Past Press Releases & Results for May, 2001
- May 28, 2001
ATPA GRAND AMERICAN SPRING NATIONALS results
- May 26, 2001
Quarterson wins Triathlon Sprint Series Opener; Crawford wins first at
Mercer in Modifieds
- May 19, 2001
Swartzlander takes 2 of 3; Pearson wins other in Mercer Modified Triple 25s
- May 12, 2001
Kent wins first in Sprints; Riggs claims first ever Mercer Modified win
- May 5, 2001
- Hawley and Blaney score popular first Mercer wins
- Hawley and Blaney score popular first Mercer wins
By Mike Leone
May 5, 2001
Mercer (PA)...The third night of the 2001 campaign was completed on Saturday
night at Mercer Raceway Park. The following drivers celebrated in the Moore'
s Auto Body victory lane: Jimmy Hawley-Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint
Cars, Lou Blaney-Bolland Machine Big-Block Modifieds, Andy Priest-New Castle
School of Trades Sportsman Modifieds, and Bill Hanna-Butterfield's Pub Stock
Cars.
Jimmy Hawley made it two-for-two on the weekend by capturing his first
20-lap Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Car Feature win of the season. "We'
re getting closer," stated the West Middlesex, Pa. driver. "We switched over
to Hoosier tires this weekend and they seem to really be working great. They
won last night and here tonight. Maybe this was our problem."
Sixteen-year-old Brian Woodhall jumped into the lead from the pole position
over Troy Preston and Rob Eyler. Eyler spun on lap two, which moved sixth
starter, Mike Kekich, into third. Woodhall continued to hold down the lead
running a smooth race until Preston put a slide job on the youngster in turn
two on the fifth circuit. Woodhall's fine run came to an end when he looped
his mount one lap later in turn four.
Just prior to the caution, Hawley, who started seventh, passed Kekich for
third. Woodhall's spin moved Hawley to runner-up for the restart. Hawley's
winning move came on lap eight, when he drove under his fellow West
Middlesex resident off turn four.
Twelfth starter, Ed Lynch, Jr., cracked the top five just prior to the
half-way point, then disposed of Andy Priest for fourth on lap 10. The final
caution was displayed when Kevin Andrusky stopped with 14 laps completed.
The last six laps went green to checker with Hawley going on for his 22nd
career Mercer win in the Dr. John and Deb Crawford-owned, Mihalchak
Motorsports #cIII. "I want to thank everyone for sticking with me,"
commented Hawley after his slow start to this season. "Hopefully we can keep
getting faster from here."
Lynch drove to the outside of Kekich for third on lap 17, then dove under
Preston in turn three on lap 19 to finish second. Preston was third for the
second straight week. Kekich and Priest were fourth and fifth. Completing
the top 10 were Tom Quarterson, Gary Kriess, Jr., Todd Bauer, Arnie Kent,
and Tommy Burns, Jr. Heat winners over the 25-car field were Lynch,
Woodhall, and Kriess.
Lou Blaney "survived" the 20-lap caution and accident-filed 20-lap Bolland
Machine Big-Block Modified feature for his first Mercer win of 2001. "We
needed some luck to miss those accidents," said the Hartford, Ohio winner.
"That's probably why I'm here."
Rob Curtis looked strong early on looking for his first career win as he led
the first six laps. However, following a restart for Tim Doran's spin,
Curtis got sideways on the restart and an eight-car pile-up ensued
collecting many of the top runners.
When racing resumed, the lead was handed to Bob Dorman with Joe Crawford now
second over Blaney. On lap nine, Blaney moved up to second passing Crawford
in turn four. Three more cautions occurred between laps nine and ten.
Following these restarts, Crawford overtook Blaney for second on lap 11. A
great three-car race developed between Dorman, Crawford, and Blaney.
Crawford momentarily took the lead on lap 12, but slipped too high allowing
Blaney to pass both Crawford and Dorman for the top spot.
Crawford and Dorman made contact on lap 14 with Crawford getting by for
second. After pitting early and restarting last, Tommy Kristyak was on the
move. Kristyak quickly entered the battle on lap 16 passing Gary Risch, Jr.
and Dorman for third. A six-car accident with 16 laps completed brought out
the seventh and final caution.
Blaney was able to hold on for the last four laps for his 32nd win since the
track reopened in 1994 in his Colonial Metal Products/Carpenter's
Towing-sponsored #10. "The car was pretty good," said Blaney from victory
lane. "Early on there was so much traffic, but once we got out going it was
good."
Kristyak, who may have had the fastest car, got around Crawford on the final
restart for second. Crawford had a solid third over Carl Murdick and Risch,
who started 16th. Rounding out the top 10 were Dean Pearson, Don McKnight,
Rodney Beltz, Rob Kristyak, and Modified rookie Chad Reitz. Heat victors
over the 26-car field were Frank Guidace, Carl Weatherby, and Crawford.
