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- Kristyak
wins over $3,500
- in Mercer
DIRT Mods;
- Gentile
wins Special
Six-Cylinder Main
by Mike Leone
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- July 3, 1999
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- Mercer (PA)...Tommy Kristyak (MercerPros.com DIRT Modifieds)
was the big winner on the Bill Emig Memorial Night Saturday evening
at Mercer Raceway Park. Other winners were Lou Gentile (Miller
Lite/Amsoil Six-Cylinder Modifieds) and Gary Robinson (Butterfield’s
Pub Pure Stock Cars).
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- Tommy Kristyak topped a stellar
field of 43 DIRT Modifieds to win his first race at Mercer since
opening night in the 35-lap Bill Emig Memorial. The Stoneboro,
Pa. driver benefited from a Lou Blaney spin and mechanical problems
on Brian Swartzlander car to capture the big win. "Everything
felt great. I’m glad the fastest two cars broke. Sometimes
you don’t have to be the fastest car to win," said
Kristyak. "I just want to thank everyone. Give me the money
and I’m out of here," said the driver of the #26z from
victory lane.
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- Kristyak jumped into the lead
at the drop of the green. Swartzlander, who started fourth, passed
Chris Schiffer on the opening lap and disposed of Kevin Bolland
for second on lap two coming off turn two on the bottom. After
four cautions on laps four and five, Lou Blaney, who started
12th, got by both Schiffer and Bolland to take over third. Then
on the lap five restart for Jim Rasey, Swartzlander drove by
Kristyak to take command. It was lap seven when Blaney drove
to the inside of Kristyak on the backstretch for runner-up. Blaney
ran down the 1998 northeast’s winningest big-block driver
and pressured him during laps 10-13. Blaney was unable to make
the move, but closed back in on lap 16, when action heated up.
Swartzlander was in traffic and slowed considerably going into
turns one and two to try to avoid the slower cars. Blaney slid
into Swartzlander spinning the #10 and brought out the caution.
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- Just when Swartzlander appeared
to be headed to his first Mercer win, the fan came off and took
out the radiator on lap 22 ending his fine run, but did garner
$475 in lap money. This gave the lead to Kristyak and he drove
off to the win as the last 14 laps went non-stop. The victory
was worth $3,000 plus $525 in lap money out of the $14,995 total
purse for the division. The last 10 laps was a heated battle
for second after Kristyak pulled away. Bolland and Schiffer both
moved by Jeff Hoffman on the lap 22 restart for second and third
and the three battled until Blaney made his way back through
the field to enter the mix. The four cars could have been covered
by a blanket in the final 10 laps. On the final lap, Blaney charged
to the outside passing Schiffer and then Bolland coming off turn
four to finish second. Bolland held off Schiffer and Hoffman
for third. Sixth through tenth were Tim Doran, Les Myers in the
Bob Rial #68, Carl Murdick, Scott Gurdak, and Mike Sutton. Blaney,
Hoffman, Steve Young, and Jim Weller won the heats. Skip Deane
and Gurdak won the two B mains.
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- In the 10-lap "Legacy"
race, Brian Swartzlander was able to lead all 10 laps of the
10-car event featuring the top two point cars from Lernerville,
Mercer, Sportsman’s, Sharon, and Tri-City. The Leechburg,
Pa. driver pulled the #1 pill and had no problem holding off
the top drivers in his Ferrante Oldsmobile /McCutcheon Enterprises
#83. The win was worth $600 after Tri-City co-promoter Mike Graham
added $100. None of the top four starters elected to start scratch
for a chance at winning $1,000. Rex King was second after passing
Rick Hall on the start. Hall was third with Weller fourth. Blaney
came from 10th to finish fifth. Sixth though tenth were Young,
Hoffman, Gurdak, Schiffer, and Rasey.
