Drake Captures Career First MACS Victory Topping the “Pepsi 75” at PRP

Drake Captures Career First MACS Victory Topping the “Pepsi 75” at PRP

posted by Admin on 02/03/08

Billy Drake, Bloomington, IL captured his career first Mid-Atlantic Championship Series victory in taking the “Pepsi 75” at the Coleman families Portsmouth Raceway Park, Portsmouth, OH claming the $10,000 top prize from the $51,000 purse.

In victory lane Drake lamented, “We fell back early on because we went on harder tires (Hoosier’s); but on the longer runs we got a lot better. We caught Mike and followed him for a long time and finally got a shot at the lead. The lapped traffic made things interesting for both of us. I got all the opening a needed to squirt through a tinny space and grabbed the lead. The fans should have really loved this one”

When asked about his career first MACS win, Billy indicated, “This is an honor to win a MACS Series event. It is an extremely competitive series and is tough to get a win with these guys. This is a pretty big deal for us. We have been close a couple of times but were just never able to seal the deal until tonight, concluded Drake.

Drake and Bart Hartman paced the 24-car starting field to green. Hartman bolted into the lead followed by Josh McGuire, from sixth; defending Series Champion Mike Balzano; Drake, who was quickly shuffled back to fourth and Shannon Thornsberry. Hartman’s performance was stout, considering he lost the ignition system while in the staging area just prior to driver introductions. Hasty repairs were made to Hartman’s Rocket just before the field came trackside.

The first twelve laps were astonishing as Hartman looked like the man to beat as he was ringing the top rail while McGuire was chasing the middle grove with Balzano and Thornsberry racing each other two wide through the center. Drake had faded to fifth when the first caution appeared for debris at the conclusion of that circuit.

As fate would have it, this turned into a significant event crushing Hartman fine performance. As Hartman just accepted the yellow exiting turn four at speed, Greg Lucas, who had slowed in turn four abruptly down the track into the path of Hartman. The leader, with absolutely know where to go, tried to take evasive action and just narrowly clipped Lucas front end popping the leaders left rear tire. A dejected Hartman limped to the pits seeing $10,000 vanish before his eyes.

McGuire who had been steadily manning second inherited the lead over Thornsberry, Drake, Balzano and Jason Covert as the field paced for the double file restart. McGuire manned the point for the next five circuits with the dicing for position incredible.

Thornsberry, Balzano and Drake swapped positions as almost every turn with no one gaining a clear or decided advantage over the other. Balzano nailed the runner-up spot on lap 17 and set sail after McGuire, who was only a mere three car lengths in front.

Balzano reeled McGuire in quickly and overtook him before the beginning of lap 18. By lap 24, Drake had clawed his way back up the ladder to take second followed by McGuire, Thornsberry and Jeremy Miller, from seventh.

The third caution appeared on lap 26 with Balzano still on point over Drake, McGuire, Thornsberry and Paul Harris, from eleventh. Balzano lit the field with Drake sizing up the leaders effort. Lap after lap Balzano held Drake at bay while Drake gauged his moves.

With 25 laps remaining, Drake made his move for the lead, but Balzano shut the door. Drake gave it another run and by lap 52 nosed in front of Balzano to lead that lap. Balzano wasn’t going to give up on the huge top prize that easily as he darted back past Drake to regain the top spot.

Balzano saw what Drake had, and possibly his contender had shown his hand too early. Drake hounded Balzano lap after lap and Drake finally made the move for the win with just 12 laps to go.

Balzano fought gallantly but Drake had a quarter panel lead entering lap 63. By lap 65 Drake was looking for some relief to shake the grip of Balzano.

As the laps clicked down to the checkers, the leaders entered lapped traffic ratcheting the excitement level. Drake and Balzano diced inside and out trying to fend off each others advances. One would inch ahead while the other fell back; and corner by corner the battle waged. Drake was able to muster just enough space to lead each lap.

With five laps to go, Drake was still in lapped traffic but he caught a break and cleared three cars with one move with Balzano getting stuck and couldn’t duplicate the maneuver. Drake went on to claim the victory over Balzano, Thornsberry, Jeremy Miller, and Harris. The next their of five drivers included ASI Racewear Hard Charger, Rod Conley, form 24th; Jim Bernheisel, from ninth; Devin Friese, from 21st; Mark Frazier, from 19th; and Ben Adkins, from 23rd.

