RECENT
PRESS RELEASES
“KABOOM 150” ENDURO PART OF
INAUGURAL “SMALL CAR NATIONAL OPEN” JULY 4
By Mike
Leone
May 15,
2008
Mercer,
PA…After the
successful “Jack Frost 150” Enduro held last January, Mercer
Raceway Park decided to add a second enduro titled the “KABOOM
150,” which will be held on Friday, July 4 as part of the
inaugural “Small Car National Open” presented by Truk Rodz by
Jones Performance. Also competing on this night will be the
STAR’s Championship Mod Lite Tour, INEX Legend Car National
Tour, Micro Sprints, and Mini Stocks. Racing will begin at 6
p.m.
The “KABOOM 150” will be 150 laps with $1,000 going to the
winner and paying down five positions. Over 40 cars have
already signed up. Those wishing to register can go to
www.mercerracewaypark.com, click on rules, and then the
Enduro link. The early entry fee is $50 prior, which includes
drivers’ pit pass and their scorer. After June 23, the entry
fee is $100.
The inaugural “Jack Frost 150” drew 118 cars and was won by
former Stock Car racer Leigh Wheeler. The “Jack Frost 150” will
return on Saturday, January 3, 2009.
“We’re always looking at trying new things,” explained Vicki
Emig. “People have always asked us to do enduros so after the
successful Jack Frost one, we decided to give one a shot in the
summertime. We figured we’d actually try racing with this one.
The Micro Sprints are always wanting to race at Mercer so this
is a good date that doesn’t conflict with any other tracks. The
Mod Lites always support the STAR’s shows and it’ll be the first
ever appearance by the Legends Cars, which will be a national
event.”
The event will carry a rain date of Saturday, July 5 and Sunday,
July 6. Adult admission for this event is just $7. Students
6-15 are just $3 and the family pass only $18. Pit passes are
$30.
FREE
CRAWFORD COUNTY NIGHT SATURDAY WITH ANOTHER 5-DIVISION RACING
CARD FEATURING SPRINTS, MODS, & LATE MODELS
By
Mike Leone
May
13, 2008
Mercer,
PA…Mercer
Raceway Park will return to action this Saturday night, May 17.
The “Saturday Night Live” five-division program of
Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars, Tire Express
Modifieds, McElwain Motors FASTRAK Late Models, Big Daddy’s
Speed Center Mod Lites, and M&D Paving Mini Stocks will take
to the track with racing at 7 p.m.
It’s AutoMart.com Corp Night.
This week’s promotion is Free Crawford County Night
presented by the Oncology Wellness Institute of Meadville
Medical Center and Armstrong.
All residents of Crawford County will be admitted free
into the grandstands for general admission by simply presenting
ID showing a Crawford County address.
All children 15 and under accompanied by a Crawford
County adult will also be admitted free.
The Oncology Wellness Institute is located on Route 322
between downtown Meadville and Conneaut Lake.
“This is our third year for Crawford County Night,”
stated 10th year owner Vicki Emig.
“Last year we doubled 2005’s count and have done lots
more promoting and advertising to make people aware this year.
It’s a good area for us to promote to and good way for
us to expose our facility to a new audience.
It’s an easy drive down Route 19 or Interstate 79.
We’re thrilled to welcome on the Oncology Wellness Institute as
a new marketing partner this year.”
Scott Bonnell became the third different Luxaire Heating
& Cooling Sprint Car winner of the year last Saturday.
The Girard, Pa. driver has won three of his five career
Mercer “410” wins since returning as a Mercer regular last
June. Meanwhile,
Arnie Kent and Rod George are tied atop the points and both are
looking for their first wins of the season. Kent of New Castle, Pa. has still never won a title, but has
finished in the top six in points each of the last 11 seasons
including five runner-ups.
George is hoping for his third championship in four
seasons.
After going five years without a Modified win, Garrett
Krummert of New Castle, Pa. has caught fire with two straight
wins. The defending
Tire Express Champion has crept back up the point ladder to
fifth after his disqualification for being light on opening
night, which was won by Gary Smoker.
The Mercer driver won his first ever championship in 2005
and leads the early points over 2006 champion Frank Guidace,
also of Mercer.
The debut of the FASTRAK Late Models on weekly basis has
provided some very competitive racing with their GM engines and
Goodyear Tires. Last week, a season-high 20 cars turned out and it was
veteran Stock Car racer Rusty Moore winning his first ever Late
Model feature in the 20-lap McElwain Motors-sponsored event to
become the third different winner in as many races.
Moore is thrilled to be back racing after a three-year
layoff, but trails defending three-time Stock Car Champion Brian
Booher of Sandy Lake, Pa. by 19 points.
The Mod Lites have also seen three different winners.
Last Saturday, defending champion Rod Jones returned to
victory lane in the 15-lap Big Daddy’s Speed Center-sponsored
feature for the first time of the season.
The West Middlesex, Pa. defending champion has now won 11
of 32 races all-time. Warren,
Ohio’s Todd Canter, who won his first career Mercer feature
last season, is leading the points by 15 over 15-year-old Alan
Knepper thanks to two runner ups and a fifth place finish.
Chris Myers’ perfect run of three Mini Stock heat wins
and three feature wins came to an end last Saturday when Bill
Fuchs beat the 15-year-old Knox, Pa. driver in both his heat and
feature. Fuchs, of
Greenville, Pa., won his fourth career race in the 12-lap
M&D Paving Mini Stock feature.
Myers leads the points by 16 over Dan McEwen.
Adult admission is just $11 and the Family Pass,
which included mom, dad, and up to four kids 15 and under still
remains at $25. Students
6-15 are $5 and children five and under are free.
Pit passes are $25.
Pit gates open at 3:30 p.m. and the grandstands at 4:30.
Hot laps will take to the track at 6:15 with heat races
beginning at 7 p.m.
BONNELL WINS 1ST IN
NON-STOP SPRINTS AT MERCER; 2-IN-A-ROW FOR KRUMMERT IN MODS;
MOORE WINS 1ST EVER IN LATE MODELS; JONES WINS WILD MOD LITE
FEATURE; FUCHS ENDS MYERS STREAK IN MINIS
By Mike Leone
May 10, 2008
Mercer, PA…Mercer Raceway Park was
back in action on Saturday night with four new winners.
Celebrating in the Hoosier Tire victory lane were Scott
Bonnell-Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars, Garrett
Krummert-Tire Express Modifieds, Rusty Moore-McElwain Motors
FASTRAK Late Models, Rod Jones-Big Daddy’s Speed Center Mod
Lites, and Bill Fuchs-M&D Paving Mini Stocks. It was free
Beaver County Night presented by Image Factory Signs & Graphics
and $10 Family Night presented by Auto Service Express &
Armstrong.
Scott Bonnell put an end to his
slow start in 2008 by leading wire-to-wire in the non-stop
20-lap Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Car feature for his
first overall win of the season. “It was like a Sunday drive-
pretty easy,” expressed the Girard, Pa. driver in victory lane
after the second consecutive non-stop Sprint Car feature. “The
guys had the thing hooked up tonight- it was real decent.
