The Mid Atlantic .90 Association officially kicked off the 2020 Campaign at Cecil County Dragway in Northeast Maryland after almost two months of delays due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
A brief rain shower kicked off the morning but, racing kicked off right around noon with two qualifiers. In Super Comp, 2016 Comp Eliminator World Champ Doug Doll Jr. rocketed to the #1 qualifying spot with a perfect 8.900, joining Doll in the top spot were Rick Homan in Super Gas at a 9.903 and Bill Phillips in Super Street at 10.912.
After a brief memorial and moment of silent for 2017 Super Street Champion Marty Ganjoin who passed away in April, eliminations got under way. In VP Racing Fuels Super Comp presented by Brother Rigging Randy Winfelder Jr. started off in the # 9 spot and took down Tiffany Mink, 2019 Champ Tom Slater and Chris Mattern to earn a bye run to the final round. Waiting in the final round was 2017 Champion Amanda Boicesco who threw down a 15 thousandths package on Chase Fahnestock in the semis. The finals though didn’t live up to the hype as Amanda cut a tardy .118 light to Winfelders .018 allowing Randy to pace his way to an 8.951 to 8.926 win.
In VP Racing Fuels Super Gas presented by Brother Rigging, after a 2-year hiatus from racing Bob Phillips drug out his ex-Allen Johnson Pro Stock Neon out of moth balls to find his way to the final round. Phillips earned his way to the finals with a little luck with his first three opponents going red and a bye run in the 3rd round. In the finals was 2017 Champion George Smith awaiting Phillips. Phillips was ready for the challenge though as he cut a .004 to Smiths .027 and legged it out to a double breakout 9.895 to 9.887 victory.
Rounding out the Saturday Action was VP Racing Fuels Super Street presented by Brother Rigging. The #1 qualifier Phillips took it all the way to the bank from the top spot by knocking off Dave Bergfeldt, Scott Lang, and 4x Champ Keith Mayers in the semis. The final was a battle of South Jersey natives as Phillips squared off with Sean Lanigan. At the hit Phillips took a large advantage (.021 to .047) and parlayed that into his 3rd MASA win with a 10.893 to 10.882 win.
On Sunday, with storms moving in for the afternoon the racers were limited to 1 qualifier to set the fields. The #1 qualifier were in Super Comp Amanda Boicesco, Super Gas Pete Lucinao and in Super Street Dom Burgese.
In VP Racing Fuels Super Street presented by Brother Rigging, Kelli Barbato started from the #5 spot and took her 68 Camaro to victories over Bob Kerk, Burgese and Carly Wolf to match up with 4x Champ Keith Mayers, who was on a hot streak after winning at Epping, NH the week prior. Barbato and Mayers were no stranger to each other in final rounds as they’ve met in numerous finals over the years. At the Green Barbato took a .016 to .033 advantage and lead all the way to a 10.932 to 10.932 victory and her 4th with the series in Super Street and one in Super Gas.
VP Racing Fuels Super Gas presented by Brother Rigging, Seven-time series champion Iggie Boicesco claimed yet another victory in his Corvette. Boicesco took wins over Derek Clark, Saturdays winner Bob Phillips, a bye when Paul Laino broke and Jeff Fisher in the semis to match up with the Kens Kustom Camaro of Hank Smith. At the hit Iggie was first off, the line with a 0.12 light to Smiths tardy .097 and with the combination of the starting line advantage it forced Smith to break out with a 9.891 to Iggies winning 9.942.
Rounding out Super Comp, Amanda Boicesco was looking for revenge after her disappointing final round showing the day before. Boicesco started in prime position with the #1 qualifier spot and marched her way through the field with wins over Melissa Thomson, a bye in the second, Tom Oliver and good friend Bill Hardifer in the semis. Waiting in the finals was Race # 8 winner from Cecil in 2019 Kara Stine. In the first ever all female final for the series Boicesco and Stine locked horns. At the flash Amanda took the advantage .013 to .030 and as Kara tried to play catch-up, the high mph of Stines car almost forced Amanda to give it back as they both went 8.998 to 8.990 but, the bulb shined in Boicesco’s lane.
With the victory for Iggie and Amanda it marked the fourth time the father-daughter duo has “doubled-up” since 2013.
The next event for the series is the granddaddy of them all and the 27th Annual Uncle Buck Pig Roast back at Cecil County Dragway on July 11 & 12th. For more info you can visit www.midatlantic90.org,