Andy Priest made it two in a row by capturing the 20-lap New Castle School
of Trades Sportsman Modified main. This time, the New Castle, Pa. driver had
to work for the win. Bill Adams took charge on lap two when he passed Chanda
Reitz. Priest came from the 11th starting spot and grabbed runner-up from
Reitz on lap 12. Priest hounded and challenged Adams and finally got by in
turn one on the final lap. Priest rode home first in the Ted Hull-owned, MPR
Lumber/Griffin-Bossard Chevrolet-sponsored #41 for his 21st career Mercer
Sportsman Modified win. Adams was a career best second. John Buchanan got by
Curt Matthews on lap 19 to finish third. Matthews was a career best fourth
over Gary Bollinger. Taking heat wins over the 27-car field were Tom
Mattocks, Randy Rodemoyer, and Steve Young.
Bill Hanna of Jamestown, Pa. returned to the Butterfield's Pub Stock Car
division in 2001 and picked up the win in just his second night out. The
best race of the night featured a four-car race for the win and had only one
caution over the 15-lap duration. Mike Aley came from third to the lead on
the opening lap, while Brian Miller charged from seventh to second by lap
two. Hanna raced by Dave Ferringer and Miller for second on lap nine from
his 11th starting spot.
While, Aley continued to lead in search of his career first victory, the
next three were switching spots lap after lap. On lap 14, Hanna and Aley
made contact with Hanna taking the lead. Hanna went on for his 14th career
Mercer win in his Gordon's Auto Sales/Chevron East-sponsored #*21. By the
time Aley got straightened up on the final lap he dropped all the way back
to sixth as Ferringer, Miller, Gary Robinson, and brother Willie Aley all
got by for spots second through fifth. Winning heats over the 38-car field
were Rusty Moore, Robinson, Miller, and Gary Miller, Jr. The two B mains
fell to Bobby Whitling and Andy Buckley.
Terry Wheeler won the 15-lap Pittsburgh Circle Track Club Zoresco Equipment
Senior Series feature. The Stoneboro, Pa. driver started eighth and took the
lead from Ed Bashaar on lap two. Once in front, Wheeler was never challenged
as the event went non-stop in 5:13.78. Bill Wheeling, who started seventh,
passed Pat Wilcox for runner-up on lap 13. Wilcox and Bashaar dropped to
third and fourth ahead of Don Gamble. Wheeler also won the heat over the
12-car field.
Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars: 1. JIMMY HAWLEY 2. Ed Lynch, Jr. 3.
Troy Preston 4. Mike Kekich 5. Andy Priest 6. Tom Quarterson 7. Gary Kriess,
Jr. 8. Todd Bauer 9. Arnie Kent 10. Tommy Burns, Jr. 11. Jason Jacoby 12.
Gregg McCandless 13. Gary McCollum 14. Brian Woodhall 15. Kevin Andrusky 16.
John Toth III 17. Buddy Cochran 18. Mike Kaminski 19. Dave Wagner 20. Scott
Bonnell 21. Nathan Hines 22. Rob Eyler 23. Doug Kekich-DNS 24. Brian
Staph-DNS 25. Mike Shearer-DNS.
Bolland Machine Big-Block Modifieds: 1. LOU BLANEY 2. Tommy Kristyak 3. Joe
Crawford 4. Carl Murdick 5. Gary Risch, Jr. 6. Dean Pearson 7. Don McKnight
8. Rodney Beltz 9. Rob Kristyak 10. Chad Reitz 11. Rick Kress 12. George
Davis 13. Bob Dorman 14. Lou Gentile 15. Phil Evans 16. Rick Hall 17. Mark
Sevin 18. Tim Doran 19. Rob Curtis 20. Kevin Bolland 21. Carl Weatherby 22.
Frank Guidace 23. Les Myers 24. Steve Young-DSQ 25. J.R. McGinley-DNS 26.
John Boyer, Jr.-DNS.
New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modifieds: 1. ANDY PRIEST 2. Bill
Adams 3. John Buchanan 4. Curt Matthews 5. Gary Bollinger 6. Chanda Reitz 7.
Rick Hall 8. Allen Ferry 9. Tom Mattocks 10. Al Priester 11. D.J. Schrader
12. Steve Young 13. Zack Moran 14. Fred Sasse 15. Dave Coggswell 16. Bill
Baptiste 17. Andy Paden 18. Brad Watson 19. John Jones 20. Mark Angerett,
Jr. 21. Tommy Marshall III 22. Morgan Sasse 23. Jerry Schaffer 24. Randy
Rodemoyer 25. Leroy Johnson-DNS 26. Mike Mathieson-DNS 27. Gary Smoker-DNS.
Butterfield's Pub Stock Cars: 1. BILL HANNA 2. Dave Ferringer 3. Brian
Miller 4. Gray Robinson 5. Willie Aley 6. Mike Aley 7. Greg Beach 8. Rusty
Moore 9. Rick Norco 10. Shaun Hooks 11. Andy Thompson 12. Bobby Whitling 13.
Kevin Thompson 14. Bob Sloss 15. Rick Anthony 16. Gary Norman 17. Bob Hays
18. Dan Fedorchak 19. Andy Buckley 20. Ron Iorio 21. Ed Hays 22. Tim
Zuschlag 23. Russ Kapalin 24. Gary Miller, Jr. DNQ-Ray Bailey, Jr., Matt
Rubright, William George, Sr., Don Greenlee, Earl Snyder, Erick Cwynar, Ray
Gregory, Paul Upshire, Lonnie O'Brien, Adam Aley, Mark Covert, Jeff Kravec,
Ed Lombardo, Mark Felicetty.