Traffic has been tough all year. When the car has been real
good it’s not so bad because you’re carrying so much speed.
Everyone pretty much stayed out of my way and I caught traffic
right so it was to my benefit.”
Bonnell grabbed the lead from
pole-sitter Brent Matus entering turn one on lap one. Rob
Eyler, Arnie Kent, and sixth starting Rod George all passed
Matus racing off the top side of turn two on laps two, three,
and five respectively. Eyler closed on Bonnell on lap seven and
by the halfway point the top four racers pulled away from the
field.
Though Eyler stayed within
striking distance the entire race, Bonnell was able to make the
right moves in lapped traffic to hold on for his fifth career
“410” win at Mercer in his Bonnell’s Collision Center/Sikkens
Automotive Paint/Simpson-sponsored #3B. It was his seventh
career win overall at Mercer including two “360” wins and 18th
of his career overall.
Eyler, Kent, and George were a
close second, third, and fourth. Mike Lutz passed Brent Matus
on lap 19 to finish fifth. Matus dropped to sixth over
newcomers Gale Ruth, Jr., Todd Bauer, Jeremy Cook, and Sheila
Rankin. Heat winners were Bonnell and George.
They always say the first one
is the hardest and that’s certainly come true for defending
track champion Garrett Krummert. Last year, Krummert won his
first career race in a Mod Lite and came back the following race
to do again. After being shutout of victory lane in his first
five years of Modified racing, Krummert made it two in a row in
the 20-lap Tire Express Modified feature.
“I could get used
to standing up here every week- this is pretty cool,” said the
elated New Castle, Pa. victor. “The last couple years I got
impatient and drove over my head. I had to do what I had to do
and if we finish second we’ll have to take second, but we were a
little better than that tonight. I have to thank the guys back
in the pits. I was terrible in the heat and I was yelling and
complaining. I’m sure I’m miserable to work with, but these
guys are awesome and without them I wouldn’t be here.”
Rick Hall grabbed the early
lead past pole-sitter Randy Brown, while Krummert followed in
second overtaking Jimmy Holden and Brown. Krummert wasted
little time taking the top spot away from Hall on lap two
following a restart. All eyes were on 2006 champion Frank
Guidace as he charged from seventh to split Hall and Holden for
second on lap four.
The field got
bunched up for the final time with 11 laps completed for a
caution by Jr. Baker. Guidace tried everything over the
remaining nine non-stop laps, but Krummert was too much in his
McElwain Motors/Sherwin Williams/Automotive Finishes-sponsored
#29 for his fourth career win overall. Lonny Riggs was third
after passing Holden on lap 12. Holden dropped to fourth over
Hall. Sixth through 10th were Jeff Schaffer in his
brother’s #4, Gary Smoker, Brian Fink in the John Brown #67J,
and newcomers Ron Eperthener, Jr. and Mike Stine. Heat winners
over the season-high 20-car field were Holden and Stine.
Rusty Moore made a
name for himself in the 1990s and early 2000s as a standout
Stock Car racer in the region. After taking a few years off
from racing, Moore decided to make a return to racing when the
FASTRAK Late Models were added at Mercer in 2008. It only took
Moore three nights in a Late Model to return to victory lane in
the 20-lap McElwain Motors FASTRAK-sanctioned event. “It hooked
up pretty good and the track is in real nice shape,”
acknowledged the New Castle, Pa. driver.
Moore took charge
of the event on the opening lap past pole-sitter Steve
D’Apolito, but got sideways coming off turn four on lap three
allowing D’Apolito to regain the lead. D’Apolito’s lead though
was short lived as Moore overtook D’Apolito on lap four
following a restart. Tom Snyder, Jr. was making his first
Mercer appearance of the season and raced his way into
contention. After starting ninth, Snyder made a three-wide pass
of Frank Guidace and D’Apolito to take second on lap eight
before a caution slowed action.
On the ensuing
restart, Moore and Snyder made contact in turn one and the
contact sent Snyder pit side. Moore survived two more cautions
before the final seven laps went green-to-checkered as he
stretched his advantage to a half-straightaway at the checkered
flag in his #17M over seventh starting Brian Booher. Kevin
Meadows edged D’Apolito for third. Bobby Powell came from 13th
to finish fifth. Completing the top 10 were Steve Hollabaugh,
Dave Airgood, Jr., Mike Anderson (Jr.), J.R. Wright, and Calvin
Clay. Topping the heats over the season-high 20-car field were
Snyder and Booher.
For the first nine
laps it looked the 15-lap Big Daddy’s Speed Center Mod Lite
feature was going to go non-stop as Levi Spinneweber appeared
headed for his first career win, but five accidents including
two red flags completely changed the complexion of the event.
When all was said and done defending champion Rod Jones was in
victory lane for the first time in 2008.
The event’s first
caution was for a spin by George Englert with nine laps
completed, then three separate accidents with 10 laps completed
slowed action. The latter was when Kenny Meadows and
Spinneweber made contact on a restart, which ensued a six-car
melee that saw Bryan Martin get upside down and 15-year-old Bud
Watson make hard contact. Both drivers were okay.
When action
resumed, point leader Todd Canter, who was running 13th
on lap 10, was handed the lead. Canter though never led a lap
as Jones shot through the pack from sixth and led lap 11. Jones
went on for his 11th career Mod Lite win and 13th
overall at Mercer in the Dave Jones-owned, Jones
Performance-sponsored #820. Canter was second over another
strong run by 15-year-old Alan Knepper, Dave Jones, and rookie
Mylan Markovich in his second race. Winning the heats over the
20-car field were Rod Jones and Canter.
Last year Bill
Fuchs was a three-time winner in the Mini Stocks. This year, it
was Fuchs who ended Chris Myers’ perfect streak of three heat
wins and three feature wins by claiming his first win of the
season in the 12-lap M&D Paving-sponsored event. The
Greenville, Pa. driver took over from pole-sitter and rookie
Tyler Powell and was never seriously challenged for his fourth
career win in his #10. Steve Mowery made the long tow from
Olean, New York to finish second after passing Wally Stearns,
Jr. on the final lap. Stearns had another good run to finish
third. Dan McEwen was fourth over 14th starter Pete
Blazczak. Heat winners were McEwen and Fuchs over the 18-car
field
Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars
(20 laps): 1. SCOTT BONNELL (3B) 2. Rob Eyler (5a) 3.
Arnie Kent (18) 4. Rod George (4) 5. Mike Lutz (Chappel 8) 6.
Brent Matus (33) 7. Gale Ruth, Jr. (5x) 8. Todd Bauer (45) 9.
Jeremy Cook (5L) 10. Sheila Rankin (6) 11. Joe Butera (Matus
3J) 12. Lindsay Enscoe (96) 13. Gary Rankin (16).
