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- Felmlee
and Blaney Snare
- Thrilling
Mercer Sprint and
- Modified
Wins
by Mike Leone
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- June 5, 1999
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- Mercer (PA)...Bob
Felmlee (Waste Management Sprint Cars) and Lou Blaney (MercerPros.com
DIRT Modified) were the big winners Saturday evening on the sixth
night of racing at Mercer Raceway Park in 1999. Other winners
were Carl Weatherby (Miller Lite/Amsoil Six-Cylinder Modifieds),
Don McKnight (Quaker Steak & Lube West-Penn Limited Modifieds),
and Brian Booher (Butterfield’s Pub Pure Stocks).
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-
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- Bob Felmlee passed fellow Franklin,
Pa. driver Jason Jacoby on the last lap to win a thrilling 20-lap
Waste Management Sprint Car Feature for the second week in a
row. "I feel real bad for Jason (Jacoby). He needs to win
his first one. I drove it in a little hard and I guess he almost
lost it. I’d like to see Jason win one soon," said
the driver of the Car*Mate Trailers/World of Wheels/Lutz Auto
Body #6 from victory lane.
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- Jacoby jumped out into the lead,
while Felmlee began his journey to the front from the ninth spot.
On lap five, Felmlee worked into the top five passing Terry Young.
His next victim was Arnie Kent on lap nine for fourth. Two cautions
with 12 and 13 laps completed erased Jacoby’s lead he progressively
built up. Gary Edwards’ fine run came to an end when he
received a bent axle moving Felmlee and Jimmy Hawley to third
and fourth during the caution.
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- When racing resumed a good battled
developed for second with Kekich, Felmlee, and Hawley eyeing
Jacoby. Felmlee dove under Kekich to finally get by on lap 15
for runner-up. Hawley followed one lap later taking third. With
four laps to go, Jacoby, Felmlee, and Hawley broke free from
the pack. Felmlee was all over Jacoby, who was looking for a
career first win, on the final lap. Entering turn three, Felmlee
slid under Jacoby for the lead. Jacoby gave one last ditch effort
as he tried to return the favor, but came up short for his second
straight runner-up finish to Felmlee. It was Felmlee’s third
Mercer win of the season and sixth overall in 1999. "We
had the car too loose. James Wray does a good job for me. We
had it too tight coming off the corners," said Felmlee.
"This new Mercer Raceway-there’s no dust and it’s
tacky. We’re not use to it. Vicki (Emig) and Frank (Benic)
do a good job and we like coming here."
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- Hawley was third and holds a
three-point lead over Felmlee in the points chase. Mike Kekich
was a season-best fourth as Arnie Kent completed the top five.
Sixth through tenth were Troy Preston, Young, Tommy Burns, Jr.,
Jamie Smith, and Mike Marano II. Preston and Hawley won the heats.
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- Lou Blaney scored a very popular
first win in the 20-lap MercerPros.com DIRT Modified Feature
receiving a loud ovation from the overflowing crowd. Blaney’s
winning move came on lap 17 passing Guy Griffin for the win.
"It’s good to win here again for these people,"
said the Hartford, Ohio legend referring to his first win at
Mercer since August 15, 1998. "I love them (the Mercer fans).
They love me. It’s great! Thank you. We’ve raced here
a long time. It’s always been a good place and we appreciate
it," said the driver of his son Dave’s Colonial Metal
Products/Troy Alan Chevrolet #10.
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- Guy Griffin and Rodney Beltz
battled for most of the race as Griffin maintained a slight advantage.
Blaney, who started ninth, cracked the top three passing Bill
Dorman on lap nine. Blaney ran down Beltz and Griffin as the
three pulled away by the half-way mark. On lap 14, Beltz went
high to move by the slower car of Don Blaney, while Lou slipped
under both his nephew and Beltz for second. Three cautions stopped
action with 14 laps completed, including a five-car melee which
started when Andy Priest got tagged from behind and caught Scott
Rodgers, Rob McClimans, Troy Schaffer, Howard Duff, and Randy
Myers, with his car rolling over. All of the drivers were okay,
but Rodgers, McClimans, and Myers’ car suffered heavy damage.
When racing resumed, Blaney was all over Griffin. Coming off
turn two during lap 17, Blaney took over and led the rest of
the way for the win. Griffin was a season-best second. Beltz,
Dorman, and Jerry Bickel were third through fifth. Rounding out
the top ten were Rick Hall, Steve Young, Don Blaney, Mark Sevin,
and Todd Schaffer. Heat winners were Hall and Tim Doran. Carl
Murdick holds a one-point lead over Young in the points race.
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- Tommy Kristyak was the point
leader coming into action, but was suspended for two weeks for
two counts of unsportsman-like conduct in last week’s feature.
Also, note that Kristyak was moved to last place in last week’s
finish changing the official finish for spots 11-16.
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- Mercer West
Penn Action with Boyd Johnson-4j,
- Mike Kelley-10
and Rob Kristyak-00.
