Rob Blair Tops Davey Johnson to Win "Spring Fest 5"

Indiana, PA (April 30, 2007) In a thrilling race that had the fans on their feet until the checkered flag waved, Rob Blair topped Davey Johnson to win the Fifth Annual Spring Fest on Sunday evening at the Challenger Raceway. The two drivers were locked in a wild, side-by-side battle over the closing laps of the event until Johnson bobbled slightly coming to the white flag, allowing Blair to nose ahead for the victory. The Titusville driver earned $5000 for the win in the 50-lap event, topping a field of 64 cars from six states.

In Super Late Model preliminary action, the 64 drivers on hand were separated into six qualifying heat races, lined up by the luck of the draw. Winning the heat race events were Jared Hawkins, Alex Ferree, Gregg Satterlee, Mark Banal, Davey Johnson, and Corey Conley. The top three finishers from the heats transferred to the feature. The remaining cars went to three Last Chance Races to fill the 24-car starting field, with Justin Rattliff, Tim Fuller, Tim McCreadie picking up the wins.

The Fifth Annual Spring Fest was set, and the draw for the top 12 starting positions found Gregg Satterlee and Paul Briggs leading the field on the starting grid for the 50-lap main event. Briggs moved to the point at Dean Lape’s green flag, with fourth starting Mark Banal quickly moving to second. Banal grabbed the lead at lap 2, and he built a comfortable lead as the early laps clicked by. The first caution period appeared on lap 9, wiping out Banal’s sizable advantage. Banal would quickly have his hands full with sixth starting Davey Johnson, who moved from fourth to second on the restart. Johnson made the pass of Banal on lap 11, right before a caution period on lap 12 for defending Spring
Fest winner Tim McCreadie. McCreadie slowed with problems, and retired from the event at this point.

Johnson continued to lead as racing resumed, with Banal keeping up the chase. Satterlee moved to third on the restart, before tenth starting Alex Ferree passed him on lap 15. After a lap 17 yellow flag, two-time Spring Fest winner Rick Eckert joined the lead battle, as he advanced to fourth. Johnson continued to built a comfortable lead, using the outside groove of the track.

After a restart on lap 27, the battle in the top five intensified as Banal and Ferree exchanged second. On lap 32, seventh starting Rob Blair entered the top five for the first time in the event as he was quickly making his presence known. Blair passed Eckert to take fourth on lap 34, and joined the ongoing battle for second. Blair moved to third at lap 37, and took second a lap later. Johnson had a sizable lead, but Blair caught a huge break as the yellow flag appeared for defending Fall Fest Champion Jeremy Miller who slowed with problems.

With the restart, Johnson’s big lead was wiped out, as Blair started to his inside as the final double file restart set up a war for the win over the remaining distance. Johnson regained the lead as racing resumed, and he continued to work the outside. Blair moved in to challenge, working the inside. Blair nosed ahead on lap 41, as the final yellow waved a lap later. Blair led the single file restart to green, and the side-by-side lead battle resumed. Johnson nosed ahead on lap 45, as the two drivers fought for the top spot. Coming to the white flag, Johnson bobbled slightly in turn three, allowing Blair to nose back ahead.

Johnson gave it his best shot over the final lap, but Blair held on for the win in the crowd-pleasing event. Ferree had a good run for third. One of the quickest cars on the track at the end of the race was Steve Casebolt, as the Indiana driver completed his rally from starting position 23 to finish fourth. Justin Rattliff from Campbellsville, KY was a late arrival, and rallied through the field to finish fifth after starting 19th. Rounding out the top ten finishers were Scott Rhodes, Jared Hawkins, Dave Hess, Jr., Jim Yoder, and Eckert.