Tire Express
358 Modifieds (20 laps): 1. GARRETT KRUMMERT 2. Frank
Guidace 3. Lonny Riggs 4. Jimmy Holden 5. Rick Hall 6. Jeff
Schaffer (4) 7. Gary Smoker (516) 8. Brian Fink 9. Ron
Eperthener, Jr. 10. Mike Stine 11. Randy Brown 12. Dillon
McElrath 13. Mark Frankhouser 14. Fred Sasse 15. Jr. Baker
16. Kevin Green 17. Eric Gabany 18. Matt Reeher 19. Jim
Thompson 20. Matt Howsare-DNS.
McElwain Motors FASTRAK Late Models
(20 laps): 1. RUSTY MOORE 2. Brian Booher 3. Kevin
Meadows 4. Steve D’Apolito 5. Bobby Powell 6. Steve
Hollabaugh 7. Dave Airgood, Jr. 8. Mike Anderson (Jr.) 9. J.R.
Wright 10. Calvin Clay 11. Bert Cleer 12. Frank Guidace 13.
Gary Miller, Jr. 14. Scott Myers 15. Tom Snyder, Jr. 16. Ben
Black 17. Justin Kann 18. Scott Jones 19. Bill Vance, Jr.
20. Paul Reiser-DNS.
Big Daddy’s
Speed Center Mod Lites (15 laps): 1. ROD JONES 2.
Todd Canter 3. Alan Knepper 4. Dave Jones 5. Mylan Markovich
6. George Englert 7. Bob Latchaw 8. Kotie Kirkbride 9. Bill
Stivason 10. Chad Yeager 11. Levi Spinneweber 12. Terry
Young 13. Kenny Meadows 14. Bud Watson 15. Mark Marcucci 16.
Mike Evans 17. Bryan Martin 18. J.J. Metheney 19. Arnie Kent
20. Lynn Knepper-DNS.
M&D Paving
Mini Stocks (12 laps): 1. BILL FUCHS 2. Steve
Mowery 3. Wally Stearns, Jr. 4. Dan McEwen 5. Pete Blazczak
6. Chris Myers 7. Tyler Powell 8. John Shannon 9. Mike
McConnell 10. Kris Anderson 11. Ed Haylett 12. Sam Kloos 13.
Rudolph Troples 14. Dan Nagy 15. Curtis Brown 16. Dillon
Kineston 17. Scott Gilliland 18. Mike Mathieson-DNS.
MERCER CANCELS RACING FOR
SATURDAY DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER; FREE BEAVER COUNTY MOVED TO
MAY 10; PRACTICE NIGHT WEDNESDAY
By Mike Leone
May 3, 2008
(Mercer, PA)…Racing action scheduled
for Saturday night, May 3 at Mercer Raceway Park has been
cancelled for the third time this season due to rain and the 80%
forecast of additional rain throughout the afternoon and
evening. The Free Beaver County Night presented by Image
Factory Signs & Graphics has been postponed until next Saturday,
May 10 with the Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars, Tire Express
Modifieds, McElwain Motors FASTRAK Late Models, Big Daddy’s
Speed Center Mod Lites, & the M&D Paving Mini Stocks along with
kids bike races and $10 Family Night presented by Auto Service
Express & Armstrong.
“Mother Nature hasn’t been too
kind to us that far,” stated 10th year owner Vicki
Emig. “It’s been a struggle to get the shows in that we have,
but this time of the year is usually 50-50. Hopefully we’ll get
some nice spring weather in the coming weeks as all of our
promotions kick in.”
Mercer Raceway Park will also
host its second practice of the year this Wednesday, May 7. Pit
gates open at 4 p.m. with practice from 5 p.m. until dark. Pit
passes are $20. The rain date is Thursday, May 8.
Lazer Chassis/Big
Daddy’s Speed Center announces the Mercer Raceway Park &
Tri-City Speedway Late Model Series
It will consist of FASTRAK Late Model races
at Mercer and Tri-City running May through October.
Bernheisel Race Cars, Inc. in conjunction
with Big Daddy’s Speed Center will be offering one free Lazer
Chassis with bumpers and body brackets contingent upon the
following:
-
You must race the car a minimum of 10
times in 2009.
-
You must purchase a steering kit, front
suspension kit, brake kit, rear-end kit, and rear suspension
kit at a cost of $5,995.
-
You must display Lazer decals on both
sides of the car
Total value of package is $12,000
2nd, 3rd, 4th,
and 5th places will be awarded gift certificates.
All models of cars are eligible.
Call Big Daddy’s at 724-458-6465 for more
details.
FELMLEE WINS NON-STOP SPRINTS FOR
1ST WIN IN 2 YEARS AT MERCER; KRUMMERT WINS 1ST EVER IN MODS;
1ST EVER LATE MODEL WIN FOR BOOHER; MOD LITES TO MEADOWS; MYERS
3-FOR-3 IN MINI STOCKS
By Mike
Leone
April 26,
2008
Mercer,
PA…Scattered
thunderstorms danced around Mercer Raceway Park for much of the
day Saturday, but only a few sprinkles fell then skies cleared
toward evening allowing the third program of the season to be
completed. Celebrating in the Hoosier Tire victory lane were
Bob Felmlee-Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars, Garrett
Krummert-Tire Express Modifieds, Brian Booher-McElwain Motors
FASTRAK Late Models, Kenny Meadows-Big Daddy’s Speed Center Mod
Lites, and Chris Myers-M&D Paving Mini Stocks.
Bob Felmlee has won Sprint Car championships at Mercer in three
different decades and has well over 120 career wins overall, but
had been shutout of victory lane at Mercer since May 6, 2006.
Saturday night, Felmlee passed Joe Butera in turn one on the
opening lap and led all 20 non-stops circuits of the Luxaire
Heating & Cooling feature for his first win in nearly two
seasons.
“This is the first night with Kawasaki at Mercer- it’s a new
sponsor this week so I tried to do them proud,” acknowledged the
Franklin, Pa. racer. “I have to thank
Vicki (Emig), Mike (Leone), and Frank (Benic); they do a super
job here. I like coming here. We are going to float around and
do some All Star races. I couldn’t get away tonight and go to
Eldora. Chad (Reitz) set the car up tonight and talked me into
coming tonight.”
Scott Bonnell, who started fourth, raced around Paul Kapuchuck
and Butera on the first lap for second. Danny Holtgraver, who
started sixth, also made his way around Kapuchuck and Butera for
third on lap three. Felmlee maintained a comfortable lead for
the first 10 laps of the event before he encountered lapped
traffic allowing Bonnell to close the deficit. Meanwhile, all
eyes were on Rob Eyler who was using the high side of the
speedway to make his way from the eighth starting spot into
contention to third past Holtgraver on lap 10.
Felmlee used his experience in lapped traffic to hold on for his
23rd career Mercer win in his World of
Wheels/Kawasaki/Lutz Auto Body/Vinyl Graphics-sponsored #6 as
the race went non-stop in 5:06.45. Bonnell held off a
fast-closing Eyler for second. Holtgraver was fourth over 10th
starting Mike Lutz. Completing the top 10 were Arnie Kent,
defending two-time champion Rod George, central Pa’s Bob Howard,
New York’s Chris Shuttleworth, and Jimmy Hawley. Heat winners
were Kent and Shuttleworth.
