The Mid Atlantic Super Gas Association completed race # 7 & 8 the weekend of August 11th & 12th, 2012 at Cecil County Dragway in Rising Sun, Md. Commonly known as the “Pig Roast” to many racers this years event had special meaning to it as friends, racers and family members all gathered to celebrate and honor the life of Ronnie “Uncle Buck” Harple who had passed away in April of this year. An honored tradition that was started by Harple in the mid-1990s as a way to give back to the racers at the track, the Pig Roast started out as small BBQ but has grown into a tradition that will be carried on.

Saturday’s racing started out with 23 cars making the call for first round and it was only fitting that George Donhauser took the # 1 qualifying spot with a perfect 9.900. Proving that qualifying was just a fluke Tom Goldman charged from the #22 qualifying spot to defeat a red-lighting Derek Clark in round 1, Cepelka in round 2 and with a bye to the final Goldman matched up with #2 points man Lance Kreiger. With big points implications at stake Goldman took down Kreiger on a hole-shot 9.921 to 9.902. On the opposite side of the ladder was recent Numidia winner George Smith who qualified in the #12 spot. Smith took down Danny Petrillo in round #1, Bernard Weaver in the 2nd and recent Atco LODRS Runner-Up Jake Barbato in the 3rd. Awaiting Smith in the Semi’s was Donhauser and his 1979 Arrow. At the start Donhasuer took a sizable lead over Smith but, the Arrow was dialed just a bit too fast and ran out with a 9.891 handing the win to Smith’s who ran it out to a 9.899. So with the finals set for race # 7,. Goldman would take the slight advantage at the start. As both drivers traveled down the Cecil County Quarter-Mile, Goldman’s starting line advantage pushed Smith out and claimed the victory for the Allentown, Pa resident 9.912 to a break-out 9.894.

After a fun-filled Saturday night celebrating “Uncle Buck’s” life, Sunday found 24 cars making the call for 1st round. Claiming the #1 Qualifying spot was Super Street regular Kelli Barbato with a 9.901. After missing Saturday’s event due to the Junior Dragster Regional event at Mason-Dixon, Iggie Boicesco made the trip over to Cecil County Dragway to come play with the MASGA Crew on Sunday. Starting from the # 7 qualifying spot Boicesco took down James Alston in round 1, Barbato in round 2, and with a bye to the finals on the line matched up with Larry Edwards. Edwards who in the previous round strapped down a 7 Thousandth package in taking out Bob Keister would be looking to do the same to Boicesco. At the flash Edwards took the advantage (.011 to .027) but, the high-mph of Boicesco would prove to be more then Edwards could handle as his break-out 9.875 handed the win to Boicesco who ran a 9.905. On the other side of the ladder was Lance Kreiger from Dover, Pa. Kreiger who qualified in the # 11 spot would take down Ben Saia in the 1st round, Luciano in the 2nd, Clark in the 3rd and in the Semi-Finals Goldman pushed the tree just a little too quick and went -.005 red handing a free trip to the finals for Kreiger. With the sun setting on race # 8 Kreiger really needed a victory to keep pace with Goldman in the season-ending point’s championship but, Boicesco had other plans. At the Green it was all Boicesco as he took a (.017 to .028) advantage and with that advantage Iggie was able to extend the streak as he laid down yet another 9.90 this time with a 9.907 to Lance’s break-out 9.882.

MASGA will close out the season at Atco Raceway the weekend before the Uni-Parts Nationals at Maple Grove; mark your calendars for September 29th & 30th as Atco will feature both Super Gas & Super Comp racing on both days for anyone who would like to test & tune for the following weekend’s national event. For info visit www.MidAtlanticSuperGas.com.

Text written and photos submitted by Rob Keister