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- Lou Gentile was the winner of
an emotional 25-lap Bill Emig Memorial Six-Cylinder Modified
Feature. The Youngstown, Ohio driver won his third straight and
fourth of the year worth $1,000 driver the Emig #1. "I put
the gear to it tonight and it really worked. I turned it up a
little," said the 60-year-old veteran. "This means
a lot on Bill’s (Emig) night. I’m glad for Bill, Vicki
(Emig’s daughter), Jody (Emig’s daughter), and the
little one here (Bill’s granddaughter Morgan)," said
Gentile who’s winning’s went to the American Cancer
society. Frank Guidace, Kenny Hardy, and Gentile all worked their
way to the front from the 10th, 11th, and 13th starting positions
receptively to take first, second, and third on lap six passing
rookie Dana Gearhart. On lap seven, Gentile edged Hardy for second
at the line. On lap 10, Guidace slipped high on the backstretch
allowing Gentile, Hardy, and Carl Weatherby to go by.
Hardy pitted on lap 13 moving Weatherby to second and Guidace
to third. The last 12 laps saw Weatherby all over Gentile as
the two diced through lap traffic, but it was Gentile, who put
on a driving clinic coming out on top for the popular win. The
race went non-stop in 7:43.47. Behind Gentile and Weatherby were
Guidace, point leader Randy Ferguson and Harold Michaels. Sixth
through tenth were a career-best finish by Mark McEwen, Bill
Adams in the Stan Bell #42, Conny Allen, Jim Bickel, and Mark
Welsh. Heat winners were Gentile and Weatherby. Weatherby also
won the four-car, four-lap dash worth $100 for the top four point
cars.
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- Gary Robinson continued his
dominance of the Pure Stocks with his third straight win and
fifth of the season. The Greenville, Pa. driver passed Tim Mailliard
for third on lap six and moved into second one lap later passing
Pat Hile. Meanwhile, Andy Buckley was out in front looking for
a career first win. Robinson ran him down on lap nine and benefited
from a caution for Randy Snider with 12 laps completed. On the
restart, Robinson pulled ahead and went on for the win in his
Cresswell’s Auto Align/Speir Homes #44R. Buckley was second
over 11th starter Lynn Hostetler, Mailliard, and Anthony. Heat
winners were Robinson, Jeff Buccella, and Shaun Hooks. Pat McMenamin
won the B main.
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- Waste Management Sprint
Car Feature Finish:
- Check Back
for Next Week's Results!!
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- MercerPros.com DIRT Modified Feature Finish:
- (dollar amount won in parenthesis
indicates total money won for all events)
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- 1. TOMMY
KRISTYAK ($3,535)
- 2. Lou Blaney ($1,550)
- 3. Kevin Bolland ($910)
- 4. Chris Schiffer ($735)
- 5. Jeff Hoffman ($550)
- 6. Tim Doran ($415)
- 7. Les Myers ($375)
- 8. Carl Murdick ($350)
- 9. Scott Gurdak ($350)
- 10. Mike Sutton ($305)
- 11. Rich Ferguson ($205)
- 12. Jerry Bickel ($195)
- 13. Brian Swartzlander ($1,275)
- 14. Mark Sevin ($185)
- 15. Jim Rasey ($210)
- 16. Tommy Mason ($180)
- 17. Rex King ($420)
- 18. Bill Dorman ($180)
- 19. Guy Griffin ($175)
- 20. Jim Weller ($230)
21. Rodney Beltz ($165)
- 22. Steve Young ($200)
- 23. Skip Deane ($150)
- 24. Rob McClimans ($150)
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- DNQ-Troy Schaffer ($100), Shane
McElhaney ($100), Greg Davis ($100), Skip Moore ($100), Scott
Rodgers ($100), Steve Barr ($100), Randy Myers ($100), Rick Hall
($200), Lonny Riggs ($100), Don Blaney ($100), Jim Reagle ($100),
Jeff Schaffer ($100), Tom Glenn ($100), Tom Smith ($100), Bob
Dorman ($100), Tom Armstrong ($100), Skinny Hall ($100), Arnie
Kent ($100), Andy Priest ($100).
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- Miller Lite/AMSOIL
Six-Cylinder
Modified Feature Finish:
- 1. LOU GENTILE
- 2. Carl Weatherby 3. Frank Guidace
4. Randy Ferguson 5. Harold Michaels 6. Mark McEwen 7. Bill Adams
8. Conny Allen 9. Jim Bickel 10. Mark Welsh 11. Dana Gearhart
12. Jim Siferd 13. Joe Kane 14. Rick Kress 15. Kenny Hardy 16.
Troy Willoughby 17. Dustin Kress 18. Jerry Schaffer.