Event Recap:
Sue Stevenson Photography presents the AFCO Racing Products “Shock the Clock” MACS Time Trials
Impact Graphics provided a $100 Gift Certificate to Fast Qualifier Josh McGuire

Track Record: 14.252 Josh McGuire
41M - Josh McGuire 15.506
17 - Nick Dickson 15.538
E1 - Mike Balzano 15.564
75 - Bart Hartman 15.565
12DD - Doug Dodd 15.684
24M - Jeremy Miller 15.798
C7 - Kenny Christy 15.835
9 - Billy Drake 15.872
16 - Justin Ratliff 15.877
31 - Denny Chamberlain 15.885
B7 - Ben Adkins 15.895
11M - Marty Huntley 15.903
17T - Shannon Thornsberry 15.925
43A - Jason Covert 15.938
RE1 - Rod Evans 15.978
71R - Rod Conley 15.983
33W - Kevin Wagner 15.995
12 - Devin Friese 16.002
1N - Nick Bocook 16.018
18E - Eric Wells 16.028
17* - Greg Oliver 16.041
4B - Jackie Boggs 16.092
17S - D. Jay Miller 16.102
71 - Delmas Conley 16.112
119 - Jim Bernheisel 16.119
77B - Barry Bragdon 16.142
8A - Anthony Adams 16.193
1A - Audie Swartz 16.222
10H - Paul Harris 16.270
14P - Jack Pencil 16.304
18T - Tim Tungate 16.377
22W - Greg Lucas 16.408
JB1 - Josh Bocook 16.416
9F - Mark Frazier 16.450
2 - Joe Ramey 16.577
2J - Mike Johnson 16.680
97P - David Powers NT
43B - Aaron Bapst NT
71C - R.J. Conley NT

“Pepsi 75”
Fin. STR Car # Driver Name Payoff
1. 1. 9 Billy Drake $10,000.00
2. 3. E1 Mike Balzano $6,000.00
3. 4. 17T Shannon Thornsberry $3,500.00
4. 7. 24M Jeremy Miller $2,500.00
5. 11. 10H Paul Harris $2,200.00
6. 24 71R Rod Conley $2,000.00
7. 9. 119 Jim Bernheisel $1,500.00
8. 21. 12 Devin Friese $1,250.00
9. 19. 9F Mark Frazier $1,150.00
10. 23. B7 Ben Adkins $1,100.00
11. 5. 43A Jason Covert $1,075.00
12. 16. C7 Kenny Christy $1,050.00
13. 18. 71 Delmas Conley $1,025.00
14. 17. 77B Barry Bragdon $1,000.00
15. 22. 2J Mike Johnson $900.00
16. 20. 1N Nick Bocook $800.00
17. 12. 14P Jack Pencil $700.00
18. 13. 33W Kevin Weaver $700.00
19. 6. 41M Josh McGuire $700.00
20. 8. 17 Nick Dickson $700.00
21. 2. 75 Bart Hartman $700.00
22. 15. 8A Anthony Adams $700.00
23. 14. 18E Eric Wells $700.00
24. 10. 22W Greg Lucas $700.00

“Pepsi 75”
1. Billy Drake, Bloomington, IL; 2. Mike Balzano, Parkersburg, WV; 3. Shannon Thornsberry, Martin, KY; 4. Jeremy Miller, Gettysburg, PA; 5. Paul Harris, Prestonsburg, KY; 6. Rod Conley, Wheelersburg, OH; 7. Jim Bernheisel, Lebanon, PA; 8. Devin Friese, St. Thomas, PA; 9. Mark Frazier, Chillicothe, OH; 10. Ben Adkins, W. Portsmouth, Ohio; 11. Jason Covert, York Haven, Pa.; 12. Kenny Christy, Vanceburg, Ky.; 13. Delmas Conley, Wheelersburg, OH; 14. Barry Bragdon, Wheelersburg, OH; 15. Mike Johnson, Imperial, PA; 16. Nick Bocook, Wheelersburg, Ohio; 17. Jack Pencil, Bedford, PA; 18. Kevin Wagner, Wheelersburg, Ohio; 19. Josh McGuire, Ashland, Ky.; 20. Nick Dickson, Lewistown, Pa.; 21. Bart Hartman, Zanesville, OH; 22. Anthony Adams, Whitesburg, Ky.; 23. Eric Wells, Hazard, Ky.; 24. Greg Lucas, Whitesburg, KY.