- -- © Jim Balentine Photo
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- Three-wide Mercer
modified action with
- Rob McClimans -5m,
Howard Duff-73
- and Scott Rogers-26. --
© Jim Balentine Photo
|
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- Carl Weatherby won his third
of the year in the 20-lap Miller Lite/Amsoil Six-Cylinder Modified
Feature. Weatherby started seventh and took over second from
Steve Barr on lap four. Two laps later came Weatherby’s
winning move as he drove his #919 by Jim Bickel for the second
week in a row. Weatherby ran off for the half-lap win as the
last 15 laps went non-stop. A great five-car battle took place
for second with Bickel holding off Harold Michaels, Randy Ferguson,
Kenny Hardy, and Frank Guidace. Taking heats were Weatherby and
Lou Gentile.
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- Second-year driver, Don McKnight,
is having a great sophomore season. The
Jamestown, Pa. driver won his second 20-lap Quaker Steak &
Lube West-Penn Limited Modified Feature and took over the point
lead from Gary Smoker. Rick Hall, Gary Bollinger, and McKnight
moved by Steve Walsh on the start for positions one through three.
McKnight and Scott Kay passed Bollinger for second and third
on laps four and six respectively. The last 16 laps went non-stop
with McKnight all over Hall. On lap 16, McKnight put his #67
by Hall for the winning move. McKnight survived a last corner
move by Hall to win by two car lengths. Kay, Bollinger, and Shon
Derr completed the top five. Scoring heat wins were Rob Kristyak,
Jeremiah Shingledecker, and John Buchanan.
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- Brian Booher of Sandy Lake,
Pa. returned to victory lane for the first time since August
31, 1996 in the 15-lap Butterfield’s Pub Pure Stock Feature.
Leigh Wheeler passed Byron Brannon, Jr., Jim Riffenberrick, Willie
Aley, and Mike Aley all on the first lap for the top spot. Booher
worked his way from the eighth starting spot to take second from
Brannon on lap three. Teammates Wheeler and Booher put on good
battle like they did years ago. Booher’s winning move came
on lap six passing Wheeler in his Stake Specialty/R&R Auto
Sale #2B. Wheeler was second. Bill Hanna got around Riffenberrick
on the final lap for third and took over the point lead from
Gary Robinson. Lynn Hostetler was fifth. Robinson, John Reiser,
and Albert Hays won the heats. Hostetler won the B main.
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- Jim Brunson leads
a pack of pure stocks
- around turn 4 at
Mercer.
- -- © Jim Balentine Photo
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- Waste Management Sprint
Car Feature Finish:
- 1. BOB FELMLEE
- 2. Jason Jacoby 3. Jimmy Hawley
4. Mike Kekich 5. Arnie Kent 6. Troy Preston 7. Terry Young 8.
Tommy Burns, Jr. 9. Jamie Smith 10. Mike Marano II 11. Dave Wagner
12. Jim Damon 13. Gary Edwards 14. Eric Hysong 15. Staple Nash
16. Jim Chappel 17. Mark Imler 18. Gary McCollum.
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- MercerPros.com DIRT
Modified Feature Finish:
- 1. LOU BLANEY
- 2. Guy Griffin 3.Rodney Beltz
4. Bill Dorman 5. Jerry Bickel 6. Rick Hall 7. Steve Young 8.Don
Blaney 9. Mark Sevin 10. Todd Schaffer 11. Troy Schaffer 12.
Skip Moore 13. Lonny Riggs 14. Carl Murdick 15. Andy Priest 16.
Tim Doran 17. Randy Myers 18. Scott Rodgers 19. Rob McClimans
20. Howard Duff 21. Jim Reagle-DNS.
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- Miller Lite/AMSOIL
Six-Cylinder
Modified Feature Finish:
- 1. CARL WEATHERBY
2. Jim Bickel 3. Harold Michaels 4. Randy Ferguson 5. Kenny Hardy
6. Frank Guidace 7. Gregg McCandless 8. Conny Allen 9. Mark Welsh
10. Rick Kress 11.Bill Adams 12. Jerry Schaffer 13. Dustin Kress
14. Steve Barr 15. Lou Gentile-DNS.
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- Quaker Steak
& Lube West-Penn Limited Modified
Feature Finish:
- 1. DON MCKNIGHT
- 2. Rick Hall 3. Scott Kay 4.
Gary Bollinger 5. Shon Derr 6. Marty Kristyak 7. Tom Mattocks
8. John Buchanan 9. Ron Eperthener, Jr. 10. Joe Walsh, Jr. 11.
Rick Ryder 12. Randy Rodemoyer 13. Bob Young 14. Steve Walsh
15. Mike Kelley 16. Boyd Johnston, Jr. 17. Ron Sasse 18. Gary
Smoker 9.Buck Buchanan 20. Kevin Thompson 21. Jeremiah Shingledecker
22. Rob Kristyak 23. Skinny Hall 24. Mike Gardner 25. Bill Thompson-DNS.
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- Butterfield’s
Pub Pure Stock Feature
Finish:
- 1. BRIAN BOOHER
- 2. Leigh Wheeler 3. Bill Hanna
4. Jim Riffenberrick 5. Lynn Hostetler 6. Todd Titus 7. Jim Brunson
8. Lisa Whitehouse 9. Jeff Kravec 10. Pat Hile 11. Willie Aley
12. Ray Bailey 13. Gary Johns 14. Charlie Baptiste 15. Buck Sevin
16.Brian Miller 17. George Davis 18. Rick Anthony 19. Byron Brannon,
Jr. 20. Bill Banick, Jr. 21. Mike Aley 22. Gary Robinson 23.