P.C.T.C. Senior Series: 1. TERRY WHEELER 2. Bill Wheeling 3. Pat Wilcox 4.
Ed Bashaar 5. Don Gamble 6. John Shetler 7. Sid Haas 8. Don Bauer 9. Dave
Nicholas 10. Don Luffy 11. John Cokor-DSQ 12. Bud Holben-DNS.
Return to Results Page
Return to Top of Page for May
- Kent wins first in Sprints; Riggs claims first ever Mercer Modified win
By Mike Leone
May 12, 2001
Mercer (PA)...The fourth night of the 2001 season at Mercer Raceway Park was
completed on Saturday night. Celebrating with their first wins of the season
in the Moore's Auto Body victory lane were Arnie Kent-Luxaire Heating &
Cooling Sprint Cars, Lonny Riggs-Bolland Machine Big-Block Modifieds, Steve
Young-New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modifieds, and Ron
Iorio-Butterfield's Pub Stock Cars. It was Brad Doty Night at the track.
Doty signed autographs for over two and half hours, then gave color
commentary throughout the evening. His Coors Light "Silver Bullet" #18
Sprint Car was also on display.
It was only fitting that Arnie Kent won on Brad Doty Night. Kent carried his
hero Doty's car #18 to victory lane for his first win of the season in the
20-lap Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Car feature. "Brad (Doty) brought me
some good luck tonight," said the New Castle, Pa. driver, who became the
fourth different winner in four races this season.
Rob Eyler jumped into the lead from the outside of the front row passing
Brian Woodhall on the start. Kent passed Mike Shearer and Woodhall for
second later the lap. Jimmy Hawley, who started 10th, got by both Troy
Preston and Woodhall for third on lap three.
Eyler caught lapped traffic on lap six as action really heated up. Kent
closed on Eyler on lap seven and made the winning move in traffic coming off
turn four. Kent raced hard through lapped traffic, while Eyler and Hawley
stayed within striking distance. On lap 13, Hawley got under Eyler in turn
two in traffic for second and began to set his sights on Kent.
Kent and Hawley put on quite a race the last four laps that kept everyone on
the edge of their seats as they raced through traffic. Kent continued to run
the outside, while Hawley tried to use the inside to his advantage. On the
final lap, Hawley got under Kent in turn three and the two were side-by-side
racing off turn four, but Kent had enough momentum off the top side to hold
on for his third career Mercer win. The race went non-stop in five minutes
and six seconds.
"I looked up and saw that 3 (Hawley) on the scoreboard in second and ran in
a little harder than I needed, but it worked out," said Kent, who is
sponsored by Dr. Martello Dentistry and McElwain Chevy-Olds.
Ninth starter, Tom Quarterson, made a late charge passing Preston for fourth
on lap 16 then got by Eyler on lap 19 to finish third. Eyler dropped to
fourth over Gary Kriess, Jr. Sixth through tenth were Andy Priest, Preston,
Mike Kekich, Woodhall, and Gary McCollum. Winning the heats over the 20-car
field were Hawley, Eyler, and Kekich.
Lonny Riggs was the beneficiary of Joe Crawford's misfortune to capture his
first career Mercer Big-Block Modified win in the 20-lap Bolland
Machine-sponsored event. "I hated to see Joe (Crawford) get into the wall,"
said the Volant, Pa. driver. "That's a tough break for him, but we're glad
to be here."
Bob Dorman took the early lead from the pole position, while Crawford moved
into runner-up past Rick Hall on the opening lap. Riggs, who started sixth,
worked his way to third by lap four passing Frank Guidace just before the
caution was displayed for Gary Risch, Jr. On the restart, Crawford took the
lead away from Dorman and immediately began to pull away.
Riggs got around Dorman for second on lap seven. The laps ticked off without
any cautions or any changes up front until lap 15 when Dean Pearson and Lou
Blaney both got by Dorman for third and fourth. Pearson went to the inside
and Blaney to the outside of Dorman for the three-wide pass in turn four.
Crawford had a straightaway lead on Riggs and a near 1/2-lap lead on Blaney
and Pearson in third and fourth. The Polk, Pa. driver appeared like he was
going to put all his Mercer bad luck to bed and capture his first Mercer
win. Crawford worked heavy lapped traffic on lap 17 and 18. Coming off turn
four, Crawford and Murdick got together slightly. Crawford tried to clear
Murdick on the outside, but instead hit the turn one wall ending his night.
This gave the lead to Riggs, who led the final two laps for the win in the
Merle Black-owned, Winners Circle Automotive Machine/Suhrie Industrial
Supply Tool Rental-sponsored #58. "That was good," said Riggs in victory
lane. "It felt good to win one here at Mercer- it's been awhile." Riggs'
last Mercer win came on May 30, 1998 in a Sportsman Modified.
