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Cumberland, MD (October 4, 2008) Some might say Josh Richards has arrived. With the support of his father, Mark Richards, one of the most successful Late Model chassis builders in history, in addition to that of NASCAR® star Tony Stewart, a rabid Dirt Late Model enthusiast and owner of Eldora Speedway it could be easy to conclude. But when you put this formula together, it doesn’t always spell success. The person that is behind the wheel has got to have talent and ‘Kid Rocket’, as he has been dubbed exudes talent. Josh currently sits fourth in the World of Outlaws Late Model Series point standings while winning four races on their tour in 2008. And now, in just his third MACS start of the year, he bagged his second triumph claiming the $12,000 top prize, as he dominated the ‘8th Annual Big Kahuna’ at Rick and Ernie Jones’, Oval Track Promotions effort at ‘The Rock’ Allegany County Speedway, Cumberland, MD. With Richards win along came another couple notches on the belt for Rocket chassis as Jason Covert, York Haven, PA became the first, three-time MACS champion in addition to Dover, PA’s Coleby Frye claiming the 2008 AlturnaMATS® MACS Rookie of the Year title.
The 50-lap, Big Kahuna VIII was led trackside by Ricky Elliott and Richards as the paced the star-studded field to green. As the field blasted their way through the first corner and into turn two, Elliott and Richards were racing extremely hard with each other and the duo ultimately made contract causing Elliott start to lose control of his mount. Richards contact with the polesitter, left him no where to go as he tried to take evasive action after catching Elliott’s rear corner-panel sending him spinning in front of the pack. Cars were scattering everywhere as Jeremy Miller and Tim McCreadie waxed Elliott but where able maintain there momentum. The same couldn’t be said for 2005 MACS Champion, Mike Balzano, as well as D.J. Troutman as they made contract with the spun pole sitter relegating the trio to the rear of the field. All the cars involved where able to continue for the restart. The realigned field now saw ageless veteran, and 2008 National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame inductee, Gary Stuhler inherit the pole position for the ensuing restart. As the green again waved, Richards jumped out into lead over Covert, who had catapulted past Stuhler to claim second.
The action continued on the huge 5/8 mile oval as Richards caught lapped traffic in just nine short circuits. The following lap saw the events third caution as Randy Burkholder spun in turn three. On the restart, Richards led Covert, Steve Francis, Boom Briggs (from ninth), and Miller rounded out the top five. The top quintet was setting a torrid pace around the picturesque facility as Doug Horton shot into the top ten from his 17th place starting position. As racing continued, Miller locked up in a spectacular duel with Rick Eckert for fifth.
By lap 20, Richards had stretched his margin over Covert to almost an eight car lengths as the 2007 MACS Rookie of the Year, Matt Lux, was falling from sixth to eighth after both Stuhler and Horton blasted around the Franklin , PA hot shoe. A mere ten laps later Josh continued to set a blistering pace and had built a full straightaway lead while Covert and Francis were hooked up in a dog fight for second. Eckert was reeling in the competition as he moved past Briggs to claim fourth. Two late cautions closed up the field and eliminated Richards huge advantage. Each time the 20-year old Richards answered the call as he would again pull away from his closets contenders. Richards held the point the rest of the way to the checkers going claiming his second career MACS victory and the $12,000 top prize. Freshly crowned 2008 MACS Champion Jason Covert settled for second followed by Francis, Eckert, and Briggs in fifth. Miller led the next flight of five finisher with Stuhler in seventh followed by Horton, Davey Johnson, and Jared Miley, from fifteenth.
More on the 2008 MACS Champion Jason Covert and 2008 AlturnaMATS MACS Rookie of the Year, Coleby Frye will be released at a later date.
