Blair Takes MACS’ “Triton 50” at Sharon

Blair Takes MACS’ “Triton 50” at Sharon

posted by Admin on 02/03/08

Twenty-two year veteran, Robbie Blair, Titusville, PA captured the thrilling Mid-Atlantic Championship Series “Triton 50” Saturday at the Blaney families Sharon Speedway, Hartford, OH claiming the $5,000 top prize.

In victory lane the quite winner Blair indicated, “The last couple months things have finally started to come together; I think we basically got the (new Hoosier) tires figured out now. You know, tires change and shocks change and it just takes a while to get all of that stuff back together for a winning combination.” Blair eluded to his battle with Covert for the win (Laughing), “I was just hoping he’d burn his tires up before I did.”

Former Series champion Chuck Harper, and Jeremy Miller paced the 24-car starting field, with eventual winner Blair in sixth on the grid.

At the drop of the green Jason Covert catapulted from his third pace start to grab the top spot followed by Harper, Miller, defending Series champion Mike Balzano, and AFCO “Shock the Clock” fast qualifier Robbie Scott. Covert held onto the lead through the second circuit which saw the first of six cautions. This caution was for a minor, four car incident involving Alex Ferree, Ron Delano, Bob Salathe, and G.R. Smith. Covert regroup the field for the double file restart. He was flanked by Harper, and followed by Miller, Balzano, Blair and Scott.

Covert and Harper fired the field at the cone. The action was three wide through every corner as the battle for the lead as well as every spot was being fiercely waged. Harper wrestled the lead away from Covert capturing the top spot and leading the third circuit. Dicing inside and out on the three grooved surface was incredible to witness as the drivers were putting on a tremendous driving display.

Harper continued to lead through the twelfth revolution but Covert wasn’t going to give up on his quest for the win, nor regaining the points lead in the chase for the MACS Championship. Covert darted to the outside rail as Harper was using middle groove. Covert carried the momentum coming out of turn four the snare the lead on lap 13.

By lap 16, Covert entered lapped traffic. His immediate suitors were points leader Balzano as well as Blair as that duo had worked their way past Harper sliding him to fourth over Miller. Lap 17, Blair would go past Balzano for second and had his sites on the leader Covert.

Lapped traffic continued to play a factor as Covert was setting them up and the Blair, Balzano, Harper and Miller were mowing them down. Once the leaders cleared lapped traffic Blair rapidly closed in on Covert. On lap 21 Blair swung past the leader in an exciting move as Covert continued to ride the rail on the high side and Blair worked the bottom and middle groove.

By lap 23 Blair now had lapped traffic to contend with as Covert hung on his heels followed by Balzano, Harper and Miller. Lap 24 saw the third caution as Rod Conley looped his mount on the front stretch bringing out the caution. At that juncture, Blair still held the point over Covert, Balzano, Miller and Harper.

Blair blazed off at the cone but Covert wasn’t done with the leader as he had designs on the top spot. The action was again at a fever pitch as Covert nipped Blair for the lead beginning the twenty-seventh revolution. Covert held the top spot over Blair until lap 30 when Blair regained the lead.

Covert wasn’t going to relinquish the top spot easily as he regained the lead on lap 31 only to have Blair repay the favor on lap 32. The action was remarkable as fans were on their feet cheering for their favorites.

Blair created a bit of daylight between himself and his pursuers only to have it evaporate because of two late race cautions. The first of those two occurred on lap 38 when Balzano sheared off his right rear wheel from the hub coming out of turn four. Mike retreated to the pits for some quick service and rejoined the field at the tail. While Balzano was pitside, Blair regrouped the realigned field behind him as Covert still clung to second over Miller; Scott; Dave Hess, Jr. from fourteenth; and Keith Berner, from eleventh.

Blair once again took off at the cone with Covert looking for the slightest opening in the leader race strategy. Lap after lap Blair would fend off Covert’s advances. The final caution flew on lap 43 for 2005 ASI Racewear “Hard Charger” Jim Bernheisel.

This set a seven lap dash to the checkers with Blair still manning the point over Covert, Miller, Scott and Berner. For the final time Blair paced the field back to green with Covert continuing to hurl his mount around the top side trying to maintain his momentum to sling shot past Blair.

With three to go Berner snagged fourth moving Scott to fifth as Covert was slipping from the leader as Blair developed a firm grasp of the top spot. At the checkers it was Blair taking the hard fought victory over Covert, Miller, Berner, and Scott. The next tier of five included Hess; Alex Ferree, who recovered from he lap 2 mishap; Matt Urban, from seventeenth; David Scott, and Eric Myers, from thirteenth.

