The NDRL's McKean County Raceway

Weekly Action this Week at the NDRL’s McKean County Raceway

East Smethport, PA (May 15, 2013) After suffering the first rain out last Friday night, the NDRL McKean County Raceway will return to action this Friday night with a regular “Incredible Weekly” racing program featuring the super late models, RUSH crate late models, Emods, Close Racing Supply Street Stocks and mini stocks. Racing starts at 7:30PM Friday night.

Ron Davies of Warren, PA captured his first win at MCR since 2003 on opening night. The “Rim Rider” will be back and looking to grab his second win of the year. Other drivers looking to knock Davies off the pedestal will be “The Captain” Jason Dupont of Cyclone, Boom Briggs, Mike Knight, Bob Close, who won two weeks ago and Rob Blair.

Max Blair has continued his dominance at McKean County Raceway by winning the first two events Blair, the 2012 National Champion captured the win over, Eldred’s Damien Bidwell and Freedom’s Ed Carley the first two weeks and is coming off a $5,000 win last weekend in West Virginia. A strong 33 car field was on hand opening night and another quality field is expected on hand Friday night. Other strong contenders expected are Bob Kish of Belfast, Ward Schell of Warren, Justin Tatlow and others. READ MORE HERE

The NDRL’s McKean County Raceway to Utilize Passing Points

East Smethport, PA (May 15, 2013) Effective this Friday, May 17, the NDRL McKean County Raceway will start using the “Passing Point System” for all its normal weekly events. This will eliminate the feature redraw format that has become norm by every race track in the region and promote more passing in the qualifying heat events. MCR general manager, Chris Zuver stated, "I have toyed with the idea of using the passing point system for over a year with our traveling series, but now with MCR being a weekly track, I felt this was the perfect place and perfect time to implement this system that is commonly used in the midwest and it puts MCR at a different level for weekly racing than any other track in the tri state region.

In addition to the finishing points, each driver will earn 1 1/2 points for every position he or she advances in the heat event from his or her initial starting position determined by the pill draw when he or she signs in. The line-up will be official when the pill draw closes. Any car arriving late (after pill draw closes) will start in the back of a heat race. All cars moving onto the track from the staging area will be considered to have started the race. All cars not starting the race will receive points equal to last place qualifying points. All cars that scratch or drop out prior to the initial green flag after the line-ups are official, or drop out during the race will be considered passed cars. Any driver that would scratch or drop to the rear of the field with the intent of assisting another driver in gaining points is subject to disqualification. READ MORE HERE

Bob Close Returns to NDRL’s McKean County Raceway; Blair, Davies, Michael, and Mitchell also Victorious.
*East Smethport, PA (May 3, 2013)* McKean County Raceway saw some familiar faces in victory lane for their second night of racing under the NDRL Management team. Bob Close of Eldred, PA returned to MCR victory lane in the super late models for the first time in several years. Joining Close in victory was Ron Davies in the Emods, former champion Andy Michael in the Close Racing Supply Street Stocks, while Larry Mitchell Jr. and Max Blair won for the second week in a row in the Mini Stocks and RUSH Crate Late Models.
Former track champions, Bob Close and Dick Barton paced the super late model field for the 25 lap $1500 to win “Incredible Weekly” event. Barton would use the high line around the track to edge Close for the lead at the start of the event. Barton would lead the first four laps over Close and Jason Dupont until a undisclosed mechanical failure saw him bring the yellow lights on lap 4. Close would restart the field with Dupont and Rob Blair on his rear bumper. Dupont would try several laps to get by the high riding Close with Blair, Boom Briggs and Ron Davies in his rear view mirror. Briggs and Davies would both get by Blair on lap 16 and Blair would come to a stop in turn 4 the next lap for the final caution of the event. Close again charged ahead of his competitors as Dupont again followed the #04 machine tire tracks.. Davies would sweep by Briggs for third on lap 17 and the field would stay the same till the end as Close would take his first super late model win at MCR in several years over Dupont, last week’s winner Ron Davies, Boom Briggs and Greg Oakes. Heat winners were Dupont and Blair. READ MORE HERE

Davies Dominates Duffy Memorial at McKean Country Raceway! Blair, Hall, Ashcroft, and Mitchell also record opening night wins.
*By Jay Pees* - *East Smethport, PA (April 27, 2013)* The new management of McKean County Raceway greeted a near capacity crowd for the debut of the NDRL to the area for the Jim and Mike Duffy Memorial. The father and son were important supporters of the raceway over the years and are remembered annually at the start of the season.
Twenty Super Late Models started the 30-lap Jim and Mike Duffy Memorial. Russell King and many time track champion Bob Close led the field to John Powell's green banner with Close powering into the lead in turn one. At the end of two laps Ron Davies had assumed second and grabbed the lead briefly on the back straight two laps later but Close surged back to the lead on the front side. Eight laps in and Close was slicing through lapped traffic with Davies only a car length or two behind. Davies came by for the lead in turn three of lap eleven but again Close regained it by the stripe with Dave Hess Jr now also in the mix. At lap thirteen Davies was again trying for the lead in heavy traffic when Close suddenly slowed in turn one. With two to go Davies enjoyed half a lap on second running Hess with Russell King third, Jason DuPont fourth, and Boom Briggs rounding out the top five. The race ran green to checkers without a caution. Heat wins went to Close, Mike Knight, and Davies. MORE