Raceway 7

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RACEWAY 7

Chub Frank MACS winner at Raceway 7
Rich Berry

Conneaut, Ohio, (July 23) Chub Frank was the winner of the Bossard Crawford GM sponsored 50 lap feature race for the Mid-Atlantic Championship Series Late Models Friday night at Raceway 7. Frank won a three-wide battle for the lead on lap 29, en route to his eighth career MACS feature win. The victory was worth $5,000 to the Sugar Grove, PA driver, his third of the season at Raceway 7.

Other winners on the program of racing were Brian Huffman of Jefferson, OH in the Bolt Place Limited Late Models; Jay Watson of Conneaut, OH in the Corry Laser E-Mods; Bill Hanna of Westford, PA in the Fame Manufacturing Street Stocks; and Jim Hyde of Springboro, PA in the Steve's Auto Body Four Cylinders.

The Bossard Crawford GM sponsored 50 lap main event for the Mid-Atlantic Championship Series Late Models started with Scott Rhodes and Lynn Geisler on the front row of the starting grid. Rhodes quickly took the early lead, pulling to a few car length advantage in the early laps. Geisler quickly closed in on Rhodes, as the battle was for third with Matt Urban holding off all challengers. Geisler was working Rhodes for the lead as the first yellow flag of the race waved on lap 9. The lead battle continued on the restart, with Geisler working the inside of race leader Rhodes. Todd Andrews moved to third on the restart, as the battle for third continued to be heated. As the race for position continued with the green flag laps clicking by, lap 19 was when changes were made. Geisler was finally able to work the inside past Rhodes for the lead, as seventh starting Chub Frank worked past Andrews for third. Once in front, Geisler put a few car lengths between himself and Rhodes, as Frank was a distant third but gaining ground. The long green flag segment ended on lap 28, which bunched up the leaders for the restart. Back to green, a three-car battle for the top spot quickly developed. Rhodes was working outside of Geisler, as Frank worked to the inside. After racing three-wide for most of that lap, Frank completed the move from third to the lead on lap 29. Though Geisler kept it close during the remaining laps, Frank's toughest challenge was a dirty face shield that blurred his vision during the closing laps en route to the $5,000 first place check. Geisler held on for second to maintain his MACS point lead, holding off Bob Close who charged from 15th starting spot to finish third. Also making a late charge in the closing laps was Mike Balzano, as he completed a charge from 17th starting spot to finish fourth. Rhodes faded to fifth at the finish. Urban came home sixth, with Dick Barton, Andrews, Bruce Hordusky, and David Scott completing the top ten. Heat race winners for the 35 car MACS field were Urban, Frank, Hordusky, and Geisler. Balzano and Thomas Ware were the two B-Main winners. Drivers from Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia, and Kentucky were in the field.

The 15 lap The Bolt Place Limited Late Model feature went to Brian Huffman, who drove the Bob Bealer car to his second victory of the season. With Huffman's regular car out of commission, he jumped into Bealer's car which he formerly owned. Lee Patrick led early, but lost the top spot to fourth starting Huffman on lap 4. Three time winner Dan McDonald moved to second on lap 6, but dropped out of the race on lap 9. Huffman went on to take the win over Brad Fiesler, who made his first start here just two weeks ago. John Buzzard came home third, after starting back in position 20. Terry Porter was fourth, with 21st starting Don Herman fifth. Point leader Bob Vogt experienced car problems and missed the feature race. McDonald and Tom Bonanno were the heat winners.

The 15 lap Corry Laser E-Mod feature went to Jay Watson for the fifth time this season. Bobby Powell moved into the lead at the start, with Ron Roncaglione giving chase. Watson was on the move from fourth starting spot, and took the lead on lap 4. Though Powell battled back in the closing laps, it was Watson who went on to score the win. With his second place finish, Powell matched his best finish of the season after winning a dozen Street Stock features one year ago. Chuck List came home third, ahead of Joel Watson and Roncaglione. Heat winners were Roncaglione, Jim McFadden, and Scott Jones.

The 12 lap Fame Manufacturing Street Stock feature went to Bill Hanna for the fourth time this season. Hanna took command early from the pole position, but lost the top spot to Russ Kapalin on lap 3. Kapalin looked good in front, until he fell off the pace on lap 7 and dropped from the lead. Hanna moved back in front, but had his hands full with Brian Douglas. As the leaders raced side-by-side with lapped traffic in the closing laps, a lap 10 yellow flag set up a two lap dash to the finish. Hanna was able to get away on the final restart en route to the victory. Kapalin was able to regain second from Douglas on the final restart, and held on for the runner up spot. Behind Douglas in third was Leon Phillips and Mike Watson. Hanna, Jim Peska, and Jeff Buccella were the heat winners.

Jim Hyde continues to be unbeatable in the Steve's Auto Body Four Cylinders, winning his fifth straight feature and sixth of the season. Starting on the outside of row 1, Hyde raced into the lead at the start and led the entire distance. Dan Osborne made a brief challenge after a lap 7 yellow, but settled for second ahead of Darrell Moody, Tom Hyde, and Mark Kitinoja.

Raceway 7 will be back in action on Friday night, July 30, with Late Models running in the Coca Cola Challenge. The Topless 20 will see the Late Model drivers able to take the roofs off of their cars for this night of racing. All five divisions will be in competition. 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.

Upcoming shows,
July 30 - Coca Cola Challenge, topless Late Models with $2000 added purse. Five division racing.
August 6 - Five division racing plus Speedo the Clown.
August 13 - York Triathlon Series E-Mods, sponsored by General Aluminum. Five division racing.

