Gary Simpers of North East, Md., is the new NHRA King of the Track at Maple Grove Raceway. Simpers defeated Brent Long of Center Valley, in the final round of King of the Track competition. The final-round winners of the four Sunoco Race Fuels Money Trail E.T. bracket series classes squared off to determine the new King of the Track.
In the first round, Long – who won the Street final – defeated Top Bike class winner Danny Boyer of York, Simpers – winner in the Super Pro class – met and defeated Pro class winner Todd Thoman of York, Simpers then met Long in the final round of King of the Track eliminations.
Gary Simpers (right) is the 2014 MGR NHRA King of the Track. (John Bisci)
Simpers is no stranger to MGR’s victory lane: he won the ATI Stock/Super Stock class final at MGR on July 5.
SATURDAY, AUG. 2:Saturday winners included: Gary Simpers (NHRA King of the Track), Gary Simpers (Gold Rush Trailers Super Pro), Todd Thoman (Ciccarone Racing Products Pro), Brent Long (P.C. Richard & Son Street), Danny Boyer (Ray’s Yamaha Top Bike), Jessie Rothenberger (U.T.I. Jr. Dragster), Hunter Zajac (NHRA Jr. Street) and Charles Augustine (Trophy).
Sunday rainMaple Grove Raceway fought an off-and-on battle with weather over the weekend. Auto Locator Fast Friday was rained out. MGR was able to complete a Sunoco Race Fuels Money Trail E.T. bracket racing series meet on Saturday, but Sunday’s show was stopped by rain before all classes could complete eliminations.
Drivers in the Super Pro, Pro and Street classes – all halted by rain – will split the purses and will be awarded Sunoco Race Fuels Money Trail points for the last round of eliminations completed.
Drivers/riders in Top Bike, Trophy, Jr. Street and Jr. Dragster classes were able to complete their eliminations.
Ray’s Yamaha Top Bike: Wayne Pyfrom of Denver, Pa., rode his Suzuki to victory over Keith Alesin of Mohnton, in the Ray’s Yamaha Top Bike finale. Both riders fouled (‘red-lit’) on the starting line. Pyfrom’s top speed and elapsed time: 9.210 sec./140.81 mph. Alesin’s: 11.581 sec./112.10 mph.
U.T.I. Jr. Dragster: Defending champion Vincent Branca of Norristown, defeated Katelyn Kershner of New Tripoli, on the eighth-mile, 7.925 sec./78.26 mph. to 8.999 sec./69.05 mph.
Trophy: Dale Greenly of Manheim, piloted his 1960 Chevrolet to victory over Jeff Feller of Robesonia, Pa., 15.021 sec./89.59 mph. to 13.623 sec./89.86 mph.
NHRA Jr. Street: Robert Weidenhammer of Reading, defeated Samantha Hess in the final, 11.725 sec./59.30 mph. to 10.841 sec./67.19 mph.
THIS COMING WEEKEND: Auto Locator Fast Friday on Friday, Aug. 8. Gates will open at 4 p.m. with racing from 5-10 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 9: Sunoco Race Fuels Money Trail Race No. 12; Jr. Street class; ATI Stock-Super Stock Showdown. (No Jr. Dragster points.) Gates will open at 8 a.m. with racing at 9 a.m.
Sunday, Aug. 10: Sunoco Race Fuels Money Trail Race No. 13; Jr. Street class; ATI Stock-Super Stock Showdown. (No Jr. Dragster points.) Gates will open at 8 a.m. with racing at 9 a.m.
