Drag Racing Action Online

Images Rob Keister and Phil Hutchison

Great weather greeted the racers at Mason Dixon Dragway in Boonsboro MD for the Mid Atlantic Super Series racers. The event, the 3rd and 4th of the 2024 season featured the .90 classes along with Top Dragster and Top Sportsman.

After two qualifying shots, Saturday’s action got underway with some close racing at the beautiful Maryland track.

Winning Super Comp was 2023 Series Champ Chase Fahnestock in his DMW sponsored dragster beating Don Bangs in a double breakout final, 8.882 to an 8.877 of Bangs.

“We certainly had a blast racing at a track we cut our teeth at many years ago! It was cool to see some of our fellow sportsmen racers at Mason Dixon Dragway”, said Fahnestock after his win. “The track staff did a great job making us all feel welcome and were extremely consistent on how the track was prepped each round.” Also, thank you to Rob and the Mid Atlantic crew for taking a chance here.

“I believe everyone that showed up enjoyed themselves. Really looking forward to having more events here in the future. We all, as racers, need to support tracks that are doing what they can to improve their facilities for us to race at.”

Super Gas went down to the Chevy of Jeff Fisher against long time Mid Atlantic racer George Donhauser. Donhauser in his Plymouth Arrow got a little too antsy on the line and left before the green handing Fisher the win.

Just like Super Comp, Super Street had a double breakout final as Dave E’Nama, driving the Bob Phillips owned Mopar Lebaron went a 10.877 on the 10.90 index as his competition, Neil Vaccaro’s Olds Cutlass went a tad more under the index with a 10.872.

“This was our first trip to MD, and we were both very impressed with the facility and staff. Saturday, I was able to put the car in the winner’s circle,” Dave said after his win.” I hadn’t visited the winners circle since 1992 when I drove John Asta’s S/ST Camaro. I had a few final rounds but could never seem to close the deal.

Earlier in eliminations, E’Nama, far lane, defeated series regular Dave Bergfeldt 

“The car was dialed, and I was hitting the tree. First round, I won by .0048, and the final round was a double breakout with me coming up .0004 on the good side. As you can imagine, it was quite the relief getting back to the winner’s circle after 32 years.”

Top Sportsman went to the Corvette of John Morton beating Dave Muller’s Camaro in the finals

Candi Derry parked her Maryland based Top Dragster in the winner’s circle

Sunday was a duplicate of Saturday weather and after one time shot, things got moving with the plan to get the race in quickly so racers could start their trip home before the weekend traffic got crazy.

Don Bangs, after being on the losing end of a double breakout final on Saturday, got his Race Tech dragster in the winner’s circle beating his close friend Kathy Smulligan in the finals. Bangs got off the line first and ran an 8.916 to Smulligan’s close but losing 8.923

After his win, Bangs said, “After about a 15-year hiatus, we made the tow to down to Mason-Dixon for races 3 & 4 of the Mid-Atlantic Super Series.  After a couple hiccups in qualifying and being fortunate enough to get to the Saturday evening dance, we faced off with the current 3X Series Champ, Chase Fahnestock.”

 “With way too many zeroes at the bottom of the slip (usually the case when we match up), Chase grabbed the WIN light this trip in a double-breakout Final. 

“More sunshine, higher temps and some very rapid and tricky weather changes provided everyone additional challenges during the day Sunday but, we persevered and made it back for the second final of the weekend. This time, it was the always dialed to the .90 Kathy Smulligan in the other lane.  Fortunately, we were able to parlay a slight starting line advantage into a “W” and put the “new” car back into the Winners Circle.”

“A big THANK YOU to Elmer Wachter and his staff at Mason-Dixon for hosting the Series and providing a spot-on track all weekend, Rob, Dana, Dave and the Super Series Team for all their hard work and of course, my wife Beth and our boys for all their support. “

“I’d also like to give a shout out to Russ at RaceTech Race Cars, Lee at C2 Competition, “The Eddies” at Select Performance, Roy at Hoosier Tire, Jeff at Road Runner Race Fuels and of course, Tom at Goldman Autorace Specialties.”

