Will Lee Cooper three-peat in 2K10?

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FASTRAK Racing Series
Will Lee Cooper three – peat in 2010?
OMG Southern/Smokey Mtn/Mid East Touring Series

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Carnesville,GA (Mar-17) In early March, as the OMG Southern/Smokey Mtn/ Mid East Touring Series was set to kick off the 2010 campaign, the new season would be welcomed in much differently than in years past. While Greer SC’s Lee Cooper is no stranger to winning championships after winning the OMG Southern/Smokey Mtn/ Mid East Touring Series title in 2006, 2008 and 2009, the face of this year’s championship was already taking on a different look by virtue of the continued growth of the FASTRAK Racing Series seen in 2009 despite the sluggish economy. From a driver’s perspective, increased growth is defined as; more people who have a shot at winning.

In 2010, the driver who goes on to win the 2010 OMG Southern/Smokey Mtn/Mid East Touring Series Championship and the $10,000 that accompanies the trophy will have to incorporate a heightened attention to detail in every phase of their respective racing operations never before seen. Making the wrong spring choice in just one event or an air pressure adjustment of 1/4 pound in the wrong direction could be the difference between being introduced as the 2010 OMG Southern/Smokey Mtn/ Mid East Touring Series Touring Series Champion or the runner up at the annual FASTRAK Racing Series National Points Banquet.

While racing on most of America’s short tracks was still weeks off, the FASTRAK Racing Series opened the year March 6th with the nation’s richest crate late model season opening event; the $10,000 to win Modoc 100. The event also marked event number one on the 2010 OMG Southern/Smokey Mtn/Mid East Touring Series schedule.

With as many as 50 drivers slated to contest for the 2010 OMG Southern/Smokey Mtn/Mid East Touring Series Championship in 2010, the level of competition is unparalleled according to Cooper who won the 2009 OMG Southern/Smokey Mtn/Mid East Touring Series Championship on the strength of an impressive nine Top 5 finishes and 11 Top 10’s in the 13 events that made up the 2009 campaign. “The biggest thing I’ve noticed in the last couple of years” says Cooper “is how tough it is at one of these races. It used to be that when we went to the track, there were four or five guys you figured it was going to end up coming down too, now when we go to the track, there are at least 12 or 15 cars that you know have a real shot at winning. The difference between 2008 and 2009 was un real”.

As the OMG Southern/Smokey Mtn/Mid East Touring Series headed to Wythe Raceway in September of 2009 for the 6th Annual $10,000 To Win/$500 To Start ‘Pro Late Model Nationals’, the separation in the point standings between the top four of Cooper, Osteen, Smith and Bray was just 18 points. Conceivably, the OMG Southern/Smokey Mtn./Mid East Touring Series Championship was up for grabs and did in fact go down to the last lap.

Cooper’s margin of victory over runner up Owen Osteen of Woodruff SC was just 12 points in the final OMG Southern/Smokey Mtn/Mid East Touring Series points. David Smith of Inman SC finished third just 16 markers back just ahead of Royce Bray of Hull GA, and Chris Steele of York SC.

By comparison, in 2008, Cooper won the OMG Southern/Smokey Mtn/ Mid East Touring Series Championship by 92 points over 2007 Champion John Llewellyn of Knoxville, TN.

Cooper has been a long time supporter of the FASTRAK Racing Series almost from the time the series began. Not realizing how vital his role has been in shaping the FASTRAK Racing Series into what it has become today, Cooper says “if you stop and think about it, other than FASTRAK, where else can you go and race knowing that you really have as much a chance of winning as anyone else there?

"With the exception of a flat or something like that, I feel like I have a shot to win at every race we go to and the cool thing is, so does everyone else.”

Partners of the FASTRAK Racing Series Include: Hoosier Racing Tire, GM Performance Parts, City Chevrolet, VP Racing Fuels, OldMansGarage.com , ColdWindLLC.com, NOS Energy Drink, Holiday Inn, Vicci Apparel, T.N.T.Race Cars, Rocket Chassis. Become a FASTRAK PARTNER! Contact FASTRAK at 678-935-7304 for partnership or single event packages.

*THE FASTRAK SERIES is based on the GM crate engine program using both the 602 and 604 engine types. All teams utilize Hoosier Racing Tire as the “spec tire” brand of the FASTRAK Racing Series allowing team’s tremendous savings in both engine and tire expense. The National Championship of the FASTRAK RACING SERIES is one of the largest in the United States.
 
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