Event Recap:

Sue Stevenson Photography presents the AFCO Racing Products “Shock the Clock” MACS Time Trials
Impact Graphics $100 Gift Certificate to Fast Qualifier Robbie Scott

Track Record: NTR Robbie Scott 15.383
Previous Record Billy Moyer MACS Event 9/3/05 15.660

Time Trials:
Car # - Driver Name
18R - Robbie Scott 15.383
24M - Jeremy Miller 15.648
W11 - Robbie Blair 15.690
43A - Jason Covert 15.933
E1 - Mike Balzano 16.005
3 - David Scott 16.019
12 - Devin Friese 16.024
99BB - Boom Briggs 16.029
00H - Chuck Harper 16.042
44H - Dave Hess, Jr. 16.043
5C - Mike Blose 16.108
1EA - Doug Eaton 16.110
40 - Dutch Davies 16.134
22* - G.R. Smith 16.141
37H - Jarod Hawkins 16.161
71R - Rod Conley 16.203
25D - Len Dobrosielski 16.211
20M - Eric Myers 16.235
68 - Dave Tackett 16.255
10G - Gary Lyle 16.267
119 - Jim Bernheisel 16.267
96F - Keith Berner 16.288
14 - Corey Conley 16.314
4F - Alex Ferree 16.336
21LX - Matt Lux 16.382
31 - Denny Chamberlain 16.396
17 - Nick Dickson 16.409
RG3 - Robert Salathe 16.413
71D - Ron Davies 16.450
1U - Matt Urban 16.474
17E - Lance Elson 16.501
14P - Jack Pencil 16.510
0D - Ron Delano 16.524
C02 - Paul Davis 16.541
42 - Todd Andrews 16.556
33H - Chris Hackett 16.621
33M - Bob Moskey 16.650
07R - Brent Rhebergen 16.704
2JJ - Scott Johnson 16.706
5m - Shane McMeans 16.802
02 - Tony Lombardi 16.845
55F - Dennis Fenton 16.972
14J - Jim Partiplo 16.988
9-11 - Jeff Buccella 17.136
111 - Max Blair 17.138
32 - Spencer Husted 17.246
90F - Wally Fox 17.250
“Triton 50”
Fin. STR Car # Driver Name Payoff
1. 6. W11 Robbie Blair $5,000.00
2. 3. 43A Jason Covert $2,500.00
3. 2. 24M Jeremy Miller $1,500.00
4. 11. 96F Keith Berner $1,250.00
5. 5. 18R Robbie Scott $1,150.00
6. 14. 44H Dave Hess, Jr. $1,100.00
7. 19. 4F Alex Ferree $1,050.00
8. 17. 1U Matt Urban $1,000.00
9. 7. 3 David Scott $900.00
10. 13. 20M Eric Myers $800.00
11. 15. 99BB Boom Briggs $700.00
12. 21. 119 Jim Bernheisel $600.00
13. 10. 37H Jarod Hawkins $575.00
14. 1. 00H Chuck Harper $550.00
15. 9. 71R Rod Conley $525.00
16. 4. E1 Mike Balzano $520.00
17. 8. 12 Devin Friese $515.00
18. 16. RG3 Bob Salathe $510.00
19. 20. 17 Nick Dickson $505.00
20. 18. 0D Ron Delano $500.00
21. 12. 40 Dutch Davies $500.00
22. 22. 31 Denny Chamberlain $500.00
23. 24. 22* G.R. Smith $500.00
24. 23. 17E Lance Elson $500.00

“Triton 50” 1. Robbie Blair, Titusville, PA.; 2. Jason Covert, York Haven, PA.; 3. Jeremy Miller, Littlestown, PA; 4. Keith Berner, Millersburg, OH; 5. Robbie Scott, Shinnston, WV; 6. Dave Hess, Jr., Waterford, PA; 7. Alex Ferree, Saxonburg, PA; 8. Matt Urban, North East, PA; 9. David Scott, Garland, PA; 10. Eric Myers, Holmesville, OH; 11. Boom Briggs, Bear Lake, PA.; 12. Jim Bernheisel, Lebanon, PA; 13. Jarod Hawkins, Farimont, WV.; 14. Chuck Harper, Beverly, WV; 15. Rod Conley, Wheelersburg, OH; 16. Mike Balzano, Parkersburg, WV; 17. Devin Friese, St. Thomas, PA; 18. Robert Salathe, Bedford, PA; 19. Nick Dickson, Lewistown, PA.; 20. Ron Delano, Stoystown, PA; 21. Dutch Davies, Warren, PA; 22. Denny Chamberlain, Lost Creek, WV; 23. G.R. Smith, Mooresville, N.C.; 24. Lance Elson, Wellsburg, WV.