Albert Hays 24. John Reiser DNQ-Dan Fedorchak, Mark Covert, Steve
Reed, Tim Zushlag, Terry Kroner, Brian Mathieson, Tony Spaghetti,
Andy Buckley, Chuck Kerr, Ed Hays.
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- Popular
Mercer Sprint
- and Modified
Wins to
- Hawley
and Blaney
by Mike Leone
-
- June 12, 1999
-
- Mercer (PA)...Highlighting action on the seventh night
of racing Saturday evening at Mercer Raceway Park saw area stars
Jimmy Hawley (Waste Management Sprint Cars) and Lou Blaney (MercerPros.com
DIRT Modifieds) record wins. Other winners were Carl Weatherby
(Miller Lite/Amsoil Six-Cylinder Modifieds), Don McKnight (Quaker
Steak & Lube West-Penn Limited Modifieds), and Bill Hanna
(Butterfield’s Pub Pure Stocks).
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- Less than 24 hours after losing
an All Star race at Lernerville due to an engine problem, Jimmy
Hawley rebounded to win his third 20-lap Waste Management Sprint
Car win of the year. "We hurt our good motor last night.
We were planning to go to Pittsburgh (All Star Speedweek) tonight,
but when the guys were checking out the motor they found a broken
lifter. We’re happy to be here," said the West Middlesex,
Pa. driver from the winner’s circle. The only major incident
of the race occurred on lap two when the first three cars of
Dave Wagner, Gary McCollum, and Gary Edwards tangled with Edwards
turning over. Edwards was okay, but done for the night. This
gave the lead to Tommy Burns, Jr. up from fifth and placed Hawley,
who started eighth, in runner-up with only one lap in. When racing
resumed, Hawley chased Burns for four laps before making his
move on the sixth circuit. Hawley drove by Burns coming off turn
two for the lead and checked out.
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- A couple
of the Vintage Race Cars attending the exhibit
- on June 12, 1999
-- Mercer Raceway Park...
- -- © Jim Balentine Photo
|
- "The only major incident
of the race occurred on lap two when the first three cars of
Dave Wagner, Gary McCollum, and Gary Edwards tangled, with Edwards
turning over. "
- -- © Jim Balentine Photo
|
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- Troy Preston was on the move
from his 12th starting spot as he passed Terry Young on lap nine
coming off four for third. Preston ran down Burns and the two
battled to the checkers, while Hawley drove off for the win in
the John and Deb Crawford owned, Dr. John Crawford Family Practice/Mihalcak
Motorsports #cIII. "You’ve got to give Vicki (Emig)
all the credit in the world for what she’s doing to this
track. It’s been a lot more racy and hopefully everybody
is starting to see a good show," concluded Hawley. Burns
edged Preston for his third runner-up of the year. Tom Quarterson
was a season-best fourth over Mike Kekich. Sixth through tenth
were Staple Nash, Jim Chappel, Tim Kern, Terry Young, and Kent.
Nash and Hawley won the heats.
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- Taking advice from car owner
and builder Dave Blaney, Lou Blaney stayed home and scored his
second consecutive 20-lap MercerPros.com DIRT Modified win. "I’d
like to race tomorrow night (Sharon Speedway) and I’d also
like to see him (Dave) run. But he said there will be a lot more
so I’ll get tonight and tomorrow I hope. And I hope he does
good too," said the smiling Hartford, Ohio native from the
winner’s circle. Rick Hall, Lonny Riggs, and Rodney Beltz
moved by Rob McClimans on the start for the first three positions.
By lap four, Blaney had already worked into the top five from
his 11th starting spot. One lap later, Blaney moved to fourth
passing McClimans. Beltz and Blaney got by Riggs for second and
third on laps six and nine respectively as a great battle for
the lead developed.
On lap 10, Blaney passed Beltz for second as Beltz lost the handle
and spun to bring out the caution. When green flag racing resumed,
Blaney drove by Hall on the outside of turns one and two for
the lead. Blaney then cruised the win in the Carpenter’s
Towing/Troy-Alan Chevrolet #10. To the approval of the cheering
crowd, Blaney said, "I appreciate all of you. The Mercer
fans are the best in the country." Hall was second. Guy
Griffin was third after Riggs spun on the 19th lap. Steve Young
was fourth tying Carl Murdick, who finished fifth, for the point
lead. Completing the top ten were McClimans, Beltz, Michigan’s
Don Whitney, Jerry Bickel, and Riggs. Heats were won by Griffin
and Tim Doran.
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- Carl Weatherby won his third
straight Miller Lite/Amsoil Six-Cylinder Modified Feature and
did so by coming from last to win the $100 bonus in honor of
the late Bill Emig. Weatherby even brought out a caution with
one lap in and restarted on the tail for the second time, while
Bill Adams and Jim Bickel led the early laps. Kenny Hardy took
over the lead from Bickel on lap five. On lap eight, Weatherby
passed both Randy Ferguson and Bickel to move into second. Hardy
and Weatherby pulled away from the field.
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- Weatherby’s winning move
came on the lap 14 restart as the Volant, Pa. was able to hold
off Hardy for his fourth win of the year and 32nd of his career
at
Mercer in his #919. Bickel was third for his third straight top
five. Ferguson and Frank Guidace were fourth and fifth. Weatherby
and Gentile were heat victors.
