News
6/17/09 The 7w team was only able to net a tenth place finish on Sunday due to a spin on the oil-slicked track after an engine failure by the 888. Bobby was fighting for fourth at the time.
The team will be taking this weekend of to spend time with family on Father's Day.
On a sad note, the local racing community, BRP Modified Tour and community in general, lost a very good friend on Tuesday, June 6. Roy Sanner, Athletic Director and Coach for Rocky Grove Jr/Sr High School, BRP Modified Tour board member and crew member for the #68 E-mod of Tim Engles was killed, along with his companion, Eva Struthers, in a head on collision while riding his Harley Davidson in Mercer County. The thoughts and prayers of the entire 7w team go out to the friends and family of Roy and Eva as they struggle to get through this trying time.
6/10/09 After a mediocre sixth place finish last Sunday, the 7w team looked to improve on that finish. Bobby started his heat on the pole and made quick work of the ensuing eight laps, and came home with the teams first heat win of the season and 95th of Bobby's career at H&H Motorsports Tri-city Speedway.
With an invert of four, Bobby found himself starting on the outside of row number two in the feature. On the drop of the green, the 7w was shuffled back two spots as Jason Reagle shot to the bottom and under Bobby, blocking him to the outside. Over the next few laps, the 888 of Reagle, the 02 of Dave Ferringer and Bobby battled for the same patch of track. On lap nine, mechanical problems forced the 888 to the pits and allowed Bobby to slide under Dave for third. With five laps remaining, Bobby passed Chris Haines for second and tried in vain to run down eventual winner Jackson Humanic, coming up four car lengths shy.
With a new crate late still a ways off, the team will once again be at TCS this week chasing that first win of the season.
5/25/09 The 7w team made its return to the western PA pro-stock ranks on Sunday at H&H Motorsports Tri-city Speedway. However the night didn't start out quite as the team had hoped. During hot laps, Bobby was forced pitside with a severe ignition problem. Brad and the team spent the next hour trying to remedy the misfire before the heat races began. Entering turn one of his heat race, Bobby lost the brakes on the 7w and still had the engine problem. Once again the crew began their work to fix the car before feature time rolled around. After diagnosing and repairing the brake problem and changing numerous ignition components and draining 20 gallons of race fuel out of the car the team felt they had a grip on the situation. With Bobby starting at the tail end of the feature line-up and still not having an idea of how the brand new chassis would handle, Bobby and the team decided to ride around the back of the field to have a better assessment of how to set the car up for next week. With 7 laps gone in the feature, Bobby started to gain confidence in how the car was moving around the track and made his move toward the front. Using both the top and bottom grooves to slide his way up the field, the 7w began picking off positions one by one. When the final caution flag of the night flew, Bobby found himself in sixth with a few more laps to advance his standing. On the final turn Bobby was able to edge fellow competitor and friend Randy Wyant for fourth place. After all was said and done Bobby and the crew were satisfied with the night's accomplishments and look forward to running next week to improve on Sunday night's finish.
5/19/09 The 7w team has been working this past week to ready the 7w Pro-stock for competition on Sunday. With uncertainty about the teams future in FASTRAK this season, and the strain the crash caused to the teams resources, the team will field their familiar 7w stock car in the next few weeks. Bobby and the team would like to thank all of their friends, fans, sponsors and fellow racers that have offered help, equipment and support over the last couple of weeks, the team has been very grateful. 5/11/09 The 7w team's season took a severe hit Sunday as Bobby was collected in a six car pile-up at Tri-city Speedway in Franklin, PA. After David Scott and Jim Frank touched going down the back stretch, Bobby shot high to avoid hitting Frank, but Frank turned into Bobby putting him into the outside wall and leading four cars behind the 7w to collide. After the smoke subsided, the cars of Joe Valenti, Joe Martin, Michael Mitchell, Jamie Brown, Bobby and Jim Frank, sat in various states of dammage. The 7w and the 8v of Valenti were severely damaged, with the 7w being a total loss. After the races, Bobby was taken to UPMC Northwest in Seneca and diagnosed with a concussion and bruised collarbone. He is very sore and quite bruised. The team will take this weekend off to allow Bobby to recover and to try to finish up the 7w Pro-stock to continue racing at TCS in the stock class. However the FASTRAK deal will be put on hold while the team evaluates a few options that they have. Bobby and the crew would like to thank the many friends, including the 31 Pro-stock crew and Ron and Bud, that stayed Sunday well past 11:00 p.m. to help the 7w team get the twisted chassis together enough to get it back to the shop in Seneca. Check back for updates on the teams progress in the next week as they decide where their program will go from here. Thanks Scott Whipple for the photos. 4/26/09 The 7w team started their 2009 season Sunday at Tri-city Speedway in Franklin, PA. After drawing a bad pill, Bobby found himself starting tail in his first heat race of the year. The eight lap race would find him racing his way to a fifth place finish and a spot in the twelve car invert. With a third starting spot in the feature, the team was anxious for a good run and a nice finish to start the season. However after a first lap spin, Bobby was only able to pilot the car to a tenth place ending to the night. 