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- Quaker Steak
& Lube West-Penn Limited Modified Feature Finish:
- Check Back
for Next Week's Results!!
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- Butterfield’s
Pub Pure Stock Feature
Finish:
- 1. GARY ROBINSON
- 2. Andy Buckley 3. Lynn Hostetler
4. Tim Mailliard 5. Rick Anthony 6. Pat Hile 7. Brian Miller
8. Shaun Hooks 9. Chuck Kerr 10. Jim Riffenberrick 11. Tony Spaghetti
12. Terry Wheeler 13. John Reiser 14. Albert Hays 15. Charlie
Baptiste 16. Terry Kroner 17. George Davis 18. Willie Aley 19.
Jeff Buccella 20. Randy Snider 21. Pat McMenamin 22. Lisa Whitehouse
23. Jim Brunson 24. Bill Banick, Jr.
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- Preston
Wins First, While
- Dorman
wins #2 in Mercer
- Sprint
and DIRT Mod Action
by Mike Leone
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- July 10, 1999
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- Mercer (PA)...Troy Preston (Waste Management Sprint
Cars) and Bill Dorman (MercerPros.com DIRT Modifieds) were the
big winners Saturday at Mercer Raceway Park. Other winners were
Lou Gentile (Miller Lite/Amsoil Six-Cylinder Modifieds), Rob
Kristyak (Quaker Steak & Lube West-Penn Limited Modifieds),
and Leigh Wheeler (Butterfield’s Pub Pure Stocks).
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- Bruce Robenalt
flies through the air
- in his Sprint car
at Mercer
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- Troy Preston beat fellow West
Middlesex, Pa. driver Jimmy Hawley to pull off his first 20-lap
Waste Management Sprint Car win of the year. "Chevron East
told me he’d give me a $1000 if I could beat Jimmy Hawley
and I did," said the driver of the Chevron East/Pennzoil
#36. It was the first time Hawley has been beat at Mercer since
June 5, the night Bob Felmlee pulled off his 100th career win
in what may have been his final race of his career.
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- Gary Edwards, Joe McEwen, Arnie
Kent, and Terry Young all drove by pole-sitter Jason Jacoby on
the start. McEwen ran down Edwards and the two put on a good
battle for the early part of the race. Preston, who started 10th,
passed Young on the outside to take third on lap seven. On lap
nine, while McEwen was applying heavy pressure to Edwards, his
#44 slowed on the backstretch moving Preston to runner-up and
brought out the caution with 11 laps completed.
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- Point leader Hawley was methodically
moving his way through the pack from his 11th starting position.
Hawley took care of Jamie Smith on lap 12, then disposed of Young
for third on the following lap for third. Lap 14 was when Preston
made his winning move shooting under Edwards coming out of turn
three. Hawley also cleared Edwards on the same lap as Young and
Smith dropped Edwards to fifth on lap 15. Staple Nash stopped
the race on two occasions; first for a spin with 15 laps completed;
then secondly after flipping in turn two. He was okay. Preston
was able to keep Hawley at bay for his sixth Mercer win since
Mercer reopened in 1994. Jamie Smith took Young for third on
lap 16. Young and Edwards filled out the first five. Sixth through
tenth were Kent, Mike Kekich, Gary McCann, Jason Jacoby, and
Tommy Burns, Jr. Heat winners were Hawley and Smith.
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- Staple Nash flipped
his Sprint in turn 2
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- Bill Dorman returned to victory
lane for his second win. After recording his initial win on April
24 from the pole position, Dorman had suffered through mechanical
problems and bad luck all year scoring only one top five since
before doing it again from the pole position in the 20-lap MercerPros.com
DIRT Modified Feature on Saturday evening. Dorman took the early
lead after being handicapped to the pole position, while Carl
Murdick settled into second. Murdick stayed close to Dorman the
first-half of the race, while Lou Blaney was again the man on
the move. After starting 10th, Blaney got the outside groove
working taking both Tommy Kristyak and Rodney Beltz on lap nine.
