Blair Captures IRS Event at The Rock

CUMBERLAND, Md. – Robbie Blair picked off D.J. Troutman in the waning laps to claim the $5,000 prize in the Independent Racing Series (IRS) event on Friday night at The Rock, Allegany County Speedway.

The current series point leader, Blair, of Titusville, Pa., worked himself into position in the final eight laps of the 40-lap main event. The stop on the IRS tour was the first-ever appearance at The Rock and Blair added his name to the long winner’s list from sanctioned Super Late Model races.

He won by running down both Troutman, one of the hottest drivers at the speedway in the past month, and Pencil, the three-time track champion. Pencil trailed Blair to the finish in the runner-up spot. D.J. Myers was third and Troutman faded to fourth.

Troutman had led every lap and looked strong through the halfway point. The rest of the top five shuffled behind him and Blair fell as far back as sixth on lap 13.

Fast qualifier and pole-sitter Jason Covert’s night ended prematurely on lap 14 when he tangled with Pencil on a restart while trying to hold on to second. Covert spun in turn two and was collected by Devin Friese.

Blair moved back up over Pencil and Myers to get second by lap 16. Under green through lap 25, Troutman had built as much as a 2.5 second lead.

Troutman’s lead started to dwindle and a caution on lap 32 made up the rest of the distance for Blair. Two laps later, Blair fought to the inside of Troutman, first in turn two and again in turn four. After another lap of side by side jostling, Blair pulled ahead from the bottom groove in turn four on lap 35.

Pencil got second on the next lap but trailed Blair to the finish line by almost a second. Behind Myers and Troutman, Chuck Harper was fifth, Keith Jackson, sixth, Dave Hess Jr., seventh, Mike Knight, eighth, Greg Fetters, ninth, and Nick Dickson, 10th.

The Rock – Allegany Co. Speedway
Order of Finish
Friday, Aug. 22, 2008
INDEPENDENT RACING SERIES
A-main (40 laps)

Results showing finishing position, (starting position), car no., and driver name:
1. (4) WON11, Robbie Blair
2. (6) 14, Jack Pencil
3. (11) 70, D.J. Myers
4. (2) 7, D.J. Troutman
5. (7) 00H, Chuck Harper
6. (8) 88, Keith Jackson
7. (16) 44, Dave Hess Jr.
8. (17) 9K, Mike Knight
9. (3) 39, Greg Fetters
10. (10) 17, Nick Dickson
11. (5) 46, Doug Horton
12. (13) H1, Jared Miley
13. (9) 5, Chuck Clise
14. (15) 0, Ron Delano Jr.
15. (12) 12, Rick Aukland
16. (21) 12, Bob Friese
17. (20) 25, Bob Hershman
18. (19) 119, Chad McClellan
19. (18) 3, Dave Bloss
20. (1) 43A, Jason Covert
21. (14) 12, Devin Friese
22. (22) 44M, Mike Hess
DNS: 24, Jeremy Miller