Car Count: 39
Time of the Event: 36:11
Caution Laps: 12, 17, 26, 36, 39
Lead Changes: 6
Lap Leaders: 1-12 Hartman; 13-17 McGuire; 18-51, 53-62 Balzano; 52, 63-75 Drake
Red Flags: None
Chase Decals Hard Luck Driver Bart Hartman - $100 gift certificate

WildSide Custom Racing Trailers presents Malcuit Racing Engines Dash King: -- 1. Billy Drake, Bloomington, IL; 2. Bart Hartman, Zanesville, OH; 3. Mike Balzano, Parkersburg, WV; 4. Shannon Thornsberry, Martin, KY; 5. Jason Covert, York Haven, Pa.; 6. Josh McGuire, Ashland, Ky.; 7. Jeremy Miller, Gettysburg, PA; 8. Nick Dickson, Lewistown, Pa..

Bazell Oil presents the Sunoco Race Fuels 1st B Main: 1. Anthony Adams, Whitesburg, Ky.; 2. Barry Bragdon, Wheelersburg, OH; 3. Mark Frazier, Chillicothe, OH; 4. Justin Ratliff, Campellsville, Ky.; 5. Doug Dodd, Cambridge, OH; 6. Devin Friese, St. Thomas, PA; 7. Jackie Boggs, Grayson, KY; 8. Ben Adkins, W. Portsmouth, Ohio; 9. Josh Bocook, Wheelersburg, Ohio; 10. Denny Chamberlain, Lost Creek, WV; 11. Mike Johnson, Imperial, PA; 12. R.J. Conley, Wheelersburg, OH.

Goddard Performance presents the Warrior Chassis 2nd B Main: 1. Kenny Christy, Vanceburg, Ky.; 2. Delmas Conley, Wheelersburg, OH; 3. Nick Bocook, Wheelersburg, Ohio; 4. Tim Tungate, Campsbellsville, Ky.; 5. Greg Oliver, Jackson, Ohio; 6. Audie Swartz, Minford, OH; 7. Rod Evans, St. Albans, W. Va.; 8. D. Jay Miller, Elkins, W. Va.; 9. David Powers, Saylersville, Ky.; 10. Marty Huntley, West Union, OH; 11. Joe Ramey, Ironton, Ohio; 12. Aaron Bapst, Jackson, Ohio.

W &W Racing Supplies – Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic presents the Hoosier Tire Heat #1: 1. Josh McGuire, Ashland, Ky.; 2. Rod Conley, Wheelersburg, OH; 3. Jeremy Miller, Gettysburg, PA; 4. Barry Bragdon, Wheelersburg, OH; 5. Greg Oliver, Jackson, Ohio; 6. Ben Adkins, W. Portsmouth, Ohio; 7. Tim Tungate, Campsbellsville, Ky.; 8. Mike Johnson, Imperial, PA.

Dave Poske Performance Parts presents the Rocket Chassis Heat #2: 1. Nick Dickson, Lewistown, Pa.; 2. Greg Lucas, Whitesburg, KY; 3. Kevin Wagner, Wheelersburg, Ohio; 4. Marty Huntley, West Union, OH; 5. Anthony Adams, Whitesburg, Ky.; 6. Kenny Christy, Vanceburg, Ky.; 7. Jackie Boggs, Grayson, KY.

Lias Tire Racing Division presents the American Racer Heat #3: 1. Shannon Thornsberry, Martin, KY; 2. Mike Balzano, Parkersburg, WV; 3. Billy Drake, Bloomington, IL; 4. Devin Friese, St. Thomas, PA; 5. D. Jay Miller, Elkins, W. Va.; 6. Josh Bocook, Wheelersburg, Ohio; 7. Audie Swartz, Minford, OH; 8. Aaron Bapst, Jackson, Ohio.

GRT Chassis presents the ATL Fuel Cells Heat #4: 1. Jason Covert, York Haven, Pa.; 2. Paul Harris, Prestonsburg, KY; 3. Bart Hartman, Zanesville, OH; 4. Nick Bocook, Wheelersburg, Ohio; 5. Justin Ratliff, Campellsville, Ky.; 6. Delmas Conley, Wheelersburg, OH; 7. Mark Frazier, Chillicothe, OH; 8. R.J. Conley, Wheelersburg, OH.