Pit notes, this was the second of three nights of the MACS Thunder in the Mountains Tour. They had run the night before at Tyler County Speedway in Middlebourne, WV. They will move to Challenger Speedway near Indiana, PA for a race on Sunday..... Three of the MACS regulars who traveled the farthest in their respective directions suffered the identical fate of failing to qualify for the feature race. Skeet Reckner from the farthest west, Ed Carley from the farthest north, and Dave Padula from the farthest east all missed qualifying for the main event..... E-Mod driver Todd Roncaglione played hurt, and did quite well at that. After suffering a foot broken in three places during last week's feature race, he not only made the show but drove to a seventh place finish in the E-Mod feature..... The E-Mod, Street Stock, and Four Cylinder point leaders all took advantage of the night without standard handicapping to win their respective feature races. The racing format is altered on nights where Late Model special events are run, in an effort to run a more efficient show. All Last Chance Races are eliminated on these nights..... The Late Models running without roofs this coming Friday night is a favorite show of many fans. Last year's photo finish in this race thrilled the crowd, with Matt Urban beating Dick Barton by a matter of inches.

* * Raceway 7 Results for Friday, July 23, 1999 * *
Mid-Atlantic Championship Series Late Models.

Car Count, 35. Heat Winners, Matt Urban, North East, PA; Chub Frank, Sugar Grove, PA; Bruce Hordusky, Erie, PA; Lynn Geisler, Cranberry Twp., PA. B-main winners, Mike Balzano, Parkersburg, WV; Thomas Ware, Cynthiana, KY. Feature winner, Frank. Top ten, Geisler, Bob Close, Eldred, PA; Balzano, Scott Rhodes, Somerset, PA; Urban, Dick Barton, Ashville, NY; Todd Andrews, Eldred, PA; Bruce Hordusky, Erie, PA; David Scott, Garland, PA. Remainder, Mickey Wright, Dave Lyon, Donnie Moran, Jeff Hoffman, Merle Terry, Bill Cunningham, Dan Armbruster, Scott Brode, John Watson, Rob Blair, Ron Davies, Frank Poniatowski, Ware, Chevy Scott. Did not qualify, Wally Fox, Mark Osburn, Dutch Davies, Brent Rhebergen, Jim Mazur, Ted Allman, Dave Padula, Dan Tercho, Skeet Reckner, Ed Carley, Dale Applebee.

The Bolt Place Limited Late Models. Car Count, 22. Heat winners, Dan McDonald, Girard, PA; Tom Bonanno, Conneautville, PA. Feature winner, Brian Huffman, Jefferson, OH. Top five, Brad Fiesler, McKean, PA; John Buzzard, Jefferson, OH; Terry Porter, Erie, PA; Don Herman, Venango, PA. Remainder, Ryan Herb, Lee Patrick, Mike Stoneman, Dave Pierce, Steve Hollabaugh, Curtis Stewart, Chuck Steinle, Jr., Tim Glass, Dan McDonald, Gary Eicher, Percy McDonald, Jeff Wick, Bill Henry, Tim Cole, Bonanno. Did not start, Dave Kister, Bob Vogt.

Corry Laser E-Mods. Car Count, 34. Heat winners, Ron Roncaglione, Linesville, PA; Jim McFadden, Painesville, OH; Scott Jones, Youngstown, OH. Feature Winner, Jay Watson, Conneaut, OH. Top five, Bobby Powell, Titusville, PA; Chuck List, Kinsman, OH; Joel Watson, Ashtabula, OH; Roncaglione. Remainder, Mike Hendrickson, Todd Roncaglione, Bill Watson, Kari Petrosky, McFadden, Jim Frontz, Jeff Shank, Ron Jaeger, Jones, Mark Willison, Bootie Petsko, Jake Miller, Dave Hess, Mike Hess. Disqualified, Dale Applebee, failed to report driver change. Did not qualify, Randy Brooks, Holly Nelson, Pat otteni, Jim Abbott, Mike Potosky, Tink Mealy, Lance Drew, Gary McGregor, Kris Allen, Tim Henrich, Bill Taylor, Alan Dellinger, Tom Congdon, Gene Crouch.

Fame Manufacturing Street Stocks. Car Count, 39. Heat winners, Bill Hanna, Westford, PA; Jim Peska, Farmdale, OH; Jeff Buccella, Mineral Ridge, OH. Feature winner, Hanna. Top five, Russ Kapalin, Jefferson, OH; Brian Douglas, Euclid, OH; Leon Phillips, Geneva, OH; Mike Watson, Kingsville, OH. Remainder, Bob Pifer, Buccella, Ryan Blood, Dave Willoughby, Peska, Kevin Vencill, Wayne Daniels, Brian Counselman, John Hobbs, Sr., Paul Pittsenbarger, Rick Dragon, Tom Lamson, Brandon Tolon, Tony Hyde, Fred Corey, Dave Cadmes, Bob Gabrielson, Tim Mailliard, Jeff Cusano. Did not start, Tim Mann. Did not qualify, Barb Bellinger, Buddy Carpenter, Buddy Davis, Rich Howell, Joe Huntington, Larry Meier, Ean Eichler, Tim Rickman, Bob Barger, Jim Van Cise, Glen Myers, Dan Brainard, Ron Barbato, Jake Fenton.

Steve's Auto Body Four Cylinders. Car Count, 17. Feature winner, Jim Hyde, Springboro, PA. Remainder, Dan Osborne, Darrell Moody, Tom Hyde, Mark Kitinoja, Turk Kahler, Brian Taft, Jay Rigg, Howard Fraley, Ray Hogle, Darren Buell, Jim Sample, J.R. Cross, Ron Armstrong, Steve Forstein, Richard Riggleman, Dennis Lenney.