Next week will find the team watching from the side, as TCS will be featuring the Super Latemodels and Super Sprint cars instead of the normal Sunday field.
4/21/09 The 7w team has spent the last month putting the finishing touches on the teams' two cars that they will field in 2009. The Rocket Chassis that Bobby piloted in 2008 will once again be ready to go this Sunday evening at Tri-city Speedway in Franklin, PA. The team is looking to build on the experience they gained last year and make a run at the Fastrak Crate Late track championship at the local half-mile oval. The competition will be tough with 2008 National Weekly Champion Max Blair, Bobby Powell, E-mod Champion Carl McKinney, Mike Pegher and Butch Lambert also looking at the championship trophy in 2009.
The team is also finishing a brand-new SS Racecars chassis to compete in a limited number of Pro-stock races around the circuit in '09. The new car has been in the works for the last couple of years and Bobby and the crew are anxious to see the new car finally hit the track this season.
1/26/09 Sunday, Bobby and the rest of the 7w Racing team received the same news that many of you received, in the passing of local racing legend Lou Blaney. Our deepest sympathies go out to Kate, Dave, Dale and the entire Blaney family. Lou is a man that has had some kind of impact on nearly every racer and fan in western PA and eastern OH over the last five decades and he will be sorely missed by the entire Penn-Ohio racing community. I know this team surely will miss that familiar red and white #10 making its laps around the local dirt circuit. Rest in peace, Mr. Blaney.
Lou Blaney
January 4, 1940-January 25, 2009
1/1/09 Bobby and the 7w Racing team is currently readying two cars for the 2009 racing season. In addition to the Rocket Chassis/GM crate latemodel that the team fielded in 2008, the team is putting the finishing touches on a brand new Whitling built SS Racecars pro-stock chassis. Since the end of the 2008 season, 7w Racing has completed our move to our new race shop located in Seneca, PA and very happy to be working out of this new facility. We are looking forward to building on the gains we made in our program in 2008 and bringing forth a solid effort on the tracks scattered around western PA in 2009.
7/14/08 Looking to right the ship after last weeks troubles, the Bobby and the 7w team returned home to Tri-city on Sunday. With the heavy rains drowning the area for much of Saturday night and Sunday evening, the cars found a less than favorable track for the heats. After starting tenth in his heat, Bobby raced to a sixth place finish. With a number six invert, the team found themselves with the pole position for the feature. At the drop of the green, Chad Myers was able to use the better outside groove as he shot past Bobby to take the lead. Bobby and Chad raced neck and neck with Chad running the top groove and Bobby running the lower groove for ten laps. However, on the eleventh lap, close friend, Bobby Powell was able to continue his hot streak as he shot underneath the 7w and set his sights on the lead. As the B1D of Powell and the 01 of Myers were putting on a show up front for the lead, Bobby found himself in a race of his own with local wunderkid Max Blair. The battle ensued for third for the last 9 laps with Bobby coming out on top. Bobby Powell won his second straight at Tri-city with Myers second, Bobby third, Max fourth and veteran racer Steve Hollabaugh fifth.
7/7/08 After a rough night Friday at Raceway 7 that saw the 7w crew missing a feature for the first time in 08 due to an on track incident in the heat race, the team looked to bounce back on Sunday. After a mediocre fifth place finish finish in the heat race, the team readied the car for the ninth starting spot in the feature. But just four laps in, a spinning car of Karl Mckinney collected Bobby and for the second time this past weekend the crew found themselves done in early with bent and broken suspension parts and unable to continue. Better luck next week we hope. Congratulations to Bobby Powell and the Bidwell team on their first career FASTRAK win at the Venango County 1/2 mile.
6/30/08 Another rainout.
6/23/08 Hot laps were great! And since that was all that run last evening, that's all I have to report. See you next week.
6/16/08 Another second for us, another win for Max. After starting fourth in the feature, Bobby was able to race to the lead by lap seven. But five laps later Max Blair was able to use the bottom of the race track to slide under Bobby and cruise to his fourth straight win of the season. Bobby Powell rounded out the top three, another one, two, three finish for Genesis Racing shocks.
