Quarterson’s new ride garners first
Sprint win; Blaney hits double figures in Mercer Modifieds
Mike Leone
August 19, 2000
Mercer (PA)...Mercer Raceway Park completed event #18 of the 2000
season on Saturday night. Standing in the Autobody Products Inc. victory lane were Tom
Quarterson-Axa Advisors 410 Sprint Cars, Lou Blaney-Bolland Machine Big-Block Modifieds,
Lou Gentile-Miller Lite Six-Cylinder Modifieds, Rick Ryder-New Castle School of Trades
Sportsman Modifieds, and Matt Lux-Butterfield’s Pub Stock Cars.
Tom Quarterson returned to the seat of the R&R Engine Rebuilders #27
for the first time in nearly two years and picked up his first win of 2000 in the 20-lap
Axa Advisors 410 Sprint Car Feature. The win was Quarterson’s first at Mercer since
August 22, 1998 when he drove the #27 to victory lane. "It’s been awhile,"
said the West Middlesex, Pa. driver. "I got back in the 27 this morning. I heard they
needed a driver so I called them. They said they wanted to go to Mercer. I told them I was
going to be there, and the rest is history."
Gary McCollum took charge of the event at the start, while Gary Edwards
passed Ralph Engel, Jr. and Dave Penezich, Jr. for second. Quarterson, who started fifth,
moved up to fourth on lap three passing Engel before the first caution was displayed for
Goob Schuller, who stopped with four laps completed. When racing resumed, Quarterson got
by Penezich for third. Jimmy Hawley, who started ninth, entered the mix taking Penezich
for fourth on lap six. Up front, McCollum was still holding off Edwards with his 360 c.i.
engine. Quarterson and Hawley ran down Edwards. On lap eight, Quarterson got by Edwards
for second racing off turn four, and Hawley followed one lap later for third.
Quarterson took the lead on lap 11 driving by McCollum on the outside. One
lap later, Hawley got by McCollum for second setting up the shoot-out for the win. The
leaders caught heavy traffic on lap 14. On lap 15, Quarterson slid high in turn one
allowing Hawley to get under for the lead. Quarterson wasn’t about to give up as he
drove hard into turn three putting a slider on Hawley to regain the lead and crossed lap
15 first just before the second and final caution appeared for a slowing Andy Hillenburg
of North Carolina.
The last five laps were a torrid pace with Quarterson and Hawley battling
hard. On the final lap, Hawley was all over Quarterson as the two raced through traffic.
Hawley looked low in turns three and four, but coming off four the lapped car of John Toth
III was there giving Quarterson a clear path to the checkers. Quarterson became the 11th
different Sprint Car winner in 16 races this season, but gave Robert and Roger Powell
their second Mercer win after Mike Lutz scored the opening night win for them. "The
longer the race went, the tighter the car got and it was messing me up," said the
winner. "Generally it’s looser instead of tighter. I got lucky we didn’t
have another restart. If we had a couple more laps, Jim (Hawley) might have got me."
Engel and 10th starter, Arnie Kent, passed McCollum on lap 17 to finish
third and fourth. Ed Lynch, Jr. came from 11th to finish fifth after getting by McCollum
on lap 18. Completing the top 10 were 17th starter Kevin Andrusky, McCollum, Tommy Burns,
Jr., Jamie Smith, and Terry Young. Heat winners over the 30-car field were Burns, Edwards,
and Lynch. Mike Kekich won the B main.
After being shutout of victory lane for over a month, Lou Blaney returned
to a familiar spot taking the checkers first for the 10th time at Mercer this season in
the 20-lap Bolland Machine Big-Block Modified Feature. "We’ve been having motor
problems for the last three weeks and it has been driving me nuts," said the
Hartford, Ohio driver. "It was fine tonight."
Kevin Bolland took the top spot away from Jerry Bickel on the start, while
Jim Rasey passed Dave Schrader and Rob Curtis for third. Bolland and Bickel battled for
the first six laps trading the lead. Bickel led lap three before Bolland got back by on
the fourth circuit.
Blaney began his charge to the front from seventh. On lap six, Blaney
blasted by Schrader and Rasey for third, then got around Bickel for second off turn two
one lap later. Blaney and Bolland would then go at for the next three laps. The two used
the inside and outside of the tacky track trading lines until Blaney got by for good on
lap 10.
Bolland’s bad luck continued when Mark Sevin spun in front of him and
collected him with 14 laps completed. Blaney then went on for his 18th overall win of 2000
in the Carpenter’s Towing/Troy-Alan Chevrolet/Colonial Metal Products-sponsored #10.