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- Don McKnight is not letting
the sophomore season jinx bother him. The Jamestown, Pa. driver
won his third 20-lap Quaker Steak & Lube West-Penn Limited
Modified Feature of the season. Gary Smoker appeared to be on
his way to victory after passing Skinny Hall for the lead on
lap two. But on lap 13, Smoker broke giving the lead back to
Hall. Then on lap 14, Hall was racing through traffic and the
slow car of Mike Kelley spun taking him out. This gave the lead
to tenth starting McKnight. The last seven laps was a great five-car
battle with point leader McKnight holding off Scott Kay, Tom
Mattocks, Rick Hall, and Marty Kristyak for his second-straight
win in his #67. Kristyak, Gary Bollinger, and McKnight won the
heats.
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- The 1994 and 1995 Mercer Champion,
Bill Hanna, returned to victory lane in the 15-lap Butterfield’s
Pub Pure Stock Feature for the first time since September 27,
1997. Leigh Wheeler passed Brian Miller for the lead on lap four.
Hanna was making his way to the front from his 12th starting
spot as he took runner-up from Miller on lap 12. The winning
move came on lap 14 as Hanna got by for the win in the Gordon’s
Auto Sales/Doug Smith Orthodontist #*21. Wheeler was second for
the second-straight week. Lynn Hostetler, Miller, and Rick Anthony
were second through fifth. Heat wins were taken by Gary Robinson,
Mailliard, and Hostetler. Albert Hays won the B main.
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- Waste Management Sprint
Car Feature Finish:
- 1. JIMMY
HAWLEY
- 2. Tommy Burns, Jr. 3. Troy
Preston 4. Tom Quarterson 5. Mike Kekich 6. Staple Nash 7. Jim
Chappel 8. Tim Kern 9. Terry Young 10. Arnie Kent 11. Mike Latsch
12. Gary McCollum 13. Brent Covell 14. Troy Cochran 15. Dave
Wagner 16. Gary Edwards 17. Jason Jacoby-DNS 18. Joe McEwen-DNS.
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- MercerPros.com DIRT Modified Feature Finish:
- 1. LOU BLANEY
- 2. Rick Hall 3.Guy Griffin 4.
Steve Young 5. Carl Murdick 6. Rob McClimans 7. Rodney Beltz
8. Don Whitney 9. Jerry Bickel 10. Lonny Riggs 11. Jim Reagle
12. Chris Schiffer 13. Tim Doran 14. Troy Schaffer 15. Tom Armstrong
16. Scott Rodgers 17. Mark Sevin 18. Todd Schaffer 19. Bill Dorman
20. Kenny Hardy 21. Andy Priest.
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- Miller Lite/AMSOIL
Six-Cylinder
Modified Feature Finish:
- 1. CARL WEATHERBY
2. Kenny Hardy 3. Jim Bickel 4. Randy Ferguson 5. Frank Guidace
6. Bill
Adams 7. Mark Welsh 8. Rick Kress 9. Stan Bell 10. Conny Allen
11.Gregg
McCandless 12. Harold Michaels 13. Lou Gentile 14. Dustin Kress
15. Steve Barr 16. Jerry Schaffer 17. Dana Gearhart-DNS.
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- Quaker Steak
& Lube West-Penn Limited Modified Feature:
- 1.DON MCKNIGHT
- 2.Scott Kay 3. Tom Mattocks
4. Rick Hall 5. Marty Kristyak 6. Gary Bollinger 7. John Buchanan
8. Rick Ryder 9. Buck Buchanan 10. Doug Upton 11. Skinny Hall
12. Randy Rodemoyer 13. Bob Young 14. Jeremiah Shingledecker
15. Joe Walsh, Jr. 16. Mike Kelley 17. Ron Sasse 18. Jeff Miller
19. Bill Thompson 20. Boyd Johnston, Jr. 21. Gary Smoker 22.
Shon Derr 23. Rob Kristyak 24. Kevin Thompson 25. Ron Eperthener,
Jr.-DNS.
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- Butterfield’s
Pub Pure Stock Feature
Finish:
- 1. BILL HANNA
- 2. Leigh Wheeler 3. Lynn Hostetler
4. Brian Miller 5. Rick Anthony 6. Chuck Kerr 7. Bill Banick,
Jr. 8. Jeff Kravec 9. Shon Derr 10. Ray Bailey 11. Albert Hays
12. Steve Reed 13. Gary Robinson 14. Pat Hile 15. Mike Aley 16.
Buck Sevin 17. Charlie Baptiste 18. Lisa Whitehouse 19. George
Davis 20. Todd Titus 21. Jim Brunson 22. Tim Mailliard 23. Brian
Mathieson 24. Jim Riffenberrick DNQ-Tony Spaghetti, Mike Metelsky,
Willie Aley, John Reiser, Brian Booher, Dan Fedorchak, Mark Covert,
Jim Peska, Jr., Randy Snider.
