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Mid-Atlantic Championship Series - MACS

Indiana, PA

July25. 1999

By: Jeff Geesey

The Mid-Atlantic Championship Series (MACS) "Thunder in the Mountains Tour V" breezed into Jack and Donna Lentz’s Challenger Raceway, Indiana. PA, for the finale of the abbreviated three-day mini-series Thirty-eight drivers were on hand for the 50-lap, $5,000 to-win show.

Eleven-year veteran, Bob Close, Eldred, PA. stormed to the top of the heap in an awesome display of patience and driving talent. The win notches Rob’s second of the year with the Series and career third. Bob pilots a Hoosier mounted GRT, powered by a 388 Malcuit. His boosters are Close Lumber, Close Racing Supply, GRT, Smith’s Fire Service, and AFCO Racing Products.

Four heats and a solo B Main condensed the starting field to the top twenty—four drivers. The top two drivers from each of the heats redrew for starting position. Lynn Geisler and John Britsky comprised the front row, with eventual winner. Bob Close in ninth.

As the field completed the first lap, Geisler manned the point with Sam Stile, Ron Davies Mike Johnson, and Robbie Blair in tow. Before the second lap could be recorded three cars tangled in turn two. Included in the mishap were Dave Satterly, Dave Lyon and Mickey Wright. Mickey was the only casualty.

On the restart, Stile blasted past Geisler on the high side of turn taking the lead for the next stanza Geisler’s slide from the top continued as Davies grabbed the runner-up spot just one lap later. The field was hurling around the oval with Stile en route to his first career victory with the Series.

Stile and Davies were in an all out brawl for the lead as the duo raced each other extremely hard, keeping it clean. Stile and Davies engaged lapped traffic for the first time on lap 11 catching up With the wounded Satterlee mount. As the leaders lapped him, Davies shot underneath Stile into the lead. The top five now consisted of Davies, Stile, Geisler, Mike Johnson and Bob Wearing, Jr.

Lap 12 saw another lead change in the fierce battle for the top spot- Stile roared back to the front, hugging the wall as he blasted past Davies. The second caution flew on lap 16, for Davey Johnson’s slow-moving machine- Stile was still in command, The top five remained unchanged. The eighteenth circuit found Rob Blair moving into fourth as Wearing slid into sixth.

Racing throughout the field was incredible! Passes for position were occurring everywhere on the surface- Stile maintained his lead as new faces emerged in the top five. By lap 21, John Flinner, from thirteenth, was riding in fifth with the half-way signal displayed, Stile led, over Davies, Geisler, Johnson and Flinner. The twenty-eighth revolution saw Davies reassert himself gaining the lead with Geisler in the runner-up spot- Stile fell to third over Johnson and Flinner With 20 laps to go, Davies was still out front, over Geisler, Stile, Johnson and Close. Sam moved into second on lap 32 while Close vaulted past Johnson for fourth Two laps later, Flinner was back in the top five and Johnson was relegated to sixth-

With 15 laps remaining, Davies looked unstoppable as he led over Stile, Geisler, Close and Flinner. Close passed Geisler for third one lap later- On the thirty-ninth circuit Close had moved into second and had his sights on the leader Davies and Close were locked in a tremendous duel as the two catapulted around the oval.The racing excitement was awesome as Davies and Close were engaged in an all out war for the win. Coming to the stripe on lap 42, Close nudged past Davies into the lead. With five-to-go, Close was in command.

Before lap 45 was recorded, Geisler looped his mount in turn two ending a fine run for the Series point leader- The revised top five now included Blair in fifth. Flinner gained another spot on lap 48 when he moved into third. The chase to the checkers was on. Close was fending off the challenges of Davies while Davies was trying to maintain his position and keep Flinner at bay.The dog-fight for position was tremendous as the checkers fell- Close held onto the top spot recording the win over Davies, Flinner, Blair, and Gary Stuhler, from sixteenth. The next flight of five included Stile; Wearing; Dave Norton, from seventeenth; Britsky; and Jeff Ferguson, from twenty-second.

MACS Junior Racer Club (JRC) winner of the night was ten-year old Justin Flanders, Connellsville, PA. He received t-shirts and hats from Hoosier and McCreary Tire, as well as a hat from Slavic Custom Racing Shirts and Decals. All twenty-eight JRC members present participated in a group photo taken in victory lane with the MACS feature winner.

Calico Coatings gift certificate winners: Ron Davies$125.00; Jeff Ferguson (Hard Charger) $75.00; Bill Cunningham $50.00; Jim Mazur $50.00

MACS Foes: Series stats reveal 229 drivers participating in thirteen events.

Top Ten MACS Driver Points

1 Lynn Geisler 1195

2- Robbie Blair 1167

3. Scott Brode 1002

4. Todd Andrews 945

5- Scott Rhodes 942

6. Ron Davies 920

7. Dave Padula 914

8. Jeff Ferguson 905

9. Ed Carley 859

10- Jim Mazur 798

Top Ten MACS "Thunder in the Mountains Tour V" Points

1. Lynn Geisler 283

2. Robbie Blair 265

3. Ron Davies 252

4. Scott Brode 247

5. Scott Rhodes 243

6- Jim Mazur 203

7 Dave Padula 197

7. Skeet Reckner 197

9. Bob Close 193

10. Mike Balzano 191

E-mail: macs@mail.mlcroserve.net

Website: http:/www.macsracing.com