It was Blaney’s division leading 30th big-block win since the track reopened in 1994
and became the first driver to win multiple big-block championships in that period.
Schrader and Rasey swapped second and third for most of the second-half of
the race. Scharder got by for good on the last restart for his best big-block finish of
2000. Rasey’s third was his first career Mercer top five. Carl Weatherby was fourth
over big-block rookie Don McKnight. Sixth through tenth were Rodney Beltz, John Braymer,
Rick Hall, Carl Murdick, and Bolland. Scoring heat wins over the 28-car field were
Bolland, Hall, and Murdick. Braymer won the B main.
Lou Gentile won his eighth 15-lap Miller Lite Six-Cylinder Modified
Feature to go along with two 358 Modified wins giving him 10 wins like Blaney at Mercer
this season. The Youngstown, Ohio driver started 10th on the grid and made it up to second
on lap three passing Harold Michaels. Gentile got by race-long leader, Kenny Hardy, on lap
four and was never threatened for his 12th overall win of 2000 in the Emig Racing #1.
Michaels held on to second. Randy Ferguson passed Mark McEwen on the final lap for third.
McEwen’s fourth place was his best career finish. Frank Guidace was fifth. Jerry
Schaffer won the heat race.
Rick Ryder finally scored his first career win in the 20-lap New Castle
School of Trades Sportsman Modified Feature. The Gibsonia, Pa. driver started in fifth and
took second from Randy Rodemoyer on lap five. The winning pass came on lap six when Ryder
got by race-long leader, Ron Eperthener, Jr. Point leader, Rick Hall, got by Eperthener
for second on lap seven. Ryder and Hall distanced themselves from the field and battled
over the last 13 laps. But at the checkers, Ryder had the win in Suzanne Woodings-owned
#18. Hall was two car lengths back in second. Bill Adams subbed for Doug Updyke and
finished third after starting 12th. Rookie Darrell Combs finished in fourth for his
first-ever top five. Randy Rodemoyer was fifth. Hall and Tom Mattocks won the heats over
the 23-car field.
Bob Sloss nearly pulled off the upset of the year, but Matt Lux made a
daring pass on the final lap to win his seventh 15-lap Butterfield’s Pub Stock Car
Feature win. Sloss started on the point, while the battle was on behind him. Lux, who
started 10th, and Jeff Buccella, who started 11th, made their way to second and third
passing Willie Aley on laps five and six respectively. In probably the best race of the
year, Sloss, Lux, and Buccella put on quite a battle over the last nine laps. Sloss ran a
consistent line on the cushion, while Lux and Buccella tried every move possible to get
by. On lap nine, Lux slipped high off the track allowing Buccella to get by for second. By
lap 12, Gary Miller, Jr., Kevin Thompson, and Gary Robinson entered the battle making it a
six-car race for the win. On the final lap, a gaggle of cars were in front of Sloss coming
off turn two. Lux saw a small opening and threaded the needle driving by Buccella and
Sloss on the backstretch. Lux crossed the finish line first in his Dulaney’s
Garage/Mike Jez Heating & Cooling-sponsored #21. Buccella edged Sloss for second.
Miller and Robinson were fourth and fifth. Heat victors over the 32-car field were Dave
Ferringer, Robinson, and Sloss. Mike Aley won the B main.
Axa Advisors 410 Sprint Car Feature Finish: 1. TOM
QUARTERSON 2. Jimmy Hawley 3. Ralph Engel, Jr. 4. Arnie Kent 5. Ed Lynch, Jr. 6. Kevin
Andrusky 7. Gary McCollum 8. Tommy Burns, Jr. 9. Jamie Smith 10. Terry Young 11. Craig
Rankin 12. Mike Kekich 13. Rob Eyler 14. Jason Jacoby 15. Andy Hillenburg 16. John Toth
III 17. Ed Etzel 18. Gary Edwards 19. Dave Penezich, Jr. 20. Brad Ellenberger 21. Chris
Matthews 22. Mark Murphy 23. Jim Chappel 24. Goob Schuller DNQ-Scott Bonnell, Troy
Cochran, Joe McEwen, Nathan Hines, Ralph Spithaler, Jr., Robert Van Tassel.
Bolland Machine Big-Block Modified Feature Finish: 1. LOU
BLANEY 2. Dave Schrader 3. Jim Rasey 4. Carl Weatherby 5. Don McKnight 6. Rodney Beltz 7.
