**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE** June 17th, 2013 FASTRAK PR


(Lawndale, North Carolina) – When the 7th stop of the 2013 “Decade of Speed Tour” visited the Cleveland County Speedway it was in honor and memory tribute to Carey Heavner. The best of the best of the FASTRAK Racing Series embarked on the ½ mile located in Lawndale, North Carolina for the City Chevrolet Touring Division $2,000 to win Memorial Race. The event was a spectacle with emotion in the young girl’s honor for the 2nd consecutive year. When the checkered flag fell it landed the 7th Southeast winner in 7 different events of 2013.


The action started off with #17 Jason Pack from Ellensboro, NC setting quick time in VP Race for the Pole Qualifying. This locked in the Top 8 for the Feature setting up 2 B-main heat races. The heat races we’re clean til the end because all drivers used it as a test session for the 40 Lap Carey Heavner Memorial A-main Feature. The B-mains went to #42 Cla Knight and #8 Ron Parker. Something that was interesting was the fact that normal contenders that are usually locked in the Feature struggled and gave chances for anyone to capture the win. After an emotional ceremony with parents to Carey Heavner – Mike and Kim Heavner and the releasing of the balloons with the 4 wide salute and fireworks it was SHOWTIME!!

The race started off wild before even one lap in. Coming to the field on the initial start the front rows powered up then #49 Steve Hendren shot up high losing momentum. This then caused a chain reaction accordion affect collecting 4 cars in a “Talladega” style wreck on the front stretch. Drivers collected included #44 Brandon Umberger, #24f Jensen Ford and #96 John Ruggiero. The only car that was able to leave the wreckage and continue was #96 John Ruggiero’s TNT Chassis. Then trying to go again for the official start a 3 car wreck would ensue on the cushion off turn 2, collecting the drivers of #2b Frankie Beard, #4 Taylor Hicks and #42 Cla Knight but all continued. The 3 times a charm worked for the official go on the 2nd Annual Carey Heavner but would go back yellow on lap 3 ironically when #11 David Smith 2 time and defending FASTRAK SE champion looped his car solo in turn 3. This setup the popular choose rule which set #96 John Ruggiero up for position to pull an upset like none other.

Jason Pack led the first 3 circuits then on the restart the outside lane worked for Ruggiero as he rallied for the off turn 4 to cause the 1st lead change of the race. While #96 Ruggiero was preparing to shock the “FASTRAK Universe”. Another no driver no stranger to winning on the FASTRAK series or at Cleveland County was coming from the 12th starting position – #2 Team AES Racing Barry Wright of Dennis Franklin from Gaffney, SC. John Ruggiero was quickly setting a pace to the lead but Franklin was flying through the field and coming to the front in a purpose as the 1st half was about to conclude for the feature. On lap 18 things got interesting as drivers #6 Furman Parton and #8 Ron Parker with #25 Matt Long holding their line and rallying to run down the leader. Franklin flew by them and ran down the #96 TNT chassis. Going into turn 3 Ruggiero slipped up the track and “Rambo” was able to get on his rear end tail. This continued going into turn 1 as Ruggiero stayed on the “top shelf” Franklin stayed on the bottom and they banged hard exiting off the corner for the lead sending Ruggiero’s race car up the wall hard into the fence. Franklin was able to continue on but suffered damage on the right rear of his Barry Wright chassis.

On lap #27 the final caution would fall when the #17 Jason Pack and quick qualifier would break going into turn 3. Another quick caution would fall again when #22 Jordan Dill who was having a considerably good run in the early going stalled with motor issues off turn 4. This set up a 13 lap run to the finish and the #2 Barry Wright was not going to let the race get away from him after the push from 12th to eventually prevail getting to VP Race Fuels/ Hoosier Tire Victory Lane. #6p Furman Parton who was racing that weekend with a heavy heart finished 2nd dedicating the race in his friends memory. Points Leader going into Cleveland County would leave with it intact also, #8 Ron Parker but is still lurking and desperately waiting to break through for the 1st FASTRAK win of 2013.

We’ve had 7 different winners in 7 2013 FASTRAK race events, here’s a synopsis for thought – Ron Parker is in Car #8, Lavonia, GA is up next for race #8, could Parker take the checkered flag finally in 2013 and make us be different winner #8??

Official Results from 2nd Annual Carey Heavner Memorial Race – Cleveland County Speedway & Motorsports Complex in Lawndale, North Carolina (Fuel and Tire Lab Results Pending)
1st #2 Dennis Franklin – SC
2nd #6p Furman Parton – NC
3rd #8 Ron Parker – NC
4th #25 Matt Long – NC
5th #23 Corey Gordon – NC
6th #07 Gib Gibbons – SC
7th #42 Cla Knight – NC
8th #99 Teddy Tate – VA
9th #41 Joe Cox – WV
10th #11 David Smith – NC
11th #22 Jordan Dill – SC
12th #4 Taylor Hicks – SC
13th #17 Jason Pack – NC
14th #96 John Ruggiero – NC
15th #2b Frankie Beard – GA
16th #8b Steve Banal – NC
17th #88 Trent Ivey – SC
18th #24 Tim Byrd – TN
19th #24f Jenson Ford – TN
20th #49 Steve Hendren – NC
21st #44 Brandon Umberger – VA

The next stop of the FASTRAK 2013 “Decade of Speed Tour” will be back at the “Peach State” of Georgia on Friday night July 5th for the “FIRECRACKER” Shriners 40 Race at the NEW Lavonia Speedway & Entertainment Complex paying a $12,000+ purse with $2,000 going to winner.

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 FASTRAK Southeast/Mideast sponsors include: Hoosier Race Tires, VP Racing Fuel, City Chevrolet, 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!!