Wythe Raceway
Watts, Umberger get Fastrak honors at Wythe
RURAL RETREAT, Va. (Sept 24) — Outside front-row starter David Watts of Buchanan, Va., led all 50 laps Saturday at Wythe Raceway for a $3,000 victory in the Fastrak Super Nationals, the season-ending event on Fastrak's Southeast-Mideast tour.
Another big winner besides Watts was runner-up Brandon Umberger, the hometown driver who secured the Fastrak regional tour title.
Ninth-starting Mike Smith of Knoxville, Tenn., charged to finish third followed by David Smith of Inman, S.C. — who finished second to Umberger in the title chase — while 11th-starting Matt Long of Concord, N.C., rounded out the top five after dropping back to 13th near the race's midpoint. Jensen Ford of Piney Flats, Tenn., challenged Umberger up front early, but slight contact between the two sent him into the wall and out of contention.
The 25-year-old Watts notched his second Fastrak touring victory.
"That was exciting. I am proud to win this race," Watts said. "This will hopefully give us some momentum going into the Grand Nationals races. We ran pretty good over there at Cleveland County last week so I feel like we have a good shot at winning that $30,000."
The pole-starting Umberger remained stoic despite securing the championship crown.
"I owe all of this to those guys that work on this car every week. And man, Jason Short, my car owner, gives me great equipment and makes it easy on me," He said. "If it wasn't for them I couldn't even be here. They do all the work I just have to drive. I want to thank (Fastrak's) Stan (Lester) for putting up all this money. I feel good about heading into the Grand Nationals now. We just have to go and try to win all the races and if can't win try to finish second and see where we end up."
Fastrak's Grand Nationals kick off with regional events Oct. 7-8 before the top regional drivers converge for the Oct. 20-22 Grand Nationals event at Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tenn.
Fastrak Super Nationals: (1) David Watts, (2) Brandon Umberger, (3) Mike Smith, (4) David Smith, (5) Matt Long, (6) Vic Chandler, (7) Barry Arnold, (8) Bobby Mays, (9) Jordan Dill, (10) Lee Cooper, (11) Tim Byrd, (12) Chad Hale, (13) R.K. Dix, (14) Jensen Ford, (15) Jake Eaton, (16) Kenny Peeples Jr., (17) Ryan Atkins, (18) Teddy Tate, (19) Clinton Cook, (20) John Curtis, (21) John Broce Jr., (22) Anthony Sanders. Scratched: Lance Reynolds. Fast qualifier (among 23 cars): Umberger, 17.649 seconds.