Event Recap:
MACS Late Models at Allegany County Speedway – October 4, 2008
Event title: Seventh Annual ‘Big Kahuna’
Finish / Start / Car # / Driver Name / Payoff
1. (2) #25 – Josh Richards - $12,600.00 **
2. (5) #43A – Jason Covert - $6,000.00
3. (4) #19 – Steve Francis - $3,500.00
4. (8) #24 – Rick Eckert - $2,500.00
5. (9) #99B – Boom Briggs - $2,000.00 * plus a $100 Gift Certificate from ATL Fuel Cells
6. (6) #24M – Jeremy Miller - $1,500.00
7. (3) #90 - Gary Stuhler - $1,150.00
8. (17) #46 – Doug Horton - $1,100.00
9. (10) #17DJ – Davey Johnson - $1,075.00
10. (15) #H1 – Jared Miley - $1,050.00
11. (11) #21 – Matt Lux - $1,025.00
12. (12) #E1 – Mike Balzano - $1,000.00
13. (20) #27Y – Jim Yoder - $950.00
14. (23) #14P – Jack Pencil - $900.00
15. (24) #F1 – Coleby Frye - $850.00
16. (22) #12 – Devin Friese - $800.00
17. (25) #5 – Chuck Clise - $800.00
18. (21) #17B – Keith Barbara - $800.00
19. (16) #B2 – Brian Booze - $800.00
20. (13) #77 – Randy Burkholder - $800.00
21. (18) #84 – Tyler Armstrong - $800.00
22. (1) #45 – Ricky Elliott - $800.00
23. (14) #7J – D.J. Troutman - $800.00
24. (7) #39M – Tim McCreadie - $800.00
25. (19) #92 – Jeff Rine - $200.00 (DNS)
**Richards was awarded a $200 Gift Certificate from Genesis Shock, $200 Gift Certificate from AlturnaMATS® * plus BIG Shot Gift Certificate for a set of two Shock Savers
Car Count: 44
Time of the Event: 38 Minutes; 34 Seconds
Caution Laps: Five (Compete (2) 10, 40, 46)
Lead Changes: None
Lap Leaders: Richards (1 – 50)
Red Flags: None
Chase Decals Hard Luck Driver: Ricky Elliott $100 Gift Certificate from Chase decals
JNJ Motorsports Media presents the AlturnaMats ® “Shock the Clock” MACS Time Trials: Track Record is 18.987 and held by Jackie Boggs.
Car # / Driver Name / Time
25 - Josh Richards 19.663
39M - Tim McCreadie 19.712
24M - Jeremy Miller 19.772
19 - Steve Francis 19.781
90 - Gary Stuhler 19.805
43A - Jason Covert 19.820
45 - Ricky Elliott 19.823
24 - Rick Eckert 19.980
99B - Boom Briggs 19.987
17DJ - Davey Johnson 19.997
21 - Matt Lux 20.089
B2 - Brian Booze 20.097
22 - Gregg Satterlee 20.107
84 - Tyler Armstrong 20.123
E1 - Mike Balzano 20.153
77 - Randy Burkholder 20.187
7J - D.J. Troutman 20.210
T8 - Mark Banal 20.252
F1 - Coleby Frye 20.255
8L - Scott LeBarron 20.285
92 - Jeff Rine 20.297
H1 - Jared Miley 20.375
39 - Greg Fetters 20.393
27Y - Jim Yoder 20.408
17B - Keith Barbara 20.412
12 - Devin Friese 20.413
5 - Chuck Clise 20.506
31G - Bob Gordon 20.510
46 - Doug Horton 20.542
00H - Chuck Harper 20.562
33 - Scott Haus 20.564
14P - Jack Pencil 20.565
0 - Ron Delano 20.669
17 - Nick Dickson 20.715
06 - Mike Lupfer 20.734
8A - Alan Sagi 20.802
56 - Russell King 20.842
17J - Wayne Johnson 20.858
5W - Waylon Wagner 20.887
71R - Rod Conley 20.904
84D - Ray Davis Jr. 20.970
07C - Scott Cross 20.988
83R - Scott Rhodes 21.007
5K - Kirk Ryan, Jr. 21.072
Bazell Fuels presents the Sunoco Race Fuels 1st B Main: 1. Doug Horton, Bruceton Mills, WV; 2. Jeff Rine, Danville, PA; 3. Keith Barbara, South Park, PA; 4. Gregg Satterlee, Rochester Mills, Pa.; 5. Chuck Clise, Frostburg, MD; 6. Greg Fetters, Everett, PA; 7. Ray Davis Jr., Millsboro, Del.; 8. Russell King, Bristol, Ohio; 9. Mike Lupfer, Shermansdale, PA; 10. Waylon Wagner, Lewistown , Pa. ; 11. Scott Rhodes, Somerset , PA ; 12. Coleby Frye, Dover , Pa. ; 13. Scott Haus, Hamburg , PA ; 14. Ron Delano, Stoystown , PA.