Car Count: 47
Time of the Event: 40:01
Caution Laps: 2, 23, 24, 36, 38, 43
Lead Changes: 8
Lap Leaders: Covert 1 - 2, 13 - 20, 27 - 29, 31; Harper 3 – 12; Blair 21 – 26, 30, 32 - 50
Red Flags: None
Chase Decals Hard Luck Driver Jim Bernheisel - $100 gift certificate
WildSide Custom Racing Trailers presents Malcuit Racing Engines Dash King: 1. Chuck Harper, Beverly, WV; 2. Jeremy Miller, Littlestown, PA; 3. Jason Covert, York Haven, PA.; 4. Mike Balzano, Parkersburg, WV; 5. Robbie Scott, Shinnston, WV; 6. Robbie Blair, Titusville, PA.; 7. David Scott, Garland, PA; 8. Devin Friese, St. Thomas, PA.
Bazell Oil presents the Sunoco Race Fuels 1st B Main: 1. Boom Briggs, Bear Lake, PA.; 2. Matt Urban, North East, PA; 3. Alex Ferree, Saxonburg, PA; 4. Denny Chamberlain, Lost Creek, WV; 5. Chris Hackett, Erie, PA; 6. Brent Rhebergen, Clymer, NY; 7. Matt Lux, Franklin, PA; 8. Jim Partiplo, Elmhurst, OH; 9. Doug Eaton, St Clairsville, OH; 10. Spencer Husted, West Decatur, PA.; 11. Dennis Fenton, Clearfield, PA.; 12. Shane McMeans, Dayton, PA.; 13. Jeff Buccella, Mineral Ridge, OH; 14. Jim Bernheisel, Lebanon, PA; 15. Len Dobrosielski, Kennedy Twp., PA; 16. Scott Johnson, Wattsburg, PA.
Goddard Performance presents the Warrior Chassis 2nd B Main: 1. Robert Salathe, Bedford, PA; 2. Ron Delano, Stoystown, PA; 3. Nick Dickson, Lewistown, PA.; 4. Mike Blose, New Bethlehem, PA; 5. Jack Pencil, Bedford, PA; 6. Todd Andrews, Eldred, PA; 7. Gary Lyle, Hyde Park, PA; 8. Bob Moskey, St. Clairsville, OH; 9. Dave Tackett, Ripley, N.Y.; 10. Tony Lombardi, Warren, OH; 11. Paul Davis, Fowler, OH; 12. Ron Davies, Warren, PA; 13. Lance Elson, Wellsburg, WV; 14. Wally Fox, Cooperstown, PA; 15. Corey Conley, Wellsburg, W. Va.; 16. Max Blair, Centerville, PA..
W &W Racing Supplies – Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic presents the Hoosier Tire Heat #1: 1. Rod Conley, Wheelersburg, OH; 2. Robbie Scott, Shinnston, WV; 3. David Scott, Garland, PA; 4. Jim Bernheisel, Lebanon, PA; 5. Mike Blose, New Bethlehem, PA; 6. Denny Chamberlain, Lost Creek, WV; 7. Lance Elson, Wellsburg, WV; 8. Chris Hackett, Erie, PA; 9. Tony Lombardi, Warren, OH; 10. Spencer Husted, West Decatur, PA, .
Dave Poske Performance Parts presents the Rocket Chassis Heat #2: 1. Jeremy Miller, Littlestown, PA; 2. Keith Berner, Millersburg, OH; 3. Devin Friese, St. Thomas, PA; 4. Bob Moskey, St. Clairsville, OH; 5. Len Dobrosielski, Kennedy Twp., PA; 6. Nick Dickson, Lewistown, PA.; 7. Dennis Fenton, Clearfield, PA.; 8. Wally Fox, Cooperstown, PA; 9. Doug Eaton, St Clairsville, OH; 10. Jack Pencil, Bedford, PA.
Lias Tire Racing Division presents the American Racer Heat #3: 1. Robbie Blair, Titusville, Pa.; 2. Dutch Davies, Warren, PA; 3. Eric Myers, Holmesville, OH; 4. Boom Briggs, Bear Lake, PA.; 5. Robert Salathe, Bedford, PA; 6. Brent Rhebergen, Clymer, NY; 7. Ron Delano, Stoystown, PA; 8 Jim Partiplo, Elmhurst, OH; 9. Corey Conley, Wellsburg, W. Va..
GRT Chassis presents the ATL Fuel Cells Heat #4: 1. Jason Covert, York Haven, PA.; 2. Chuck Harper, Beverly, WV; 3. G.R. Smith, Mooresville, NC; 4. Dave Tackett, Ripley, N.Y.; 5. Alex Ferree, Saxonburg, PA; 6. Ron Davies, Warren, PA; 7. Jeff Buccella, Mineral Ridge, OH; 8. Paul Davis, Fowler, OH; 9. Scott Johnson, Wattsburg, PA.
Mason Racin’ presents the BERT Transmission Heat #5: 1. Jarod Hawkins, Farimont, W. Va.; 2. Mike Balzano, Parkersburg, WV; 3. Dave Hess, Jr, Waterford, PA; 4. Matt Urban, North East, PA; 5. Gary Lyle, Hyde Park, PA; 6. Matt Lux, Franklin, PA; 7. Todd Andrews, Eldred, PA; 8. Shane McMeans, Dayton, PA.; 9. Max Blair, Centerville, PA.
2006 Championship Points
Car # Driver Name
1. 43A Jason Covert York Haven, PA 2455
2. E1 Mike Balzano Parkersburg, WV 2395
3. 119 Jim Bernheisel Lebanon, PA 2345
4. 14P Jack Pencil Bedford, PA 2100
5. 24M Jeremy Miller Littlestown, PA 2085
6. 17 Nick Dickson ® Lewistown, PA 1972
7. 12 Devin Friese St. Thomas, PA 1970
8. 30 Steve Shaver Parkersburg, WV 1890
9. W11 Robbie Blair Titusville, PA 1775
10. 31 Denny Chamberlain Lost Creek, WV 1717
11. 17E Lance Elson ® Wellsburg, WV 1591
12. 19J Davey Johnson Latrobe, PA 1465
13. 71R Rod Conley Wheelersburg, OH 1435
14. 90 Gary Stuhler Greencastle, PA 1429
15. 04 Bob Close Eldred, PA 1140
16. M7 Brad Malcuit ® Strausburg, OH 1083
17. 1DJ D.J. Miller® Wooster, OH 986
18. 4F Alex Ferree Saxonburg, PA 933
19. 3 David Scott Garland, PA 840
20. 40 Dutch Davies Warren, PA 789
21. 11J Keith Jackson Odenton, MD 762
22. 71D Ron Davies Warren, PA 709
23. 20M Eric Myers Holmesville, OH 690
24. 12N Rick Aukland Zanesville, OH 645
25. 00H Chuck Harper Beverly, WV 643
® WRISCO Aluminum MACS ROY

