4/18/2019
Delaware International Speedway
DÉJÀ VU FOR BLAIR ON NIGHT ONE OF RUSH LATE MODEL “BATTLE OF THE BAY�
DÉJÀ VU FOR BLAIR ON NIGHT ONE OF RUSH LATE MODEL “BATTLE OF THE BAY�
Written By: Alison Watson
Delmar, Delaware- Max Blair captured night one of the RUSH Late Model “Battle of the Bay� mini-series event at Delaware International Speedway, in memory of Raelyn Huffman. Blair proudly displayed a door that was commemorated in Huffman’s honor. “I did not know Raelyn very well, but I knew her Dad (Ray) really well. They are a great family and I am glad we could pull this off.�
The victory pocketed the Centerville, Pennsylvania native $4,000 and a strong start to contend for the $3,000 “Battle of the Bay� point fund over the next three events (Georgetown, Potomac, and Winchester). Similarly to his night one win in the inaugural event in 2018.
Blair started from the pole position by virtue of timing the fastest in time trials, winning his respective heat race, and winning the dash that determined the top six starting positions of heat race winners.
Blair was able to set a blistering pace, mirroring lap times during the feature event that were similar to qualifying with Dillon Brown, Amanda Whaley, and Ross Robinson battling three-wide for the second place position.
Robinson ultimately took the second position with Blair having nearly a half straightaway lead in his brand new Rocket Chassis.
By lap eight, the leaders were approaching dense lapped traffic, with the first caution flag waving on lap 14, erasing Blair’s one-in-a-half second lead over Robinson.
The restart was pivotal for Brown, going three-wide with Whaley and Robinson, diving into the second position. Matt Hill, who started in the sixth position, made contact with Robinson, battling for the third position, with extensive right rear quarter panel damage to the No. 84.
The field would quickly regroup with three consecutive caution flags. By halfway, Blair led Whaley, Robinson, Brown, Logan Roberson, and Jason Genco, who started in the 14th position.
A lap 26 caution would again erase Blair’s impeccable lead of nearly three seconds. On the restart, Robinson dove to the bottom of Whaley who had a delayed restart of the leader, to take the second position.
Blair would be unchallenged, as Robinson, Whaley, Roberson, and Brown completed the top-five.
“I love this place,� said Blair in victory lane. “The track is smooth, slippery, and beautiful. If we did not live five hours away, you would see us here more often.�
The event was Blair’s first outing in his brand-new Rocket Chassis. “It just got better and better. We were good out of the box.�
Blair commended the series for an impressive roster of 53 RUSH Late Models on hand. “This is a stout field of racecars when talking about crate racing in the northeast,� said Blair.
Second place finisher, Ross Robinson was candid in victory lane. “We flat out got beat. He (Blair) was the class of the field. We are going to have to do our homework if we want to beat him this week,� in reference to Blair’s speed.
Heats were won by Blair, Brown, Hill, Whaley, Robinson, and Dale Hollidge. The consolation events were won by Nick Davis, Cody Dawson, and Braeden Dillinger.
Joey Warren led wire to wire to win the 10-lap non-qualifiers event worth $200. Warren unloaded with mechanical issues that took majority of the event to rectify.
The RUSH Late Model “Battle of the Bay� Series continues Thursday, April 18th “across the dual� at nearby, Georgetown Speedway.
RUSH Crate Late Model Feature Finish: MAX BLAIR, Ross Robinson, Amanda Whaley, Logan Roberson, Dillon Brown, Jason Genco, Matt Hill, Trevor Feathers, Dale Hollidge, Chuck Bowie, Jeremy Wonderling, Darrell Bossard, Kyle Lukon, Nick Davis, Cody Dawson, Matt Glanden, Derek Magee. J.J. Mazur, Sparky White, Bill Kessler, Michael Duritsky, Jr., Trevor Collins, Charlie Sandercock, Braedon Dillinger, Tyler Reed, Billy Thompson
Rush Crate Late Model Non-Qualifier Finish: JOEY WARREN, Jakob Piper, Logan Zarin, Brad Rigdon, Kyle Murray, Mike Wharton, Chad Sines, Jonathan Raley, Timmy Booth, Zac Weller, Brandon Sturgis, Jeremy Pilkerton. DNS: Scott Gunn, Joe Pete, Ben Scott, Jason Dean, Darren Alvey, Andy Michael, Sam Pennacchio, Matt Quade, Levi Crowl, Ryan Frazee, Kerry King, Jamie Wrightsman
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