Blaney held off Pearson for second. Dorman's fourth place was his best ever
finish. Tim Doran raced from sixteenth to finish fifth. Completing the top
10 were Rodney Beltz, Rob Curtis, Chetter Johnson, Guidace, and Jeff
Schaffer. Heat winners over the 30-car field were Riggs, Johnson, and
Schaffer. Don McKnight won the B main.
Steve Young picked up his first 20-lap New Castle School of Trades Sportsman
Modified win. Young started the event from seventh and raced to the front
taking second off Leroy Johnson, Jr. on lap four. Jerry Schaffer led the
first eight laps. But following the restart for Buck Buchanan's spin, Young
took over the lead from Schaffer. Young of Grove City, Pa. went on for his
ninth career Mercer Sportsman Modified win in the J.R. Greer-owned,
Montgomery Truss & Panel-sponsored #11t. Gary Smoker had a strong run coming
from twelfth to finish second after passing Schaffer for the spot on lap 10.
Allen Ferry came back to finish third after pitting early and restarting on
the tail. Bill Adams and Andy Paden were fourth and fifth. Heat victors over
the 26-car field were Adams, Young, and John Buchanan.
Ron Iorio edged Dave Ferringer to win his first ever Mercer Stock Car win in
the 15-lap Butterfield's Pub-sponsored event. Gary Miller, Jr. took the lead
from Jeff Kravec on lap three, but broke on the lap five restart giving the
lead to Ferringer. On lap six, Iorio passed both Kevin Thompson and
Ferringer for the lead. At the halfway mark it was a three-car race with
Iorio, Ferringer, and Andy Buckley battling for the lead. With three laps to
go, Gary Robinson, Willie Aley, and Lynn Hostetler joined the battle making
it a six-car race for the win. In turn two on the final lap, Ferringer
slipped under Iorio for the lead; however, Iorio returned the favor in turn
four and edged Ferringer by a wheel-length in his Gabany's-sponsored #55.
Third through fifth were Buckley, Robinson, and Aley. Scoring heat wins over
the 37-car field were Miller, Bobby Whitling, Aley, and Buckley. Winning the
two B mains were Mike Aley and Rick Norco.
Notes...Despite the cold and windy conditions with temps dropping into the
40s, $1,431.21 was collected for Sprint Car driver Kevin Andrusky, who broke
three vertebrae in an accident at Tri-City Speedway last Sunday. Stock Car
driver Ed Lombardo was rushed to United Community Hospital in Grove City,
Pa. following an accident in the first B main. Lombardo of New Castle, Pa.
was then life-flighted to Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh were he
remained in fair condition. He is expected to be released from the hospital
in two to three days. Jarod Larson and Tommy Burns, Jr. tangled in the first
sprint car heat with Burns getting upside down. Both drivers were okay, but
done for the night.
Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars: 1. ARNIE KENT 2. Jimmy Hawley 3. Tom
Quarterson 4. Rob Eyler 5. Gary Kriess, Jr. 6. Andy Priest 7. Troy Preston
8. Mike Kekich 9. Brian Woodhall 10. Gary McCollum 11. Jason Jacoby 12. Mike
Kaminski 13. Dave Wagner 14. Nathan Hines 15. Gregg McCandless 16. John Toth
III 17. Butch Beasley 18. Mike Shearer 19. Tommy Burns, Jr.-DNS 20. Jarod
Larson-DNS.
Bolland Machine Big-Block Modifieds: 1. LONNY RIGGS 2. Lou Blaney 3. Dean
Pearson 4. Bob Dorman 5. Tim Doran 6. Rodney Beltz 7. Rob Curtis 8. Chetter
Johnson 9. Frank Guidace 10. Jeff Schaffer 11. Don McKnight 12. Rob Kristyak
13. Rick Hall 14. Mike Sutton 15. Carl Murdick 16. Lou Gentile 17. J.R.
McGinley 18. Adam Siegel 19. Joe Crawford 20. Scott Gurdak 21. Tommy
Kristyak 22. Nick Ritchey 23. Gary Risch, Jr. 24. George Davis DNQ-Carl
Weatherby, Lee Miller, Mark Sevin, Kevin Bolland, Terry Young, John Boyer,
Jr.
New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modifieds: 1. STEVE YOUNG 2. Gary
Smoker 3. Allen Ferry 4. Bill Adams 5. Andy Paden 6. Chanda Reitz 7. Rick
Hall 8. Fred Sasse 9. Jerry Schaffer 10. Gary Bollinger 11. D.J. Schrader
12. Leroy Johnson, Jr. 13. Rick Ryder 14. Buck Buchanan 15. Dave Coggswell
16. Bill Baptiste 17. Brad Watson 18. John Jones 19. Morgan Sasse 20. Randy
Rodemoyer 21. John Buchanan 22. Al Priester 23. Greg Unrue 24. Andy Priest
25. Mike Mathieson 26. Curt Matthews.
Butterfield's Pub Stock Cars: 1. RON IORIO 2. Dave Ferringer 3. Andy Buckley
4. Gary Robinson 5. Willie Aley 6. Jeff Kravec 7. Lynn Hostetler 8. Russ
Kapalin 9. Bobby Whitling 10. Rick Anthony 11. Shaun Hooks 12. Rick Norco
13. Jim Brunson 14. Gary Norman 15. Greg Beach 16. Andy Thompson 17. Ed Hays
18. Mark Felicetty 19. Dwight Boice 20. Kevin Thompson 21. Gary Miller, Jr.
22. Brian Miller 23. Mike Aley 24. Bill Hanna DNQ-Ray Bailey, Jr., Bob Hays,
Adam Reseigh, Bill Kirschner, Todd Titus, Adam Aley, Erick Cwynar, Robert
Caszatt, Jr., Ed Lombardo, Matt Rubright, Lonnie O'Brien, Rusty Moore, Dan
Fedorchak.