“Secondly, I have to thank Jason Anagnostis of POR 15 products who guaranteed the $1,500 to win purse in all the .90 classes despite the not so great turnout, Jason has become a huge assist to our series through sponsorship and product support and also Marc Wesler and the Tedesco Family of Fuel Factory and Jeff Stricker of Roadrunner Race Fuels who are our main supporters of this series, we can’t thank them enough for the ongoing support they have given this series and helped it grow.”

“Lastly, thank you to all the racers who made the trip, congrats to all the winners from this past weekend and I really hope when you see Mason Dixon Dragway on the 2025 schedule you circle, highlight and put stars next to it so you don’t miss it next year! “ 

Delaware racer Keith Mayers is no stranger to the winner’s circle. Between Super Street championships and Super Gas, Mayers has a firm grip on how to win. Driving his unique ‘88 Quadrafollio, Mayers beat Mike Lang in the finals at Mason Dixon. Lang had the better light but in hindsight it didn’t matter as the finals were decided before the cars staged.

“Sunday was an odd day,” Mayers said.  “I knew I had to run the right lane being I was supposed to finish maple Grove final against Derek Clark later that day we had already settled on which lanes and I was to be in the right lane so I took it during my only time run I was -20 red, which was a complete shock. First round I loaded up the box and rolling down the hill. I realized my front brake pads were gone. I was hearing a grinding noise. Luckily, I got through that round with a terrible light and a tire spinning run but I had barely enough time to get back to the pits”

“Take off the front wheels, burn myself several times getting the calipers and pads changed just in time to come up for round two. Jumped back in the left lane and ended up having a few good runs after that with a very good run against George Smith .005 pack in the semifinal round

“The final was a no-brainer we split the guaranteed purse, and it was a very fast pass for Mr. Lang and that gave me an easy win.  it was great being at Mason Dixon and seeing a few new faces.”

“This car has been really good and I’m having a great time running Super Gas”

Jeremy Stokes took his sharp ’69 Camaro to a win in Super Street beating the Nova of David Simba in the finals. Simba ran a breaking out 10.835 to Stokes winning 10.908.

Sunday’s Top Dragster featured the father and son duo of Laury McGowan up against his son Laury Jr. Junior had the better light but broke out giving dad the win.

Top Sportsman went down to the crowd favorite, the beautiful blown Corvette of Doug Farcace up against the Mopar of Mike Damude. Farcace parlayed a 0.013 light to the win setting up Farcase against McGowan for the Top 32 winner. McGowan got a great light and ran a 4.508 on a 4.49 dial for the win at Mason Dixon. Farcase trailed with a 4.84 on his 4.69 dial.

The finals of Top Dragster had Laury McGowan Sr, near lane, racing his son Laury Jr for the title. Dad won

After the event, Series President Rob Keister said, “First and foremost I want to thank the racers who made the trip to Mason Dixon Dragway over the past weekend, this dragstrip is really a little hidden gem out in Western Maryland and despite all the rumors that the tow was bad, it was basically all Highway and located 5 minutes off Highway 70. The track was re-grounded in the off season by Mass Traction and very smooth all the way down with plenty of stopping distance for the 180mph Super Comp Cars. “

NHRA Northeast Division pastor Kevin Cooke and series president Rob Keister 

“Elmer, Jake, Kathy and the rest of the crew there take pride in their facility and it shows throughout the weekend we were there from the stickers given to all for attending when they went through Tech, Elmer walking the lanes and thanking every driver who came to his facility and to the countless times we were THANKED over the mic for attending, you don’t get that at all tracks today.”

“In today’s world we understand that everyone is counting pennies and to be honest if a Wally or Grade Point isn’t up for grabs people aren’t pulling out of the driveway unfortunately but, we have to support these tracks and independent series, or they are going to disappear.”  

After the Mason Dixon event the championship points look like:

Super Comp

1.Don Bangs – 209

2.Kathy Smulligan – 188

3.Dave Long – 182

Super Gas

1 Keith Mayers – 215 (1 Race pending)

2 Rick Mattioli – 186

3 George Smith – 180

Super Street

1 Scott Lang – 198

2 Dave E’Nama – 190

3 Carly Wolf – 167

Next up for the Mid Atlantic series, The 31st annual Uncle Buck Pig Roast at Cecil County Dragway on August 3rd & 4th.