One lap later, Blaney edged Murdick for second at the line as
the crossed flags were waved signaling the half-way point of
the race. Blaney made up the half-straightaway deficit in three
laps as he made the pass for the lead coming off turn four on
the bottom of the track. But Blaney’s lead would only last
one lap after a lap car go into him popping his #10 high into
the air nearly flipping. Blaney was able to keep all four wheels
on the ground, but was done for the night ending a string of
five straight top twos.
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- Steve Young - 67,
Rodney Beltz - 64,
- and Lonnie Riggs
- 58 run their mods 3-wide
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- When racing resumed, Rodney
Beltz slowed in third place moving Guy Griffin and Jerry Bickel
to third and fourth. Griffin, who tangled with Steve Young, and
Rick Hall with five laps completed, was quickly moving through
the field. Griffin got Murdick for second when Murdick got sideways
coming off turn four on lap 17. Griffin closed on Dorman in the
final laps, but came up short to the Stockton, New York driver.
Murdick was third with Tommy Kristyak fourth and Bickel fifth.
Sixth through tenth were Lonny Riggs, Randy Myers, Steve Barr,
Kenny Hardy, and Todd Schaffer. Young, Blaney, and Rick Hall
were heat victors,
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- At 60 years old, Lou Gentile
just keeps on winning. The Youngstown, Ohio driver made it four-in-a-row
after winning the 20-lap Miller Lite/Amsoil Six-Cylinder Modified
Feature. Kenny Hardy took the lead from Harold Michaels on lap
two nipping him at the line. Hardy led until lap six when he
exited to the pits giving the lead back to Michaels. Michaels
held off Gentile until lap 11 when Gentile passed him coming
off turn four on the inside. Gentile pulled away for his fifth
win of the year in the Emig #1 and his winnings were donated
to Make-A-Wish. After spinning out on the first lap, Carl Weatherby
came from the rear to finish second after passing both Randy
Ferguson and Michaels coming out of turn four on the final lap.
Michaels edged Ferguson for fourth. Frank Guidace was fifth.
Heats went to Weatherby and Hardy.
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- Twenty-year-old Rob Kristyak
is upholding the Kristyak name by being a winner himself. The
Bristolville, Ohio driver won his second 20-lap Quaker Steak
& Lube West-Penn Limited Modified Feature of the year. Kristyak
started fifth, but had the lead on lap three as he and Rick Ryder
moved by Ron Eperthener, Jr. for the first two spots. John Buchanan,
who started eighth, would give Kristyak a run for his money.
Buchanan took third from Eperthener on lap five then on lap 11
grabbed runner-up from Ryder. Buchanan drove to the outside of
Kristyak and took the lead as the two raced out of turn four
on lap 13. Just after the lap was completed the yellow flag was
waved. Then after the restart, Buchanan lost the lead and was
denied a first-career win as Kristyak went on for his second
career win in his Klaben Crown Ford #00. Buchanan was second
with Don McKnight third. On the final lap, Scott Kay tangled
with Rick Hall as Kay flipped and landed on his roof. He was
taken to United Community Hospital in Grove City where he was
later released. Hall was fourth with Shon Derr fifth after coming
from the rear. Winning heats were Jeremiah Shingledecker, Kristyak,
and Eperthener.
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- Fred Sasse - 0,
landed on top of Andy Paden - 2
- in Mercer West
Penn Modified Action
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- Scott Kay barrel-rolled
his West Penn Mod
- down the Mercer
Backstretch. He was shaken, but OK.
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- Leigh Wheeler evened teammate
Brian Booher at one by winning the 15-lap Butterfield’s
Pub Pure Stock Feature. Booher led the first four laps, but dropped
from competition on lap five giving the lead to Andy Buckley.
Buckley’s lead would only last one lap when Wheeler shot
by entering turn four on lap six. On lap nine, Wheeler got crossed
up coming out of turn four enabling Gary Robinson to take the
lead. But his lead would only last one lap as well when he pitted
under caution with nine laps completed. Wheeler survived the
last six laps crossing the line first with Buckley right on his
bumper at the checkers. It was Wheeler’s second career Mercer
win, but first since September 9, 1995 in the #2W. Rick Anthony
came from 18th to get third over Todd Titus and Brian Miller.
