MALLARE END WINLESS STREAK IN TOP 8 AT LANCASTER

Show of sportsmanship leads to Szewczyk win in Top ET

LANCASTER, NY – Lancaster National Dragway finally got their first Franco’s Pizza Friday Night IHRA Drag Racing event of August in the books on Friday night following two-straight weeks of rain outs.

The good weather came at the right time as Lancaster played host to the Hanna Motorsports Jet Funny Cars after their traditional Memorial Day weekend date was rained out. Both the First Strike and Top Secret Eastern Raider jet cars wowed the fans with passes of less than four seconds and speeds that topped over 200 mph.

In Franco’s Pizza IHRA Drag Racing action, Michael Mallare of Grand Island, N.Y. captured his first Top 8 win of the season. Dan Szewczyk of Lancaster took the win in Mallare Enterprises Top ET. In McGard Mod, Keith Banas of Tonawanda, N.Y. scored his first win of 2017. Both Hebeler’s Sales Bikes & Sleds and Tread City Tire Street had repeat winners as Vic Pgulia of Buffalo (Bikes & Sleds) and John Wachowicz of Sanborn, N.Y. (Street) won for the second event in a row.

Michael Mallare entered Friday night with a 0-4 record in final rounds this season in Top 8 Eliminator. His luck finally changed as he was able to beat Joe Masullo for his first win of the season. Mallare completed the 1/8-mile 5.47 seconds, just a hundredth of a second off his 5.46 dial-in while Masullo ran under his 5.09 dial-in to hand the win to Mallare.

There was quite the show of sportsmanship in the Mallare Enterprises Top ET final. Shawn Beatty was set to face Dan Szewczyk in the final pairing, but Szewczyk was unable to make the call to the starting line due to mechanical problems. Beatty, however, graciously allowed Szewczyk to make repairs to his car so they could race instead of taking the bye run and the automatic win. Szewczyk was ready to go 30 minutes later and he drove past Beatty at top end to score the victory aboard his Head Knocker 1941 Willys.

Keith Banas scored his first win of the year in McGard Mod over Rich Hodge. Banas had to only make up a tenth second head start on the starting tree to edge Hodge at top end.

Vic Puglia backed up his first career Bikes & Sleds win on July 28 with his second in a row. Puglia defeated Drew Nearhoof in the final round to score the victory. John Wachowicz returned to Tread City Tire Street victory lane in his Lincoln Mark VI with a win over Fast Eddie Semlitsch in the finals.

The Junior Dragster 7.90 Index class made its second Friday night appearance of the season and the final round was a rematch of their first race. Alexandra Young once again picked up the win over her sister, Victoria.

Lancaster National Dragway is back in action this Friday night with the popular Big Rig Night presented Hunter Truck Sales/Peterbilt of Buffalo and Mallare Enterprises. There will be a special Big Rig/Dump Truck class and a Pickup Truck class sponsored by Halleen’s Automotive. CDL license holders will receive discounted admission.