Donhauser, Lanigan, Bangs continue hot streak at Cecil

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Cecil County Dragway – Rising Sun, Md – The Mid Atlantic .90 Association hosted race # 7 & 8 of it’s 2022 season at the famous 29th Annual Uncle Buck Pig Roast.

In Super Comp at Race # 7, nobody has had an answer for red-hot Chase Fahnestock and his DWN Inc. Dragster this season. The Elizabethtown, Pa driver had already racked up wins at Maple Grove & Cecil in July as was looking to put a strangle hold on the points lead. Fahnestock’s wasn’t going to have an easy day if he wanted to record win # 4. His day started out with a win over Tom Oliver, then against rival and good friend Amanda Boicesco, a repeat of the Maple Grove final from Race # 2 with a win over Rich Leone, to match up with 2021 D1 Champ Kevin Scholl in which he won with a 8.918 to 8.950 victory. Waiting in the final was first time finalist Doc Dougherty’s family dragster. At the green Fahnestock was .004 to Doc’s .052 and Chase guided himself all the way down the track to a hole shot victory 8.965 to Doc’s quicker 8.948.

In Super Gas, it was crafty veteran Bob Phillips making a long-awaited visit to the winner circle after a 2-year hiatus from reaching the final rounds. Phillips would work his way through the field which included beating up on some of his Mopar buddies as he took down Jay Cepelka & George Donhauser to earn a bye-run to the finals. In the finals, he matched up with Rick Mattioli and his 67 Camaro. Rick who had made the jump over to Super Gas in the off-season was appearing in his first final in the 9.90 category. In the finals, Phillips never trailed as he got the jump on the light (.021 to .034) and parlayed that into a 9.927 to 9.931 victory.

To round out the day in Super Street, Chris DePasquale wasn’t planning to even travel to Cecil County but, a last-minute decision by his wife pushed him into attending. In the end it would pay off for Chris as he claimed his first Piggy Trophy for his trophy case back in NJ. Chris started the day off with wins over Darren Mattern, James Moshier & Dave Nahill to set-up a bye run to match up with the 6x time Champion Keith Mayer’s and his Porsche. In a colossal match-up of two D1 10.90 legends, DePasquale found himself behind at the hit by a lot (.049 to .025). “In most cases when you give that much up to Keith at the tree, it’s lights out” Chris said but, Chris ran it on a almost perfect 10.901 to push Keith out to a breakout 10.891 for his 3 win with the series.

Once again, the Donhausers, Friends and the Moose Lodge put on a spread at the annual Uncle Buck Pig Roast that was second to none. A little over 200 people came, ate, and enjoyed the BBQ along with mixed beverages from Pasadena, Md Blind Tiger Mobile Bar.

On Sunday, Chase Fahnestock was looking for his 2nd MASCA championship with the series. All the PA Native had to do was light one win light and the championship was clinched. In a repeat of the finals from Saturday, Chase lit the win light over Doc Dougherty to claim his 2nd championship. Chase was stopped in the 2nd round by Frank Lauria’s 4 thou package sent him packing. In the finals it was another red-hot driver Don Bangs matching up with John Martin. Bangs had runner-upped at Race # 6, won the Atco D1 race and now found himself in the finals of Race # 8. Bangs got the jump at the tree (.025 to .062) and rode it all the way down the track to a perfect 8.900 to push Martin out with a 8.863. This was Bangs 3rd Piggy trophy.

In Super Gas, after a few lackluster years George Donhauser has started to get his mojo back. A runner-up at the D1 race at Numidia, a win at Race # 5 at Atco and on Sunday, he found himself marching through the field again. Donhauser beat newcomer Fran Dicicco, George Smith, Jake Barbato to earn the bye run to the final where he matched up with good friend Iggie Boicesco. In a great final round, both were practically even (.015 to .018 in favor of Iggie) but a 9.907 to Iggie’s 9.914 gave George the 4 thousandths victory and his 3rd piggy trophy and in the process took over the points lead.

The final class of the weekend was Super Street, Sean Lanigan was shooting for win # 2 of the season and to close some of the points gap that Keith Mayers had. Keith exited in the 2nd round to Pat Nuzzo meaning that Lanigan could close some of the 60-point gap between the two. A semi-final win over Nuzzo matched him against Dom Burgese Camaro who had taken down Bob Kerk. In the finals Burgese got the jump (.025 to .044) but, the hard charging 152 mph Camaro of Lanigan pushed Dom out to a 10.886 as Sean went dead-on 10.900.

Next up for the series is non-points race at Maple Grove Raceway for the Dave Stine Memorial event on Sept 9th to 11th before they close out the season on October 8th & 9th at Atco Dragway.

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Sunday Finals and winner circle