Heat victors were Robinson, Buckley, and John Reiser. Anthony
won the B main.
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- Waste Management Sprint
Car Feature Finish:
- 1. TROY PRESTON
- 2. Jimmy Hawley 3. Jamie Smith 4. Terry Young 5. Gary Edwards
6. Arnie Kent 7. Mike Kekich 8. Gary McCann 9. Jason Jacoby 10.
Tommy Burns, Jr. 11. Dave Wagner 12. Gary McCollum 13. Staple
Nash 14. Joe McEwen 15. Bruce Robenalt 16. Jim Chappel-DNS.
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- MercerPros.com DIRT Modified Feature Finish:
- 1. BILL DORMAN
- 2. Guy Griffin 3. Carl Murdick
4. Tommy Kristyak 5. Jerry Bickel 6. Lonny Riggs 7. Randy Myers
8. Steve Barr 9. Kenny Hardy 10. Todd Schaffer 11. Troy Schaffer
12. Howard Duff 13. Rodney Beltz 14. Bob Dorman 15. Lou Blaney
16. Tom Armstrong 17. Steve Young 18. Rick Hall 19. Rich Ferguson
20. Skip Moore-DNS 21. Jim Reagle-DNS 22. Mark Sevin-DNS 23.
Greg Davis-DNS.
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- Miller Lite/AMSOIL
Six-Cylinder
Modified Feature Finish:
- 1. LOU GENTILE
- 2.Carl Weatherby 3. Harold Michaels
4. Randy Ferguson 5. Frank Guidace 6. Jim Bickel 7. Bill Adams
8. Mark Welsh 9. Dave Price 10. Rick Kress 11. Joe Kane 12. Kenny
Hardy 13. Conny Allen 14. Dana Gearhart 15. Mark McEwen-DNS.
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- Quaker Steak
& Lube West-Penn Limited Modified Feature Finish:
- 1. ROB KRISTYAK
- 2. John Buchanan
3. Don McKnight 4. Rick Hall 5. Shon Derr 6. Rick Ryder 7. Marty
Kristyak 8. Randy Rodemoyer 9. Greg Unrue 10. Joe Walsh, Jr.
10. Joe Walsh, Jr. 11. Scott Kay 12. Bob Young 13. Bill Thompson
14. Mike Kelley 15. Jeremiah Shingledecker 16. Skinny Hall 17.
Jeff Miller 18. Fred Sasse 19. Andy Paden 20. Ron Eperthener,
Jr. 21. Mike Mathieson 22. Boyd Johnston, Jr. 23. Gary Smoker
24. Tom Mattocks 25. Buck Buchanan 26. Kevin Nagy-DNS 27. Gary
Bollinger-DNS.
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- Butterfield’s
Pub Pure Stock Feature
Finish:
- 1. LEIGH
WHEELER
- 2. Andy Buckley 3. Rick Anthony
4. Todd Titus 5. Brian Miller 6. Terry Kroner 7. Mike Aley 8.
Dan Fedorchak 9. Randy Snider 10. Gary Robinson 11. Ed Hays 12.
Chuck Kerr 13. Charlie Baptiste 14. J.B. Dandy 15. John Reiser
16. Bill Hanna 17. Jeff Kravec 18. George Davis 19. Pat Hile
20. Lisa Whitehouse 21.Pat McMenamin 22. Tim Mailliard 23. Albert
Hays 24. Brian Booher 25. Tony Bruno-DNS DNQ-Willie Aley, Ray
Bailey, Jim Brunson, Buck Sevin, Tim Zushlag.
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- Rain washes
out Mercer action
by Mike Leone
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- July 17, 1999
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- Mercer (PA)...Three bouts of afternoon thunderstorms
washed out action for the fourth time this season Saturday at
Mercer Raceway Park. "The Earthquakers" did perform
live for the fans. A special thanks to Mike Erme for his hospitality
with the event. Rain checks will be good for the next two weeks.
