Max Blair Crowned FASTRAK National Weekly Champion

   

 

(Carnesville, GA; Jan. 25) Just minutes before the evening’s ceremonies were to commence, Sheraton Music City Hotel staffers were scurrying to set up additional tables in the McGavock Ballroom to accommodate the overflow crowd in attendance for the 2008 FASTRAK National Points Banquet in Nashville. Even in the current economy, drivers and race teams representing almost every FASTRAK Region made the trip to Nashville further bolstering the healthiness of the FASTRAK Racing Series in 2008. Series partners Goodyear, GM Performance Parts, City Chevrolet and TNT Race cars were in attendance as well. Saturday night capped off a year which saw $410,000 in championship cash awards and contingencies paid out to drivers. In a time when weekly attendance as well as car counts saw a decline in many of the racing series currently competing in the U.S. today, clearly, the FASTRAK Racing Series brand continues to expand as 2008 saw 1.6 million fans attend FASTRAK Racing Series events at a robust rate of almost 72,000 race fans per weekend.

While there was a buzz in the air Saturday night with the much anticipated unveiling of the new ‘Ultimate’ Super Late Model scheduled to close out the night, the evening belonged to FASTRAK Racing Series drivers and crews who had worked all year to be called Champions. This night would see Champions crowned in the FASTRAK Southeast/Smoky Mtn./Mideast Touring Region, as well as the FASTRAK City Chevrolet National Weekly Racing Division and the 2008 FASTRAK Racing Series GRAND NATIONAL Championship. In addition, every driver in every points paying position would be recognized as 2008 saw virtually every championship go down to the last event in each of the respective championships.

Lee Cooper took home $10,000 as 2008 FASTRAK Southeast/Smoky Mtn./Mideast Touring Series Champion. In addition, the soft spoken Greer SC resident picked up another $2,250 by virtue of his 13th place tie in the final Grand National Point Standings. In addition, Cooper was quick to point out that his towering 6 foot FASTRAK Southeast/Smoky Mtn/Mideast Touring Series Championship trophy was much taller than he is. It should be noted that 2008 was the second FASTRAK Southeast/Smoky Mtn./Mideast Championship for Cooper.

2008 was the inaugural year of the FASTRAK Racing Series City Chevrolet National Weekly Championship. As the final point standings reflect, the concept was a rousing success where first year driver Max Blair’s margin of victory was just two points. In fact, the point total between Blair and 30th place Matt Long of Concord, NC was just 45 points. The scope of what Blair, from Centerville, PA, accomplished in 2008 is staggering when you look at the numbers. In 2008, the average number of competitors competing in a given weekend is 568. 2008 saw a total of 11,730 competitor entries in 732 events throughout the year. Blair was awarded $10,000 for his efforts in addition to $5,500 for his 7th place finish in the final 2008 FASTRAK Racing Series GRAND NATIONAL Championship Point standings. It was only a week ago Blair picked up $5,000 as FASTRAK Northeast/Northern Touring Series Champion bringing his total for the week to $20,500.

Each year there are a number of meetings and seminars scheduled to benefit race teams as well track owners and promoters in the days leading up to the FASTRAK Racing Series National Points Banquet. Clearly, there is no event larger than the crowning of the annual GRAND NATIONAL Champion. 2008 was the third year of the $50,000 GRAND NATIONALS. It was a nail biter that went down to the events last night where as many as 7 drivers had a shot to leave Wythe Raceway in Rural Retreat, VA as 2008 FASTRAK Racing Series GRAND NATIONAL Champion.

Royce Bray of Hull, GA has been racing for nearly 19 years. His career began at the old Athens Speedway in Athens GA. The first time he sat behind the wheel of a racecar was largely due to being designated as the driver by virtue of being voted “the craziest” amongst the group of friends Bray joined with to form his first race team. The car was a 1980 Ford Mustang.

The ensuing years would see Bray in virtually every level of racing one can imagine. Bray was a respected Super Late Model driver as well as a formidable opponent on asphalt. According to Bray, the FASTRAK Racing Series is “the place I need to be. This crate deal Stan has put together is probably the best thing going right now. The events are organized and well managed so all I have to concentrate on is the car. With everyone on the same tires and the same engine, racing for me is fun right now”.

2008 was a year in which Bray’s black #21 was a threat to win everywhere he went even when car counts would often approach as many as 70 cars.

Entering Night 3 of the 2008 FASTRAK Racing Series GRAND NATIONAL Championship at Wythe Raceway, Bray was locked in a tie with Asheville, NY driver Dick Barton in the Point Standings after two events. Once more, a staggering 17 drivers were in the hunt for the $50,000 winner’s check entering the Grand Finale.

Bray had charted the different point scenarios in play with each of the drivers in contention for the GRAND NATIONAL Championship, concluding he needed to finish 8th or better to claim the 2008 FASTRAK Racing Series GRAND NATIONAL Championship trophy.

Knowing where he needed to finish and accomplishing it were two different things. In both the July 26, 2008 FASTRAK Southeast/Smoky Mtn./Mideast Region Touring event and Labor Day weekends $10,000 to win Pro Late Model Championship at Wythe Raceway, there were a combined 680 on-track position changes in both events.

When the checkered flag fell concluding the 2008 FASTRAK Racing Series GRAND NATIONAL Championship, Bray crossed the finish line in the 7th position just four points up on Morristown TN’s Shannon Buckingham in the final point standings.

In the spotlight Saturday night in Nashville, Bray collected $50,000 and an impressive 2 tiered trophy designed by Chan Chitwood of Concept Graphics featuring a massive cup on a four pillared base adorned with a detailed replica of Bray’s car atop the trophy. The trophy was one any Cup driver would envy. Bray also collected an additional $1,300 on the night bringing his total for the evening to $51,300.

At the podium, Bray gave high praises to Warrior Race Cars thanking Samford Goddard who was in attendance. Bray also thanked sponsors City Chevrolet, Kenny Harris Grading, Dave Gordon Auto Supply, H.T. Tire & Roadside Service, I-85 Garage, VP racing Fuels, Cycle World of Athens, GA, Dominator Race Products, Gabriels Racing Engines, Freeman Plumbing, Classic Powder & Ceramic Coating, M&K Sales and Concept Graphics.

Bray also extended a heartfelt thanks to his crew, Rick Coffer, Jeff Griffith, Heath Hartwell, Kenny Harris and Terry Withnat. Bray also went on to thank his wife Laura and sons Justin and Nathan.

2008 GRAND NATIONALS (Top 10)
1 Royce Bray $50,000
2 Shannon Buckingham $20,000
3 Jason Davenport $9,500
Ron Parker $9,500
5 Chris Steele $7,500
Ed Dixon $7,500
7 David Smith $5,500
Max Blair $5,500
9 Dick Barton $4,250
Ryan Gifford $4,250

City Chevrolet National weekly Championship (Top 5)
1 Max Blair $10,000
2 Craig Bartz $5,000
3 Bobby Powell $3,500
4 Dick Barton $2,000
5 Noel Tucker $1,000