Mason Racin’ presents the BERT Transmission Heat #5: 1. Jim Bernheisel, Lebanon, PA; 2. Jack Pencil, Bedford, PA; 3. Eric Wells, Hazard, Ky.; 4. Doug Dodd, Cambridge, OH; 5. Joe Ramey, Ironton, Ohio; 6. Denny Chamberlain, Lost Creek, WV; 7. Rod Evans, St. Albans, W. Va.; 8. David Powers, Saylersville, Ky..

2006 Championship Points
Car # Driver Name
1. E1 Mike Balzano Parkersburg, WV 3265
2. 43A Jason Covert York Haven, PA 3235
3. 119 Jim Bernheisel Lebanon, PA 3235
4. 24M Jeremy Miller Littlestown, PA 2970
5. 14P Jack Pencil Bedford, PA 2809
6. 12 Devin Friese St. Thomas, PA 2790
7. 17 Nick Dickson ® Lewistown, PA 2652
8. 31 Denny Chamberlain Lost Creek, WV 2265
9. 71R Rod Conley Wheelersburg, OH 2255
10. 30 Steve Shaver Parkersburg, WV 1890
11. W11 Robbie Blair Titusville, PA 1775
12. 17E Lance Elson ® Wellsburg, WV 1591
13. 19J Davey Johnson Latrobe, PA 1465
14. 90 Gary Stuhler Greencastle, PA 1429
15. 04 Bob Close Eldred, PA 1140
16. M7 Brad Malcuit ® Strausburg, OH 1083
17. 11J Keith Jackson Odenton, MD 1002
18. 1DJ D.J. Miller® Wooster, OH 986
19. 75 Bart Hartman Zanesville, OH 945
20. 2J Mike Johnson Imperial, PA 940
21. 4F Alex Ferree Saxonburg, PA 933
22. 71C R.J. Conley Wheelersburg, OH 900
23. 12D Doug Drown Wooster, OH 895
24. 3 David Scott Garland, PA 890
25. 00H Chuck Harper Beverly, WV 873

® WRISCO Aluminum MACS ROY

MACS FACTS:
• 39 drivers from five states including: Kentucky, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
• Also in the field were 3 of the current or past MACS Champions: Balzano (05); Pencil (02); and Chamberlain (97-98).
• Drake is an owner/operator of a MasterSbilt GTO, powered by a 400 Mullvain Chevrolet mounted with AFCO Shocks and shod with Hoosier tires. His supporters include: Creative Kitchens and AFCO Racing Products.
• The feature field contained 7 previous MACS A Main winners.
• The Series has had 60 different winners thus far in 178 events.
• 12 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 -10; 6.) Lynn Geisler and Jeremy Miller -8, 7.) Davey Johnson -7; 8.) Mike Balzano – 6; 9.) Bob Close and Bart Hartman - 5
• 2006 Winner’s thus far: Jeremy Miller (4), Mike Balzano, Robbie Blair; Scott Bloomquist, Jason Covert, Billy Drake, Scott Haus, Chad Hina and Gary Stuhler
• The average car count per event is 45
• 264 different drivers have competed in the first twelve MACS events this season

® WRISCO Aluminum MACS ROY Contenders
17 Nick Dickson ® 2652
17E Lance Elson ® 1591
79M Brad Malcuit ® 1083
1DJ D.J. Miller ® 985

AFCO “Shock the Clock” Time Trail Points presented Sue Stevenson Photography
Josh McGuire - 25
Nick Dickson – 20
Mike Balzano – 18
Bart Hartman – 16
Doug Dodd – 14
Jeremy Miller – 12
Kenny Christy – 10
Billy Drake – 8
Justin Ratliff - 6
Denny Chamberlain - 4

Malcuit Race Engines “Dash King” Competition presented Wild Side Custom Racing Trailers
Billy Drake - 25
Bart Hartman – 20
Mike Balzano – 18
Shannon Thornsberry – 16
Jason Covert – 14
Josh McGuire – 12
Jeremy Miller – 10
Nick Dickson – 8

ASI Racewear Event Hard Charger Points
Rod Conley -18 Devin Friese – 13 Ben Adkins – 13 Mark Frazier – 10
Mike Johnson – 7 Paul Harris – 6 Delmas Conley -5 Kenny Christy – 4
Nick Bocook – 4 Jeremy Miller – 3 Barry Bragdon – 3 Jim Bernheisel – 2
Mike Balzano – 1 Shannon Thornsberry - 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