Return to Results Page
Return to Top of Page for May Swartzlander takes 2 of 3; Pearson wins other in Mercer Modified Triple 25s
By Mike Leone
May 19, 2001
Mercer (PA)...The annual Bill Emig Memorial Night was held Saturday night at
Mercer Raceway Park sponsored by Hovis Auto & Truck Supply, Inc. Four new
winners celebrated in the Auto Body Products victory lane including Brian
Swartzlander twice and Dean Pearson-Bolland Machine Big-Block Modifieds,
John Buchanan-New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modifieds, and Bobby
Whitling-Butterfield's Pub Stock Cars. Justin Pakulniewicz won the second of
six "Gladiator Series" Demolition Derbies.
It's amazing what a little confidence can do. Western Pa. Big-Block Modified
star, Brian Swartzlander, came into the night shutout of victory lane in his
career at Mercer Raceway Park. At the end of night, Swartzlander passed 36
cars throughout the three features in route to two wins and a second place
worth $3,750- easily good enough to be crowned the "Legacy" Series Champion.
The first 25-lap feature saw the Leechburg, Pa. driver come from eighth to
capture his first career Mercer win. "I'm glad to break the ice here," said
a happy Swartzlander. "We've led a lot of big races here and something's
always happened. This is an exciting win for me. I'm really happy."
Gary Risch, Jr. took the early lead from Andy Priest on lap two, while
Bolland followed in second. Swartzlander powered into third on lap five
passing Priest. By lap seven, it was a three-car race between Risch,
Bolland, and Swartzlander. Swartzlander worked by Bolland for second on lap
11 and set his sights on his good friend Risch. On lap 12, Swartzlander went
to the outside and made the winning move.
Once in front, Swartzlander went on for the $1,500 win in his McCutcheon
Enterprises/Precise Tool & Die/Tap-So-Clean-sponsored #83. Lou Blaney, who
won the first B main, worked his way up from 17th to finish second. Blaney
passed Bolland on lap 17 for third, then got Risch for the runner-up spot on
lap 22. Jeff Schaffer passed Bolland and Risch on lap 23 to finish third.
Bolland dropped to fourth over Tommy Kristyak. Completing the top 10 were
Risch, Frank Guidace, Bill Dorman, J.R. McGinley, and Rick Hall.
The second 25 lapper saw Dean Pearson of Harrisville, Pa. lead all of the
way holding off Swartzlander's late challenge for the $1,500 win. A total
invert of the first feature saw Pearson inherit the pole position when Lonny
Riggs scratched. Les Myers, who started eighth, took second from Tim Doran
on lap three. Swartzlander began his trek from 21st and moved into the top
five on lap 13. Using the inside lane, Swartzlander passed Rob Curtis for
fourth on lap 14. Myers pressured Pearson, until he dropped from event on
lap 19 moving Doran back to second and Swartzlander up to third.
A spin for rookie Nick Ritchey brought out the final caution and set up a
five-lap shootout. Swartzlander raced hard with Doran for second before
finally getting the spot on lap 23. Swartzlander closed on Pearson, but run
out of laps as Pearson went on for his third career Mercer win in his Apex
Hydraulics/Courson Racing Engines-sponsored #8J. "I've got to thank the good
Lord for this," said Pearson following his win. "I protected the inside, if
they wanted it, they were going to have to go to the outside."
Doran settled for his best finish of the year in third as did Frank Guidace,
who started 15th, in fourth and the same for alternate Scott Gurdak, who
raced from 22nd to complete the top five. Sixth through tenth were Bolland,
Blaney, Lou Gentile, Schaffer, and Rodney Beltz.
Swartzlander returned to victory lane in the third feature to capture
another $1,500. "This feels great," exclaimed Swartzlander. "We needed this-
it's our first two wins of the season. It's an honor to win this race and
get two here at Mercer on the Bill Emig Memorial Night."
The third feature was an invert 12 on points accumulated throughout the
night. Swartzlander would start 11th after Kristyak scratched from the
event. Beltz and McGinley quickly broke from the field in first and second.
Risch lost third to Tim Doran on lap seven. Swartzlander worked his way back
to the front taking fourth from Schaffer on lap nine. Doran, Guidace, and
Schaffer tangled on lap 14, which moved Swartzlander to third for the
restart.
When racing resumed, Swartzlander passed McGinley for second. Swartzlander
then ran down Beltz and the two put on an excellent side-by-side battle from
laps 20-22. It was lap 22 when Swartzlander got to the inside of Beltz in
turn three for the winning move. Swartzlander led the last four laps to
collect his second win of the night and the "Legacy" Series Championship.