John Braymer 8. Rick Hall 9. Carl Murdick 10. Kevin Bolland 11. Tommy Kristyak 12. Dave
Murdick 13. Jerry Bickel 14. Steve Young 15. J.R. McGinley 16. Brian Swartzlander 17. Tom
Mattocks 18. Mark Sevin 19. Jeff Schaffer 20. Lee Miller 21. Rob Curtis 22. Tim Doran 23.
Steve Barr 24. Dean Pearson DNQ-Larry Johns, Gary Smoker, Jeremiah Shingledecker, George
Davis.
Miller Lite Six-Cylinder Modified Feature Finish: 1. LOU
GENTILE 2. Harold Michaels 3. Randy Ferguson 4. Mark McEwen 5. Frank Guidace 6. Rick Kress
7. Joe Kane 8. Conny Allen 9. Jerry Schaffer 10. Kenny Hardy 11. Jim Bickel.
New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modified Feature Finish:
1. RICK RYDER 2. Rick Hall 3. Bill Adams 4. Darrell Combs 5. Randy Rodemoyer 6. Buck
Buchanan 7. Ron Eperthener, Jr. 8. Fred Sasse 9. Mike Mathieson 10. David Coggswell 11.
Curt Matthews 12. Gary Smoker 13. Don McKnight 14. Chanda Reitz 15. Andy Priest 16. Greg
Unrue 17. Brad Watson 18. Tom Mattocks 19. Andy Paden 20. Bob Young 21. Zack Moran-DNS 22.
Dean Pearson-DNS 23. John Buchanan-DNS.
Butterfield’s Pub Stock Car Feature Finish: 1. MATT
LUX 2. Jeff Buccella 3. Bob Sloss 4. Gary Miller, Jr. 5. Kevin Thompson 6. Gary Robinson
7. Mike Aley 8. Shaun Hooks 9. Rick Norco 10. Brian Booher 11. Brian Miller 12. Andy
Buckley 13. Jeff Kravec 14. Rick Anthony 15. Tony Bruno 16. Jim Davis 17. John Reiser 18.
Dan Fedorchak 19. Dave Ferringer 20. Pat Wilcox 21. Dwight Boice 22. Ray Bailey, Jr. 23.
Willie Aley 24. Jim Hooks DNQ-Greg Pesa, Bob Kitchen, Dave Wagner, Jr., Jerry Ryder, Bobby
Wagner, Bill Fox, Dan Michaud, Jim Brunson.
First career Sprint win for Murphy;
Young also wins first in Mercer Modifieds
By Mike Leone
August 26, 2000
Mercer (PA)...The final night of points and the 19th racing event of
the 2000 season were put in the record books on Saturday night at Mercer Raceway Park.
Celebrating in the Autobody Products Inc. victory lane were Mark Murphy-Axa Advisors 410
Sprint Cars, Steve Young-Bolland Machine Big-Block Modifieds, Kenny Hardy-Miller Lite
Six-Cylinder Modifieds, Andy Priest-New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modifieds, and
Brian Miller-Butterfield’s Pub Stock Cars.
Mark Murphy became the latest driver to score an upset career first win in
the 20-lap Axa Advisors 410 Sprint Car Feature. "My dad, brother, and I build our own
frames and motors," said the Norton, Ohio driver. "It’s right in the
family, and in the garage-no sponsors, just the three of us."
Murphy and pole-sitter, Jim Chappel, raced side-by-side for the first lap
with Murphy getting a good run off the top of turn four to take the lead. Terry Young and
Tom Quarterson got around Joe McEwen for third and fourth. Quarterson then took the third
position away from Young.
The top four remained in order until traffic became a factor. Murphy
encountered a gaggle of cars on lap seven, which nearly cost him the race. Racing off turn
two, Murphy got into Mike Marano II on the backstretch, but was able to keep his momentum
without losing a position miraculously. Later that lap, Young and seventh starter, Kevin
Andrusky, drove past Quarterson for third and fourth.
The leaders finally cleared the heavy traffic at the midway point. This
allowed Young to run down Chappel and make the pass at the start-finish line for second.
Two laps later, Andrusky drove under Chappel for third racing off turn four.
With five laps to go it was a five-car race for the win as three of five
drivers were looking for their first wins. Last week’s winner, Tom Quarterson, and
Arnie Kent dropped Chappel back two more spots on laps 16 and 17 respectively. With two
laps to go, Young really began to close in on Murphy, who was running the extreme top side
of the speedway lapping cars.