Last year was a monumental season for teenager Garrett Krummert
winning his first career championship in the Modifieds and
winning his first of two career features in the Mod Lites;
however, Krummert still was at zero career Modified wins after
five seasons of racing. Saturday night, Krummert bounced back
from last week’s second place disqualification for being light
to lead all 20 laps of the Tire Express-sponsored feature.
“I figured we’d have a caution with one lap to go and Frankie
(Guidace) or (Gary) Smoker would be alongside and they’d get me,
but we were lucky tonight,” joked the New Castle, Pa. driver. “First of all I
have to thank my mom and dad- without them none of this is
possible. They give me every opportunity in the world. I got
the best guys back in the pits with Kyle Ripper, Ryan Haney, and
his girlfriend Amy; without them none of this is possible. They
are in there six days a week working on the car so we can race
Saturday.”
Krummert took the lead from the pole with Matt Reeher, Rick
Hall, and Lonny Riggs in tow. Reeher brought out the first
caution with three laps completed. When racing resumed, ninth
starting Eric Gabany and Riggs overtook Hall for second and
third. Riggs and Gabany battled hard between laps four through
seven racing side-by-side swapping second place back and forth
until Riggs slowed and brought out the event’s second caution
with eight laps completed.
Separate cautions for last week’s Late Model winner Frank
Guidace and Reeher with 15 laps completed was all that slowed
Krummert to his first career Modified win in his McElwain
Motors/Sherwin Williams/Automotive Finishes-sponsored #29.
Gabany edged Jeff Schaffer, who was debuting John Brown’s #67J,
and Gary Smoker in a battle for positions two through four.
Hall dropped to fifth. Sixth through tenth were Dillon
McElrath, Matt Howsare, Jr. Baker, Reeher, and Randy Brown.
Topping the heat races were Krummert and Reeher.
It didn’t take the track’s all-time Stock Car winner, Brian
Booher, long to figure out a Late Model and get into victory
lane. The three-time Stock Car champion improved on last week’s
runner-up finish to score an impressive win in Saturday’s 20-lap
FASTRAK-sanctioned, McElwain Motors-sponsored feature to take
the early point lead.
“I have to thank my crew and all the guys working on the car,
all the guys that come out at support the double O race team,
and all those red shirts,” expressed the Sandy Lake, Pa.
winner. “I also have to thank every one of our sponsors. This
car is a big jump for us and I’m sure glad to be in victory
lane.”
Rusty Moore took the early advantage past pole-sitter Scott
Jones with Steve D’Apolito third and seventh starting Booher up
to fourth on the opening lap. D’Apolito passed Jones for second
on lap two, but one lap later Jones and Booher slipped back
under D’Apolito for second and third. Booher continued his
progression to the front grabbing second from Jones on lap
five.
Following the restart for Bobby Powell with nine laps completed,
Booher used the outside to power by Moore for the lead, while
Steve Hollabaugh took third from Jones. Moore closed right on
Booher on lap 12 before a caution for Mike Anderson’s second
spin. The caution was a bad one for Moore as when racing
resumed, Hollabaugh slipped under him for second.
With two laps to go, the veteran Hollabaugh closed on Booher
running the bottom, while Booher stayed on the top. Hollabaugh
got a great run off turn four coming down to the checkered flag,
but Booher had just enough momentum off the top to win by just
over a car-length in the Terry Hoover-owned, Ed & Jerry’s
NAPA/Harry & Tim Roofing/Caldwell Heating & Cooling/McEwen
Garage Doors-sponsored #00H. Moore was third over Powell, who
rebounded from his early spin to place fourth. D’Apolito fell
to fifth. Rounding out the top 10 were Frank Guidace, Kevin
Meadows, Bob Vogt, Jr., newcomer Bert Cleer, and Jones. Heat
victors were Guidace and Powell.
Kenny Meadows rebounded from motor woes last week that saw him
watch the feature from the stands to win the 15-lap Big Daddy’s
Speed Center Mod Lite feature. Meadows of Warren, Ohio survived
a caution-plagued event that had seven stoppages and numerous
challenges by two 15-year-olds in Alan Knepper and Bud Watson.
Knepper started sixth and
inherited second on lap four when Levi Spinneweber brought out
the caution. Knepper actually led lap four with a great surge
off the outside of turn four, but a caution slowed action. On
the restart, Meadows regained his advantage and barely held off
Knepper and eighth starting Watson for his second career win in
the Ollie Teague-owned, Job Rite Pools & Spas/Wedge
Motorsports-sponsored #10T. Following his Modified win,
Krummert came from 12th to finish fourth in his
season debut in the Mod Lites. Meadows’ teammate Todd Canter
was fifth after starting 10th. Scoring heat race
wins over the 21-car field were J.J. Metheney and Canadian Shawn
Sliter.
It looked like Chris Myers’ perfect streak was coming to an end
in the Mini Stocks as Tim Bish was headed to victory, but went
up in smoke on the backstretch on the final lap of the 12-lap
M&D Paving Mini Stock feature handing the lead and third
straight win to the 15-year-old Knox, Pa. driver.
Mike Mathieson led the first two laps before Myers, who started
10th, made the pass for the lead on lap three. Bish,
who started 11th, made a three-wide pass of Bill
Fuchs and Mathieson for second on lap five. Bish and Myers ran
side-by-side for the lead on laps seven and eight with Bish
getting under and past the leader off turn four on lap eight.
Bish appeared headed for his third career win until his
misfortune one-half lap from victory put the #C1 in victory lane
once again. Myers’ teammate Curtis Brown was second after
starting 13th. Ed Haylett was a career best third.
Mike McConnell and John Shannon were fourth and fifth. A
regular season record 20 cars were on hand with Dillon Kineston
and Myers winning the heats.
Luxaire
Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars
(20 laps): 1. BOB FELMLEE (6)
2. Scott Bonnell (3B) 3. Rob Eyler (5a) 4. Danny Holtgraver
(D4) 5. Mike Lutz (Chappel 8) 6. Arnie Kent (18) 7. Rod
George (4) 8. Bob Howard (49) 9. Chris Shuttleworth (11) 10.
Jimmy Hawley (Rudzik 49) 11. Joe Butera (Matus 3J) 12. Paul
Kapuchuck 13. Brent Matus (33) 14. Lindsay Enscoe (96)
Tire Express 358 Modifieds
(20 laps): 1.GARRETT KRUMMERT 2. Eric Gabany 3. Jeff Schaffer
4. Gary Smoker 5. Rick Hall 6. Dillon McElrath 7. Matt
Howsare 8. Jr. Baker 9. Matt Reeher 10. Randy Brown 11. Fred
Sasse 12. Frank Guidace 13. Rick Kress 14. Lonny Riggs 15.
Kevin Green-DNS.
McElwain
Motors FASTRAK Late Models
(20 laps): 1. BRIAN
BOOHER 2. Steve Hollabaugh 3. Rusty Moore 4. Bobby Powell 5.
Steve D’Apolito 6. Frank Guidace 7. Kevin Meadows 8. Bob
Vogt, Jr. 9. Bert Cleer 10. Scott Jones 11. Mike Anderson
(Jr.) 12. Dave Airgood, Jr.