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- Hawley
Again in Sprints,
- Doran Wins
First in
- Mercer
Modified Action
by Mike Leone
-
- June 19, 1999
-
- Mercer (PA)...Jimmy Hawley (Waste Management Sprint
Cars) and Tim Doran (MercerPros.com DIRT Modifieds) were the
big winners Saturday evening at Mercer Raceway Park. Other drivers
celebrating wins were Lou Gentile (Miller Lite/Amsoil Six-Cylinder
Modifieds), Jeremiah Shingledecker (Quaker Steak & Lube West-Penn
Limited Modifieds), and Gary Robinson (Butterfield’s Pub
Pure Stocks).
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- For the second straight week,
Jimmy Hawley came from the eighth starting position to win the
20-lap Waste Management Sprint Car Feature. Just one night after
destroying a car at Lernerville Speedway in a nasty flip, Hawley
came back to record his ninth overall win of the season beating
a 23-car field which featured cars from four states. "Luckily
we good enough tonight. We’ve got some things to straighten
out on those race cars. We just picked up a motor from Kriner’s
on Thursday and that’s what’s in there. It worked pretty
good, but there are a few more things we need to change to make
it better," said the West Middlesex, Pa. driver.
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- Joe McEwen jumped into the early
lead from the outside pole, while Tommy Burns, Jr. passed Mike
Kekich, Mike Marano II, and Terry Young to move into third on
the start. Burns continued his march to the front grabbing second
from Edwards on lap three, while Hawley entered the picture passing
Young for fourth. Edwards’ car slowed on lap four moving
Hawley up one more spot into third. Hawley ran down Burns and
made the pass for runner-up on lap eight.
-
- McEwen continued to pace the
field in search of his first career 410 Sprint win driving a
nice race through lap traffic, while Hawley closed as the laps
ticked off. On lap 14, McEwen came off turn two on the inside
and was slowed by central Ohio’s Tim Kern, allowing Hawley
to blast by on the outside and never looked back. "Joe (McEwen)
had a nice line to run and we were just waiting our time to get
a good run on him and luckily we got into traffic and everything
worked out pretty good for us. Lap cars can really slow you up
and they can also help you. It just depends where you’re
at," said the driver of the Dr. John Crawford Family Practice/Mihalcak
Motorsports sponsored #cIII owned by John and Debbie Crawford
from victory lane.
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-
- While Hawley set sail and checked
out, positions two and on back were being hotly contested. Troy
Preston, who started 16th, may have been the fastest car on the
track. Preston passed Burns for third on lap 17 and then slid
by McEwen for second on lap 19 using the inside of the track.
Preston was a straightaway behind Hawley in his best finish of
the year. Jamie Smith was third after passing McEwen for the
position on lap 19. McEwen and Burns fell to fourth and fifth.
Mike Kekich was sixth and kept his string top tens going as he
is the only driver with a perfect eight for eight. Scott Bonnell
came from 15th to finish seventh in only his third start of the
year. Arnie Kent was eighth with New York’s Mike Woodring
ninth, and Staple Nash 10th. Ronnie Myers made his first ever
visit in the Pete Smith #1 from West Virginia and finished 11th.
Gary Kriess, Jr., Burns, and Hawley won the heats.
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- Tim Doran won the thrilling
20-lap MercerPros.com DIRT Modified Feature sliding home sideways
to win the wild race. Better known as "Mr. Outside"
to Sharon Speedway fans. The defending back-to-back Sharon champion
almost turned Mercer into a half-mile using every inch of the
top side of the track to secure his first win at Mercer since
June 14, 1997. "I tried the inside early and I just couldn’t
get going. I just figured I’d stick it on the outside and
see what happens and I hit the fence at least once," said
Doran. The first 11 laps ran non-stop with Lonny Riggs, Carl
Murdick, and Doran running one, two, and three. Then three separate
incidents occurred on the 12th lap. The first was for Rick Hall,
who lost the rear end while running fourth. The second was for
a spin by Jim Reagle. And the third was for Carl Murdick, who
got tore up as he along with Riggs, Doran, Blaney, and Steve
Young were all going for the lead coming off turn four. Murdick
was done for the night, Riggs and Young both pitted and returned
giving the lead to Doran with Blaney second and Guy Griffin third.
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-
-
- When racing resumed, Blaney
used the inside to pull even with Doran and edged ahead to lead
his only lap on the 12th circuit. But the following lap, Doran
had enough run off the outside to regain the lead. As the laps
wound down, Doran slowly opened up his lead and appeared to be
headed for the win. Then on the final lap, Jerry Bickel slowed
going into turn three. Doran was using his typical outside lane
and had to quickly shoot to the inside. Bickel went low as well
and Doran hooked on his rear bumper coming off turn four. Bickel
pulled Doran down the frontstretch as Doran finally shook free
sliding across sideways and spinning out just past the flag stand
to edge Blaney by about a car-length to become the seventh different
winner in eight races. "We didn’t have enough gear
in it tonight. I was really hard getting off the corner. I got
caught on his (Bickel) bumper and I just couldn’t get away
from him. I thought I was going to lose it. We got lucky,"
said the happy New Castle, Pa. driver from victory lane in his
Richard Smith Construction/Book & Book Well Drilling #12.
Griffin was third for the third time in the past four weeks.
Jeff Hoffman was fourth as Riggs came back to get fifth. Sixth
through tenth were Randy Myers, Young, Reagle, Bickel, and Rodney
Beltz. Young and Doran were heat winners.
