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Jason Shank
INDIANA, Penn. (March 28) - The Mid-Atlantic Championship Series kicks off its 12th season in just two short weeks, on Saturday, April 12, at Rick and Ernie Jones, Oval Track Promotions, Allegany County Speedway, Cumberland, MD for the 'Western Maryland Open 50' and Sunday, April 13, at Ryan and Gina Lynn's Hesston Speedway in Hesston, PA for the 'Ice Breaker 50'. Combined the two shows will have over $60,000 in total purse and prize monies available with $5,000 going to the winner of each event.
The April 12th opener is at Ernie and Rick Jones' Oval Track Promotions 5/8 mile speed plant affectionately known as "The Rock" slightly banked speedway in Cumberland MD. This picturesque setting captures the high octane, 800 horsepower Super Late models for the first 50-lap shootout of the season, dubbed the Western Maryland Open. This is the first of two scheduled appearance of the Series at Cumberland for the season. The show carries a total purse of $30,000.
The next evening, after a one year hiatus, the Series returns to Ryan & Gina Lynn's high-banked, 3/8-mile Hesston Speedway for the first of two scheduled MACS events in 2008. The Ice Breaker 50 also carries a $30,000 purse and pays $5,000 to-win.
The slate of committed MACS regulars arriving at the opener at Cumberland include 2006 and 2007 MACS Champion, Racin' Jason Covert; 2005 MACS Champion the "Floodwall Flyer", Mike Balzano; 2002 Series Champion "Flyin' School Teacher", Jack Pencil; 2007 Lernerville Speedway Champion Alex Ferree; 2006 and 2007 ROY titlist Nick Dickson and Matt Lux, Frostburg, MD's Chuck Clise, as well as 2008 MACS ROY contenders Michael Altobelli, Jr. Thomas Baker, Ron Delano, Greg Fetters, Coleby Frye, Russell King, Donald Lingo, Jr. and Tony Lombardi.
Past Series MACS winners at "The Rock" include: Jason Covert and Rick Elliott '07; Gary Stuhler, Steve Shaver, and Rick Elliott in 2006; Steve Francis during the inaugural season of the "Big Kahuna" in '01; Bo Feathers ('00); as well as Gary Stuhler in 1998. The lone 2005 appearance was rained out and unable to be rescheduled. The average car count in the three events presented was 47 cars. Past event winners at Hesston include Bart Hartman and Mike Balzano in '05 and Jason Covert in '06. The average car count for the three previous events at Hesston has been 42.
April 12, the pit gate at Cumberland opens at 2:00 p.m., with the drivers meeting at 4:30 p.m. Hot laps are scheduled for 5:00 p.m. with time trails slated for 5:45 p.m. Racing will immediately follow the conclusion of time trials at approximately 6:30 p.m. For more information contact the "The Rocks' web address is www.therockspeedway.com. or the Series at http://www.macsracing.com.
April 13, the pit gate at Hesston opens at 2:00 p.m., with the drivers meeting at 3:30 p.m. Hot laps are scheduled for 4:00 p.m. with time trails slated for 4:30 p.m. Racing will immediately follow the conclusion of time trials at approximately 7:00 p.m. For more information visit the Hesston Speedway website at www.hesstonspeedway.com. or the Series at www.macsracing.com.
The purse for the opening weekend festivities is: 1. $5,000; 2. $3,000; 3. $2,000; 4. $1,500; 5. $1,250; 6. $1,100; 7 $1,050; 8. $1,000 9. $850; 10. $700 11.$600; 12. $575; 13. $550; 14. $525; 15. $500; 16. $475; 17. $450; 18. $425; 19-24. $400. All drivers who do not transfer to the A Main will receive $100.00.
Each regular MACS event consist of AlturnaMATS® "Shock the Clock" time trials presented by Sue Stevenson Photography; heats are presented by Bud Watson's Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic (HTMA) and Hoosier Racing Tires (MD/PA); Lias Tire Racing Division/American Racer (PA); Dave Poske Performance Parts/Hoosier Tire Ohio Valley and Rocket Chassis (WV); ATL Fuel Cells (NJ) and BERT Transmission (CAN); Mason Racin' (OH) and GRT Chassis (AR); Frankland Racing Supply and American Die Cast (PA); King's Jewelry (PA); Pietragallo, Gordon, Alfano, Bosick & Rapsanti LLC, Corporate Lawyers Pittsburgh and Design 500 Racewear (WA); and the Sunoco Race Fuels (NJ) 1st B Main presented by Bazell Fuels (OH) as well as the Keizer Wheels (IA) 2nd B Main presented by Big Shot Performance Shocks (PA). Additionally, the AlturnaMATS® MACS ROY chase is presented by Wild Side Custom Racing Trailers (TN) determining the ROY title. Other sponsors included Booze Brothers Racing (PA) and Country Candles (PA). Big Shots Performance (PA) will be providing a $100 gift certificate nightly for the feature winner. Nightly WRISCO Aluminum Hard Charger points that will accumulate to crown a WRISCO Aluminum Hard Charger Champion for the year.
Keizer Wheels are awarding new aluminum wheels to drivers in the final top ten of points as well as gift certificates throughout the season. Lee Havlik's Chase Decals; (IA) is providing a $100 gift certificate per event for the "Hard Luck" Award. Additionally Chase Decals will be providing two, $800 gift certificate for the decal wraps for drivers in the top 10. Genesis Shocks (GA) will be providing over $3,000 worth of gift certificates to the fast qualifiers of five selected events as well as the final top ten in Series points.
Duralite Wheels, (OK) are awarding new aluminum wheels and products to drivers in the final top ten of points. ACPT Carbon Fiber Drive Shafts (CA) will be awarding a new customized carbon fiber drive shaft to one of the drivers in the final top ten of points.
Ron "Flea" Fleenor's Custom Helmet Art (NC) is providing a customized helmet paint job for the champion as well as the AlturnaMATS® MACS ROY.
Jamie Christy's Impact Graphics (KY) will be providing $100 gift certificate for the "Quick Time Award" and if that same driver that sets fast time is able to win that night's feature s/he will earn an additional $100 gift certificate. Impact will also provide a complete decal package for one of the drivers in the final top ten points standings valued at $800 as well as a $250 gift certificate for another finisher in the final points standings.
Thanks for your continued support of the Series, host facilities, drivers and sponsors.
Additional information on the Mid-Atlantic Championship Series can be found on www.macsracing.com.
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