Doll, Oliver win the battle, Cambria wins the war!

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Atco Raceway, September 29th & 30th – Past NHRA Division 1 Champion Doug Doll Jr. returned to his winning ways over the weekend at race #7 of the 2012 Mid Atlantic Super Comp Racing Series. Doll, who now hails from Plainsboro, NJ took his 2009 Lightning Dragster to victory over a tough field of 8.90 Competitors.

Don Butkiewicz led the 35 car field into competition with a perfect 8.900. Butkiewicz was followed closely by Rich Dorr (8.903), Dave Long (8.904), Tom Slater (8.904) and Frank Lauria (8.908). Doll started off his day with a victory over the ever tough Scott Albrecht, Tom Slater in the 2nd, Matt Eitel in the 3rd and Marty Jones Jr. in the 4th round to earn a bye-run into the final round. On the other side of the ladder was Kathy Smulligan and her 99 Cressman Dragster. Smulligan out of Coopersburg, Pa took down Dave Layne in the 1st round, Tom Boyle in the 2nd, Bill Hardifer in the 3rd, received a bye-run in the 4th round and finally took down #2 qualifier Dorr in the semi’s. In the final round Doll was ready to celebrate with birthday in style with a perfect reaction time (.000) against Smulligan as he padded that lead at the starting line all the way down the strip with an 8.92 to 8.92 victory.

On Sunday 34 cars took a shot at becoming the final winner of the 2012 season. Bill Hardifer claimed the #1 qualifying spot with an 8.902. Hardifer was followed closely by Michele Costa (8.906), Tom Dauber (8.906), Joe Cambria (8.912) and Frank Lauria (8.914). Newcomer Tom Oliver out of Manchester, NJ was attending his first ever MASCA event and he proved to be a force by day’s end. Oliver took down a fouling Don Bangs and Albrecht, strapped a 10 thousandth package on past world champ Dan Northrop in the 3rd and then disposed of Costa in the 4th and Mark Kelly in the Semi-Finals. On the other side of the ladder was #1 qualifier Bill Hardifer out of Shamong, NJ. Driving his 89 S&W Digger, Hardifer got past Dick Dorr in the opening round, a bye-run in the 2nd, Don Butkiewicz in the 3rd and Kyle Koretsky in the 4th to earn yet another single into the finals against Oliver. With neither driver ever being in a MASCA final before it would assure us of our 8th different winner this season. At the flash Hardifer took a huge advantage at the tree (.022 to .089) but, couldn’t turn that advantage into a victory as he broke out with an 8.891 to Oliver’s winning 8.914.

As the MASCA season came to a close so did the season ending points championship. Going into Atco Ken Moses held a sizable lead over Joey Cambria and Don Butkiewicz but, both drivers still had a race to claim in points. After Saturday’s event Cambria with his 4th round finish took over the points lead from Moses after Ken went out in the 1st round. On Sunday Cambria went out in the 2nd round opening the door for Butkiewicz who was improving on a 1st round loss earlier in the season. If Butkiewicz could win the 3rd round the championship was his but, with a loss the championship was Cambria’s by 1 point. Butkiewicz came close but, lost to Bill Hardifer in the 3rd round clinching the 2012 MASCA Championship for Joey Cambria and his Bushwacker Bodygear Dragster. Moses finished in 3rd with Doug Doll Jr. in 4th and Tom Dauber in 5th.

Thank you all for a great MASCA season and I hope to see many more guys and gals come join MASCA for the 2013 season. We will be expanding to 10 events and running along side of the Mid Atlantic Super Gas & Super Street Series for next year. For more info contact Rob at rekeister@aol.com