Swartzlander concluded, "The car was great and the crew did a great job. We
ran USNA last year, so the 75 laps weren't really a problem."
Beltz's second was his best Mercer finish of the year. McGinley's third was
a career best over Blaney and Bolland. Rounding out the top 10 were Pearson,
Rick Hall, Chetter Johnson, Schaffer, and Rob Curtis.
The Bill Emig Memorial Night continues to draw the region's highest car
count as 44 cars checked in. Winning the heat events were Bolland, Guidace,
Riggs, and Priest. Blaney and Myers won the two B mains.
John Buchanan ran a strong race to capture his first win of the year in
25-lap New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modified Feature. The Mercer,
Pa. driver started in eighth and raced all the way up to second on the
opening lap. Buchanan followed defending champion, Rick Hall, for three laps
before making the winning move in turn four on lap four. Buchanan held off
point leader, Steve Young, who started 11th, for his fifth career win worth
$500 in his Mercer Bowl/Moore's Auto Body-sponsored #93. Bill Adams crossed
the line third, but was found illegal moving Tom Mattocks, Chanda Reitz, and
Curt Matthews into positions three through five. Heat winners over the
season high 31-car field were Gary Smoker, Young, and Reitz. Allen Ferry won
the B main.
Like Swartzlander, Bobby Whitling ended a long shutout streak by capturing
his first career Mercer win in the 20-lap Butterfield's Pub Stock Car
Feature. Mike Aley, Rick Norco, and Whitling battled for the top three spots
early on. Whitling passed both Norco and Aley on lap four with the winning
move coming off the inside of turn four. Dave Ferringer entered the picture
passing Norco and Aley for second on lap nine. Ferringer challenged Whitling
for the top spot the last 10 laps, but the Seneca, Pa. driver was able to
hold on for the $500 win in his Tom Karns Specialty Construction-sponsored
#7w. Ferringer finished second for the third consecutive week. Norco's third
was a career best at Mercer. Aley dropped to fourth over Gary Robinson.
Topping a season high 41-car field in the heats were Ferringer, Lynn
Hostetler, Brian Miller, and Whitling. Shaun Hooks and Greg Beach won the
two B mains.
Notes...Swartzlander received an engraved commemorative Mercer Raceway Park
watch and a three-foot sub compliments of June's Sub for his "Legacy"
Championship by earning 101 points out of a possible 105. All three of
Pearson's Mercer wins have come on specials. Last year, Pearson swept both
$1,200 to-win specials. Blaney passed 33 cars throughout the three features
to finish second in points. Lou Gentile turned in his first top 10 of the
season in his Emig #1 with his six-cylinder against the big blocks finishing
eighth in the second feature. Gentile tied for ninth in overall points for
the night. A great field of 116 race cars filled the pit area. Well over
$21,000 was paid out to the Big-Block Modified division in their richest
non-sanctioned event in the history of the region. The night was received
well by both the drivers and the big crowd that turned out. June's Sub also
presented three-foot subs to both Buchanan and Whitling.
Bolland Machine Big-Block Modifieds Feature #1: 1. BRIAN SWARTZLANDER
($1,500) 2. Lou Blaney 3. Jeff Schaffer 4. Kevin Bolland 5. Tommy Kristyak
6. Gary Risch, Jr. 7. Frank Guidace 8. Bill Dorman 9. J.R. McGinley 10. Rick
Hall 11. Adam Siegel 12. Nick Ritchey 13. Rodney Beltz 14. Les Myers 15.
Jeremiah Shingledecker 16. Lou Gentile 17. Steve Young 18. Andy Priest 19.
Rob Curtis 20. Mike Sutton 21. Tim Doran 22. Joe Crawford 23. Dean Pearson
24. Lonny Riggs.
Bolland Machine Big-Block Modifieds Feature #2: 1. DEAN PEARSON ($1,500) 2.
Brian Swartzlander 3. Tim Doran 4. Frank Guidace 5. Scott Gurdak 6. Kevin
Bolland 7. Lou Blaney 8. Lou Gentile 9. Jeff Schaffer 10. Rodney Beltz 11.
Dave Harbaugh 12. Adam Siegel 13. J.R. McGinley 14. Rick Hall 15. Gary
Risch, Jr. 16. Mike Sutton 17. Pete Simpson 18. Nick Ritchey 19. Tommy
Kristyak 20. Les Myers 21. Jeremiah Shingledecker 22. Andy Priest 23. Bill
Dorman 24. Joe Crawford 25. Lonny Riggs-DNS 26. Rob Curtis-DNS 27. Steve
Young-DNS.
Bolland Machine Big-Block Modifieds Feature #3: 1. BRIAN SWARTZLANDER
($1,500) 2. Rodney Beltz 3. J.R. McGinley 4. Lou Blaney 5. Kevin Bolland 6.
Dean Pearson 7. Rick Hall 8. Chetter Johnson 9. Jeff Schaffer 10. Rob Curtis
11. Lou Gentile 12. Pete Simpson 13. Gary Risch, Jr. 14. Adam Siegel 15.
Mike Sutton 16. Frank Guidace 17. Andy Priest 18. Nick Ritchey 19. Tim Doran
20. Joe Crawford 21. Scott Gurdak 22. Dave Harbaugh 23. Jeremiah
Shingledecker 24. Bill Dorman 25. Tommy Kristyak-DNS 26. Les Myers-DNS 27.
