Eight top drivers compete

Rosecroft Raceway brought together eight of the sport’s leading drivers Tuesday night for the $35,000 All Star Drivers’ Challenge, and it was Brian Sears who took home the $17,500 first-place prize. Sears won three of the eight races, while Mark MacDonald and Dave Palone won two each. Tony Morgan captured the other contest.

“Brian Sears just killed them. After the seventh race he had it locked up,” said Meadowlands announcer Sam McKee, who was brought down to Rosecroft in Maryland to call the race card. “MacDonald jumped out to an early lead, then Sears, then Palone won a couple (to finish second and win $8,750) and got back into it. It was good stuff.”

McKee made the 4 ½-hour drive from his New Jersey home to Rosecroft, and returned at 3:15 a.m. He said his trip was well worth it as it gave him a chance to reunite with his former boss at Sports Creek Raceway in Michigan.

“I have a lot of respect for (Rosecroft general manager Tom Chuckas Jr.). I was tickled to death to go there; it was a lot of fun,” said McKee. “He was the general manager (at Sports Creek) and I announced back in the early 1990s.”

Also participating in the Drivers’ Challenge were Ron Pierce, Jody Jamieson, Tim Tetrick and John Wagner. The drivers also signed autographs prior to the card, but “all-star announcer” McKee said he did not join in.

“No, there is very little demand for Sam McKee autographs, for whatever reason,” he said with a laugh.

“This was a good thing for the sport,” he added. “All the drivers were just great and tickled to be there. They all had a lot of fun.”

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