FASTRAK Triple Crown making #8 Ron Parker have a sigh of relief knowing the battle was over, but stated he hated it ended that way.

So the Triple Crown champion was decided now it was time to decide the race. Restart with 4 laps to go and on the backstretch #2 Barry Wright of Dennis Franklin leading the way would have the “gremlins” visit him as the Team AES Racing entry started having heavy smoke bellowing out the rear-end of the machine with also fire coming shooting from the headers. The yellow would fall for Teddy Tate again spinning off turn 2.

The big climax was seeing the disappointment for one team and jubilation of another team in the 3 lap shootout. #2 Franklin would have to make the left hand turn on to pit road ending his chance of win. For #44w Brandon Umberger he would get the call via raceciever that he was the new leader sending the John Broce Motorsports team on cloud nine. He had to hold off however the 2013 Triple Crown champion of the year of #8 “King-Bull” Ron Parker was still looking for that elusive 1st victory of the year. However it was for not for Parker as on the final restart Umberger pulled away hit the “loud pedal” never looking back to take a wild unpredictable turn of event in the FASTRAK Triple Crown race finale at Freddie Mooney’s Princeton Raceway.

Princeton Raceway FASTRAK Triple Crown Race #3 Audio Archive is now available to listen to at the following link: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/33389889

Official Results of Princeton Raceway – 2013 FASTRAK Triple Crown Race #3 (tire lab results pending)

1st #44w Brandon Umberger – VA
2nd #8 Ron Parker – NC
3rd #45 Eddie Hambrick – WV
4th #28 Aaron Barley – WV
5th #23 Corey Gordon – NC
6th #33 Shane Greco – WV
7th #41 Joe Cox – WV
8th #22 Jordan Dill – SC
9th #4 Michael Smith – TN
10th #4 Taylor Hicks – SC
11th #98 Caleb Lester – WV
12th #39 Henry Hornsby III – WV
13th #2 Michael Bland – WV
14th #2 Dennis Franklin – SC
15th #99 Teddy Tate – VA
16th #11 David Smith – SC
17th #33 Chris Meadows – WV
18th #39 David Collins – WV
19th #15 Chase McCormick – NC
20th #38 Eric Feuchtenberger – WV
21st #68 Tyler Cox – WV
22nd #25 Ted Johnson – WV
23rd #27 Ashley Brewster – WV
24th #6 Mike Faykus Jr. – WV

The next event is this Saturday June 1st as the “Best of the Best” of the FASTRAK Racing Series will converge to the newly high banked 4/10th mile Thunder Mountain Speedway of US 52 in Hanover, West Virginia. The event will be the biggest spectacle to ever hit that area and will pay $5,000 to the winner. The Battle of the North – South 50 is going to be a great event that you don’t want to miss. Much more details will be coming up this week about it. Go to www.racethundermountain.com for all the race info coming up this weekend.

Stay tuned to www.fastrakracing.com as well as the FASTRAK Racing Series Fan Page on Facebook and/or follow @FASTRAK_Racing on Twitter to get up to the minute news and details as they become available.

FASTRAK Companies International would like to thank all of its marketing partners for their great and continuing support. Those 2013 sponsors include: Hoosier Race Tires, VP Racing Fuel, City Chevrolet, Sweeney Cars Chevy Buick GMC, Chevrolet Performance Parts, Vicci Apparel, TNT Race Cars, Rocket Chassis and RockAuto.com to our line-up of product sponsors.

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of the Premier Pro Late Model Series in the Country please contact Stan Lester at the FASTRAK Corporate Office at (678) 935-7304 or Brian Haynes at (706) 340-4781. Also Visit the FASTRAK Racing Series online at www.fastrakracing.com and be sure to like us on Facebook and/or follow us on Twitter at @FASTRAK_Racing!!