Big Shot Performance presents the Keizer Wheels 2nd B Main: 1. Tyler Armstrong, St. Thomas, Pa.; 2. Jim Yoder, Selinsgrove, PA; 3. Devin Friese, Chambersburg, PA; 4. Jack Pencil, Bedford, PA; 5. Bob Gordon, Keyser, WV; 6. Rod Conley, Wheelersburg, OH; 7. Wayne Johnson, Hancock, MD; 8. Scott LeBarron, Dover, Pa.; 9. Mark Banal, St. Clairsville, OH; 10. Alan Sagi, Hagerstown , MD ; 11. Scott Cross, Centerville , MD ; 12. Nick Dickson, Lewistown , Pa. ; 13. Kirk Ryan Jr, Lewisberry , Pa. ; 14. Chuck Harper, Beverly , WV .
Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic presents the Hoosier Tire Heat Race #1: 1. Boom Briggs, Bear Lake , Pa. ; 2. Josh Richards, Shinnston, W. Va. ; 3. Gary Stuhler, Greencastle , PA ; 4. D.J. Troutman, Hyndman , PA ; 5. Gregg Satterlee, Rochester Mills, Pa. ; 6. Keith Barbara, South Park , PA ; 7. Jeff Rine, Danville , PA ; 8. Doug Horton, Bruceton Mills , WV ; 9. Russell King, Bristol , Ohio ; 10. Ray Davis Jr., Millsboro , Del. ; 11. Ron Delano, Stoystown , PA.
Dave Poske Performance Parts presents the Rocket Chassis Heat Race #2: 1. Davey Johnson, Latrobe , PA ; 2. Tim McCreadie, Watertown , N.Y. ; 3. Jason Covert, York Haven, Pa. ; 4. Jared Miley, South Park , Pa. ; 5. Tyler Armstrong, St. Thomas , Pa. ; 6. Mark Banal, St. Clairsville , OH ; 7. Devin Friese, Chambersburg , PA ; 8. Chuck Harper, Beverly , WV ; 9. Wayne Johnson, Hancock , MD ; 10. Nick Dickson, Lewistown , Pa. ; 11. Scott Cross, Centerville , MD.
Lias Tire Racing Division presents the American Racer Heat Race #3: 1. Matt Lux, Franklin , PA ; 2. Mike Balzano, Parkersburg , WV ; 3. Jeremy Miller, Gettysburg , PA ; 4. Ricky Elliott, Seaford , Del. ; 5. Waylon Wagner, Lewistown , Pa. ; 6. Scott Rhodes, Somerset , PA ; 7. Coleby Frye, Dover , Pa. ; 8. Chuck Clise, Frostburg , MD ; 9. Mike Lupfer, Shermansdale , PA ; 10. Scott Haus, Hamburg , PA ; 11. Greg Fetters, Everett , PA.
Bert Transmissions presents the ATL Fuel Cells Heat Race #4: 1. Rick Eckert, York , PA ; 2. Steve Francis, Ashland , KY ; 3. Randy Burkholder, Chambersburg , Pa. ; 4. Brian Booze, Marion , Pa. ; 5. Jim Yoder, Selinsgrove , PA ; 6. Alan Sagi, Hagerstown , MD ; 7. Jack Pencil, Bedford , PA ; 8. Rod Conley, Wheelersburg , OH ; 9. Bob Gordon, Keyser , WV ; 10. Scott LeBarron, Dover , Pa. ; 11. Kirk Ryan Jr, Lewisberry , Pa. .
