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The Geesey brothers’ Mid-Atlantic Championship Series (MACS) is entering its second decade of operation and has established itself as one of the oldest sanctioning bodies still under the same ownership. With the recent ever-changing landscape of sanctioning bodies in dirt Late Model racing it’s nice to have a familiar, stable series that has some longevity to it. And as they enter decade number two the 2007 season bodes well for MACS as more and more drivers are coming out early to commit to the series this year.
“We are enthusiastic and excited!” proclaimed Jeff Geesey, P.R. Director & Race Coordiantor for MACS. “If everything falls into place, like it looks like it might, we could have a very busy and productive racing season this year.”
In recent weeks MACS has released their first draft of their ’07 schedule (with 18 confirmed dates and a handful or more to be announced) and information on their point fund, a subject that a number of drivers gave a thumbs up, especially at the recent MACS awards banquet where drivers left the festivities with more dough than they expected.
The first point fund was a very modest $16,000 and last year MACS paid out over $136,000 in cash and prizes to the top ten with approximately $92,000 of that amount in cold, hard cash. MACS have built the point fund over the last decade with the help of sponsors, host tracks, drivers who support the series and MACS’ self-proclaimed purposefulness toward reaching self imposed goals.
“We have steadily been working on building the point fund over the last decade, and we have finally reached a point in our operation that we feel we can publicize it in advance, given the few provisos we released with it last week,” explained Geesey. “We feel $20,000 in cash to win our championship is a reasonable amount based on 20 shows. The rest of the payoff isn't too shabby either in my opinion.”
“Fourth is $10,000 again based on provision we have set forth, however, like everything else we do, we believe in sharing the wealth the entire way through the top 10. Today, the difference between first and tenth is fractional, so everyone needs to make money to make this deal work.”
“Steve Francis mentioned two weeks ago on a radio show about the ‘Dolly Parton’ purse being a less than stellar concept for dirt racing, and we couldn't agree more. Equitable distribution is a key concept that we attempt to model by both philosophy and action.”
Geesey was asked what his reaction was to so many drivers like defending champion Jason Covert, Mike Balzano, Robbie Blair, Doug Drown and others committing to the series early in the year and making those commitments public.
“It is personally gratifying to us to have drivers like the aforementioned committing to running the series,” responded Geesey. “These drivers are coming forward on their own and making these commitments to the series. We are not trying to do any namedropping at anyone else's expense, but moreover our goal is to try and provide fans, promoters, media, and our sponsors a list of drivers who intend to follow the Series.”
“Several more drivers are nearing the same announcements and look for that to happen shortly after all the racing is over in Florida. Additionally, Matt Lux, of Franklin, PA is the first to declare his intentions for the WRISCO Aluminum MACS Rookie of the Year title with several others considering it. I will not use their names until I have their Rookie of the Year applications in hand. We have respect for the drivers and their right to choose, and in doing so we don't want to errantly misrepresent any drivers intentions.”
The WRISCO Aluminum MACS ROY title is an additional $2,500 in cash on top of the posted awards for the top rookie for 2007.
“We welcome any driver and car owner to race with us as their schedule permits and greatly appreciate the drivers who dedicate themselves to the series,” continued Geesey. “We will promote all the drivers that race with us especially those who make a commitment to the Series as a regular contenders for the MACS championship.”
And from a sanctioning body standpoint the Brothers Geesey have been pleasantly surprised by the positive responses and attitudes from promoters so far during the off-season.
“For the most part, promoters are more positive and upbeat about '07 than they were as a group about '06,” stated Geesey. “Some of the economic woes like soaring gas prices and other energy costs have subsided, at least somewhat. The economy is rebounding in some areas while still sluggish in others; but overall the economic outlook from a promoter’s perspective, at least for right now, is brighter than it was this time last year.”
So does Geesey foresee a banner season for MACS in 2007?
“The good Lord willing, it could be one of our best ever,” answered Geesey. “We have worked very hard for a long time, and our labor may start to pan out for us, our drivers, promoters, sponsors and fans this year.”
Geesey also stated that more news and announcements will follow in the upcoming weeks through the end of February. The next schedule revision will be out at the end of February.
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DRIVERS ARE SUPPORTING MACS: A number of drivers will be following the MACS series this year and a portion of them are making their intentions public with several more biding their time until final sponsorship commitments are put in place. That is good for not only the series but also the host tracks and race fans who attend. Obviously MACS is doing something right.
Defending MACS champ Jason Covert, 36, driver of the Pre-Mach, Inc., Red Wing Shoes, Baker Carburetion, Bam’s Auto Center, Kuppy’s Diner sponsored Rocket Chassis/Hershey’s Racing Engines #43a, is one who thinks MACS is doing things right. Covert will attempt to become the first back-to-back champion since Lynn Geisler did it in 1999 and 2000.