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- Current point leaders are Jimmy
Hawley, West Middlesex, Pa.-Waste Management Sprint Cars; Steve
Young, Grove City, Pa.-MercerPros.com DIRT Modifieds; Randy Ferguson,
Mercer, Pa.-Miller Lite/Amsoil Six-Cylinder Modifieds; Don McKnight,
Jamestown, Pa.-Quaker Steak & Lube West-Penn Limited Modifieds;
and a tie between Gary Robinson, Greenville, Pa. and Bill Hanna,
Jamestown, Pa.-Butterfield’s Pub Pure Stocks.
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- First-ever
for McEwen in Sprints; Blaney again in Mercer DIRT Mods
by Mike Leone
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- July 24, 1999
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- Mercer (PA)...Highlighting wins on the 12th night of
racing of 1999 Saturday at Mercer Raceway Park were Joe McEwen
(Waste Management Sprint Cars) and Lou Blaney (MercerPros.com
DIRT Modifieds). Other winners were Carl Weatherby (Miller Lite/Amsoil
Six-Cylinder Modifieds), Gary Smoker (Quaker Steak & Lube
West-Penn Limited Modifieds), and Andy Buckley (Butterfield’s
Pub Pure Stocks).
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- "Smokin" Joe McEwen
of Mercer, Pa. smoked the competition in the 20-lap Waste Management
Sprint Car Feature for his first career 410 Sprint win. "You
better believe I’m excited," stated a happy McEwen.
"It’s been a long time coming. This is working hard
at it. I’ve got to thank my wife for sticking with me. She’s
put up with a lot. I want to thank everyone.
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- Bogarty, McEwen, & Sparks,
Bailey Racing has really stuck behind me the last couple years.
I wish Bill (Bailey) was here," said McEwen from victory
lane. McEwen started fourth on the grid, but blew by Gary Edwards,
Terry Young, and Jason Jacoby for the lead on the first lap as
pole-sitter, Jason Jacoby fell into second. Within in two laps,
Troy Preston had moved from eighth to third passing Young for
third. By the half-way mark, McEwen opened up a straightaway
lead on Jacoby as all eyes were on Jimmy Hawley, who was working
his way from the 10th spot. Hawley passed Mike Kekich to crack
the top five on lap 12. Two laps later, Hawley got fourth from
Edwards.
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- The only stoppage of the race
was for Arnie Kent, who flipped in turn three with 17 laps completed.
He was okay. During the red, Preston was pushed to the pits moving
Hawley up to third for the restart. When racing resumed, Hawley
went around Jacoby for second, but got bogged behind a lap car,
which was all McEwen needed. McEwen raced on to the win in his
self-owned #44 over point leader Hawley. Edwards took third from
Jacoby on lap 18 for his best finish of the season. Jacoby held
off Jamie Smith for fourth. Sixth through tenth were Kekich,
Young, Rod Jones in his season debut, Gary McCann, and Jim Chappel.
Heat winners were McCann and Jacoby.
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- Arnie Kent flipped
in turn 3. He was OK.
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- After taking all of last week
off due to injury, Lou Blaney returned to victory lane in the
Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series Eckerd 300 Syracuse Qualifier
20-lap MercerPros.com DIRT Modified Feature. It was his second
win of the weekend after winning Friday at Lernerville Speedway.
Two weeks ago, Blaney was leading the feature until being taken
out by a lap car. Speaking of the incident, "I came down
hard in the corner and kind of messed up a few things (regarding
his injuries). But we’re getting back." Rick Hall took
the early lead from the outside pole passing Troy Schaffer on
the start.
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- By lap two, fifth and sixth
starters, Bill Dorman and Jerry Bickel, had worked into second
and third. Bickel’s hold on third lasted until lap six when
Blaney, who started 10th, made the move. Meanwhile, up front
Hall and Dorman were putting on quite a battle as Hall was able
to maintain his lead. Bickel rolled to a stop with nine laps
completed bunching up the field. Two laps later, runner-up Dorman
did like-wise. This moved Blaney to second and Lonny Riggs to
third. When racing resumed, Riggs lost the spot to Tommy Kristyak
on lap 12. Blaney was all over Hall until lap 16 when the Hartford,
Ohio driver drove right around Hall on the outside of turns one
and two.
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- Blaney went on to win by a near
straightaway for his fourth win. "It worked out good tonight.
