The man behind the Bill Emig Memorial

By Mike Dutko

For 5/28/04

Most competitors who raced against Bill Emig knew him as a giant of a man, a rough, tough, cigar chompin’ competitor. They also knew his race car would usually be found near the front of the field no matter where he ran or who he ran against. If they never took the time to truly know Bill Emig that is the image that sticks in their minds. But to his family and his closest friends, there was another side to Bill Emig- a successful businessman, a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. The tough guy most people thought they knew was actually a giant teddy bear to those who knew him best.

Bill Emig did not follow the crowd. He led them in new directions. He did things in racing that nobody thought possible. He never backed down from a challenge. Bill Emig loved his family with a passion few people will match. That is the legacy Bill Emig left for his family and friends. So when the BRP Modified Tour invades Mercer on June 5, they will face an extremely tough group of competitors ready to defend their turf against the best western Pa. and eastern Ohio can throw at them in a unique and challenging format honoring Bill Emig’s legacy of leadership, innovation, challenge, and love for his family. That is what the Bill Emig Memorial is all about.

LEADERSHIP: The norm in promoting race tracks today is to bring in sanctioning groups who demand high purses and sanctioning fees and pass those demands on to the weekly competitors and fans. Bill Emig was proud to be one of those weekly racers. His legacy leads the Emig family to do something different. From day one Vicki’s philosophy has been to put money into the weekly racer’s pocket, not take it out. This race will reward our weekly competitors with a payout higher than any other local track for big-block modifieds.

INNOVATION:  Triple 25-lap features; 75 laps around the demanding Mercer Raceway Park oval challenging drivers in every way possible.

CHALLENGE:  Requiring drivers to ask more from themselves and their cars than on any weekly race night. To win the Bill Emig Memorial a driver cannot follow the crowd he must race to the front under demanding circumstances. Triple 25-lap features are something no other racetrack in this area thought possible.

LOVE OF FAMILY:  Our extended Mercer Raceway Park family, the fans who have made this track THE PLACE to bring their families every Saturday night, and our friends who visit us on occasions like this one, will enjoy the best local talent the region has to offer.

Just like the man this race is named for, the Bill Emig Memorial “Legacy Series” has produced some surprises in the first three years. The cream rose to the top in 2001 as Brian Swartzlander dominated two of the 25 lap features, but it was Dean Pearson who surprised the field by leading every lap of the second 25 lap feature to take the win. In 2002 another familiar face, Ron Smoker who dominated almost every modified race in the area picked up two victories, but he could not pull off the triple as Alan Dellinger, a.k.a. Jim Dandy, Jr., drove to his first ever win in a big block modified.

Dellinger is perhaps one of the most underrated drivers in this area. He’s won a race in every type of car he ever drove. One guy who did have his eye on him was Bill Emig. Then last year Mother Nature spoiled the party wiping out the triple 25 lap races. The Bill Emig Memorial was held in conjunction with “The Main Event” program in June. Not only did the fans see an exciting late model duel between winner Keith Barbara and John Flinner, they saw Volant’s Lonny Riggs drive to his biggest career win.

I know Bill Emig is proud of what his girls are accomplishing, and he will look down with pride on the Mercer Raceway Park June 5 and smile for what they have achieved has been truly done in his legacy.

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