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- Youngstown, Ohio’s Lou
Gentile won his second 20-lap Miller Lite/Amsoil Six-Cylinder
Modified Feature and donated his winnings to M.A.D.D. Gentile
took the lead from Rick Kress on lap one from his fourth starting
spot. Kenny Hardy and Carl Weatherby joined Gentile at the front
passing Mark Welsh for second and third on lap two. On lap eight,
Gentile slipped high allowing Hardy to go under to lead laps
eight through 14. Then on the lap 15 restart, Gentile got by
and raced the Emig #1 to victory. Hardy was second for the fifth
time this year. Randy Ferguson was third after Weatherby broke
on the 17th lap. Frank Guidace and Gregg McCandless completed
the top five. Hardy and Weatherby were heat victors.
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- Jeremiah Shingledecker won his
first 20-lap Quaker Steak & Lube West-Penn Limited Modified
Feature of the year and second of his career. The Stoneboro,
Pa. driver passed Skinny Hall for second on lap two. Shingledecker
took over the lead on lap six taking the position from Ron Eperthener,
Jr. at the line. Shingledecker lost the lead on lap nine and
didn’t regain it back until lap 19 passing Skinny Hall for
the win in his #37MD. Skinny Hall was a season-best second over
son Rick. Rob Kristyak, who led the middle part of the race,
was fourth over Marty Kristyak. Heat victors were McKnight, Scott
Kay, and Shingledecker over the 27-car field.
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-
- Gary Robinson of Greenville,
Pa. won his third 15-lap Butterfield’s Pub Pure Stock Feature.
Robinson came from seventh to pass Bill Banick, Jr. for third
in lap four. Lynn Hostetler dropped to third when Robinson got
by on the fifth lap. Robinson’s winning move came on lap
six when he passed Albert Hays for the win in his Cresswell’s
Auto Align #44R. Robinson drove off to the checkers in the non-stop
race in 5:19.85. Hostetler passed Hays for second on lap seven.
Leigh Wheeler recorded his fourth straight top four finishing
third and dropped Hays to fourth on lap 14. Andy Buckley came
from 21st to finish fifth. Winning the heats were Tim Mailliard,
Robinson, and Bill Hanna. Brian Booher won the B main.
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-
-
-
- Waste Management Sprint
Car Feature Finish:
- 1. JIMMY
HAWLEY
- 2. Troy Preston 3. Jamie Smith
4. Joe McEwen 5. Tommy Burns, Jr. 6. Mike Kekich 7. Scott Bonnell
8. Arnie Kent 9. Mike Woodring 10. Staple Nash 11. Ronnie Myers
12.Jason Jacoby 13. Tim Kern 14. Gary Kriess, Jr. 15. Gary McCollum
16. Tom Quarterson 17. Mike Marano II 18. Dan Taylor 19. Terry
Young 20. Gary Edwards 21. Jim Chappel 22. Randy Johnson-DNS
23. Dave Wagner-DNS.
-
-
- MercerPros.com DIRT Modified Feature Finish:
- 1. TIM DORAN
- 2. Lou Blaney 3. Guy Griffin
4. Jeff Hoffman 5. Lonny Riggs 6. Randy Myers 7. Steve Young
8. Jim Reagle 9. Jerry Bickel 10. Rodney Beltz 11. Skip Deane
12. Bob Dorman 13. Carl Murdick 14. Rick Hall 15. Troy Schaffer
16. Bill Dorman 17. Mark Sevin-DNS.
-
-
- Miller Lite/AMSOIL
Six-Cylinder
Modified Feature Finish:
- 1. LOU GENTILE
- 2.Kenny Hardy 3. Randy Ferguson
4. Frank Guidace 5. Gregg McCandless 6. Jerry Schaffer 7. Jim
Bickel 8. Conny Allen 9. Mark McEwen 10. Harold Michaels 11.
Carl Weatherby 12. Mark Welsh 13. Joe Kane 14. Rick Kress 15.
Dana Gearhart-DNS 16. Dustin Kress-DNS.
-
-
- Quaker Steak
& Lube West-Penn Limited Modified Feature Finish:
- 1. JEREMIAH
SHINGLEDECKER
- 2. Skinny Hall 3. Rick Hall
4. Rob Kristyak 5. Marty Kristyak 6. Gary Bollinger 7. Shon Derr
8. Joe Walsh, Jr. 9. Scott Kay 10. Randy Rodemoyer 11. Mike Kelley
12. Steve Walsh 13. Fred Sasse 14. Don McKnight 15. Andy Paden
16. Ron Eperthener, Jr. 17. John Buchanan 18. Boyd Johnston,
Jr. 19. Zack Moran 20. Rick Ryder 21. Buck Buchanan 22. Jim Thompson
23. Mike Mathieson 24. Gary Smoker 25. Tom Mattocks 26. Bob Young-DNS
27. Jeff Miller-DNS.
-
-
- Butterfield’s
Pub Pure Stock Feature
Finish:
- 1. GARY ROBINSON
- 2. Lynn Hostetler 3. Leigh Wheeler
4. Albert Hays 5. Andy Buckley 6. Gary Reiber 7. Rick Anthony
8. Jim Brunson 9. Bill Hanna 10. Jim Riffenberrick 11. Buck Sevin
12. Tim Mailliard 13. Bill Banick, Jr. 14. Brian Miller 15. Pat
Hile 16. Tony Spaghetti 17. Willie Aley 18. Jeff Kravec 19. Charlie
Baptiste 20. Randy Snider 21. Mike Aley 22. Terry Kroner 23.