Big Daddy’s Speed
Center Mod Lites
(15 laps):
1. KENNY MEADOWS 2. Alan Knepper 3. Bud Watson 4. Garrett Krummert
5. Todd Canter 6. Shawn Sliter 7. Dave Jones 8. George
Englert 9. Jamie Gilbert 10. J.J. Metheney 11. Bryan Martin
12. Josh Sliter 13. Bob Latchaw 14. John Smith 15.
Chad Yeager 16. Mark Marcucci
17. Bill Stivason 18. Kotie Kirkbride 19. Levi Spinneweber
20. Terry Young 21. Lynn Knepper.
M&D Paving Mini Stocks
(12 laps):
1. CHRIS MYERS 2. Curtis Brown 3. Ed Haylett 4. Mike
McConnell 5. John Shannon 6. Wally Stearns, Jr. 7. Dan
McEwen 8. Pete Blazczak 9. Justin Reinard 10. Sam Kloos 11.
Scott Gilliland 12. Kyle Crawford 13. Rudolph Troples 14. Tim
Bish 15. Dan Nagy 16. Mike Mathieson 17. Tyler Powell 18.
Bill Fuchs 19. Dillon Kineston 20. Steve Laslo-DNS.
ELLENBERGER STEALS WIN FROM
GEORGE IN TURN 4 ON LAST LAP IN SPRINTS; GUIDACE IS 1ST TO WIN
IN 5 DIVISIONS; SMOKER TAKES MODS; 1ST EVER FOR HAY IN MOD
LITES; MYERS 2-FOR-2 IN MINI STOCKS
By Mike
Leone
April 19,
2008
Mercer,
PA…After two
cancellations in the first three weeks, Mercer Raceway Park
returned to action on Saturday night and was able to complete
the first weekly five-division “Saturday Night Live” program
despite showers scattered throughout the area and some light
rain during the last three features. Celebrating in the Hoosier
Tire victory lane were Brian Ellenberger-Luxaire Heating &
Cooling Sprint Cars, Frank Guidace-FASTRAK Late Models, Gary
Smoker-Tire Express Modifieds, Mikey Hall-Big Daddy’s Speed
Center Mod Lites, and Chris Myers-M&D Paving Mini Stocks. It
was the first of five $10 Family Nights presented by new
marketing partner Auto Service Express along with promotional
partner Armstrong.
Usually
it’s Rod George making late race passes for victory, but on
Saturday night Brian Ellenberger turned the tables making a
thrilling last lap, turn four pass of George in lapped traffic
to come out on top in the 20-lap Luxaire Heating & Cooling
lid-lifter.
“The door was open,” exclaimed
the jubilant Butler, Pa. winner. “I got underneath him the lap
before and if it was still open I knew I’d have a shot and it
worked out. I found a nice line down there in (turns) three and
four and it started working. It just seemed like took forever
for my tires to come to life, but they finally took off those
last five laps. I love this place- Frank Benic is my buddy and
he preps the best race track in the country.”
The race got off to a rough
start when Sprint rookie Chad Wilds hit the wall on the start
and came back across the track and collected teammate Walt Tutak,
Jr. as well as Brent Matus with Wilds getting upside down. All
three drivers were okay, but done for the night Defending
two-time champion, Rod George, fresh off his career best 21 win
season in 2007, jumped out to the early race lead taking the
advantage over Ellenberger. Arnie Kent moved up a position to
third past Chris Shuttleworth.
Shuttleworth lost fourth on lap
three to Mike Lutz, who was behind the wheel of Jim Chappel’s
#8, in between two stoppages, one for a spin by Scott Bonnell
and the second for a red for Jack Helget, who got upside down
with six laps completed.
The last 14 laps went non-stop.
Kent challenged Ellenberger early on trying to get under the All
Star Circuit of Champion regular, but was unable to get by.
Ellenberger distanced himself from Kent just past the halfway
point and began to pressure the leader. George though was able
to make the right moves in lapped traffic to maintain the lead.
Ellenberger was right on George with two to go and with the
white flag waving everyone sensed a possible last lap pass.
Traffic was ahead as George and
Ellenberger entered turn three. George drove through the middle
of turns three and four with Scott Bonnell on the bottom.
Ellenberger went low and his mount stuck like it did the last
few laps as he was able to squeak past George coming out of turn
four to take the win in his Open Joist/Car*Mate Trailers/Hoosier
Tire/K&N Filters-sponsored #20E. The victory was Ellenberger’s
fifth of his career at Mercer and 11th overall.
George’s momentum carried him
into the turn four wall breaking his rear end, but was able to
limp across the line in second edging Kent. Lutz was fourth
over Shuttleworth’s 360-powered engine. Completing the top 10
were Danny Holtgraver, Rob Eyler, Jimmy Hawley, central Pa.
invader Bob Howard, and Bonnell. Hawley of West Middlesex, Pa.
made his return to racing after a near five-year absence and
dominated his heat by a straightaway over Lutz. George won the
other heat over the 20-car field.
In his FASTRAK Late Model debut,
Modified racer Frank Guidace made history by becoming the first
driver in the 57-year history of Mercer to win in five different
classes of cars with his victory in the 20-lap McElwain
Motors-sponsored feature. Guidace also has victories in the
big-block, six-cylinder, sportsman, and 358 modified divisions
and broke the tie with Yip Robinson, Alan Dellinger, and Lonny
Riggs, who were also victorious in four different classes of
cars.
“That’s an honor because I love
this place and I’ve come here since I was kid,” stated the
Mercer, Pa. driver after being told of his accomplishment. “I
will tell you what this Lazer Chassis was on a rail up there.
These cars are really a lot of fun. They are a world of a
difference (from the Modifieds) as the brakes are different and
they roll over different. I didn’t think I could hold these
guys off. I didn’t know where everyone was at as I’m not used
to the car numbers. I knew who the double zero was so I was
watching Brian (Booher) and knew he was coming up there.”
Guidace took the lead at the
start from Stock Car standout Steve D’Apolito. Kevin Meadows
started fourth and took second on lap three when D’Apolito
slipped off the backstretch. Meadows ran down Guidace and was
all over the leader on lap six as he ran low and Guidace high,
while defending three-time Stock Car champion Brian Booher
started 12th and passed D’Apolito for third. At the
halfway point, Guidace began to pull away, while Booher
challenged Meadows for second. Booher ran low, while Meadows
chose the highline. The duo battled hard for second in traffic
allowing Ben Blake to close and make it a three-car race for
second, but up front Guidace went on for victory in his #1G.
Meadows edged Booher and Black
for second, but was disqualified in post-race tech for a
carburetor spacer infraction. Booher was credited for second
over an impressive run by Mod Lite graduate Ben Black. Scott
Myers was fourth with Bob Kish fifth. Sixth through tenth were
Steve Hollabaugh, 2007 Mini Stock Champion Mike Anderson (Jr.),
Bobby Powell, Bob Vogt, Jr., and Chad Myers. Heat winners were
Scott Myers and Powell.