6/9/08 Just 16 laps. That was all we could get this week as a severe thunderstorm brought the roof down Sunday evening and washed out the remaining races.
Bobby started off the night with a pole in the second heat of the evening. Seven laps of front spot racing wasn't enough as Butch Lambert is his 27 late model caught and passed Bobby on the last lap handing Bobby second place.
With another heads up start, the 7w started in fourth behind Max Blair, Butch Lambert and Bobby Powell. For the first five laps the field stayed pat with Max running first and Lambert second. On the first caution, Chad Myers was able to move past Bobby for fourth, but the action was up front as Butch Lambert was slowly reeling Max Blair in for the lead. On lap 12, Lambert moved underneath Blair for the lead. With the two racers swapping spots for the next five laps, anxiety grew as the cars tried their best to beat each other, but also the rain. Butch was able get by Blair to take the lead, but as the cars came around for lap 17 a caution was waved and the pass was nullified. During the ensuing caution, heavy wind and rain started forcing the track officials to call the race giving Max his third straight win of the year. Max finished first over Lambert, Mckinney, Myers and Bobby.
6/2/08 Wow, what a week. After the flip at Tri-city last weekend the crew had a tiring week of work ahead of them to get the 7w latemodel back together for competition on Sunday. But with the help of our sponsors and friends the crew was able to rebuild the car and make it to the track for the first race in June.
Bobby drew a lucky pill and with a pole position in the heat a second heat race win looked inevitable. With an early race lead the win looked more and more likely but a couple late race cautions allowed the 6m of Karl Mckinney to reel in Bobby for the last lap pass.
A straight up invert allowed Bobby to start in the fourth spot for the feature. After a near spin out in the first turn, Bobby was able to settle himself down and by lap 6 had moved past Bobby Powell's B1D to take third. With Max Blair checking out in the lead and Carl with a healthy advantage in second, the action was for 3rd-5th place between Bobby, Bobby and the 27 of Butch Lambert. The great side-by-side-by-side racing action continued for the next 12 laps until Lambert used a lapped car as a pick and was able to squeeze under the 7w to take 3rd spot. Bobby finished 4th behind Lambert, Mckinney and Blair, who picked up his second win in as many weeks.
Thanks to everyone that helped us with the car this past week. Heeter, Dick, Jason, Nick and everyone else that dropped by to get greasy with the crew, it was very much appreciated.
5/27/08 The 7w Team started the Memorial Day weekend at Mckean County Raceway on Saturday night. After a third place finish in the heat race, Bobby lucked into a 12th place pill draw and a 12th place starting spot for the FASTRAK feature. After a fairly uneventful race which saw very little passing Bobby was able to grab an 11th place finish in his first trip to the 3/8 mile facility.
The second race of the weekend saw the 7w return home to Tri-city Speedway and hopefully a chance for redemption after the wreck the team had the last time they saw the track. Bobby started the evening in fifth place for the heat race. After a couple of quick cautions, Bobby was able to maneuver the 7w to his first heat race win of the 2008 season. With a six invert being drawn, Bobby found himself starting fifth for the nights feature event. With the drop of the green, Bobby soon found the 7w right on the heels of local youngster, Max Blair. Twelve laps of side-by-side racing with Max hugging the bottom and Bobby running the top behind leader Tom Snyder made for exciting racing for the fans in attendance for the beautiful Sunday evening race. On lap sixteen Bobby cleared Max for the final time and set his sights on the win. With two laps to go Bobby was able to use the high side of the racing surface to pull even with Snyder, but while coming around turn four to take the white flag, Snyder turned his car up the track to cut Bobby off, in doing so he forced the 7w to climb the front stretch wall before slamming hard on its roof. Snyder was relegated to the tail of the field for rough driving, but apparently decided to call it a night as he sped off the track to his pit. With the first two cars out of action, Max was able to collect his first win at the Franklin 1/2 mile even while having a left front flat.
With the damage to the car from Sunday night, the team was not able to make it to Mercer for the FASTRAK event on Memorial Day. This week the team will assess the damage to their Rocket Chassis and begin repairs to try to get back to the track for Sunday.
Thanks to everyone that helped us with the car Sunday, there was alot of work to be done just to load the car to get it back to the shop. And also thanks to the guys that offered help and parts if we needed, it was greatly appreciated.