The track got pretty good. It was good for me," said Blaney
after his 17th win since Mercer reopened in 1994, which moved
him into the point lead for the first time this year. Hall was
second over Kristyak, Riggs, and Carl Murdick. Sixth through
tenth were Randy Myers, Steve Barr, Howard Duff, Mark Sevin,
and Schaffer. Heat victors over the 24-car field were Riggs,
Kristyak, and Blaney.
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- Defending three-time champion,
Carl Weatherby of Volant, Pa., won his fifth
20-lap Miller Lite/Amsoil Six-Cylinder Modified Feature to take
over the point lead. Weatherby started on the outside pole, but
lost the lead to third-place starter, Frank Guidace, who shot
into the lead. Weatherby fell to second with seventh starter,
Gregg McCandless, up to third on the first lap. Weatherby’s
winning move in his #919 came on lap six when he passed Guidace
in turn one. Mechanical problems occurred for both Guidace and
McCandless on lap 13 moving Harold Michaels to second and Randy
Ferguson to third. But up front, no one had anything for Weatherby,
who cruised to his 33rd win since 1994 moving him within three
wins of Kenny Hardy. Michaels was a season-best second barely
edging Lou Gentile, who passed Ferguson for third on lap 19.
Ferguson was fourth for the third-straight week. Hardy was fifth.
Weatherby and Gentile won the heats.
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- After a horrible mid-season
which saw Gary Smoker fall from the point lead to eighth, the
Mercer, Pa. driver had some luck on his side as he won his third
20-lap Quaker Steak & Lube West-Penn Limited Modified Feature.
Smoker started fourth as Tom Mattocks raced into the lead. Smoker
passed Ron Eperthener, Jr. on the start and then took second
from Joe Walsh, Jr. on lap two. Smoker was all over Mattocks
in the first-half of the race until finally making the move on
lap nine coming off turn two. The man on the move was 20th starter,
Rick Hall. Hall passed Rob Kristyak for third on lap nine, then
took Mattocks for second on the 14th circuit. A scary incident
took place on the 15th lap when John Buchanan flipped violently
end-over-end in turns one and two. He was okay. Despite seven
cautions, Smoker was able to hold off Hall for his 15th win since
1994 in his Kristyak’s Service Plaza #401. Point leader
Don McKnight passed Mattocks for third on lap 16. Eperthener
and Bollinger also got by Mattocks for fourth and fifth. Taking
the heats were Buchanan, Smoker, and Scott Kay over the 26-car
field.
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- John Buchanan barrel-rolled
in turn 1 in the
- West-Penn feature.
He was OK.
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- After coming close on many occasions,
Andy Buckley finally was able to lead lucky lap #15 for his first
career win in the 15-lap Butterfield’s Pub Pure Stock Feature.
Early on it appeared that Rick Anthony may have been headed for
his first career win. Anthony got by Brian Miller and Lisa Whitehouse
for second on lap two. Jeff Kravec had led the first four laps,
until losing the lead to Anthony on the backstretch of lap five.
The following lap saw Kravec spin in the infield and by this
time, Buckley, who started seventh was now up to second. Anthony
and Buckley battled until lap nine when Buckley made the move
for the top spot. The Stoneboro, Pa. driver led the last seven
laps for the win over Anthony. Bill Hanna passed Miller for third
on lap 11. Leigh Wheeler and Gary Robinson also got by Miller
for fourth and fifth. Hanna, Buckley, and Robinson scored heat
wins over the 31-car field. Brian Booher won the B main.
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- Waste Management Sprint
Car Feature Finish:
- 1. JOE McEWEN
- 2. Jimmy Hawley 3. Gary Edwards 4. Jason Jacoby 5. Jamie
Smith 6. Mike Kekich 7. Terry Young 8. Rod Jones 9. Gary McCann
10. Jim Chappel 11. Dave Wagner 12. Troy Preston 13. Jarod Larson
14. Arnie Kent 15. Gary McCollum.
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- MercerPros.com DIRT Modified Feature Finish:
- 1. LOU BLANEY
- 2. Rick Hall 3. Tommy Kristyak
4. Lonny Riggs 5. Carl Murdick 6. Randy Myers 7. Steve Barr 8.
Howard Duff 9. Mark Sevin 10. Troy Schaffer 11. Greg Davis 12.
