Pittsburgh, PA (February 23, 2009) - Jason Shank OReilly All Star Late Model Series Director
Titusville, PAs Robbie Blair is no stranger to winning races and winning championships. Blair has over 100 career victories, five track championships, and now with winning the Inaugural OReilly All Star Late Model Series Championship, has three touring series titles under his belt. However, this championship, in his 25th Anniversary year, didnt come without a battle. We just wanted to stay consistent all year, Rob said from his shop in Titusville, PA. We put ourselves behind from the beginning and the only way we were going to climb back up the standings was to be consistent. And that is exactly what Blair did finishing outside of the top-ten just three times throughout the year.
The beginning of Robbies 2009 ASLMS season started with a 22nd place finish at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, PA. That finish put Blair in a hole that he had to fight all season to dig himself out of. With Boom Briggs winning on opening night at Lernerville and also the following night at KC Raceway in Chillicothe, OH, coupled with Robs tenth place finish, the gap between himself and Boom was a distant 76 points.
Robs brilliant climb to the top of the standings began when the series stopped at Winchester Speedway in Winchester, VA. Blair led the first 30 laps of the 40-lap Lee Stultz Memorial before being overtaken by eventual race winner Jamie Lathroum with 10 laps remaining. Blair would cross the finish line in third setting up his season long charge to the championship. Rob finished 11th in the tours second trip to KC Raceway before going on a string of having 11 top-ten finishes out of the remaining 12 ASLMS events. The surge started at Tim Baineys Central PA Speedway in Clearfield, PA with a solid sixth place finish.
The series then made their way to Hartford Motor Speedway in Hartford, MI where Rob may have saved his season. While being in contention for the lead with fellow ASLMS regular Rod Conley, a lap 17 caution slowed the pace with Blair leading the pack. But during the caution period Blairs left rear tire went flat sending him pit side. Robbie rejoined the field and methodically worked his way back through the field to finish fifth and closing the point gap to 34 points. Blair followed that fifth place finish with another fifth place finish the following night at Butler Motor Speedway in Butler, MI.
Blairs hot streak continued as the series visited his home track, Tri-City Speedway in Franklin, PA. Rob would hold off a hard charging David Scott, who was subbing for the injured Billy Henry, and Chub Frank to capture his first OReilly All Star Late Model Series win. The Titusville Terror would follow his win up with a sixth place finish at Middlebourne, WVs Tyler County Speedway and a strong second place finish in the series return to Central PA Speedway. The point difference between leader Briggs and second place Blair was 30 points heading into the tours trip into the state of Indiana.
The first night in Indiana was a stop at Twin Cities Raceway Park in North Vernon, IN and was the only time Rob would finish outside of the top-ten the rest of the season. His 14th place finish was his worst since his 11th place finish at KC on Memorial Day weekend. Robbie righted the ship the following night at Lawrenceburg Speedway in Lawrenceburg, IN with a seventh place finish. With only three events left on the ASLMS schedule, Blair was a mere 26 points behind Briggs.
Rob continued to gain valuable points with a fourth place finish at Lernerville Speedway and a third place finish at KC Raceway before the huge $20,000 to-win Classic at KC Raceway ended the season. The point differential was just six points going into the Classic and Blairs weekend got off to a fantastic start after he won his heat race and he drew the number two for the A-Main redraw. Rob started the 100-lap feature event on the outside pole and ran a smooth clean race to finish tenth while Briggs was scored with a 19th place finish giving Robbie the 2009 ASLMS Championship by only 12 points.
We went into that last race at KC with one objective, win the championship, Blair quipped. I just wanted to run a clean race and stay out of trouble. I knew Boom was starting in the back so he was really going to have to bust his tail to get up front. Blair continued, I seen him dip into the infield a few times under caution for tires so I knew he was still towards the back. I just tried to stay out of trouble and finish in front of him.
Rob as well as the rest of the OReilly All Star Late Model Series contingent will be honored Saturday, February 27th at the OReilly All Star Late Model Series Banquet, to be held in conjunction with the Lernerville Speedway Awards Banquet, at the Days Inn and Conference Center in Butler, PA. Doors will open at 5:30pm while the all you can eat buffet dinner will begin at 6:00pm. The price of the banquet is $35, with free soft drinks and beer provided. There will be a cash bar for liquor. The Days Inn will give you a discounted room with two double beds at $62 or a king bed at $67 if you make reservations by calling (724) 287-6761. Just mention the Lernerville Banquet!
#Won11 Robbie Blair (Titusville Terror) drives a Rocket Chassis mounted on Genesis Shocks with a Draime Racing Engine and Hoosier Race Tires. Sponsors include Specialty Products / Bossards Auto / Maloney Tool & Mold / Chelby's Hair and Tanning Garage / Genesis Racing Shocks / Slavic Custom Racing Shirts & Decals
Points: 2700
Points Position: 1st
Fast Time: 0
A-Main Wins: One (Tri-City Speedway, Franklin, PA)
Top 10s: 12
Top 5s: 7
Heat Wins: 5
B-Main Wins: 1
For more information and to join the OReilly All Star Late Model Series mailing list please visit www.allstarlatemodels.com.
