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RACEWAY 7

Todd Andrews MACS winner at Raceway 7

Conneaut, Ohio, (August 27) Todd Andrews of Eldred, PA scored the $5,000 victory in the 50 lap Mid-Atlantic Championship Series event on Friday night at Raceway 7. Though Andrews led the entire distance, it was not as easy as it sounded, by any means. Andrews survived a brush with lapped traffic on lap 38 which collected second running Bob Close, then held off Dick Barton for the victory. Barton did take the win in the Super 7 Shootout sponsored by Bossard Crawford GM, earning $1000 for the ride back to Ashville, NY. Also picking up victories on the program of racing were Dave Kister of Conneaut, OH in The Bolt Place Limited Late Models; Todd Roncaglione of Linesville, PA in the Corry Laser E-Mods; Bob Pifer of Andover, OH in the Fame Manufacturing Street Stocks; and Jim Hyde of Springboro, PA in the Steve's Auto Body Four Cylinders.

The 50 lap main event for the Mid-Atlantic Championship Series Late Models started with Tony Lombardi and Todd Andrews drawing front row starting spots. Andrews moved to the point ahead of Lombardi on lap one, before the yellow flag waved for a turn three tangle. Involved were Merle Terry, Mickey Wright, and second in MACS and Raceway 7 points Rob Blair. The restart saw Andrews resume in the lead, with Lombardi and fourth starting Bob Close taking up the chase. Andrews quickly put distance between himself and the competition, but his lead started to shrink as the green flag laps clicked by. The race for the lead was on as the leaders began to run down race traffic by lap 12. Lap 13 saw Close move by Lombardi for second, as David Scott and Scott Rhodes were trying to give chase. Close moved right in on race leader Andrews, as lapped traffic was heavy during the green flag laps. Just as the lead battle commenced in heavy lapped traffic, the yellow flag waved for a stopped Ron Slavic on lap 19. The race went back green for just a lap, as cars out of shape caused MACS point leader Lynn Geisler and Bill Cunningham to slide to a halt. Dick Barton used the opportunity to join the top five at that point.

Back to green, Andrews once again put some distance between himself and the competition, as Close and those behind had problems clearing lapped traffic. Close finally cleared traffic as the lap 25 halfway mark was shown, with Lombardi, Barton, and Scott chasing. Close began to cut the lead distance, as Andrews once again was faced with race traffic. On lap 38, the lead battle was hot and heavy. While working the heavy traffic, race leader Andrews made contact with the lapped car of Dale Applebee on the backstretch, forcing Applebee's car to spin sideways. Applebee's spinning car slid directly into the path of Close, and the collision would force the yellow flag of the race to wave. Close was forced from the event at what would be the final yellow flag of the race. Dick Barton inherited second for the restart, with Lombardi, Scott, and Rhodes behind. Andrews and Barton moved away, as they appeared that they would settle the battle between themselves. Scott passed Lombardi for third on lap 42, but they were well behind the leaders. Though Barton tried on several occasions to pass after the restart, Andrews inched away over the closing laps en route to the $5,000 payday. Barton came home a close second, with Scott, Rhodes, and Lombardi filling the top five. Rob Blair started 23rd, and despite the lap 1 tangle came through the pack to finish sixth. Geisler was seventh after the lap 20 tangle, and will retain the MACS point lead. Ed Carley, Dave Lyon, and Rusty Whitmore completed the top ten.

In the Super 7 Shootout sponsored by Bossard Crawford GM, Dick Barton led the eight lap distance to score the win. Lynn Geisler held off Matt Urban for second, in the event for the top eight money earners from the four 1999 MACS races at Raceway 7. The field of 36 MACS Late Models was divided in to four qualifying heat races. Heat race wins went to Lynn Geisler, Dick Barton, Tony Lombardi, and David Scott. The two Last Chance Races went to Ed Carley and Merle Terry.

The 15 lap The Bolt Place Limited Late Model feature went to Dave Kister, as the rookie driver collected his first career feature win. Kister took the lead early from the pole position, as Tom Bonanno challenged. Point leader and five-time feature winner Dan McDonald moved to second after a lap 5 restart, and closed in on leader Kister. McDonald's pressure lasted until lap 10, but Kister pulled away over the final laps to score the memorable first-ever feature win. McDonald came home second and will just need to start next week's races to claim the track title. Bonanno was third ahead of Brian Huffman and Steve Hollabaugh. Kister, Bonanno, and Brad Fiesler took the heat race wins.

