Greater Cumberland Raceway
Clanton outduels Decker for MACS victory
By Matt Felten
Allegany County Speedway
Shane Clanton earned $5,000. (www.pbase.com/cyberslash)
CUMBERLAND, Md. (April 12) — Dropping in for a rare start on the Mid-Atlantic Championship Series, Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga., outdueled Billy Decker of Unadilla, N.Y., to capture the MACS opener at Allegany County Speedway. Clanton, traveling between World of Outlaws events in Virginia and Pennsylvania, earned $5,000 for his victory in the Western Maryland Open 50, his first ever at the track nicknamed “The Rock.” | Slideshow
On a blustery day, Clanton led most of the race as four cautions slowed the action the first 21 laps. On the lap-21 restart, Clanton couldn't shake Decker and the frontrunners raced nose-to-tail through traffic starting on lap 31. With Chub Frank joining the battling up front, Decker took command on the 37th lap with a low-side move in turn three. Clanton's high groove carried him back out front the next lap as Decker had his hands full with traffic. Frank fell out on a lap-42 caution and Decker couldn't make another move, finishing eight lengths behind Clanton at the checkered flag. Another New Yorker, Tim Fuller of Edwards, was third behind Decker with former MACS champion Mike Balzano of Parkersburg, W.Va., and Jeremy Miller of Gettysburg, Pa., rounding out the top five.
Notes: Clanton's Rocket Chassis is powered by a Custom Race Engine and sponsored by RSD Enterprises, SAE Parts, Stevens Plumbing & Mechanical and PRC. ... Among drivers failing to make the feature: Dave Troutman, Keith Jackson, Donnie Lingo Jr., Gregg Satterlee and Nick Dickson, who scratched from time trials. ... MACS originally had an April 13 event scheduled for Hesston (Pa.) Speedway, but wet grounds postponed the event to May 11. ... Chad McClellan won the track's Limited Late Model feature. ... The track's regular season begins Friday, April 18.
Western Maryland Open 50: (1) Shane Clanton, (2) Billy Decker, (3) Tim Fuller, (4) Mike Balzano, (5) Jeremy Miller, (6) Gary Stuhler, (7) Shannon Babb, (8) Jason Covert, (9) Rick Eckert, (10) Ricky Elliott, (11) Doug Horton, (12) Chub Frank, (13) Jack Pencil, (14) Waylon Wagner, (15) Matt Lux, (16) Chuck Clise, (17) Greg Fetters, (18) Chuck Harper, (19) Keith Barbara, (20) Alex Ferree, (21) Randy Burkholder, (22) Chris Harr, (23) Mike Altobelli Jr., (24) Coleby Frye. Fast qualifier (among 40 cars): Stuhler, 20.082 seconds. Heat race winners: Covert, Fuller, Clanton, Frank. Consolation winners: Harper, Horton.
