Dog Hollow Speedway
Powell survives cautions for Dog Hollow victory
By Mike Leone
Fastrak Northeast SeriesSTRONGSTOWN, Pa. (Aug. 31) — Bobby Powell of Waterford, Pa., led all 25 laps of the Fastrak Northeast tour stop at Dog Hollow Speedway, but he felt the heat on restarts at the 4/10-mile western Pennsylvania oval.
"I like the yellow on my car," Powell said, "but I didn't like all those yellow flags with the veterans beside and behind me."
But Powell stayed steady to fend off Fastrak Northeast points leader Alan Dellinger and notch $1,200 in a car owned by Scott Bidwell. The team recently graduated from the modified ranks to join the Fastrak Late Model division.
"This has always been a dream of Scott's to own a Late Model," Powell said in victory lane. "We have four of the hardest working kids around, so as long as I don't screw up we'll be all right."
Powell took the lead at the outset over polesitter Rodney Phillips, while fourth-starting Greg Oakes raced past Carl McKinney and Phillips into second on the opening lap. Dellinger, who started seventh, found the outside to his liking as he took third from Phillips on the fourth lap.
By lap six, Powell opened up a straightaway lead while Dellinger began to close in on Oakes for second. Dog Hollow regular Kirby Tucker spun to bring out the first caution with seven laps completed. Oakes clipped an infield tire barrier and departed, handing second to Dellinger with John Watson to third.
When racing resumed, Dellinger pressured Powell the remainder of the race. The two ran side-by-side on laps eight and nine then again on lap 14 with Powell running the bottom and Dellinger the top. Cautions slowed action, but every time Powell was able to maintain the lead. Tom Snyder Jr., who owns a pair of Dog Hollow victories, started 20th and made his way to the front taking fourth from Dick Barton on lap 16 and then third from Watson using the inside on lap 18.
Dellinger made another bid for the lead on lap 19 as he raced side-by-side with Powell, but couldn't make the pass stick. Snyder joined the battle on lap 20 making it a three-car race for the lead with Watson and Barton not far behind in fourth and fifth. J.R. Wright spun for the second time bringing out the event's final caution with 24 laps completed and set up a one-lap shootout.
Powell got a good restart and didn't allow Dellinger to get alongside of him in turns one and two. Snyder tried a slide job on Dellinger in turn one, but came up empty-handed as he slid out of the groove and lost the third spot to Watson.
Notebook
Powell's No. B1D is sponsored by Fame RV Center, Maloney Tool & Mold, Saegertown Hardware, Rich Johnson Electric and Vernon Pizzeria. ..... Following the race, the team headed to Wythe Raceway in Rural Retreat, Va., for the $10,000-to-win Fastrak national event. ..... Powell was making his sixth crate Late Model start. He won his third race at Raceway 7 in Conneaut, Ohio. ..... The series was making its first appearance in nearly two months after several rainouts and cancellations. ..... Runner-up Alan Dellinger leads the chase for the $5,000 points title. John Watson moved into second with his third-place finish. ..... The next event on the Fastrak Northeast schedule is Sept. 7 at Raceway 7. ..... The final series event is Sept. 28 at McKean County Raceway in East Smethport, Pa., a race paying $3,000 to the winner. ..... Clate Copeman captured Dog Hollow's unsanctioned Limited Late Model feature. ..... The track drew 98 cars in five divisions including 21 Fastrak Northeast entries.