The 15 lap Corry Laser E-Mod feature went to Todd Roncaglione for the second straight week. Proving last week's win over a strong field of York Series cars was no fluke, he picked right back up where he left off then by leading the entire distance in scoring the win. Bill Watson closed in late but settled for second. Jay Watson came home third, and should need to start next week's feature to earn the point title. Fourth went to 12th starting Alan Dellinger, with Hugo Litwiler fifth. Roncaglione, Joe Welch, and Dellinger were heat race winners.

Bob Pifer claimed his fourth feature win of the season in the 12 lap Fame Manufacturing Street Stock main event. Bill Hanna led early, with Brian Douglas making an early bid on the inside of the backstretch on lap 2. The two cars made contact, and ran off the inside of the track allowing Rich Howell to grab the top spot. Pifer made the pass to lead lap 5, as the two drivers swapped the lead again on lap 6. After a lap 7 yellow, Howell's car rolled to a stop a lap later to end his run. Pifer had no problems from there, en route to the win. Brian Counselman started at the tail of the 24 car field, but advanced all the way to second place at the finish. Tim Mailliard was third. Best finishes of the season were recorded John Hobbs, Sr. and Rick Dragon, in fourth and fifth respectively. The heat race winners were Hanna, Jim Peska, and Mike Watson. Hanna will just need to start next week's races to clinch the point championship.

Still unbeatable in the Steve's Auto Body Four Cylinders is Jim Hyde, as he captured his ninth 10 lap feature win in a row. Hyde quickly moved to the point from outside row one, and kept 15th starting Dan Osborne at bay as he laid claim to the track championship with one race remaining. Osborne's fine run netted him second, ahead of Darrell Moody, Mark Kitinoja, and Turk Kahler. Jim Sample and Richard Riggleman were uninjured in separate incidents where their cars rolled over.

Racing action at Raceway 7 will draw to a close with the "Grand Finale" this coming Friday, September 3. The last racing program of the 1900's will see five division racing with track champions crowned in each division, and there will be a Fireworks display as well. A Demo Derby will end the racing program. Tickets are now available for the Raceway 7 Awards Banquet, which will be held on Saturday night, November 13. The ticket price is $20, for the event to be held at St. John's Social Hall on Main Street in Girard, PA. Obtain tickets by mail at Raceway 7, 26924 State Highway 77, Guys Mills, PA, 16327. No tickets will be sold at the door. Raceway 7 is located six miles south of I-90 on Ohio Route 7. For more information, call the track phone on race day at 440-594-2222, or visit the Raceway 7 web site at www.raceway7.com.

Season ending show, September 3 - Grand Finale. Five division racing, point champions crowned. Fireworks, and a Demo Derby.

November 13 - 1999 Raceway 7 Awards Banquet.

Raceway 7 Results for Friday, August 27, 1999

Mid-Atlantic Championship Series Late Models. Car Count, 36.
Heat winners, Lynn Geisler, Cranberry Twp., PA; Dick Barton, Ashville, NY; Tony Lombardi, Warren, OH; David Scott, Garland, PA.

Last Chance Race winners, Ed Carley, Freedom, NY; Merle Terry, Erie, PA.

Feature winner, Todd Andrews, Eldred, PA.

Top ten, Dick Barton; David Scott; Scott Rhodes, Somerset, PA; Tony Lombardi; Rob Blair, Titusville, PA; Lynn Geisler; Ed Carley; Dave Lyon, Sugar Grove, PA: Rusty Whitmore, Franklin, PA.

Remainder, Dale Applebee, Mickey Wright, John Watson, Rick Isadore, Merle Terry, Wally Fox, Ron Davies, Bob Close, Dan Armbruster, Bill Cunningham, Ron Slavic, Matt Urban, Mark Osburn, Dutch Davies. Did not qualify, John Venable, Chevy Scott, Kevin Santee, Rick Briggs, Jim Mazur, Skeet Reckner, Dave Padula, Jeff Esbenshade, Frank Poniatowski, Dan Tercho, Steve White. Did not run, Jeff Ferguson. Super 7 Shootout, Dick Barton, Lynn Geisler, Matt Urban, Scott Rhodes, Bob Close, Ron Davies, Todd Andrews, Dale Applebee.

