Story and Images by Rob Keister

July 10th & 11th – Numidia Dragway, Numidia, Pa – After a six-week hiatus to focus on the NHRA National and Divisional tour the Mid Atlantic .90 series fired back up at Numidia Dragway in the hills of the Pocono Mountains.

On Saturday, a record car count showed up for Race # 3 of the series, which is always known as one of the tougher places to tow to. Following two qualifiers Davy Markle (SC), Ron Ross (SG) and Keith Mayer’s (SST) led the way as the number one qualifiers. As the sun set and the finals rolled into the water box, the Super Street final featured two veterans of the Division 1 tour and previous champions of the series. Dom Burgese and Keith Mayers matched up in the finals. At the flash Burgese got the jump (.031 to .039) on Mayers’ and parlayed that into a 10.909 win to a breakout 10.897 for Mayers.

In Super Gas, Tom Goldman wheeled his re-done “Bullets to Spare” Corvette roadster to victory over Race # 2 finalist Ron Ross. Goldman and Ross were even off the line (.021 to .022) but, Ross picked up a ton of ET and broke out with a 9.813 to Goldman’s winning 9.890.

The final match-up of the night featured a battle of neighbors between Don Bangs and recent NHRA Epping winner Amanda Boicesco who live about 3 blocks over from each other. Bangs, who also was making a comeback this year after shoulder surgery last year sidelined him all season. As the tree went green, Bangs got a huge jump on Boicesco (.016 to .094) and paced his way all the way down for an 8.972 to 8.894 victory.

 

On Sunday, a threat of weather and with the upcoming long stretch of races, some racers decided to call it a weekend and roll out but, as always, the weatherman’s prediction was incorrect, and the race was completed. As it is with Sunday events, it is a one and go to set the fields and after qualifying Tom Slater (SC), Rich Price (SG) and Bob Kerk (SST) were the number one qualifiers.

In Super Gas, after a shaky start to the 2021 season, 2020 MASGA Champ Hank Smith got back into the winner circle. Smith, driving the Awesome Signs and Graphics Camaro took down Race # 1 winner Paul Laino in the final when Laino lit the red light by -.002 to hand the win to Hank.

In Super Comp, a match-up of two drivers who had never won a .90 race was at the line to see who would stake claim to their first victory. Greg Hays, who earlier this year survived a widow maker heart attack, made his return to the driver’s seat at Numidia . In the finals, he would match up with Bill Loveland, who was making his .90 debut after being a bracket racer at Atco for many years. At the hit, Loveland knocked down the tree (.001 to .035) but, just did not have enough steam to hold off the hard charging Hays who took the victory with an 8.904 to 8.956 victory.

Finally rounding out the weekend was Super Street; the 10.90 index has seen a changing of the guard this year and this final did not disappoint between local bracket racer Wes Siegel and Frank Volpe III. In the battle of the young guns, Siegel took the advantage at the tree (.023 to .032) and squeaked out a 10.913 to 10.905 hole shot victory and his first in the 10.90 class.

Next up, the series heads to the newly repaved and revamped Cecil County Dragway for the fan favorite 28th Annual Uncle Buck Pig Roast to be held on July 31st to August 1st.