Brian Booher 24. Ray Bailey 25. Larry Boumans-DNS 26. Lisa Whitehouse-DNS
DNQ-Mike Harmon, Tim Zushlag, Dan Fedorchak, Brian Mathieson,
Todd Titus, George Davis, Pat McMenamin, Chuck Kerr, Dan Lewis,
Mark Covert.
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- Hawley
and Blaney
- Continue
Winning Ways in Mercer Sprints and DIRT Mods
by Mike Leone
-
- June 26, 1999
-
- Mercer (PA)...Jimmy Hawley (Waste Management Sprint
Cars) and Lou Blaney (MercerPros.com DIRT Modifieds) were the
big winners on "Mudslinger" Mid-Season Championship
Night Saturday evening at Mercer Raceway Park. Other winners
were Lou Gentile (Miller Lite/Amsoil Six-Cylinder Modifieds),
Rick Hall (Quaker Steak & Lube West-Penn Limited Modifieds),
and Gary Robinson (Butterfield’s Pub Pure Stocks).
-
- Jimmy Hawley completely destroyed
his fellow competitors in the 20-lap Waste Management Sprint
Car Feature lapping up to second place for his fifth win. The
West Middlesex, Pa. driver was on Troy Preston at the end, but
slowed up his torrid pace. "We didn’t want to push
it," said Hawley. "We’re only as good as the team
that’s behind me. You’ve got to give all the credit
to Matt Draskovic and Ed Mihalcak. Those guys are the one’s
that are making us fast. Doc and Debbie Crawford put together
a real good team," said Hawley after his third straight
Mercer win.
-
-
- Hawley checked out when the
green flag waved as he earned the pole for leading the points
on Mid-Season Championship Night. Fourth-place starter, Jamie
Smith, got around Arnie Kent, then passed Tommy Burns, Jr. coming
off turn four on the first lap for second. But on lap five, the
1996 and 1997 track champion slowed and pitted with mechanical
problems moving Burns and Kent back to second and third temporarily.
Troy Preston was on the move again after starting eighth. Preston
disposed of Kent for third on lap seven then caught Burns. On
lap 13, Preston drove under Burns to make the pass in turn three.
The following lap, Burns lost third to Kent.
-
- While drivers were battling
for positions, Hawley was in another zip code and crossed the
checkers just a couple car lengths behind Preston as the race
went non-stop in 5:09.68. "The track was great! You’ve
got to give credit to Vicki Emig (promoter). It was a fast track
and hopefully it will be like that the rest of the year, "
said Hawley, who was utilizing a Kriner Engine in a Choice Chassis
on Hoosier Tires. "We were on Hoosiers this week. It’s
the first time we’ve really had them figured out. We worked
with Stan Hover to do some testing," Hawley commented after
his 10th overall win of the season.
-
- Preston was second over Kent
and Burns. Mike Kekich was fifth for his ninth top ten in nine
races. Sixth through tenth were Gary Edwards, Joe McEwen, Terry
Young, Dave Penezich, Jr., and Mike Marano II. Kekich and Hawley
won the heats.
-
- Lou Blaney was the 20-lap MercerPros.com
DIRT Modified Feature winner for the third time in the past four
weeks. Blaney’s ninth overall win came much easier after
a flat tire by leader Guy Griffin. "It was a good race,
but it took it away from Griffin. He was going real good. It’s
a shame he had a flat tire. I don’t think I could have got
by him," said Blaney. Blaney started sixth in the 23-car
field and moved by Rick Hall for third on lap two. The Hartford,
Ohio veteran took Griffin for second going to the outside of
turn four on lap three. Following the restart for Troy Schaffer,
both Blaney and Griffin drove by leader Steve Young as did Bill
Dorman for third. After a spin by Bob Dorman with four laps completed,
Griffin pulled ahead of Blaney on the restart. Jeff Hoffman was
on the move after starting 12th. Hoffman raced by Dorman for
the third on the backstretch during lap 11, while Griffin and
Blaney pulled away. Blaney and Griffin were really going at it
until Griffin’s flat tire on lap 16. Blaney was then able
to lead the final five laps in the Colonial Metals/Carpenter’s
Towing/Troy-Alan Chevrolet #10.
-
-
- The win was worth an extra $100
to Blaney commemorating the 100th DIRT Modified Feature since
Mercer reopened in 1994. Hoffman was a season-best second a half-straightaway
behind Blaney. Young was third over Tommy Kristyak and Andy Priest,
who started 20th. Sixth through tenth were Lonny Riggs, Hall,
Jeff Schaffer, Jerry Bickel, and Bob Dorman. Heat winners were
Young, Riggs, and Blaney.