The Bolt Place Limited Late Models. Car Count, 26. Heat winners, Dave Kister, Conneaut, OH; Tom Bonanno, Conneautville, PA; Brad Fiesler, McKean, PA. Feature winner, Dave Kister. Top ten, Dan McDonald, Girard, PA; Tom Bonanno; Brian Huffman, Jefferson, OH; Steve Hollabaugh, Guys Mills, PA; Mike Stoneman, Ashtabula, OH; John Buzzard, Jefferson, OH; Tim Glass, Conneaut, OH; Don Herman, Venango, PA; Terry Porter, Erie, PA. Remainder, Wendell Pinckney, Ryan Herb, Lee Patrick, Dave Pierce, Tim Cole, Chuck Steinle, Jr., Bill Henry, Brad Fiesler, Dave McLaughlin, Percy McDonald, Bobby Will, Gary Eicher, Dennis Stiles. Did not start, Jaime Runyan, Curtis Stewart. Did not run, Gary Salisbury.

Corry Laser E-Mods. Car count, 33. Heat winners, Todd Roncaglione, Linesville, PA; Joe Welch, Waterford, PA; Alan Dellinger, Niles, OH. Feature winner, Todd Roncaglione. Top ten, Bill Watson, Conneaut, OH; Jay Watson, Conneaut, OH; Alan Dellinger; Hugo Litwiler, Linesville, PA; Mike Hess, Waterford, PA; Joe Welch, Waterford, PA; Joel Watson, Ashtabula, OH; Ron Roncaglione, Linesville, PA; Chuck List, Kinsman, OH. Remainder, Jim Frontz, Dale Applebee, Tom Congdon, Holly Nelson, Pat Otteni, Kris Allen, Bruce Steadman, Ron Jaeger, Jim Abbott, Jeff Haefke. Did not start, Mike Hendrickson. Did not qualify, Bill Hanna, Mike Potosky, Lance Drew, Matt Swanson, Bill Taylor, Mike Kinney, Herm Myers, John Sousa, Chuck Schell, Reese Snyder, Scott Jones, Kari Petrosky.

Fame Manufacturing Street Stocks. Car Count, 32. Heat winners, Bill Hanna, Westford, PA; Jim Peska, Farmdale, OH; Mike Watson, Kingsville, OH. Feature winner, Bob Pifer, Andover, OH. Top ten, Brian Counselman, Cochranton, PA; Tim Mailliard, Cochranton, PA; John Hobbs, Sr., Hookstown, PA: Rick Dragon, Ashtabula, OH; Ryan Blood, Springboro, PA; Sammy Wheat, Sharon, PA; Glenn Pupino, Youngstown, OH; Russ Kapalin, Jefferson, OH; Paul Pittsenbarger, Springboro, PA. Remainder, Ken Meadows, Joe Walton, Ron Barbato, Leon Phillips, Rich Howell, Bill Hanna, Brian Douglas, Glen Myers, Dave Cadmes, Jim Peska, Bob Gabrielson, Joe Huntington, Dave Willoughby, Tony Hyde. Did not start, Mike Watson. Did not qualify, Wayne Daniels, Tim Rickman, Dan Brainard, Tim Mann, Ken Roth, Tom Lamson, Jim Van Cise.

Steve's Auto Body Four Cylinders. Car Count, 17. No heat races were run. Feature winner, Jim Hyde, Springboro, PA. Top five, Dan Osborne, Girard, PA; Darrell Moody, Bristolville, OH; Mark Kitinoja, Ashtabula, OH; Turk Kahler, Saegertown, PA. Remainder, Darren Buell, Brian Taft, Steve Forstein, Ron Armstrong, Dennis Lenney, RIchard Riggleman, J.R. Cross, Tom Hyde, Howard Fraley, Tom Liberatore, Rick Rice, Jim Sample.

Raceway 7                               FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Mailing Address                              Rich Berry - Media Director
26924 State Highway 77                       8160 Tod Ave. - Apt. 5
Guys Mills, PA 16327                              Boardman, Ohio 44512
814-967-4230                                 330-629-9324
FAX 814-967-2988                             E-mail info@raceway7.com
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