Steve Young-DNS 28. Lonny Riggs-DNS
Did not qualify: Jim Weller, Mark Sevin, Randy Ferguson, Chris Schiffer,
Rich Ferguson, Phil Evans, Jr., Carl Weatherby, Ron Took, George Davis,
Randy Snider, John Boyer, Jr., Rick Kress, Carl Murdick, Lee Miller, Don
McKnight, Ed Alcorn.
New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modifieds: 1. JOHN BUCHANAN ($500) 2.
Steve Young 3. Tom Mattocks 4. Chanda Reitz 5. Curt Matthews 6. Gary
Bollinger 7. Jerry Schaffer 8. Andy Paden 9. Ron Sasse 10. Dave Coggswell
11. Barry Bulfone 12. Bill Baptiste 13. Brad Watson 14. Ben Hamilton 15.
Morgan Sasse 16. Al Priester 17. Rick Hall 18. Randy Rodemoyer 19. Greg
Unrue 20. Leroy Johnson, Jr. 21. Allen Ferry 22. Andy Priest 23. Gary Smoker
24. Bill Adams-DSQ DNQ-Rick Ryder, John Jones, Mike Mathieson, Mark
Angerett, Jr., Jim Slater, Zack Moran, Les Myers.
Butterfield's Pub Stock Cars: 1. BOBBY WHITLING ($500) 2. Dave Ferringer 3.
Rick Norco 4. Mike Aley 5. Gary Robinson 6. Shaun Hooks 7. Willie Aley 8.
Bill Hanna 9. Rusty Moore 10. Gary Norman 11. Andy Buckley 12. Bob Sloss 13.
Kevin Thompson 14. Doug Iorio 15. Jeff Kravec 16. Ron Iorio 17. Danny Exley
18. Rick Anthony 19. Lynn Hostetler 20. Greg Beach 21. Brian Miller 22. Gary
Miller, Jr. 23. Dan Fedorchak 24. Jim Brunson-DSQ DNQ-Lonnie O'Brien, Keith
Nagy, Bob Hays, Andy Thompson, Ray Bailey, Jr., Mark Felicetty, Adam
Reseigh, Adam Aley, Bill Haas, Jim Miller, Don Greenlee, Erick Cwynar,
William George, Sr., Mark Covert, Robert Caszatt, Jr., Earl Snyder, Tim
Zuschlag.
Quarterson wins Triathlon Sprint Series Opener; Crawford wins first at
Mercer in Modifieds
By Mike Leone
May 26, 2001
Mercer (PA)...It was the kickoff to American Thunder Weekend on Saturday
night at Mercer Raceway Park presented by Hunter's Truck Sales & Service.
Four new winners celebrated in the Moore's Auto Body victory lane including
Tom Quarterson-Triathlon Series Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars, Joe
Crawford-Bolland Machine Big-Block Modifieds, Rick Ryder-New Castle School
of Trades Sportsman Modifieds, and Russ Kapalin-Butterfield's Pub Stock
Cars.
Tom Quarterson will go down in the history books as the first driver to win
a Triathlon Sprint Car Series event. The West Middlesex, Pa. driver won the
20-lap Luxaire Heating & Cooling event and earned an extra $500 for being
the ERACERS "Cash Chaser" and winning. "I want to thank ERACERS," said
Quarterson, who became the first ERACERS winner. "The track was tacky and
rough and I just went for it."
Jimmy Hawley blasted around Jack Sodeman, Jr. in turn four to lead the
initial lap. Hawley, who appeared to be the man to be, brought out the
initial yellow with two laps completed when his mount came to a rest with a
broken throttle linkage. Sodeman would regain the lead for the restart, but
lost it to Kent on the backstretch of the fourth circuit.
Quarterson started the event from fifth and moved into third on lap four
when he passed Jamie Smith. Heavy traffic came into play on lap seven.
Quarterson used his Mercer experience to get by Sodeman off turn three. Kent
now had a half-straightaway lead on Quarterson. Two red flags, one on lap 11
and the other on lap 15, slowed action. The first was for Ralph Spithaler,
Jr., who got upside down. The second was for Mike Kekich, who went over, and
collected Andy Priest and Gary Kriess, Jr. Everyone was okay, but done for
the night.
When racing resumed, Quarterson made the winning move passing Kent off turn
four to edge him at the start-finish line of lap 16 just before the caution
was displayed for a Todd Bauer spin. Quarterson held off Kent the rest of
the way to become the fifth different winner in five races. The win was
Quarterson's 11th of his career at Mercer, and third in a row following two
straight Sunday night wins at Sportsman's Speedway in the Powell Family's
R&R Engine Rebuilders #27.
"Arnie's a good runner," said the happy winner. "I got past him on the
bottom and I didn't know if I was past him long enough (before the yellow).
They put me in front so I just went up and took his line away in (turn)
one."
