Mineral Wells, West Virginia – The last time the FASTRAK Racing Series visited “The Speedplant” West Virginia Motor Speedway was in October 2010, Jonathan Davenport won the event and at time the track was 5/8th mile. There has been many changes since the last race, the track was configured to 4/10th a mile, track still made wide enough for exciting “Wild and Wonderful” racing. 
The race proved the same May 11th as 34 FASTRAK Late Models teams “rang the bell” in drastic weather conditions. Where many tracks pulled the plug because of rain early, Lynn Chapman and company at WVMS we’re committed in doing any and everything to get the “Wild and Wonderful 50” for $5,000 to win successful, what a race it was!!After the 4 wide salute to the fans and fireworks along with Driver Introductions conducted by Ms. FASTRAK – Chelsea Smith in the books the enthusiastic crowd was ready to see the return of FASTRAK at “The Speedplant” after a three year absence. It was cool when nightfall set and then the wind really picked up before the A-Main Feature with gusts of 20+ mph. One thing that was drastically changing throughout the event besides the different leaders up front was the conditions of the track at WVMS.
On the initial start #1J George Kowatic from Moon Township, PA’s night would come to an end while the field raced 4 and even 5 wide out of turn 3. Kowatic would tag the outside fence in a single car incident. No laps complete the field would go back to their original starting spot and go again. After 9 laps around the 4/10th mile track the caution would fall a few times on that lap with #18 Chris Carpenter and then #A1 Tim Dohm cut down tires or spinning out on the track. On Lap 11 two laps after the restart #8 Ron Parker was coming hard to the front getting a run on the #111 of Max Blair. Diving from the topside lane deep into turn one then drove to the bottom “racing contact” was made. Parker looped his car around in the apex of the corners. Parker was sent to the tail but rallied to fight back to finish in the Top 10.
Then on the same lap #77 Joel Prosser tagged the wall again battling with #44w Brandon Umberger as “Flatfoot” was rallying to the front, made contact with heavy damage in turn 3. Under caution fast qualifier front race runner in the early going #12 Ryan Montgomery tagged the crossover gate entrance to the pits into turn one. On the hook the Rocket was destroyed and the young man’s night was over. The issue with tires being cut down was also a concern to the FASTRAK Officials after #16 John Wyer cut down a right rear side of rubber. This made Stan Lester and Travis Scott in agreement to have the FASTRAK and WVMS officials check the entire track thoroughly, debris was found and track was cleaned up back for racing.
The first half of the race was intense with now #93 Donald Bradsher to the point after early leaders and contenders #25 Matt Long and #12 Ryan Montgomery. The bottom line was racing was “Wild and Wonderful” all over “The Speedplant” but Bradsher was out in front coming of his first FASTRAK Touring win at Friendship Speedway in Eklin, NC April 13th. Lap 30 problems ensued for the #28 Rocket of Maple Fork, WV native Aaron Barley. Exiting off turn two his power plant erupted with heavy white smoke. Thinking it was a motor with the report of fluid all over the backstretch extensive cleanup was done again. During post-race RPMX Motorsports representative Robby Cline reported the radiator hose was all it was.
The term the “BIG ONE” is used in restrictor plate NASCAR racing. For the FASTRAK Racing Series tracks a ½ mile or bigger is our Daytona/Talladega. The races in 2010 initial start ended up with a 22 car wreck in the get go. Big problems happened on the front stretch when #11 Robby Rohrer collected #11 David Smith then in the process collecting A-1 Tim Dohm and #88 Trent Ivey. Smith the 2 time and defending FASTRAK City Chevrolet Southeast Champ suffered the worst damage getting air borne plummeted end over end hard on track.
After the Red Flag reported all drivers ok and clean-up was done this set up an 18 lap run to the checkers. Donald Bradsher was holding off the like of #33 Chris Meadows, #21jt Jacob Hawkins, #1c Mike Pegher Jr. and #111 Max Blair for the eventual win. 4 cars would battle for the win. Bradsher was setting sail on the field but another Rocket was coming #111 “Mad” Max Blair. Coming down to 2 laps to go, lap traffic got into the decisional outcome of the race. Bradsher was running up on back marker cars which allowed #111 Max Blair the defending FASTRAK World Champion to pull to the bottom off turn 2 to eventually pull by Donald Bradsher and beat him to the checkered flag and score the $5,000 to win payday to conclude a race that matched its title name “Wild and Wonderful”.
FASTRAK National Race “Wild and Wonderful 50” Official Results from West Virginia Motor Speedway – Mineral Wells, West Virginia – (tire lab results pending)
1st #111 Max Blair – PA
2nd #93 Donald Bradsher – NC
3rd #21jt Jacob Hawkins – WV
4th #33 Chris Meadows – WV
5th #1c Mike Pegher Jr. – PA
6th #A-1 Tim Dohm – WV
7th #8p Ron Parker – NC
8th #22d Jordan Dill – SC
9th #25 Matt Long – NC
10th #2b Frankie Beard – GA
11th #32b Brian Baumberger – OH
12th #11r Robbie Rohrer – PA
13th #4h Taylor Hicks – SC
14th 77p Joel Prosser – WV
15th #11 David Smith – SC
16th #88 Trent Ivey – SC
17th #28 Aaron Barley – WV
18th #16 John Wyer – OH
19th #22 Charles Daughrety – OH
20th #44w Brandon Umberger – VA
21st #12 Ryan Montgomery – WV
22nd #11h Rick Lucas – WV
23rd #18 Chris Carpenter – WV
24th 1j George Kowatic – PA
Drivers that didn’t make Feature include: #32 Kyle Thomas, #101 Jesse Wisecarver, #00 Josh Holtgraver, #75 Colton Flinner, #4 Melvin Ferguson, #13 Brandon McGrady and #41 Joe Cox.