MACS FACTS: Four heats were run for 44 cars from 7 states including Delaware , Kentucky , Maryland , New York , Ohio , Pennsylvania , and West Virginia .
Richards drove Ernie Davis’ #25 Rocket Monte Carlo sponsored by Ernie’s Salvage and Tony Stewart Racing powered by 430 Cornett and equipped with Integra Shocks and shod with Hoosier Tires.
The field included four current or past MACS Champions: Pencil, Harper, Balzano, and Covert
The feature field contained 13 previous MACS A Main winners.
The Series has had 71 different winners thus far in 212 events.
The win was Josh’s second career win with the Series. Series career win leader board: 1.) Todd Andrews - 17; 2.) Chub Frank -16; 3.) Gary Stuhler -13; 4) Jeremy Miller – 11; 5) Jackie Boggs - 11; 5) Robbie Blair – 10; 6.) Lynn Geisler - 8, 7.) Davey Johnson - 7; 9.) Mike Balzano – 6; 10) Bob Close, Bart Hartman and Scott Haus –5
2008 Mid-Atlantic Championship Series Event Winners:
April 12 – Allegany County Speedway (Cumberland, MD) - Shane Clanton
May 11 – Hesston Speedway (Hesston, PA) - Weather
May 25 – Bedford Speedway (Bedford, PA) – Jeff Rine
June 14 – Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway (Jamaica, VA) – Weather
June 21 – Sharon Speedway (Hartford, OH) – Weather
July 5 – Portsmouth Raceway Park ( Portsmouth , OH ) – Eddie Carrier Jr.
July 6 – Portsmouth Raceway Park ( Portsmouth , OH ) – Josh Richards
August 9 – Virginia Motor Speedway ( Jamaica , VA) – Chris Madden
August 29 – Lernerville Speedway ( Sarver , PA ) – Doug Drown
October 3 & 4 – Allegany County Speedway (Cumberland, MD) – Josh Richards
The average car count per event is: 45
195 different drivers competed in the 2008 season
FINAL 2008 Mid-Atlantic Championship Series Point Standings:
1. #43A Jason Covert 2085 pts.
2. #46 Doug Horton 1900 pts.
3. #F1 Coleby Frye ® 1735 pts
3. #14P Jack Pencil 1735 pts.
5. #39 Greg Fetters ® 1565 pts.
6. #5W Waylon Wagner 1517 pts.
6. #21 Matt Lux 1517 pts
8. #24M Jeremy Miller 1500 pts.
9. #56 Russ King ® 1423 pts.
10. #5 Chuck Clise 1380 pts.
AlturnaMats® “Shock the Clock” Time Trail Points presented JNJ Motorsports Media
25 Josh Richards - 25
39M Tim McCreadie - 20
24M Jeremy Miller - 18
19 Steve Francis - 16
90 Gary Stuhler - 14
43A – Jason Covert - 12
45 Ricky Elliott - 10
24 Rick Eckert – 8
99B Boom Briggs - 6
17DJ Davey Johnson - 4
WRISCO Aluminum Event Hard Charger Points
46 Doug Horton – 9
14P Jack Pencil – 9
F1 Coleby Frye – 9
5 Chuck Clise – 7
27Y Jim Yoder – 7
12 Devin Friese – 6
24 Rick Eckert – 4
99B Boom Briggs – 4
H1 Jared Miley – 4
43A Jason Covert – 3
25 Josh Richards – 1
19 Steve Francis – 1
17DJ Davey Johnson – 1
17B Keith Barbara – 1
Additional information on the Mid-Atlantic Championship Series can be found on www.macsracing.com.
Thank you for your continued support of the series, host facilities, drivers, and sponsors.
Andy Geesey – President – (724) 549-1480
Matt Geesey - Vice President – (724) 349-4282
Jeff Geesey - Secretary/Treasurer – (724) 465-2222
Email - macs1@verizon.net
Written and Distributed by:
Jason Shank – JNJ Motorsports Media / Mid-Atlantic Championship Series
www.jnjmotorsports.com, www.macsracing.com |
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