MACS FACTS:
• Five heats were held for 47 drivers from five states including: New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
• The field included 6 of the current or past MACS Champions: Balzano (05); Blair (04) Harper (03) Pencil (02); Blose (01); and Chamberlain (97-98).
• Blair is an owner/operator driving a Rocket Pontiac GTO powered by a 380 Draime Chevrolet mounted with Genesis Shocks and shod with Hoosier tires. His boosters include: Specialty Products as well as Bossard Auto Sales & Parts.
• The feature field contained 11 previous MACS A Main winners.
• The Series has had 59 different winners thus far in 175 events.
• 17 out of the top 25 in points were present.
• Career win leader board: 1.) Todd Andrews - 17; 2.) Chub Frank -15; 3.) Gary Stuhler -13; 4) Jackie Boggs and Robbie Blair tied with 10; 6.) Lynn Geisler - 8, 7.) Davey Johnson - 7; 8.) Mike Balzano and Jeremy Miller – 6; 9.) Bob Close and Bart Hartman - 5
• 2006 Winner’s thus far: Jeremy Miller (2), Mike Balzano, Robbie Blair, Scott Bloomquist, Jason Covert, Scott Haus, Chad Hina and Gary Stuhler
• Thus far 89% of the time this year a different driver has sat in victory lane
• The average car count per event is 46
• 221 different drivers have competed in the first nine MACS events this season

® WRISCO Aluminum MACS ROY Contenders
17 Nick Dickson ® 1972
17E Lance Elson ® 1591
79M Brad Malcuit ® 1083
1DJ D.J. Miller ® 985

AFCO “Shock the Clock” Time Trail Points presented Sue Stevenson Photography
Robbie Scott - 25
Jeremy Miller – 20
Robbie Blair – 18
Jason Covert – 16
Mike Balzano – 14
David Scott – 12
Devin Friese – 10
Boom Briggs – 8
Chuck Harper - 6
Dave Hess, Jr. - 4

Malcuit Racing Engines Dash King’s presented Wild Side Custom Racing Trailers
Chuck Harper - 25
Jeremy Miller –20
Jason Covert - 18
Mike Balzano –16
Robbie Scott –14
Robbie Blair –12
David Scott –10
Devin Friese - 8

ASI Racewear Event Hard Charger Points
Alex Ferree – 12 Matt Urban – 9 Jim Bernheisel – 9 Dave Hess, Jr. – 8
Keith Berner – 7 Robbie Blair – 5 Boom Briggs – 4 Eric Myers – 3
Jason Covert – 1 Nick Dickson -1 G.R. Smith – 1

Thanks for your continued support and cooperation.

Andy Geesey President 724.397.9126 FAX: 724.397.9128
Matt Geesey Vice President 724.349.4282 website: www.macsracing.com
Jeff Geesey Sec./Treasurer 724.465.2222 email: mac1@verizon.net