“We’re going to race with the MACS tour again,” said Covert. “The Geesey Brothers run a great series with good purses and do things the right way and you know what to expect when you get there. The Geesey’s have been good to me and I want to support the Series.”
Mike Balzano, 42, of Parkersburg, WV will be trying to recapture the MACS title in 2007. Balzano was series champion in 2005 and ended up second last season in a point battle that wasn’t decided until the series final event that saw Covert edge out Balzano for the title.
“We won it in ‘05 and maybe we relaxed a little last year and came up a little short,” commented Balzano. “I feel I’ve something to prove in 2007. Balzano will be racing his Polino Contractors, Eddie’s Auto Parts, Hoosier Racing Tires, Turbo Blue Racing Fuel sponsored Rocket Chassis/Cornett Racing Engines #E1.
“I’ve supported the tour the last two seasons and the tour has been good to me. The schedule as far as the number of races and the limited amount of travel are factors as well as solid purses and a good point fund at the end of the season”.
“We want another championship this year and that will be our goal, and when we’re not racing a series event we’ll be out racing with the Outlaws, UMP, Lucas Series or the Independent Racing Series.”
Robbie Blair, 35, Titusville, PA, the 2004 series champion is also returning. “It’s a good deal points money wise,” stated Blair. “There may be times when you have to look at the schedule and wonder why you may be passing one event to travel but you go and do well or win. It’s worth while.”
Blair will compete in his Specialty Products, Bossards Used Auto Sales, Hooiser Tire, Genesis Shocks, Hypercoil, Simpson Safety Products sponsored Rocket Chassis/Draime Racing Engines # Won11.
Doug Drown, 24, of Wooster, OH, will once again be back on the road full time with MACS for the 2007 racing season. Drown, who has raced in many MACS events annually, last ran the series full time in 2002 when he finished the season fifth in points in addition to being the recipient that year of the MACS Hard Charger Award.
Drown will compete with MACS in his Wooster Glass Co., Mason Racin, Bert Transmissions, Genesis Racing Shocks, Wrisco Prefinished Aluminum, Lehman Motorsports Services, Farr Motorsports sponsored Rocket Chassis/Malcuit Racing Engines #12
“I am definitely excited about it,” enthused the friendly Drown. “Last year we raced a lot with different series like the World of Outlaws, MACS, Lucas Oil and some UMP stuff and we did really well with the MACS series. They have a really good payoff. And looking at this year, with the way the schedule fell it looks pretty good.”
“It’s kind of neat to get back on the road full time with a series. And with the series, there is something at the end of the year, the points deal has a really great payoff all the way back through.”
“All the way around it’s a great series. It’s family oriented and fair and they have some good drivers. The Geesey brothers and their staff are also just good people. We could have ran another series but it’s in its first year and we thought we would go with a series with experience. MACS fits our style and we know what will happen when we get there.”
Even though Drown has raced with MACS on numerous occasions in various locations and states since 2002, he hopes to make his mark with the series this season. “I hope to better our point finish that we had in 2002 if at all possible,” stated Drown. “If we can finish in the top five in points we will be real happy with that. I have a lot more experience since 2002 too. I was amazed we did as well as we did the year we ran MACS in 2002.”
“We’re in pretty good shape for this year and the guys have been working hard on the cars. We want to see where we can stand with some of these guys like Robbie Blair, Jason Covert, Mike Balzano, Jeremy Miller and the rest, they are all top notch drivers.”
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THIS, THAT ‘N THE OTHER: Our plans to head to East Bay were scuttled last week when my daughter, Brianne was hospitalized in ICU. As this column is being put together on Saturday she has been in ICU for 11 days and on Monday February 12 is scheduled for open-heart surgery where she will undergo an aortic heart valve replacement and two bypasses. She is only 27! Brianne suffered a heart attack last November and further complications arose. (Must run in the family!)
We are sure there will be plenty of East Bay & Volusia news in these pages of AARN this week and while we regret no Florida coverage in this space it’s a matter of priorities.
My family would appreciate any prayers or positive energy you could send Brianne’s way as she will (hopefully) be on her way to recovery as you read this. She is anxious to get the surgery over, get recovered and get back home to her husband and two sons and begin planning Beau’s third birthday. For those so inclined cards can reach her at: Brianne Tuttle, % LMS, P.O. Box 341, Smithville, OH 44677.
I’d also like to thank my son Jarrod for basically compiling most of the info for this column the past two weeks in my absence while at the hospital. |
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