McKean County Raceway
Pegher holds off rival Blair at McKean County
EAST SMETHPORT, Pa. (Aug. 15) — Mike Pegher Jr. of Wexford, Pa., fought off challenges from rival Max Blair of Centerville, Pa., Thursday at McKean County Raceway for a $1,200 victory on the Sweeney Chevrolet-Buick-GMC RUSH Series for Crate Late Models.
The 27-year-old Pegher, the series points leader, led all 25 laps but had some sharp words for Blair after his victory regarding contact between the frontrunners.
"I don't know what Blair's problem is,” Pegher said. “He must be mad I beat him two times in a row. It's awesome to win and I had a lot of fun. There's guys you can race with and not have to worry about beating and banging with then you come up here and get your stuff tore up, but we showed 'em who won tonight!”
The 23-year-old Blair didn’t back down after his runner-up finish.
"The fans just don't like me and my dad because we win up here every week,” he said. “Mike is always fast and I thought I had a shot on the restart until he ran us out of room getting into (turn) one. That's not the first time he's done that to us — it is what it is and we'll talk about it; we're friends and it'll stay that way. I want to thank every single fan for supporting racing. Every time you boo louder, it's motivation so keep it coming!”
Ed Carley of Freedom, N.Y., was third in the event during the 108th McKean County Fair while Ryan Montgomery and Chad Ruhlman rounded out the top five. Polesitter Paul Grigsby ended up sixth for his best series finish of the season in a race where the lone caution appeared on lap 21 for a stalled Justin Smith.
Notes: Pegher’s Lynn Geisler-owned Rocket Chassis is sponsored by #1 Cochran, Alternative Power Sources, Pegher Painting, Triple-S Auto Outlet and Zero Wraps. ... After winning three of the first six series events, it was Pegher's first since June 22. ... Rick Singleton earned Precise Racing Products Hard Charger honors for his 20th-to-12th run. ... The series returns to action Aug. 17 with the $2,000-to-win Gary Knollinger Memorial at Sharon Speedway in Hartford, Ohio.
McKean County Fair Race: (1) Mike Pegher Jr., (2) Max Blair, (3) Ed Carley, (4) Ryan Montgomery, (5) Chad Ruhlman, (6) Paul Grigsby, (7) Jeremy Wonderling, (8) Adam Sixt, (9) Jason Genco, (10) Zack Carley, (11) Bruno Mowery, (12) Rick Singleton, (13) Michael Lake, (14) Butch Lambert, (15) Richard “Critter” Hemphill, (16) Damien Bidwell, (17) Bryce Davis, (18) John Haggerty, (19) Bill Mesler, (20) W.L. Stile, (21) Justin Smith, (22) Cody Dawson, (23) Cody Mason, (24) Ward Schell. Heat race winners (among 33 cars): Grigsby, Ruhlman, Sixt, Montgomery. Dash winner: Z. Carley. Consolation winners: Mesler, Hemphill. Non-qualifers’ race winner: Garrett Mott.