Titusville, PAs Robbie Blair is no stranger to winning races and winning championships. Blair has over 100 career victories, five track championships, and now with winning the Inaugural OReilly All Star Late Model Series Championship, has three touring series titles under his belt. However, this championship, in his 25th Anniversary year, didnt come without a battle. We just wanted to stay consistent all year, Rob said from his shop in Titusville, PA. We put ourselves behind from the beginning and the only way we were going to climb back up the standings was to be consistent. And that is exactly what Blair did finishing outside of the top-ten just three times throughout the year.
The beginning of Robbies 2009 ASLMS season started with a 22nd place finish at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, PA. That finish put Blair in a hole that he had to fight all season to dig himself out of. With Boom Briggs winning on opening night at Lernerville and also the following night at KC Raceway in Chillicothe, OH, coupled with Robs tenth place finish, the gap between himself and Boom was a distant 76 points.
Robs brilliant climb to the top of the standings began when the series stopped at Winchester Speedway in Winchester, VA. Blair led the first 30 laps of the 40-lap Lee Stultz Memorial before being overtaken by eventual race winner Jamie Lathroum with 10 laps remaining. Blair would cross the finish line in third setting up his season long charge to the championship. Rob finished 11th in the tours second trip to KC Raceway before going on a string of having 11 top-ten finishes out of the remaining 12 ASLMS events. The surge started at Tim Baineys Central PA Speedway in Clearfield, PA with a solid sixth place finish.
The series then made their way to Hartford Motor Speedway in Hartford, MI where Rob may have saved his season. While being in contention for the lead with fellow ASLMS regular Rod Conley, a lap 17 caution slowed the pace with Blair leading the pack. But during the caution period Blairs left rear tire went flat sending him pit side. Robbie rejoined the field and methodically worked his way back through the field to finish fifth and closing the point gap to 34 points. Blair followed that fifth place finish with another fifth place finish the following night at Butler Motor Speedway in Butler, MI.
Blairs hot streak continued as the series visited his home track, Tri-City Speedway in Franklin, PA. Rob would hold off a hard charging David Scott, who was subbing for the injured Billy Henry, and Chub Frank to capture his first OReilly All Star Late Model Series win. The Titusville Terror would follow his win up with a sixth place finish at Middlebourne, WVs Tyler County Speedway and a strong second place finish in the series return to Central PA Speedway. The point difference between leader Briggs and second place Blair was 30 points heading into the tours trip into the state of Indiana.
The first night in Indiana was a stop at Twin Cities Raceway Park in North Vernon, IN and was the only time Rob would finish outside of the top-ten the rest of the season. His 14th place finish was his worst since his 11th place finish at KC on Memorial Day weekend. Robbie righted the ship the following night at Lawrenceburg Speedway in Lawrenceburg, IN with a seventh place finish. With only three events left on the ASLMS schedule, Blair was a mere 26 points behind Briggs.
Rob continued to gain valuable points with a fourth place finish at Lernerville Speedway and a third place finish at KC Raceway before the huge $20,000 to-win Classic at KC Raceway ended the season. The point differential was just six points going into the Classic and Blairs weekend got off to a fantastic start after he won his heat race and he drew the number two for the A-Main redraw. Rob started the 100-lap feature event on the outside pole and ran a smooth clean race to finish tenth while Briggs was scored with a 19th place finish giving Robbie the 2009 ASLMS Championship by only 12 points.
We went into that last race at KC with one objective, win the championship, Blair quipped. I just wanted to run a clean race and stay out of trouble. I knew Boom was starting in the back so he was really going to have to bust his tail to get up front. Blair continued, I seen him dip into the infield a few times under caution for tires so I knew he was still towards the back. I just tried to stay out of trouble and finish in front of him.
Rob as well as the rest of the OReilly All Star Late Model Series contingent will be honored Saturday, February 27th at the OReilly All Star Late Model Series Banquet, to be held in conjunction with the Lernerville Speedway Awards Banquet, at the Days Inn and Conference Center in Butler, PA. Doors will open at 5:30pm while the all you can eat buffet dinner will begin at 6:00pm. The price of the banquet is $35, with free soft drinks and beer provided. There will be a cash bar for liquor. The Days Inn will give you a discounted room with two double beds at $62 or a king bed at $67 if you make reservations by calling (724) 287-6761. Just mention the Lernerville Banquet!
#Won11 Robbie Blair (Titusville Terror) drives a Rocket Chassis mounted on Genesis Shocks with a Draime Racing Engine and Hoosier Race Tires. Sponsors include Specialty Products / Bossards Auto / Maloney Tool & Mold / Chelby's Hair and Tanning Garage / Genesis Racing Shocks / Slavic Custom Racing Shirts & Decals
Points: 2700
Points Position: 1st
Fast Time: 0
A-Main Wins: One (Tri-City Speedway, Franklin, PA)
Top 10s: 12
Top 5s: 7
Heat Wins: 5
B-Main Wins: 1
For more information and to join the OReilly All Star Late Model Series mailing list please visit www.allstarlatemodels.com.
