Blair Hoists ‘Grizzly’ in ASLMS Action at Central PA Speedway
Clearfield, PA – May 30, 2010 Titusville, PA’s Rob Blair has always wanted to lift the traditional fifty plus pound, wood carved ‘Big Bear’ trophy that greets race winners at Tim Bainey’s Central PA Speedway in Clearfield, PA. On Sunday night, Blair added the ‘Big Bear’ trophy to his continuously growing trophy case after dominating the 2010 O’Reilly All Star Late Model Series sanctioned ‘Grizzly’. Tour regular Gregg Satterlee of Rochester Mills, PA and South Park, PA’s Keith Barbara led the field to the green flag with Satterlee gaining the edge and third starting John Britsky moving up into second. While Satterlee led the early laps, Britsky, Barbara, and Boom Briggs all battled for the runner-up spot. The race was slowed on lap nine when 2010 ASLMS Rookie of the year contender John Garvin spun in turn one for the events first caution. Racing resumed for one lap when Franklin, PA’s Matt Lux lost the handle in turn two and slammed hard into the outside retaining wall. The violent hit sent Lux’s brand new MastersBilt Chassis across the backstretch leaving nowhere to go for 2010 ASLMS Rookie of the Year Contender Darren Peters. Peters crashed hard into the driver’s side of the Lux machine sending Peters over on his roof to bring out the red flag on the tenth circuit. Both drivers were sore after the collision but fine.
When the green flag dropped to restart the event, Boom got the whole-shot over Satterlee while sixth starting Rob Blair following into the second spot moving Satterlee back to third. Briggs’ stint at the front wouldn’t last long as the well prepared track surface began to get wider. Blair used the widening surface to his advantage putting his Rocket Chassis named ‘The Blue Angel’ on the outside and around Briggs for the lead on lap 13. Briggs stayed right with ‘The Titusville Terror’ as they caught lapped traffic. While Blair worked the lapped traffic, Briggs looked for an opening. Boom’s maneuvering opened the door for Satterlee to take a peek for the second spot but Briggs was able to hold off the youngster. The three leaders battled until the race was slowed again on lap 26. Blair continued to lead as Britsky became involved in the tussle with pressure on Satterlee for third. All the while, Britsky had to fight off Barbara for fourth. The action was slowed again one lap later for the event’s fourth caution. During the restart, Barbara made his way around Britsky for fourth as Blair continued to pull Briggs and Satterlee around the track. One quick circuit later, Britsky pulled up lame coming out of turn two and went pitside with a terrible vibration in the left rear of the car, ending his night.
As the track continued to widen, Blair got stronger and began to pull away from the other front runners as Keith Barbara tried to look under Satterlee for third but he also pulled up lame coming out of turn two after popping a motor. After two quick cautions on lap 34 and 38, Blair really began to show his muscle by again pulling away from Briggs, Satterlee, Jared Hawkins and Jared Miley until a caution on lap 47 that set up a three lap dash to the finish. Blair got the jump on the restart and blasted his way to his second ASLMS win of the season and third of his career. Briggs followed in second with Satterlee third, Miley worked his way into fourth with Hawkins falling to fifth in the final rundown. Greg Oakes finished sixth, Tim Smith Jr. was seventh, Matt Gaston, Billy Dickson, and Bobby Stokes rounded out the top ten. Event Recap: Car Count: 23 Victory Signs Time Trials presented by Fleming Design Solutions: Car # / Driver Name / Time Rocket Chassis Heat Race #1: 22S Gregg Satterlee, W11 Robbie Blair, 21 Matt Lux, 37 Jared Hawkins, H1 Jared Miley, 22 Greg Oakes, 56 Denton Boyer, 39S Tim Smith Jr., 55 Denny Fenton, 14 Terry Rayco, 53 Chris Farrell, 100 Chris Clark Rocket Chassis Heat Race #2: 99B Boom Briggs, 17 Keith Barbara, 18 John Britsky, 32 Billy Dickson, 47 Matt Gatson, 27S Bobby Stokes, 1P Darren Peters, 10C Ryan Christoff, 11K Greg Kent, 5M Shane McMeans, J4 John Garvin ‘Grizzly Dash-for-Cash’: 99B Boom Briggs, 22S Gregg Satterlee, W11 Rob Blair, 22 Greg Oakes, 37 Jared Hawkins, 18 John Britsky, 21 Matt Lux, 17 Keith Barbara, 39S Tim Smith Jr., 100 Chris Clark, 47 Matt Gaston, 56 Denton Boyer, H1 Jared Miley, 1P Darren Peters ‘Battle at the Bear’: ‘Battle at the Bear’ Champion – W11 Rob Blair
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