-
- Different last name, same scenario,
was the story in the 20-lap Miller Lite/Amsoil Six-Cylinder Modified
Feature. Like Lou Blaney, Lou Gentile won his third race and
was the benefactor of a flat tire. Carl Weatherby, Gentile, and
Kenny Hardy distanced themselves from the field during green
flag racing. But on lap 12, Weatherby suffered a flat tire giving
the lead to Gentile. Gentile of Youngstown, Ohio was able to
hold off Hardy for his second-straight win in the Emig #1. Hardy’s
second-place finish was the sixth time the leading feature winner
since ‘94 has been runner-up this year. Randy Ferguson’s
third-place run moved him into the point lead and kept his string
of nine for nine top tens alive. Harold Michaels and Jim Bickel
were fourth and fifth. Heat victors were Ferguson and Hardy.
-
-
- Rick Hall won a wild 20-lap
Quaker Steak & Lube West-Penn Limited Modified Feature. Hall
started third and passed Don McKnight for second on lap three.
Scott Kay had led the first four laps, but lost the lead to Hall
following the lap five restart. Tom Mattocks came from 10th to
steal second from Kay on lap six. Hall and Mattocks battled the
remainder of the race with Mattocks getting by Hall on the backstretch
of lap nine. Hall stuck right on Mattocks and made the winning
move on lap 19 coming off turn four on the outside. The Grove
City, Pa. driver held on for his second win in the Hall Safety
Equipment #2. Mattocks was a season-best second over John Buchanan,
Gary Bollinger, and Jeremiah Shingledecker. Buchanan, Mattocks,
and Shon Derr won the heats.
-
-
- Gary Robinson continues to be
the man to beat in the Pure Stocks. The Greenville, Pa driver
got by Bill Hanna on the start and led all 15 laps of the Butterfield’s
Pub Feature for his fourth win in his Cresswell’s Auto Align/Speir
Homes #44R. Bill Hanna and Leigh Wheeler stayed a close second
and third for the duration. Albert Hays, who started 11th, was
fourth for the second-straight week and Dan Lewis came from 19th
to get fifth. Taking the heats were Brian Booher, Hanna, and
Andy Buckley. Lewis won the B main.
-
-
-
- Waste Management Sprint
Car Feature Finish:
- 1. JIMMY
HAWLEY
- 2. Troy Preston 3. Arnie Kent
4. Tommy Burns, Jr. 5. Mike Kekich 6. Gary Edwards 7. Joe McEwen
8. Terry Young 9. Dave Penezich, Jr. 10. Mike Marano II 11. Rick
Anderson 12. Staple Nash 13. Troy Cochran 14. Jason Jacoby 15.
Tom Quarterson 16. Dave Wagner 17. Jamie Smith..
-
-
- MercerPros.com DIRT Modified Feature Finish:
- 1. LOU BLANEY
- 2. Jeff Hoffman 3. Steve Young
4. Tommy Kristyak 5. Andy Priest 6. Lonny Riggs 7. Rick Hall
8. Jeff Schaffer 9. Jerry Bickel 10. Bob Dorman 11. Mark Sevin
12. Skip Moore 13. Randy Myers 14. Tom Armstrong 15. Guy Griffin
16. Bill Dorman 17. Rich Ferguson 18. Scott Rodgers 19. Troy
Schaffer 20. Jim Reagle 21. Carl Murdick-DNS 22. Greg Davis-DNS
23. Ron Eperthener, Jr.-DNS.
-
-
- Miller Lite/AMSOIL
Six-Cylinder
Modified Feature Finish:
- 1. LOU GENTILE
- 2. Kenny Hardy 3. Randy Ferguson
4. Harold Michaels 5. Jim Bickel 6. Frank Guidace 7. Jerry Schaffer
8. Conny Allen 9. Bill Adams 10. Gregg McCandless 11. Mark McEwen
12. Carl Weatherby 13. Rick Kress.
-
-
- Quaker Steak
& Lube West-Penn Limited Modified Feature Finish:
- 1. RICK HALL
- 2. Tom Mattocks 3. John Buchanan
4. Gary Bollinger 5. Jeremiah Shingledecker 6. Don McKnight 7.
Rick Ryder 8. Ron Eperthener, Jr. 9. Randy Rodemoyer 10. Rob
Kristyak 11. Scott Kay 12. Jim Thompson 13. Skinny Hall 14. Fred
Sasse 15. Jeff Miller 16. Boyd Johnston, Jr. 17. Andy Paden 18.
Shon Derr 19. Marty Kristyak 20. Mike Kelley 21. Steve Walsh
22. Joe Walsh, Jr. 23. Buck Buchanan 24. Bob Young-DNS.
-
-
- Butterfield’s
Pub Pure Stock Feature
Finish:
- 1. GARY ROBINSON
- 2. Bill Hanna 3. Leigh Wheeler
4. Albert Hays 5. Dan Lewis 6. Tim Mailliard 7. Todd Titus 8.
Jeff Kravec 9. George Davis 10. Willie Aley 11. Steve Reed 12.
Mike Aley 13. Dan Fedorchak 14. Tim Zushlag 15. Ray Bailey 16.
Pat Hile 17. Chuck Kerr 18. Brian Booher 19. Brian Miller 20.
Andy Buckley 21. John Reiser 22. Rick Anthony 23. Tony Bruno
24. Jim Brunson DNQ-Bill Banick, Jr., Charlie Baptiste, Byron
Brannon, Sr., Randy Snider, Buck Sevin, Terry Kroner.
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