Published: August 11, 2006 11:53 pm      

Ohio driver looking to increase his lead in series

Glenn Gault Jr. of Hubbard, Ohio, is leading the points race in the fledgling Mid-Atlantic Asphalt Racing Alliance (MAARA) super late model series coming into tonight’s 100-lap race at Jennerstown Speedway.

MAARA was formed last summer in an attempt to standardize car specifications at five Pennsylvania and New York asphalt track – Holland Speedway, Lake Erie Speedway, Lancaster Motorsports Park, Motordrome Speedway and Jennerstown.

An offshoot of that effort was the creation of a five-race series of long-distance races at the involved ovals.

Gault, who is the son of former Jennerstown kingpin and NASCAR Northeast champion Glenn Gault, said the MAARA concept is the best thing to happen to local racing in years.

“I have to applaud the MAARA tracks for attempting to do something to promote asphalt super late model racing and create a common rule book between all the tracks,” the younger Gault said. “I realize that hasn’t been an easy thing to accomplish. The first two races have produced fields of 32 and 42 cars, so I think the new series is off to a great start.

“I am a little disappointed that the Jennerstown cars haven’t supported the series. Many of their top cars haven’t been to either of the first two shows. Anyone can run well at home. A true champion can win anywhere and on any size race track.”

Gault is no stranger to the Laurel Highlands half-mile paved track. He grew up watching his father race there weekly, and in the American Speed Association and Hooters ProCup series.

The younger Gault began his racing career at Jennerstown, competing in the legacy series before moving up to the super late models.

“I had fun watching dad race at Jennerstown. He was one of the best,” Gault said. “People still talk about some of his battles with Charlie Cragan and Steve Peles.”

This season may be a breakout year for Gault. He won the most recent MAARA race at Lake Erie Speedway, where he is a regular. Earlier in the year, Gault captured an ASA late model series contest at the Lorain (Ohio) Speedway.

Gault has competed once this season at Jennerstown, but he is trying to put that memory out of his mind.

“We blew our new Ford crate engine in a ball of flames going down the back stretch and ended up hitting the third turn wall backwards,” the Ohio driver said. “On a more positive note, we were running in the top five and closing in on the leaders when it happened. I think we will be very competitive against the Jennerstown regulars in the MAARA race.”

Joining the MAARA 100-lapper will be a feature-event only format for the weekly late models, street stocks and hobby stock classes.

Also on tap is the NASCAR Race of Champions, which will feature Greg Biffle, Kenny Wallace, Martin Truex Jr. and Ken Schrader competing in two eight-lap exhibition races driving weekly super late model cars.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., voted NASCAR’s most popular driver for three consecutive years, will serve as the flagman.

All five drivers are scheduled to participate in a pre-race autograph session.