On the last lap, Young tried once last ditch effort to try to get his
first career Sprint Car win, but jumped the cushion in turn three allowing Murphy no
challenge to the checkers. It was just Murphy’s fifth race of the season in the Al
& Marty Murphy-owned and un-sponsored #98M. His best finish of the season had been an
11th. Murphy became the 12th different winner in 17 races this season. "I just wanted
to win one before I turned 50," said the 46-year-old winner. "We’ve been
running so bad lately that I brought my mother here tonight. We need all of the help we
can get."
Young nearly lost second, but held off Andrusky for his best finish since
replacing Quarterson in the John Sloss #00. Quarterson and Kent were a close fourth and
fifth. Sixth through tenth were Chappel, McEwen, point champion Jamie Smith, Gary Edwards
from 21st, and Rob Eyler. Heat winners over the 22-car field were Murphy and Andrusky.
The 2000 season has been an up and down one for Steve Young splitting his
time between his own #67 and the Robert Eaton-owned #2. On Saturday night, Young won his
first of the year in the 20-lap Bolland Machine Big-Block Modified Feature driving the
Bashlin Industries/Say’s Auto Electric-sponsored #2 with the big-block motor from his
#67. "I was getting scared with all of the restarts at the end, but it worked
out," said the Grove City, Pa. driver. "We took the for sale sign off the car
because it was bad luck. I think were going to run the car the rest of the year."
Young took the lead at the start as scheduled pole-sitter, Dave Murdick,
was unable to start. Don McKnight passed J.R. McGinley on the first lap. McGinley lost
third to Dean Pearson on lap two and fourth to eighth starter, Carl Weatherby, on lap
four. McKnight, a rookie big-block driver, looked good early on until getting crossed up
with the lapped car of George Davis on lap nine and slammed the wall. McKnight was able to
continue, but lost second and third to Pearson and Weatherby.
At the halfway point, Young had a near straightaway lead on second and
third. Point champion, Lou Blaney, was slowly making his way up into contention. Blaney
got around McKnight for fourth on lap 13. Three cautions between lap 16 and 19 slowed
action. The lap 19 restart saw Weatherby move around Pearson for runner-up.
Young was still able to hold off Weatherby on the final restart for his
third career Mercer big-block win. The win also propelled Young from 15th in points to a
top 10 at the awards banquet. Blaney edged Pearson at the finish for third. Tim Doran came
from 14th to place fifth. Sixth through tenth were Jim Rasey, Tommy Kristyak, Andy Priest,
McKnight, and Dave Schrader. Heat victors were Frank Guidace, Weatherby, and Rodney Beltz
over the 24-car field.
Kenny Hardy led all 15 laps of the Miller Lite Six-Cylinder Modified
Feature. The Wampum, Pa. driver started from the pole to capture his fourth win. Point
champion, Lou Gentile, started 11th and took third from Jim Bickel on lap six. Gentile
then moved into second on lap nine passing Harold Michaels. Gentile had two chances to
restart alongside Hardy, but Hardy was able to hold on for his track leading 41st win
since the track reopened in 1994 in the Hardy Trucking #85B. Gentile’s second gave
him his first Mercer Six-Cylinder Modified Championship. Randy Ferguson was third over
Mark McEwen and Bickel. Winning the heats were Hardy and Michaels.
Andy Priest of New Castle, Pa. collected his sixth 20-lap New Castle
School of Trades Sportsman Modified Feature. Allen Ferry took charge of the race from his
pole starting spot, while Priest, who started eighth, grabbed third from Gary Bollinger on
lap seven. Priest then took runner-up from Greg Unrue on lap nine. At this point, Ferry
had about a straightaway lead as the event remainded caution-free until debris slowed
action with 11 laps completed. Ferry held on for one more lap in search of a career first
Mercer win, but Priest had too much power as he drove the MPR Lumber/Griffin-sponsored,
Ted Hull-owned #41 past Ferry on lap 13. Once in front, Priest went on for his ninth
overall Mercer win of the season. Ferry’s second was a Mercer-best. Tom Mattocks was
third ahead of a season best finish by Greg Unrue and Gary Bollinger completed the top
five. Rick Hall’s sixth place finish was good enough to win his first Sportsman
Modified Championship. Heat victors were Tommy Kristyak and Chanda Reitz over the 23-car
field.
