MOE ALFAQIH SCORES THIRD BUFFALO STREET OUTLAWS WIN OF 2019 AT LANCASTER 

LANCASTER, NY – Moe Alfaqih of Cheektowaga, N.Y. captured his third Buffalo Street Outlaws (BSO) win of the season at Lancaster Dragway @ New York International Raceway Park on Friday night. Alfaqih won three out of the four BSO events at Lancaster in 2019 with the fourth event ending in a split due to curfew.

In other Friday night action, Gary Brewer of Webster, N.Y. (5.50) and Dan Marvin of Kenmore, N.Y. (6.50) won the BSO Street Limited classes. Mason Fix of Amherst, N.Y. scored the win in Mallare Trucking Top ET. In Top 8 Eliminator, Tony Madonia of N. Tonawanda, N.Y. earned his second win of the season. Reid Ricketson won for the fourth time in McGard Mod ET. Lucas Salemi of Clarence Center, N.Y. earned a fifth win of the season in Hebeler’s Sales Bikes & Sleds. In Tread City Tire Street ET, Ed Semlitsch of West Seneca, N.Y. took home the win.

A total of 165 cars were on hand for Friday night IHRA Drag Racing at Lancaster Dragway, including the final visit of the season for the Buffalo Street Outlaws crew. Moe Alfaqih continued his dominance of BSO as he defeated Terry Doyle in an all Ford Mustang final.

In the BSO Street Limited 5.50 class, Gary Brewer took defeated Matt Huyck in the final as Brewer left the starting line first, and then edged Huyck at top end. Dan Marvin won the Street Limited 6.50 class after his opponent, Andy Bates, ran under the 6.50 index. Marvin left the starting line first, but Bates ran just a little too fast in trying to catch to cause the break out.

Mason Fix continued his winning way at Lancaster as he scored his first win in Mallare Trucking Top ET. Fix, a former three-time Street champion and two-time winner in Mod ET this season, defeated fellow second-generation racer Keith Cleveland. The recently engaged Cleveland had the faster dial-in and a better reaction time, but Fix held him off when they got to the finish line.

In Top 8 Eliminator, Tony Madonia scored his second win of the season in Carl & Joanie Ettipio’s rear engine dragster. Madonia defeated track owner and Lancaster Dragway Wall of Fame member Mike Swinarski in the finals to score the victory.

The McGard Mod ET final was another chapter in the “Ricketson Family Fued” as Reid Ricketson defeated his brother Ryan for his fourth win of the season in Mod. Ryan Ricketson broke out to hand the win to Reid. The Ricketson brothers are dueling for the Mod track championship with Ryan Ricketson starting the night with a 20-point lead.

Lucas Salemi stayed hot in Hebeler’s Sales Bikes & Sleds as he won for the fifth time in 2019, and for the second week in a row. Salemi defeated Michael Puglia in the final round as he held off the hard-charging motorcycle of Puglia. He leads all drivers at Lancaster in class wins in 2019.

In Tread City Tire Street, “Fast Eddie” Semlitsch picked up the win in a double break out with Dan Knab. It was Semlitsch’s second win overall in 2019. Knab has advanced to the Street final three times this season, but he is still searching for his first win.

The Lancaster drag racing community also rallied to help one of their own on Friday as a successful fundraiser was held to support the family of former racer Kevin Maras. Maras was recently killed in an automobile accident while driving near Lake Placid. His wife and two daughters survived the crash. New York International Raceway Park sends their deepest condolences to the Maras family during this difficult time, and will continue to help in any way possible. The Lancaster Dragway staff and management were truly touched by the generosity shown by Maras’s fellow racers and fans on Friday.

Lancaster Dragway kicks off Labor Day weekend this Friday, August 30, with a full card of IHRA Drag Racing plus the final visit of the season by the Supercharged Bounty Hunters. Time trials start at 5 p.m.

About Lancaster National Speedway & Dragway: Founded in 1959, Lancaster National Speedway and Dragway, WNY’s Premier Motorsports and Event Facility, is a multi-use facility located on 77 acres just outside of metropolitan Buffalo, N.Y. The facility features a 1/8-mile drag strip, a 1/2-mile oval track and hosts several non-motorsports events such as car shows and concerts. For the latest information on Lancaster National Speedway & Dragway check out our website www.lancasternationalspeedway.com. Additional information for racers and fans can be found on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/LancasterSpeedway) and on Twitter (@LancasterSpdwy).

RESULTS (Driver, hometown, vehicle, reaction time, dial-in, elapsed time and top speed)

Mallare Trucking Top ET

Winner: Mason Fix (Amherst, N.Y.) 1969 Dodge Dart .536 7.20 7.231 seconds, 92.75 mph

Runner-up: Keith Cleveland (Cheektowaga, N.Y.) 1970 Oldsmobile .512 7.05 7.112 seconds, 91.63 mph

Top 8 Eliminator

Winner: Tony Madonia (N. Tonawanda, N.Y.) 1993 G-Force RED .532 4.86 4.885 seconds, 138.38 mph

Runner-up: Mike Swinarski (Orchard Park, N.Y.) 2002 Chevrolet Camaro .618 5.21 5.212 seconds, 132.01 mph

Buffalo Street Outlaws

Winner: Moe Alfaqih (Cheektowaga, N.Y.) 1988 Ford Mustang

Runner-up: Terry Doyle (Grand Island, N.Y.) 1988 Ford Mustang

BSO Street Limited 5.50 Index

Winner: Gary Brewer (Webster, N.Y.) 1969 Chevrolet Nova .487 5.754 seconds, 117.82 mph

Runner-up: Matt Huyck (Apalachin, N.Y.) 1988 Ford Mustang .684 5.873 seconds, 101.06 mph

BSO Street Limited 6.50 Index

Winner: Dan Marvin (Kenmore, N.Y.) Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z .437 6.511 seconds, 93.55 mph

Runner-up: Andy Bates (Lancaster, N.Y.) 1985 Ford Mustang .573 6.486 seconds, 108.66 mph

Gianni Mazia’s Mod ET

Winner: Reid Ricketson (Darien Center, N.Y.) 1974 Plymouth Duster .522 6.95 6.951 seconds, 95.94 mph

Runner-up: Ryan Ricketson (Delevan, N.Y.) 1974 Dodge Dart .528 7.89 7.868 seconds, 85.11 mph

Hebeler’s Sales Bikes & Sleds

Winner: Lucas Salemi (Clarence Center, N.Y.) Arctic Cat .515 6.47 6.521 seconds, 94.91 mph

Runner-up: Michael Puglia (Tonawanda, N.Y.) 2002 Kawasaki 1200 .556 5.14 5.161 seconds, 130.80

Tread City Tire Street ET

Winner: Ed Semlitsch (W. Seneca, N.Y.) 1963 Chevrolet Nova 8.73 .554 8.726 seconds, 76.25 mph

Runner-up: Dan Knab (Elma, N.Y.) 2004 Saturn 10.50 10.398 seconds, 69.13 mph