INDIANA, Pennsylvania — The 2008 Mid-Atlantic Championship Series season will come to a close when the checkered flag falls on the 50-lap, $12,000 to win, ‘Big Kahuna VII’ at Rick and Ernie Jones, Oval Track Promotions, ‘The Rock’ Allegany County Speedway in Cumberland, MD on Friday and Saturday, October 3rd and 4th.
The slightly banked, picturesque 5/8 mile speed plant affectionately known as ‘The Rock’ captures the high octane, 800 horsepower Super Late models for this lucrative 50-lap shootout. This will be the second appearance at the Cumberland, MD oval in 2008 as the series opened their schedule at ‘The Rock’ with newly crowned ‘World 100’ Champion, Shane Clanton, Locust Grove, GA holding off Billy Decker to claim the $5,000 top prize back in April. The show carries a total purse of $60,000.
The weekend will also crown two drivers including the ’08 MACS Champion as well as the AlturnaMATS® MACS Rookie of the Year. Heading into the ‘Big Kahuna’, two-time and defending Series champion Jason Covert, York Haven, PA leads Bruceton Mills, WV’s Doug Horton by 155 points in his bid for a third straight championship, a feat no other MACS Champion has ever accomplished. The 2008 AlturnaMATS® Rookie of the Year contender Coleby Frye and 2002 MACS Champion Jack Pencil are tied for third, 290 markers behind Covert while another AlturnaMATS® Rookie of the Year contender, Greg Fetters resides in fifth.
Currently, Frye holds a 150 point margin over Fetters, in the AlturnaMATS® Rookie of the Year point standings. The rest of the ROY title hunt finds former Big Block Modified standout and BRP Modified Tour Champion, Russell King solidly in third, followed by Ron Delano Jr., Tony Lombardi, Mike Altobelli Jr., Thomas Baker, and Donald Lingo Jr. completing the ROY point standings.
The anticipated slate of MACS regulars arriving at Cumberland should include Covert; Horton, Pencil, Nick Dickson, Matt Lux, Chuck Clise, Waylon Wagner, Jeremy Miller; as well as Frye, Fetter, Delano, King, Lingo, Baker, and Lombardi. Other drivers expected to participate for a share of the $60,000 purse are Gary Stuhler, Ricky Elliott, Keith Barbara, Steve Everhart, D.J. Myers, Dave and D.J. Troutman, Keith Jackson, Chuck Harper and many more local and regional stars.
Past Series MACS winners at “The Rock” include: Shane Clanton in 2008; Jason Covert and Ricky Elliott in ’06 and again in ’07. Gary Stuhler and Steve Shaver also won events at ‘The Rock’ in 2006; Steve Francis during the inaugural season of the “Big Kahuna” in ‘01; Bo Feathers (‘00); as well as Gary Stuhler in 1998.
An open practice session will be held on Thursday, October 2 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. before the ‘Big Kahuna’ kicks off on Friday, October 3. Pit Gates will open on Friday at 2:00 p.m., Grandstands at 4:30 p.m. with Hot Laps beginning at 6:15 p.m. Time Trials will begin 7:00 p.m. with racing getting under way at approximately 7:45 p.m. Saturday the Pit Gates again open at 2:00 p.m., Grandstands at
4:30 p.m. with Hot Laps at 6:15 p.m. and racing at 7:00 p.m. For more information contact the “The Rock’ online at www.therockspeedway.com or the Series at www.macsracing.com.
The purse for the ‘Big Kahuna VII’ is: 1. $12,000; 2. $6,000; 3. $3,500; 4. $2,500; 5. $2,000 6. $1,500; 7. $1,250; 8. $1,100; 9. $1,075; 10. $1,050; 11. $1,025; 12. $1,000; 13. $950; 14. $900; 15. $850; 16. $800; 17. $800; 18. $800; 19. $800; 20. $800; 21. $800; 22. $800; 23. $800; 24. $800; 25. $800; 26. $800…All drivers who do not transfer to the A Main will receive $200.00.
The weekend will feature a full MACS program including AlturnaMATS® Time Trails presented by JNJ Motorsports Media and Heats on Friday, October 3rd and the Sunoco Race Fuels B Main presented by Bazell Oil, the Keizer Wheels 2nd B Main presented by Big Shot Performance and 50-lap A Main will be held on Saturday, October 4th.
Additional information on the Mid-Atlantic Championship Series can be found on www.macsracing.com.
