DRAG RACING ACTION ONLINE STORY BILLY KLEINSPEHN

IMAGES BOB REED, DAN GRIPPO, NICK DANIELS AND PHIL HUTCHISON

 

After a year that included leaving the NHRA, a track sale, and closing the doors for a while, Maple Grove is back

To have an event last 54 years is a long time in the sports world but for an event to last that long and at the same location in the Motorsports world is truly exceptional and one such event is the Pennsylvania Dutch Classic at Maple Grove Raceway.

The event which dates back to 1971 was originally a Pro and Sportsman show before becoming one of the largest and longest running sportsman events in the country that it is today.

Dispute a forecast for rain on Sunday which forced officials to run the event to completion on Saturday saw a great turnout of racers who enjoyed two days of beautiful fall weather and when the sun started going down on Saturday saw several happy winners in victory lane.

The high flying Stock and Super Stockers were on hand and when the finals came around on Saturday it saw two of the best with Glenn Briglio in his I/SA 89 Camaro out of Massapequa NY taking on the A/SA 68 Ford Mustang out of Sugarloaf Pa driving by Ryan Horensky.

At the green it was Ryan with a better reaction time .046 to Glenn’s .091 but Glenn was able to stay out front running a 11.13 on the 11.13 dial In to Ryan’s losing 10.19 at 131.05 MPH on his 9.97 Dial In.

In Super Comp it was all Maple Grove alumni final round with Mike Daniels Denver Pa taking on the leading lady of Kara Kusy from Honey Brook Pa.

At the green it was all Daniels with a .017 reaction time and running a 8.92 on the 8.90 Index to Kusy’s .028 reaction time and 8.91 on the 8.90 Index.

Kara Kusy, a longtime Maple Grove regular, drove her black dragster to a runner up in Super Comp

Joining his dad in the winner’s circle was his son Nick Daniels from West Chester PA

Everyone loves and good comeback or Cinderella story in sports and the Super Gas final was the scene of one with Nick Daniels from West Chester Pa taking on longtime racer Earl Nichols in an all Corvette final round.

Earl Nichols. near lane, got the RT but not the ET losing to the while Corvette of Daniels in the final

When the lights turned green it was Nichols with his 78 Vette leaving first with a near perfect reaction time .003 to Daniels .028 but it was Daniels overcoming the starting line disadvantage to get the win running a 9.928 on the 9.90 index while Nichols ran a 9.997 on the 9.90 Index.

It was an emotional win for Daniels as he completed the Father Son double up with his dad winning in Super Comp and it also marked Nicks first win at the grove in Super Gas since a devastating crash back at the Dave Stine Memorial race in 2021.

“Rolling into Maple Grove Raceway this weekend I didn’t think it have this kind of results and turn into a milestone moment! Let alone to put one race car on the dance floor we were able to put both,” Nick said after the historic win.

“Dad finished the job in Super Comp and I was able to get it done in super gas finally! Only took me 7 years. Two tough classes with very tough competitors. We had a couple good laps and of course a lot of luck! Mom you were here with us every lap

Thank you to everyone that helps us make this happen!”

Rounding out the .90 classes was the always tough Super Street class which saw Danny Gallo from Baiting Hollow NY in his ‘75 Monza and Steve Everett from Williamstown NJ in his show quality ‘61 Ford Pick Up in the finals of the 10.90 class.

The lights turned green it was Everett with the starting line advantage .013 to Gallos .033 but it was Gallo squeezing on by for the win running a 10.91 to Everett’s 10.97.

Also joining in on the fun was the always exciting but also tough competition of Top Sportsman and Top Dragster in a combined race much like Stock and Super Stock with Door cars vs Dragsters.

When it came time for finals it was an all Dragster final in a battle of youth and exuberance with Tommy Muller from Pennington NJ taking on the vet of Fred Denight of Woolwick NJ.

Both drivers would nail the tree with near identical reaction times Muller .014 to Denight’s .013 but it was Muller getting the win with a 4.31 on the 4.30 Dial in to Denight 4.26 on a 4.23 Dial.

It has been a great month for the Muller family as Tommy’s dad Dave won in Top Sportsman at Yellow Bullet and in Super Gas at the Mid Atlantic .90 season finale which he doubled up with Tommy who won in Super Street.

“It was great to be able to race again at Maple Grove,” Muller said after the win.

“I know it’s been a whirlwind for the Koretsky’s, and I just can’t express enough how grateful I am to be able to race at that beautiful track. The car was not great, but I had a ton of luck go my way.”

“I did hit the tree really well, but the car was fighting us, something not right with the motor. Dad got the car together enough to be competitive as he always does, and in the final it did hold true and run the number, and I did drive it right.”

“I’m so lucky to be able to do this, my dad has taught me everything I know with it and is right there by my side every lap-no way I could do it without him. Thank you to everybody who supports us!”

Not to be outdone were the stars of the Maple Grove Et Series which were featured in the Et Motorcycle and Jr Dragsters classes which were in attendance.

In ET Motorcycle it was Christopher Finney from Lehighton Pa taking on Mike Sadowski from Lindenwood.

The race was over at the starting line as Sadowsky on his 79 Kz1000 would turn it red by .-010 to give Finny the win on his 14 Kawasaki.

The Jr Dragster final saw two best friends meet for all the marbles as Michael Chirico from Pittsgrove NJ taking on Austin Ecks from Quarryville PA.

With a perfect reaction time .000 it was all Chirico running a 7.999 on the 7.90 Dial In to Austin’s 7.964 also on a 7.90 Dial In in the heads up final.

Also a surprise to the fans in attendance was the appearance of 4 Nostalgia Funny Cars making test hits with the Screaming Eagle The Outlaw The Road Runner and the China Syndrome all making passes down the track with Joe Pirrone in the Screaming Eagle running a 6.18 for the quickest Et but it was George Reidnauer running the fastest speed at 229mph in his China Syndrome Tribute
Car.

With the chutes pulled on the Dutch Classic it’s all about Trucks Trucks and more Trucks with the Keystone Trucking Nationals on Saturday the 10th and a Test and Tune Gamblers race on the 11th.