After tying Jeff Schaffer with
the most wins in the Modified division in 2007, Gary Smoker
started 2008 off with a bang winning the 20-lap Tire Express
Modified feature for the 14th time of his career-
tops in the short history of the division.
The Mercer, Pa. driver drew the
pole position and took off with the lead with Lonny Riggs
passing Matt Howsare for second. Smoker’s greatest challenge
came on lap three when Riggs tried to go on the outside of him
for the lead in turn four, but jumped his wheel sending Riggs
sliding off the track.
When racing resumed, Smoker
controlled the race while defending champion Garrett Krummert
made his way to third on lap five passing Kevin Green after
starting 10th. Eric Gabany had a strong run going in
second, but slipped high off the backstretch on lap 11 allowing
Krummert and Frank Guidace by for second and third.
Krummert and Guidace remained in
striking distance, but Smoker was too much in the MBMR,
Inc./Bells Portable Restrooms-sponsored, D&D Racing-owned #516.
Krummert edged Guidace for second, but was light at the scales
moving Guidace to second with Gabany, Riggs, and Brad Rapp
completing the top five. Rounding out the top 10 were Dillon
McElrath, Randy Brown, Jr. Baker, Fred Sasse, and Matt Howsare.
Krummert and Gabany won the heats over the 16-car field.
Mikey Hay won his first ever at
Mercer in the 15-lap Big Daddy’s Speed Center Mod Lite feature,
which was run in light rain and even had a brief rain delay.
The Somerset, Pa. driver now joins his brother Matt and father
Eric as winners in the division.
Hay started the race in seventh
and moved to second past Todd Canter on lap three before a
caution, which turned into a brief rain delay. Once the rain
subsided, Hay passed Mark Marcucci on the restart and was never
challenged the rest of the way in his #22. Hay became the
division’s 14th different winner in just 30 races.
Canter held of for second. Dave Jones edged his son Rod for his
best finish in third since he returned to race last season.
Fifteen-year-old Bud Watson came from 18th to finish
fifth. Heat victors over the 21-car field were Levi Spinneweber
and Hay.
Fifteen-year-old Chris Myers
made it back-to-back victories in the Mini Stocks with his
victory in the 12-lap M&D Paving-sponsored feature with light
rain falling throughout the event. The Knox, Pa. driver started
fifth and had the lead on the opening lap. Myers’ teammate
Curtis Brown came from 11th to second, but broke on
the final lap as did the third place car of Dan Nagy. Mike
McConnell, who started eighth, crossed the line in second for a
career best finish. Scott Gilliland and Dan McEwen finished a
career best third and fourth ahead of Wally Stearns, Jr. 2007
ended with a record 27 cars on hand and Saturday night’s 19-car
field was a record for a regular event since the class started
with one car last season. Heat winners were John Shannon and
Myers.
Luxaire
Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars
(20 laps): 1. BRIAN ELLENBERGER
(20E) 2. Rod George (4) 3. Arnie Kent (18) 4. Mike Lutz
(8-Chappel) 5. Chris Shuttleworth (11) 6. Danny Holtgraver
(D4) 7. Rob Eyler (5a) 8. Jimmy Hawley (49-Rudzik) 9. Bob
Howard (49) 10. Scott Bonnell (3B) 11. Jeff Taylor (17T) 12.
Paul Kapuchuck (10) 13. Brian Steinman (24s) 14. Joe Butera
(3J-Matus) 15. Bob Felmlee (6) 16. Jack Helget (71c-Taylor)
17. Russ Sansosti (23-Scott) 18. Chad Wilds (41) 19. Brent
Matus (33) 20. Walt Tutak, Jr. (141).
Tire Express 358 Modifieds
(20 laps): 1. GARY SMOKER 2. Frank Guidace 3. Eric Gabany 4.
Lonny Riggs 5. Brad Rapp 6. Dillon McElrath 7. Randy Brown
8. Jr. Baker 9. Fred Sasse 10. Matt Howsare 11. Kevin Green
12. Skinny Hall 13. Matt Reeher 14. Garrett Krummert-DSQ
(light) 15. Mark Frankhouser-DSQ (light) 16. Jimmy Holden-DNS.
McElwain
Motors FASTRAK Late Models
(20 laps): 1. FRANK
GUIDACE 2. Brian Booher 3. Ben Black 4. Scott Myers 5. Bob
Kish 6. Steve Hollabaugh 7. Mike Anderson (Jr.) 8. Bobby
Powell 9. Bob Vogt, Jr. 10. Chad Myers 11. Dave Airgood, Jr.
12. Calvin Clay 13. Steve D’Apolito 14. Rusty Moore 15. Scott
Jones 16. Kevin Meadows-DSQ.
Big Daddy’s Speed
Center Mod Lites
(15 laps):
1. MIKEY HAY 2. Todd Canter 3. Dave Jones 4. Rod Jones 5. Bud
Watson 6. George Englert 7. Kotie Kirkbride 8. Lynn Knepper
9. Bryan Martin 10. Alan Knepper 11. Mike Evans 12. Mylan
Markovich 13. Bill Stivason 14. Bob Latchaw 15.
Chad Yeager 16. Jim Golden 17.
Mark Marcucci 18. Levi Spinneweber 19. Terry Young 20. J.J.
Metheney 21. Kenny Meadows-DNS.
M&D Paving Mini Stocks
(12 laps):
1. CHRIS MYERS 2. Mike McConnell 3. Scott Gilliland 4. Dan
McEwen 5. Wally Stearns, Jr. 6. Dillon Kineston 7. Stephen
Laslo 8. Justin Reinard 9. Curtis Brown 10. Dan Nagy 11.
Pete Blazczak 12. Tyler Powell 13. Bill Fuchs 14. Ed Haylett
15. John Shannon 16. Sam Kloos 17. Kyle Crawford 18. Mike
Mathieson 19. Rudolph Troples.
MERCER CANCELS RACING FOR SATURDAY DUE
TO INCLEMENT WEATHER
By Mike Leone
April 12, 2008
(Mercer, PA)…Racing action scheduled
for Saturday night, April 12 at Mercer Raceway Park has been
cancelled due the approaching cold, wet weather for later
today. The five-division “Saturday Night Live” opener will now
take place on Saturday, April 19 with the Luxaire Heating &
Cooling Sprint Cars, Tire Express Modifieds, McElwain Motors
FASTRAK Late Models, Big Daddy’s Speed Center Mod Lites, & the
M&D Paving Mini Stocks.
“This was one of the toughest
cancellations we’ve had to make in a long time,” acknowledged 10th
year owner Vicki Emig. “It’s not easy to cancel with the sun
out, but the forecast for later today is not good with showers
and falling temperatures. We tried waiting as long as possible
watching the weather, but it’s just too questionable especially
with the cold temperatures. We were getting calls from central
and western Ohio, central Pa, New Jersey, and Canada from racers
wanting to come. With fuel costs at record highs everyone is a
little hesitant. Hopefully next Saturday’s weather is better.”
