MASCA at Atco, NJ

Three-race finale on one weekend

Words by Rob Keister
Photos courtesy MASCA

Past NHRA Division 1 Champion Doug Doll Jr. returned to his winning ways over the Sept. 29-30 weekend at race #7 of the 2012 Mid Atlantic Super Comp Racing Series. Doll, who now lives in Plainsboro, NJ, took his 2009 Lightning Dragster to victory over a tough field of 8.90 Competitors.

Don Butkiewicz led the 35-car field into competition with a perfect 8.900. Doll started off his day with a victory over the ever-tough Scott Albrecht, Tom Slater in the second, Matt Eitel in the third and Marty Jones Jr. in the fourth round to earn a bye run into the final round.

On the other side of the ladder was Kathy Smulligan and her 1999 Cressman Dragster. Smulligan, out of Coopersburg, Pa., took down Dave Layne in the first round, Tom Boyle in the second, Bill Hardifer in the third, received a bye-run in the fourth round, and finally took down #2 qualifier Dorr in the semis. 

In the final round Doll was ready to celebrate with birthday in style with a perfect reaction time (.000) against Smulligan as he padded that lead at the starting line all the way down the strip with an 8.92 to 8.92 victory.

On Sunday, 34 cars took a shot at becoming the final winner of the 2012 season. Hardifer claimed the #1 qualifying spot with an 8.902. Newcomer Tom Oliver out of Manchester, NJ, was attending his first-ever MASCA event and he proved to be a force by day’s end.

Oliver took down a fouling Don Bangs and Albrecht strapped a 10-thousandth package on past world champ Dan Northrop in the third round and then disposed of Michele Costa in the fourth and Mark Kelly in the semifinals.

On the other side of the ladder, Hardifer out of Shamong, NJ, driving his ‘89 S&W Digger, got past Dick Dorr in the opening round, got a bye-run in the second, beat Don Butkiewicz in the third and Kyle Koretsky in the fourth to earn yet another single into the finals against Oliver.

With neither driver ever being in a MASCA final before it would assure the eighth different winner this season. At the flash Hardifer took a huge advantage at the tree (.022 to .089), but couldn’t turn that advantage into a victory as he broke out with an 8.891 to Oliver’s winning 8.914.