Buckingham wins OMG FASTRAK Wythe Raceway event!

What a night of racing it was! Some of the very best late model drivers in the country were in attendance and excitement was growing as everyone knew this was going to be a spectacular race. Challenges for the lead and racing through the entire field for the entire 40 laps with Morristown TN driver Shanon Buckingham bringing home $3000. After a disappointing finish at West Virginia Motor Speedway suffering from a bearing issue in the rear end, Buckingham looked more determined than ever to win the Wythe Raceway event. Buckingham proved patience was indeed a virtue as it paid off for him showing race fans why he was the FASTRAK 2009 Grand NATIONAL Champion.

As Buckingham stated in victory lane, “I knew what Umberger had on for tires and I knew what I had on. I felt like the track would come to us”. Buckingham was correct as later in the race you would visibly see the softer compound going away on the 54B of Umberger. His car started slipping and sliding just enough coming off the corners that late in the race Buckingham made his move with only four laps to go. “I want to thank Umberger for driving me clean” said Buckingham in victory lane.” I don’t think I was quite clear when I passed him but he let me back in and I sure appreciate it. I owe him one”.

Local hero Brandon Umberger sat fast time of the evening and started on the pole for the main event. Buckingham jumped to an early lead and he with Umberger close behind. A caution flag waved and on the double file restart under the ‘choose’ format, Buckingham gave the inside to Umberger thinking the outside groove was the place to be. Umberger jumped out front leading the race until another caution came out. Umberger chose the inside and once again jumped into the lead. “I kept thinking the outside is the place to be” stated Buckingham. “I just have to be patient and let the track come to me”. Buckingham stuck to his commitment of the high groove and made the slide job work coming off turn three and four proving his theory correct.

Through the entire field the racing was incredible as Dennis “Rambo” Franklin was running in the third position along with the cars of Kenny Peeples Jr, David Smith, Matt Long, Ryan Atkins, Jensen Ford, Dan Breuer and Chris Steele in an incredible battle for all of those positions.

David Smith finishing in the 5th position earned the inaugural “Virginia State Championship” trophy. Smith also finished 5th the previous night at Rolling Thunder Speedway. Although Blake Bentley, Albert Cosnihan and Winky McGee were ahead of him in points coming into the Wythe event, Smith proved once again that consistency was the key to winning championships. Smith also took the points lead in the Old Mans Garage SE Touring Championship. Smith went into Wythe only 1 point ahead of Hulls GA’s Royce Bray. Bray has led the point battle since race two of the season but left 8 points behind. The championship is far from over, as only one bad night from the 111 of Smith would put Bray right back in the drivers seat.