JIMMY HAWLEY TO RETURN TO
SPRINT CAR RANKS AFTER 5-YEAR ABSENCE; DEBUT SET FOR SATURDAY AT
MERCER IN THE RUDZIK #49
By Mike Leone
April 10, 2008
(West Middlesex, PA)…One of western
Pennsylvania’s all-time Sprint Car greats is set to make his
return to racing this Saturday night, April 12 at Mercer Raceway
Park. Jimmy Hawley, 42, of West Middlesex, Pa. has accepted the
ride in the Jeff & Bonnie Rudzik-owned, Rudzik Excavating #49
Sprint Car.
“This is one of the biggest
announcements in recent years for local Sprint Car racing,”
stated Mike Leone. “Jimmy Hawley has always been a fan favorite
and is a class act on and off the speedway. Every year rumors
circulate about his return and to see him in this quality ride
will be a boost for racing. Fans will get a real treat seeing
him resume his battles with the likes of Bob Felmlee, Ed Lynch,
Jr., Rod George, Mike Lutz, Arnie Kent, Brian Ellenberger, Rob
Eyler, Scott Bonnell, and others.”
Hawley actually got his first
taste of racing since June 21, 2003 on Wednesday night at Mercer
Raceway Park during the track’s first practice session. “I
didn’t know what to expect,” Hawley acknowledged. “I was
nervous when I walked in right up until we pushed off. With
every successive lap, I got more and more confident. What’s
going to be different is actually passing cars and the biggest
adjustment is racing with a lot of people I’m not accustomed to,
but it’s good to back.”
The 2008 season will see Hawley
run primarily at Mercer with various appearances at Lernerville
Speedway and regional specials. There will be no chasing point
championships for Hawley, who expects to miss shows here and
there especially with his kids’ involvement in sports. Hawley’s
two goals are to have fun and be competitive.
“I’m not going to sacrifice my
family or business,” stated Hawley. “That’s why I quit in the
first place. When it becomes a job and not fun anymore, I will
quit and the Rudziks agreed. First and foremost I have to thank
my wife and kids for letting me do this. They are so supportive
and the kids are all excited. They were watching my old racing
tapes and that got me fired up again.”
Hawley has won over 100 Sprint
Car features alone in his career with an unofficial total of 106
from OpenWheelTimes.com. His career best season was 1999 when
he won 20 races including three track championships at
Lernerville, Mercer, and Tri-City Speedways. He owns one career
All Star win on June 16, 1994 at Hickory Speedway in New Castle,
Pa.; won an IRA-sanctioned event at Attica Raceway Park in Ohio
on April 7, 2001; and won the $5,000 Chuck Marsh Memorial on
September 15, 2001 at Mercer. Hawley has 34 career wins at
Mercer of which 30 have come since the track reopened in 1994,
which is still the top mark despite not competing for the past
five seasons. He’s drove for numerous car owners such as Butch
Osman, Dick Schuller, Amy Shoup, P.J. Kerr, John Toth, Junior
Holbrook, Dr. John Crawford III, Billy Shearer, Eric Smith, and
Pete Grove.
“It’s going to be a challenge,
but I want to still see if I can do it,” expressed Hawley.
“I’ve run into racing people over the years, which has made me
itchy to come back. I’ve been blown away the last couple days
from the response to me coming back. It’s been overwhelming and
I’m honored because I don’t feel I’m any different than anyone
else.”
One of the biggest changes
Hawley feels since he’s been out of action is getting adjusted
to the right rear Hoosier Tire. Last year, Sprint Car tracks
and sanctioning bodies agreed to run a national Hoosier spec
tire and that program will continue in 2008.
“The spec tire is different,”
revealed Hawley. “I’m going to have to learn more about it and
how it reacts to changes we make. We made some adjustments on
Wednesday that didn’t have the effect they would have had in the
past.”
Gary Edwards, who drove for the
Rudziks and won features at Mercer in both 2004 and 2006, will
be an important part of the team. “I’ve known Gary for a long
time and I’m thrilled to have him help setup the car,” stated
Hawley. “He can visually watch and give great input from a
driver’s perspective as to what’s going on with the car. He’s
going to be a big help, especially the first part of the year.”
Hawley will utilize Maxim
Chassis. Much of Hawley’s success came in J&J cars, but his
last ride in 2003 was in Maxim for Pete Grove.
All Star Sprint Car standout
and former World of Outlaw racer, Dale Blaney, who owns 93
career wins, will run the team’s second car, the #94, in
selected events when he’s not running his primary ride, the
George Fisher #2. Blaney was also at Mercer on Wednesday
practicing and was set to drive the car last Friday night at
Lernerville Speedway before the rain out.
Jeff Rudzik got his start as a
car owner at the end of the 2003 season when he purchased P.J.
Kerr’s equipment. He has had Gary McCollum, Gary Edwards, Jack
Sodeman, Jr., Lee Jacobs, Jody Keegan, and Tom Quarterson in his
360 and 410 cubic inch engine #49 and #94 Sprints. His cars
have gone to victory lane seven times led by Sodeman with three
wins, Edwards with two, and his most recent victory on September
15 of last season at Sharon with Quarterson.
Jeff and Bonnie Rudzik reside
in Struthers, Ohio and operate Rudzik Excavating. They can be
reached at 330-755-1540 or at rudzikexcavating@yahoo.com.
Mike Leone is the public
relations director at Mercer Raceway Park, a Co-Director of the
FASTRAK Northeast Racing Series, and is a columnist for the
Allied News. He can be reached at 724-964-9300 or
mikeleone@zoominternet.net.
LUNGER’S FASTRAK GM 604 TOPS
STEEL-BLOCKS FOR $2,000 SEASON OPENING “CHILLER THRILLER” LATE
MODEL WIN AT MERCER; HALL WINS INAUGURAL UEMS EVENT; $1,000
PAYDAY FOR WHEELER IN STOCKS; MYERS WINS MINI STOCK DEBUT
By Mike
Leone
April 5,
2008
Mercer,
PA…After a one week
delay, the 2008 season kicked off Saturday night at Mercer
Raceway Park with the rescheduled “Chiller Thriller”.
Celebrating in the Hoosier Tire victory lane with wins were
Dennis Lunger-Steel-Block Late Models, Rusty Wheeler-Stock Cars,
Randy Hall-United E-Mod Series, and Chris Myers-Mini Stocks as
three states- Pennsylvania,
Ohio, and New York made up the
four winners. A great crowd turned out with 91 cars and the
track crew did an excellent job getting the track in super
conditions following the snowiest winter ever and rain for most
of Friday that left the grounds saturated.
Dennis Lunger made a statement showing just how fast and
competitive FASTRAK GM 604 crate engines are as he came out
victorious in the open competition Steel-Block Late Model 30-lap
feature after starting in the ninth position. Lunger’s efforts
were worth $2,000 in his first ever Late Model start at Mercer.
“I was really shocked,” acknowledged the Corry, Pa. racer.
“This crate engine really took off for us. We made some changes
and freed the car up. We were a little tight in the heat. The
guys worked really hard and gave me an awesome car. This thing
was really good tonight. We really like it down here (Mercer).
Every time we run here we do well.”