Brian Miller of New Wilmington, Pa. has had a lock on the Stock Car
Championship, but was able to add his second 15-lap Butterfield’s Pub Feature win to
it on Saturday night. It didn’t appear Miller had any chance of winning the event for
most of the race. Brian Booher passed Ray Bailey, Jr. and Ed Lombardo for the lead on the
opening lap. Eighth starter, Leigh Wheeler, was on the charge racing into second by lap
two. Wheeler caught teammate Booher and the two battled from lap six to the checkers.
Wheeler was able to take the lead on lap nine. Booher then lost second to Andy Buckley on
lap 10 and third to Gary Robinson on lap 12. Buckley spun with 13 laps completed moving
Robinson to second and Booher to third for the restart. With the white flag waving,
Wheeler, Booher, and Robinson were three-wide coming off turn four. The three made slight
contact and it was just enough to allow Miller, who started 12th, to sneak under on the
bottom for the lead and the win in the Terry Hover-owned #99. Robinson was able to get
second. Gary Miller, Jr. and Jeff Buccella, who started 18th, were able to pass Booher and
Wheeler for third and fourth. Booher dropped to fifth. Scoring heat wins were Buckley,
Mike Aley, and Brian Miller over the 34-car field. Kevin Thompson won the B main.
Axa Advisors 410 Sprint Car Feature Finish: 1. MARK MURPHY 2. Terry
Young 3. Kevin Andrusky 4. Tom Quarterson 5. Arnie Kent 6. Jim Chappel 7. Joe McEwen 8.
Jamie Smith 9. Gary Edwards 10. Rob Eyler 11. Gary McCollum 12. Mike Kekich 13. Brent
Matus 14. Jason Jacoby 15. Buddy Cochran 16. Nathan Hines 17. John Toth III 18. Tommy
Burns, Jr. 19. Ben Bassinger 20. Gary Stallard 21. Troy Preston 22. Mike Marano II.
Bolland Machine Big-Block Modified Feature Finish: 1. STEVE YOUNG
2. Carl Weatherby 3. Lou Blaney 4. Dean Pearson 5. Tim Doran 6. Jim Rasey 7. Tommy
Kristyak 8. Andy Priest 9. Don McKnight 10. Dave Schrader 11. Carl Murdick 12. Rob Curtis
13. Rodney Beltz 14. Tommy Marshall III 15. Rick Hall 16. Frank Guidace 17. J.R. McGinley
18. George Davis 19. Rich Ferguson 20. Dean Ruth 21. Steve Barr 22. Dave Murdick-DNS 23.
Bill Dorman-DNS 24. Gary Smoker-DNS.
Miller Lite Six-Cylinder Modified Feature Finish: 1. KENNY HARDY 2.
Lou Gentile 3. Randy Ferguson 4. Mark McEwen 5. Jim Bickel 6. Conny Allen 7. Jerry Bowser
8. Joe Kane 9.Rick Kress 10. Troy Willoughby 11. Harold Michaels 12. Jim Reagle-DNS.
New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modified Feature Finish: 1.
ANDY PRIEST 2. Allen Ferry 3. Tom Mattocks 4. Greg Unrue 5. Gary Bollinger 6. Rick Hall 7.
Randy Rodemoyer 8. Tommy Kristyak 9. Chanda Reitz 10. Jason Longwell 11. Bill Adams 12.
Bob Young 13. Buck Buchanan 14. Fred Sasse 15. Andy Paden 16. Darrell Combs 17. Bill
Thompson 18. Dave Coggswell 19. Mike Mathieson 20. Rick Ryder 21. Leroy Johnson, Jr. 22.
Curt Matthews 23. John Buchanan-DNS.
Butterfield’s Pub Stock Car Feature Finish: 1. BRIAN MILLER 2.
Gary Robinson 3. Gary Miller, Jr. 4. Jeff Buccella 5. Brian Booher 6. Kevin Thompson 7.
Leigh Wheeler 8. Jeff Kravec 9. Bob Sloss 10. Rick Norco 11. Dave Ferringer 12. Willie
Aley 13. Ed Hays 14. Andy Buckley 15. Rick Anthony 16. Ray Bailey, Jr. 17. Dan Fedorchak
18. Bill Kirschner, Sr. 19. Jim Brunson 20. Matt Lux 21. Ed Lombardo 22. Tim Zuschlag 23.
John Reiser 24. Mike Aley DNQ-Jerry Ryder, Bobby Wagner, Kevin Miller, Bill Haas, Bill
Fox, Don Greenlee, Dan Michaud, Jim Davis, Chuck Kerr, J.R. Ziegler.
.
