Phil Hutchison Drag Racing Action Online

Images Phil Hutchison and Kalyn Rose Guenther

Finally, a weekend without major weather issues for Rob Keister’s Mid Atlantic Super Series. Not that Mother Nature did not affect the racing. Extreme heat on Friday killed any chance of test ‘n’ tune but Saturday’s weather, hot and cloudy with spots of sun, was perfect for racing. And the racers turned out. Over 400 tech cards were processed during the two day event and if you throw in the much anticipated Uncle Buck’s Pig Roast, the race was a success for Keister and his team.

After two qualifying sessions Saturday morning, the fields were set.

Winning Super Comp was multi time champ Tom Stalba from Nesco, NJ. taking the stripe over the blue and white dragster of Bill Hardifer Jr. from Shamong NJ.  Stalba had the better light at the hit and essentially, locked Hardifer out winning with an 8.914 to Hardifer’s breaking out 8.889.

 After the win Stalba said, “Having to race Josh Decker in R2 in my 2011 American car was strange. Didn’t need to race him so early in eliminations. Josh is from D3 and is out here helping our team and get ready for 2026 and make a series run for a championship. He’s helping my son Paul get used to driving the Corvette in Stock and winning at Cecil gives me a lot of confidence and get ready for the double in Numidia.”

“I want to thank Cecil County and their crew along with Rob Keister and his great team.  Hoosier Tires, VP Race Fuels, Undercover Motorsports, Ken Moses Racing Transmissions, Steve Everett and all my Junior Dragster kids who support me.”

Super Comp runner up Bill Hardifer Jr, long time racer of the Mid Atlantic series had this to say after the race. “The Uncle Buck Race is always a special event, it holds a lot of meaning to the .90 family of racers that turn out each year, this year was no exception, with over 400 tech cards turned in over the 2 days of racing.

“The track personnel are amazing, keeping it on point in unbelievable heat we had this weekend. It is a great time for everyone and one race you shouldn’t miss.”

Super Gas went down to the crowd favorite Willys of Ron Ross from Clifton New Jersey besting Hank Smith’s Camaro in a close final. Smith got the better light but on the top end, Smith took too a little too much stripe running 9.893 to Ross’s winning 9.898.

Ross who is the national sales manager for ATL Fuel Cells said after the win, “He had me a little bit on the tree, and I had the car soft, and I hoped that Hank would have a fender on me and that’s what went down and he was kind enough to do. I got away with one.”

The win at Cecil wasn’t Ross’s first win at a Mid Atlantic event as he drove Jay Neville’s Super Street Camaro to a pair of victories adds, “After I crashed my Super Gas Corvette Darren Muttart offered to let me drive the Willys. We’ve been friends for years and he just acquired the Willys and even thought it was heavier than the cars I had driven, we made it work. The car has a mild 496 cubic inch motor and we had one of the slower cars in the class.”

“I must thank my wife Lisa for all she puts with my travelling and of course my friends Jay Neville and Tony Barrett along with Rob Keister’s team.”

Blackwood NJ. racer James Moshier crushed Sean Lanigan on the tree in the finals of Super Street and Lanigan, driving his ’67 Camaro, had absolutely no chance of catching Moshier as the all black Mustang of Moshier ran a 10.929 to a breaking out 10.866 of Lanigan.

Moshier, who already had a handful of wins in the Mid Atlantic series said, “I was quite excited with my win and as always, a lot of luck went my way. Always tough competitors in .90 racing. Couldn’t have done it without the help of my friend and engine builder, Steve Everett, who is also a fellow Ford racer who was at the event.”  

Stock/Super Stock featured a large field with Felton DE driver Herb Sullivan taking his ‘87 Camaro GT/IA to a win over the I/SA 72 Chevelle of Katie Sepanek. Sepanek, was second off the line with a 0.083 RT to Sullivan’s better 0.020 and it cost the Moosic PA. driver as she broke out with a 11.494 on her 11.50 dial as Sullivan ran a 9.974 on a 9.96 for the Cecil win. 

Top Dragster winner Shaq Donovan from New Castle DE, used the kindness of a friend to take the win in Maryland. As Donovan explains,” Going into Cecil I wasn’t going to race in Top Dragster, just the gamblers race.  I got a card from my mom’s funeral that I received after my 1st round loss in the gamblers. I opened it and there was money inside.”

“I took that money bought into to Top Dragster with a killer car and a little luck we sealed the deal. Gotta thank my mama for this one it’s a special win for sure. I’d like to thank my crew Donald and Duane Troy, John Iorizzo and David Ferguson. Without them I couldn’t have done it.”

Series president Rob Keister congratulates Top Dragster winner Shaq Donovan 

Donovan was up against Brian Vollman from II from Montgomery PA in the finals and had a killer 0.005 light to Vollman’s 0.022 and ran a 4.932 on a 4.92 dial to the breaking out 4.357 on a 4.38 of Vollman.