Brent Johnson took the early lead from the pole position with
2006 Modified Champion Frank Guidace and three-time Stock Car
Champion Brian Booher in pursuit. Booher passed Guidace for
second on lap two and set his sights on Johnson. Booher was all
over Johnson for the next five laps, but pushed high in turn
four on lap eight allowing sixth starting Jim Rozum III to take
second with Lunger and Guidace also getting by.
Lunger and 12th starting Dave Tackett made their way
past Rozum for third on lap 11. Lunger would make his winning
move on lap 13 when he drove to the inside of Johnson in turn
four and came out with the lead at the start-finish line.
Lunger survived four cautions over the final 17 laps as he was
never seriously challenged in the Rueben Schwartz-owned #17L.
Johnson held on to second ahead of Tackett. Modified standout
Jeremiah Shingledecker made his Late Model debut and finished a
respectable fourth after starting 17th. Guidace
dropped to fifth in his first ever Late Model start. Completing
the top 10 were Rozum, Denny Fenton, Ed Connor, Greg Johnson,
and Charles Supplee. Heat winners over the 19-car field were
Brian Smith and Tackett.
Rusty Wheeler added another big payday to his resume at Mercer
winning the 25-lap $1,000 Stock Car feature by passing on four
cars with a daring winning move. Two of his three other prior
victories were $2,000 Little Guy National wins.
“I was having a heck of a time on those restarts,” revealed the
Dorset, Ohio driver. “I just couldn’t get going so I seen
Buckley laying back just a little and figured I’d try it too.
The track was narrow tonight so I figured I would try a bonsai
move in turn one; it stuck and here we are! I like running this
track- it’s small and challenging. It puts the racing into the
driver’s hands.”
Rob Bates led the event’s first two laps before slipping high in
turn four on lap three allowing Shaun Hooks to take the lead.
Wheeler, who started sixth, was in fourth when the caution was
displayed for Chad O’Brien with 17 laps completed. On the
ensuring restart, Wheeler got a great start driving by Andy
Buckley, Bates, and Hooks for the lead going into turn one.
Once in front, the only thing to slow Wheeler’s run to his
fourth career win in the Rich Howell-owned #44 were four
cautions. Hooks and Rusty Martz were running second and third,
but Martz made contact with Hooks on a lap 21 restart taking
both cars out of contention.
Bates, who was the $300 Stock Car B Consolation winner and
finished second in the Northeast Stock Car Championship all at
last year’s season ending Little Guy Nationals, returned to
finish a career best second and earned $500. Lester Shoff was
driving Gary Fisher’s #99F and finished a career best third over
Russ Byler and Tony Bruno. Mark Sanders, Buckley, Hooks, Martz,
and Tim Burns were sixth through tenth. Heat winners over the
31-car field were Martz, Dan Lewis, and Tim Bush. Dave
McLaughlin won the B main.
The United E-Mod Series held their inaugural event at Mercer
Saturday and though Randy Hall is no stranger to victory lane as
he was the 2007 E-Mod Cavalcade of Champions, his 25-lap $750
to-win was his first career feature win at Mercer.
“We were real good off turn four and I saw the leader (Jack
Young) had a push coming off the turn so I knew if I got passed
Russ (Dunn) I knew we’d have a good shot,” explained the Olean,
New York standout. “The track was real smooth tonight. I was
surprised for the first night out; they (track crew) did a good
job. We had a good car tonight. I have to thank everyone that
helps us out.”
Jack Young, a one-time E-Mod
winner at Mercer, looked strong from the pole position as he led
the first 10 laps. Hall, who started sixth, moved into second
on lap 10 after racing side-by-side for two laps with two-time
Mercer E-Mod winner Russ Dunn. Hall began to pressure Young on
lap 11, but coming off turn four, Young pushed and got sideways
losing the handle and spinning into the front-stretch wall;
thankfully, the entire field was able to avoid his helpless
mount.
Hall then went on to lead the
final 15 laps with only one caution to slow his efforts in his
Follman Rentals-sponsored #10 to become the 13th
different E-Mod winner at Mercer in the 23 races run. Dunn
edged 11th and 12th starting Shawn
Shingledecker and Dave Hess, Jr. for third. Sixth through tenth
were Butch Lambert, John Woodward, Jr., Al Brewer, Justin
Carlson, and Bruce Powell. Topping the heat races over the
28-car field were Alan Dellinger, Hall, and Richard Michael,
Jr.
Making his first ever Mercer
start, 15-year-old Chris Myers came out on top of the 15-lap
Mini Stock feature. The Knox, Pa. former go-karter earned $150
for his efforts. Myers started in third and had the lead on the
opening lap passing rookie Tyler Powell and last year’s three
time winner Bill Fuchs. Only one caution slowed Myers’ efforts
in the Eric’s Auto Service-sponsored #C1. Fuchs was second
ahead of Modified racer Eric Gabany. John Shannon was a career
best fourth with Dan Nagy completing the top five. Myers and
Shannon won the heats over the 13-car field.
Steel-Block Late Models
(30 laps): 1. DENNIS LUNGER ($2,000) 2. Brent Johnson
3. Dave Tackett 4. Jeremiah Shingledecker 5. Frank Guidace 6.
Jim Rozum III 7. Denny Fenton 8. Ed Connor 9. Greg Johnson
10. Charles Supplee 11. Bob Vogt, Jr. 12. Ben Porter 13.
Brian Smith 14. Jesse Smith 15. Brian Booher 16. Burton
Fingado 17. Bob McMillen 18. Calvin Clay-DNS 19. Cory
Wilson-DNS.
Stock Cars
(25 laps):
1. RUSTY WHEELER ($1,000) 2. Rob
Bates 3. Lester Shoff 4. Russ Byler 5. Tony Bruno 6. Mark
Sanders 7. Andy Buckley 8. Shaun Hooks 9. Rusty Martz 10.
Tim Burns 11. Josh Seippel 12. Chad O’Brien 13. Dave
McLaughlin 14. Tommy Dembowski 15. Chris Haines 16. Rod
Laskey 17. Scott Jones 18. John Swabik 19. Terry Wheeler 20.
Tim Bish 21. Dan Lewis 22. Jamie Barber 23. Larry Root 24.
Russ Coyne DNQ: Jamie Brown, Jake Huppenthal, Tim Deutsch, Eric
Baun, Matt Wagner, Dan Smeal, Neil Wilson, Jr.
United E-Mod Series
(25 laps): 1. RANDY HALL ($750) 2. Russ Dunn 3. Shawn
Shingledecker 4. Dave Hess, Jr. 5. George Catanzano 6. Butch
Lambert 7. John Woodward, Jr. 8. Al Brewer 9. Justin Carlson
10. Bruce Powell 11. Vic Vena 12. Steve Dixon 13. Gary
Eicher 14. Troy Carr 15. Justin Tatlow 16. Joe Weber 17.
Kyle Bedell 18. Gary Sullivan 19. Jack Young 20. Alan
Dellinger 21. Richard Michael, Jr. 22. Nathan Hill 23. Jim
Dellinger 24. Craig Bedell-DNS 25. Joel Watson-DNS 26. T.J.