5/16/08 After a complete washout last weekend and the forecast for this weekend dismal at best, the 7w team decided to head to Raceway 7 for a regular event on Friday evening. Bobby started third in his heat race and finished the same. After avoiding a seven car pile-up on the restart of lap 7, Bobby raced to a sixth place finish in our first trip to Raceway 7 in 2008.
This weekend will find the 7w crew heading to Mckean County for a FASTRAK event on Saturday and then races at Tri-city on Sunday and Mercer for another FASTRAK event on Memorial Day.
5/4/08 Bobby and the 7w Crew competed for the second time of the season on Sunday night at TCS after a rainout on Friday at Raceway 7. This time, however, the outcome was not as pleasing. After drawing a high pill for the heat race, Bobby found himself tailing the field for the start. But by the time the checkered flag flew, Bobby had raced the car to a fifth place finish and a spot in the redraw. When feature time came Bobby was placed in the ninth starting spot and in good position to get a solid finish in his Dulaney's Garage/ R.K. Virgile late model. On the drop of the green, Bobby shot the car to the bottom of the track to pick up two positions, but as the yellow flew before a lap could be completed, his move was for not, and was moved back to the original starting spot. As the flag dropped for the second time, Bobby was slowed to avoid a spinning car, unfortunately the car behind him was not as quick to react and slammed into the back of the 7w car doing significant damage to the left side of the car and forcing Bobby to the pits. The crew feverishly worked as the caution laps ticked by and were able to get the car raceworthy before the restart. With Bobby restarting at the tail of the field, he found the car to not be as good after the wreck and was only able to salvage a 13th place finish out of the field of 21 cars. This week the crew will be busy in the shop readying the car for the upcoming weekend. Hopefully this weekend will be a little easier on the car and crew.
4/27/08 The 7w Racing team started off its 2008 campaign on Sunday night at TCS with a thrilling second place finish behind race winner Dave Lyons of Corry, PA.
Bobby started the evening with a 5th place starting spot in his heat race. After a couple of laps to settle himself down and get used to the car, Bobby raced for a 3rd place place finish behind Max Blair, son of local Super late model champ Robby Blair, and E-mod standout Carl Mckinney. With a 7th place position in the starting grid the 7w team began the process of preparing their Rocket Chassis for the feature event.
On the drop of the green, Bobby raced under three cars in turn one to emerge 4th, but a caution negated the pass and Bobby once again was placed back to 7th. On the restart Bobby was able to use the same move and once again began his charge to the front. With Chad Myers leading on the next restart, Dave Lyons, with Bobby in tow, raced around Myers to take over 1st and Bobby 2nd. Dave and Bobby raced side by side until a 10th lap caution bunched the cars back together. On the ensuing restart, Bobby raced under Dave for the lead and was off for the hopeful win. Unfortunately on lap 15, Dave's slightly harder tire started to take off and he was able to race back past Bobby for the lead. On the final restart Bobby once again tried to dive below Lyons for the lead but was held off by Dave, who edged Bobby by just 0.103 seconds at the line. Dennis Lunger Jr., Tom Snyder Jr. and Max Blair rounded out the top five.
The entire 7w team was pleased with our first run in this exciting new division. Bobby said after the race,"Wow, that was fun. It was alot like driving my Pro-stock." With that being said the team is excited and ready for a great season with the FASTRAK Series. Bobby and the crew would like to thank everyone for their help Sunday night.
3/22/08 The 7w Racing crate motor blew fire for the first time Saturday afternoon. Now with the drivetrain completed, the crew will spend the next few weeks double and triple checking our maintenance checklist and getting the trailer stocked for our first race at TCS on April 27 and our first FASTRAK NE Tour race at Raceway 7 on May 2.
3/15/08 The 7w crew has just begun to add the finishing touches on the 7w latemodel with the addition of a brand new 604 GM crate purchased from Baierl's Northpointe Automotive in Cranberry, PA. Spring is on the way and with it the 2008 season. We can't wait!
3/11/08 7w Racing would like to thank everyone that stopped out to see us at the Tri-city Speedway/Cranberry Mall car show. Unfortunately the weather put quite a damper on things Friday and Saturday nights, but the crowd was rather large on Sunday. We enjoyed talking to everyone there and can't wait for the upcoming season to begin.
3/6/08 7w Racing will be at the Cranberry Mall this weekend for the annual Tri-city Speedway Race Car show. Hope to see you all there!
1/1/08 7w Racing has purchased a 2006 Rocket Chassis latemodel previously owned by Matt Lux and M3 Motorsports and will field the car in the FASTRAK Late model Series in 2008.