John Richmond III has a death grip on the series’ Top Sportsman in 2025. Richmond’s ’64 Nova has been in the later rounds at nearly all the races so far this season. Cecil was no different as the Baltimore MD driver put his Chevy in the winner’s circle on Saturday for his third Mid Atlantic win of the year.

Richmond had a 0.018 light against the 0.026 light of Doug Farale driving his quick blown Corvette. On the top end Richmond was dead on with a two running a 5.202 on his 5.20 dial as Farale posted a losing and breaking out 4.421 on his 4.45 dial.

Junior Dragster 6-9 had Kylar Paone taking his first of two weekend wins as he drove his dragster to a win over Kenneth Brooks from Gibbstown NJ. Paone, from Mount Laurel NJ, had a better light than Brooks and held on with a 11.962 on a 11.90 dial as Brooks trailed with a 12.582 on his 12.25 dial.

Winning Combined Junior Dragster on Saturday was third generation racer Eli Stack. In the finals Stack was up against Annabella Casteel from nearby Havre de Grace. Stack had the better light, and it made the difference as he ran an 8.994 on his 8.90 dial as Casteel ran a better but later 9.104 on a 9.10.

On Sunday, the sun came out and with it, the heat causing racers to tune their cars for the changing track conditions. Each racer got one shot Sunday morning to dial their cars in.

The Super Comp finals had Frank Lauria from Philadelphia up against Mike Parson from West Long Branch NJ. The race was over at the start with Parson 0.004 too soon handing Lauria the win.

“It was a great weekend,” Lauria said after his win. “Saturday, I went two rounds and red lighted second round.”

“Sunday, I wind up taking the win. Thanks to Rob Kiester for what he does for all of us and the .90 and thank you to my brother Mike. Without him I couldn’t do this. Thanks again.”

Bob Phillips from Oley PA has become a fixture in the winner’s circle in the Mid Atlantic Super Gas class winning his share of the series events in his Mopar.

Sunday at Cecil was not different as Phillips driving his ’03 Dodge Neon continued that trend beating Nick Volpe’s Mustang in the finals. Volpe, from Poughkeepsie NY had a better 0.011 light to Phillips’ right there 0.015 RT and it went down to who went under the 9.90 the least for the win. Phillips’ 9.894 was less egregious than Volpe’s 9.876.

In Super Street Dom Burgese 2023 series champ, put his ’69 Camaro in the winner’s circle beating a red lighting Mike Epprecht in the finals.

Burgese from Williamstown NJ earlier beat Neal Vaccaro’s Olds and Epprecht who left 0.014 too soon in the finals, took out a red lighting James Antonette Sr to get to the money round.

The Stock/Super Stock Keister’s series features is an off shoot of the long time East Coast Stock/Super Stock program that Dave Ley ran in the Northeast. For Ron Morehead his win on Sunday made it a full circle trip as the Newburgh NY racer was a big participant in Ley’s series and was a season champ. At Cecil Morehead won his first ever in Mid Atlantic Stock/Super Stock driving the Morehead Racing G/SA ’83 Camaro. Morehead was racing Kevin Fogerty Jr from Chalfont PA  in his dad’s classic M/SA Chevy Impala in what turned out to be on the closest races of the weekend.

Both racers had excellent lights with Fogerty off first with a 0.004 RT and Morehead right on his heels with a 0.005. In a double breakout, Morehead turned on the win light with a 11.129 on his 11.13 dial as Fogerty lost with a 11.963 on his 11.97.

“What Rob Keister does is awesome he’s running all these classes and getting it done,” Morehead said. “Cecil is obviously awesome and fast. WOW it was hot Sunday all day I was working up a sweat racing these guys and what I love about D1 and these races is it prepares you to go to other Divisions and Battle hard. The final against Fogerty was so close.”

“This win was great having my daughter with me very very special to see her smile was priceless. The Uncle Buck plaque is a great mantel piece!!!!”

Runner up Kevin Fogerty Jr added, ”I was happy and lucky to be there in the final and to race Ron, not only a great sportsman racer but also a great person and to have such a great final, my hats off to him he did great and congrats to him and his family.”

Campanella, far lane, has already fouled giving Leone the win at Cecil

Top Dragster once again, had a great field of racers and it was an all Team Campanella final with Richie Leone from Manalapan NJ beating the boss, Paul Campanella. The race was over on the starting line as Campanella went 0.007 red.

“I’ve been racing with Paul for some time now,” Leone said. “We love to race the Flings and the 150s at Numidia. I built a brand-new Race Tech dragster in 2019 and had a five year plan and after five years were up, I sold the car and quit racing. Right after that Paul calls me and asks me to drive his second car. We made a deal to split the money, and we are having fun. And we have Joey Harrison, another seasoned vet, driving for the team.

In fact, Joey was slated to drive the team’s Super Street Camaro, but the hood blew off the car on Saturday and was parked for the remainder of the weekend. All was not lost for Harrison as he drove the same car Leone drove to the Top Dragster win, to a victory in Sunday’s gambler final.

