The Mid Atlantic Asphalt Racing Alliance (MAARA) will have the first of five events tonight at Motordrome Speedway in Smithton.

The PennWest Toyota Lift 100 for Super Late Models is set to take the green flag as part of a five-track alliance at 7:30 p.m.

Racers from Lake Erie, Jennerstown and Motordrome, along with drivers from Lancaster and Holland Speedway in New York, are taking part in this event.

According to Motordrome President Red Miley, the alliance is not only good for racing but also exciting for the fans.

"With five tracks getting together to standardize asphalt rules its very exciting to see if we can make this thing work because racing has everything to gain," he said.

"There is a point fund set up for this year so there is a reason to participate at all the events, and to be the first MAARA Champion I think would be an honor."

Injured driver returns home

Sprint car driver Tim Shafer, 39, of Aliquippa, was injured Friday in a crash at the Knoxville Raceway in Iowa during a World of Outlaws event.

Shafer, the winner of the 2005 Don Martin Memorial at Lernerville Speedway, had a vertebrae in his neck fractured, was released from a Des Moines hospital Sunday night.

According to his wife Deb, he was fitted with a hard plastic brace before returning to Pittsburgh where he will see doctors next week.

Racers come close

Alcohol dragster driver Mike Kosky was living a charmed life at the NHRA K&N Filters SuperNationals in Englishtown, N.J., when mechanical woes ended his drive for a ninth national title.

Kosky, 62, from South Fayette, was forced to change motors after damaging the power plant on his last qualifying pass Saturday morning leaving them in the 14th position. The crew completed the engine swap in time for first round of eliminations late Saturday afternoon against number one qualifier, Arthur Gallant of Boxboro, Mass.

Running the race of the weekend, Kosky had a huge advantage at the starting line which proved to be the difference as he ran 5.37 seconds at 262.13 mph to Gallant's quicker and faster 5.34 and 268 mph.

With only 14 cars in a field of 16, Kosky received a bye run in the second round of eliminations. In the third round, Kosky was to face Pittsburgh racer Mark Albert but Albert had engine problems in his second-round win and was unable to race against Kosky.

With Albert a no-show, all Kosky had to do was stage the car, take the green light for an automatic berth in the final. But the car developed a fuel leak before he could stage the car at the starting line. He was forced to shut the car off, ending his title hunt.

NHRA rules state that the car must take the green light in order for the run to count.

As if breaking down in the semifinals wasn't punishment enough, Kosky's would-be opponent in the final broke at the starting line and never made it to the finish. Still, he was awarded the win because he didn't have an opponent.

Holiday racing

Mercer Raceway Park Promoter Vicki Emig and her staff will be busy this holiday weekend with two races in four days.

Tomorrow night kicks off with American Patriot Night. Veterans, scouts and Butler County residents will be admitted free with ID for five divisions of racing and fireworks.

The real fireworks might begin with the sprint cars as Bob Felmlee and Rod George are tied for the lead in the sprints. While it's surprising that George hasn't won a feature at MRP this year, it's equally surprising that, after four feature wins, New Castle's Arnie Kent has been kept out of the chase because of inconsistent finishes.

Tuesday, the T-3 Tour for Modifieds invades MRP for their first of two visits with $1,500 going to the feature winner. Racing for the 4 divisions on the card begins at 6 p.m.