Bill Dorman 13. Doug Duncan 14. Rich Ferguson 15. Jerry Bickel
16. Guy Griffin 17. Skip Moore 18. Randy Snider 19. Ed Alcorn
20. Andy Priest 21. Lee Miller 22. Rodney Beltz-DNS 23. Skip
Deane-DNS 24. Steve Young-DNS.
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- Miller Lite/AMSOIL
Six-Cylinder
Modified Feature Finish:
- 1. CARL WEATHERBY
- 2. Harold Michaels 3. Lou Gentile
4. Randy Ferguson 5. Kenny Hardy 6. Conny Allen 7. Jim Bickel
8. Mark Welsh 9. Dave Price 10. Dana Gearhart 11. Mark McEwen
12. Rick Kress 13. Joe Kane 14. Gregg McCandless 15. Frank Guidace
16. Jerry Bowser 17. Bill Adams-DNS 18. Jerry Schaffer-DNS.
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- Quaker Steak
& Lube West-Penn Limited Modified Feature Finish:
- 1. GARY SMOKER
- 2. Rick Hall
3. Don McKnight 4. Ron Eperthener, Jr. 5. Gary Bollinger 6. Jeff
Miller 7. Doug Upton 8. Fred Sasse 9. Tom Mattocks 10. Joe Walsh,
Jr. 11. Scott Kay 12. Rob Kristyak 13. Greg G. Unrue 14. Jeremiah
Shingledecker 15. Andy Paden 16. Rick Ryder 17. John Buchanan
18. Boyd Johnston, Jr. 19. Skinny Hall 20. Mike Kelley 21. Mike
Mathieson 22. Steve Walsh-DNS 23. Marty Kristyak 24. Randy Rodemoyer-DNS
25. Shon Derr-DNS 26. Bob Young-DNS.
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- Butterfield’s
Pub Pure Stock Feature
Finish:
- 1. ANDY BUCKLEY
- 2. Rick Anthony 3. Bill Hanna
4. Leigh Wheeler 5. Gary Robinson 6. Brian Booher 7. Lynn Hostetler
8. Brian Miller 9. Allan Hudzik 10. Willie Aley 11. Chuck Kerr
12. Pat Hile 13. Todd Titus 14. Sammy Wheat 15. Buck Sevin 16.
Ed Hays 17. George Davis 18. Jeff Kravec 19. Dan Fedorchak 20.
Terry Kroner 21. Adam Aley 22. Lisa Whitehouse 23. Albert Hays
24. John Reiser 25. Randy Snider-DNS DNQ-Ray Bailey, Tim Zuschlag,
Steve Reed, Gary Johns, Charlie Baptiste, Mike Aley.
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- Mercer
Rained out Again
by Mike Leone
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- July 31, 1999
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- Mercer (PA)...For the fifth time this season racing
was rained out on Saturday evening at Mercer Raceway Park. Rain
checks will be honored for the next two weeks. Six heat races
were completed before thunderstorms rolled through. Gary Edwards
of Youngstown, Ohio and Arnie Kent of New Castle, Pa. scored
Waste Management Sprint Car heat wins. Kenny Hardy of Wampum,
Pa. and Frank Guidace of Mercer, Pa. won the Miller Lite/Amsoil
Six-Cylinder Modified heats. Two of the three Butterfield’s
Pure Stock heats were completed before the rain with Bill Hanna
of Jamestown, Pa. and Andy Buckley of Stoneboro, Pa. victorious.
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- Current point leaders are Jimmy
Hawley, West Middlesex, Pa.-Waste Management Sprint Cars; Lou
Blaney, Hartford, Ohio-MercerPros.com DIRT Modifieds; Carl Weatherby,
Volant, Pa.-Miller Lite/Amsoil Six-Cylinder Modifieds; Don McKnight,
Jamestown, Pa.-Quaker Steak & Lube West-Penn Limited Modifieds;
and Bill Hanna, Jamestown, Pa.-Butterfield’s Pub Pure Stocks.
Only four more point races remain.
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