“Paul, who lives near Cecil, called me and told me he wanted to race the .90 race since his grandkids could come and watch him race, “Leone continued.  “I told him if he was going to race, I’ll bring my grandson That’s how we ended up racing at Cecil.

Campanella adds, “When Rich decided to sell is car last year to Tom Dauber, I immediately called and asked what was going on,”

“He said he just wasn’t going enough. I told him you certainly couldn’t be done with racing yet Richie! So, I offered would he like to go with me from time to time? His response was “I would love that! I was excited to have him part time whenever it worked for his schedule. And the rest is history. Ritchie is very technical with electronics, great machinist. He keeps me grounded while we’re racing.”

“As far yesterday it was the first time his grandkids came to the race track with Ritchie by themselves. So, it was a wonderful time for him to experience. Having Joey in our camp driving the same car on the same day so there was plenty of data to dial the car accordingly. And of course, winning the bracket race too. I turned it .007 red to lose. That the second time I have had both dragsters in the final this year.”

Bringing out a new car, especially if it’s a quick Top Sportsman car, is never easy but Sunday’s T/S winner Jeff Moore from nearby Elkton MD made it look trouble free in his new ’69 Camaro with a victory over long time Top Sportsman racer Vince Fourcade Jr behind the wheel of the Saffelle Racing Camaro.

Both racers had nearly identical reaction times, but it was Fourcade pushing his Chevy a little too much breaking out with a 5.318 on a 5.32 dial as Moore cruised to the first win in the new car, 4.712 on a 4.72 dial.

Earlier in the semifinals Moore beat Saturday’s winner John Richmond III as Fourcade took the competition bye to the final.

“We did a lot of work in a short amount of time to get the car ready so to be able to win the 2nd race out was great,” Moore said after his dramatic win.

“Vince Fourcade Jr is as tough as they get on the track, we were fortunate the final went our way. Thanks go out to Tony Hill. Star Machine. CLK Customs -Chris and Christopher Krajewski. Chris Wilson and the .90 crew for a great series.”

It was double up time in both Jr Dragster classes with Saturday’s 6-9 winner striking again with a win. This time Kyler Paone beat Graysyn Lang for the second win in 24 hours.

Paone, far lane, takes his second win of the weekend

After his double, Kylar said, “The win makes me happy and makes me feel cool”

Mom and team manager Ashley Kubicke adds, “It was rewarding helping run an awesome series, while getting to watch my kids do what they love and get to enjoy it together as a family.”

Joining Paone in the double club was Eli Stack driving the Stack Racing dragster racing his brother James Stack Jr for the trophy and bragging rights.  Eli got a telepathic 0.001 light to his brothers great 0.013 and took the win with a 8.924 on his 8.90 dial as James went too quick breaking out with a 7.883 on a 7.90.

“Winning on Saturday was very special because it’s been a while since I’ve won,” Eli said after his historic double.

“And on Sunday I was just glad I was back in the finals it was even cooler knowing that I would either double up or my brother would win it was really special”

Team owner and proud dad Jimmy Stack adds,” It’s always awesome to have two cars in the finals. It makes for a very proud moment that is hard to achieve” “Having three Jrs is a lot of work on and off the track. The boys have started to help out more at home and the racetrack so that has been a huge relief for me, but there will always be certain details that are handled that they know nothing about that always keeps me busy. But I wouldn’t trade it for the world no matter how tiring it is.”

“Sharing the same passion with your kids in the capacity that we do is something that I’m honored to experience. There are family’s out there that don’t get to do a fraction of what we do, so I am forever grateful. “

After working through two days of intense heat, series president Rob Keister said, “One of my favorite events all year is the Uncle Buck Pig Roast at Cecil, it’s a great time of close racing and breaking bread with fellow competitors after we’re all done racing on Saturday. The MVPs of the weekend were the Donhauser Family and Bel Air Moose Lodge for continuing the tradition for over 32 years of the Pig Roast, a tradition started by Ronnie Harple in 1992.

“Not only were the temps hot with heat index in the low 100’s, the competition on the track was also hot. Jim, Chad & Staff had the track on kill and for someone like Jim who loves his tractors, he was rarely on it at all this weekend with the way the track was working.

“We had a lot of competition this weekend with so many other events going on at other tracks but to have over 400 competitors shows the trust and dedication that these racers have in the product that me and my team are putting out each and every weekend for them is a great confidence booster. We also have a team that has a “next man up mentality” as I came down with a stomach bug and my VP Dana had a family emergency at home so Dave, Ashley and JC stepped up to make things run smoothly, a huge thank you to them all for knocking it out of the park.”

“Congrats to all the winners of the Uncle Buck and there should be no reason that the 2026 event isn’t on your calendar when we announce our schedule in a few months.”

“If you want to see what it’s all about we got one weekend left at Mason Dixon on Sept 27th & 28th with all 7 classes competing, Mason Dixon is also another great facility that treats the racers like they are #1.”