While Quarterson and Kent battled for the win, a heated battle took place
from positions third through sixth. Scott Bonnell and Brad Ellenberger both
passed Jamie Smith for fourth and fifth on lap 16, then both disposed of
Sodeman for third and fourth on lap 19. Bonnell and Ellenberger then raced
each other hard for third with Ellenberger, who started 10th, edging
Bonnell, who started 12th. Sodeman and Smith dropped to fifth and sixth.
Completing the top 10 were Jason Jacoby, Tommy Burns, Jr., Mike Kaminski,
and Brian Woodhall. Winning the heats over the 33-car field were Hawley,
Smith, Quarterson, and Kent. Jarod Larson returned from his heat race flip
to win the B main.
Joe Crawford put on a driving clinic to win his first career Mercer win in
the 20-lap Bolland Machine Big-Block Modified Feature. "This feels great-
praise the Lord," said the jubilant Polk, Pa. driver in victory lane.
Steve Young took the early lead from the pole position as Carl Murdick and
Scott Gurdak followed in second and third. Crawford started from sixth and
used the outside to race to the front. He passed both Les Myers and Lonny
Riggs for fourth on lap four. Three laps later he drove around Gurdak for
third.
With the laps ticking off, Crawford caught Murdick and made the pass for
runner-up on lap nine. Young had a straightaway lead built by the time
Crawford was in second. Myers, who started seventh, was now on the move. He
passed Murdick for second on lap 10, and caught back up to Crawford as the
two both ran down Young.
On lap 15, Myers got back around Crawford, and then took over the lead from
Young on lap 16 racing off the inside of turn four. Crawford blasted around
Young for second on lap 18 as it was a great three-car race. Crawford, who
crashed in the lead on the next to last lap on May 12, wasn't going to let
this one slip away. On the final turn of the last lap with traffic in the
mix, Crawford drove by Myers to win by less than one-half car-length. "I
want to thank Les for running me clean," said the winner. "If it wasn't for
the lapped traffic, I wouldn't have got him."
Crawford became the seventh different winner in eight features this season
driving his parent's-owned, Fletcher's Artic Cat/Schiffer
Excavating-sponsored #25. The event went non-stop in 6:08.65. Young's third
was his best finish of the year. Riggs was fourth over Rodney Beltz. Sixth
through tenth were Gurdak, Frank Guidace, Carl Murdick, Dean Pearson, and
Rob Curtis. Heat victors over the 21-car field were Pearson and Gurdak.
Rick Ryder won his first 20-lap New Castle School of Trades Sportsman
Modified feature. The Gibsonia, Pa. driver took the lead from Leroy Johnson,
Jr. on lap one and led all of the way for his second career win in the
Attorney Suzanne Woodings #18. The win ended a rough season for Ryder, who
recorded his first top 10 since opening night. Andy Priest came from 23rd to
second and challenged Ryder. The two made contact on lap 13, with Priest
coming to rest on lap 14. Bill Adams, who started ninth, passed Fred Sasse
on lap 14 to finish second. Last week's winner, John Buchanan, came from
12th to place third over Chanda Reitz and Ron Eperthener, Jr. in his first
start. Al Priester and Buchanan won the heats over 23-car field.
Russ Kapalin was a happy driver after winning his first career Mercer win in
the 15-lap Butterfield's Pub Stock Car event. The Jefferson, Ohio driver
became the sixth different stock winner in six races this season and the
first ever to win with just a spec-358 engine. Kapalin jumped into the lead
from the pole position, while the race was on behind him. Mike Aley used the
outside to pass Greg Beach for third on lap three, then Brian Miller for
second on lap six.
At the halfway mark, Kapalin had a half-straightaway lead built up. Aley
began to erase Kapalin's lead and really closed in on him on lap 12. The two
were nearly side-by-side on the final lap in traffic, but the race was
halted when Dave Ferringer got upside down. He was okay. The one-lap
shootout saw Aley take the lead momentarily in search of his first career
win, but Kapalin got on the outside coming off turn four and had enough
momentum to take the checkers first in his #R40. Last week's winner, Bobby
Whitling, passed Willie Aley on lap 12 to finish third. Willie dropped to
fourth over Gary Robinson. Claiming the heat wins over the 36-car field were
Mike Aley, Kapalin, and Miller. Kevin Thompson won the B main.
Triathlon Series Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars: 1. TOM QUARTERSON 2.
Arnie Kent 3. Brad Ellenberger 4. Scott Bonnell 5. Jack Sodeman, Jr. 6.
Jamie Smith 7. Jason Jacoby 8. Tommy Burns, Jr. 9. Mike Kaminski 10. Brian
Woodhull 11. Skip Dougherty 12. Mark Spence 13. John Toth III 14. Nathan
Hines 15. Jeff Weaver 16. Todd Bauer 17. Charlie Holben 18. Mike Kekich 19.
Gary Kriess, Jr. 20. Andy Priest 21. Ralph Spithaler, Jr. 22. Bob Whitacre
23. Jimmy Hawley 24. Jarod Larson DNQ-Deana Barbara, Sheila Rankin,Gary McCollum, Rob
Eyler, Troy Preston, Scott Priester, Gregg McCandless, Gary Rankin, Butch
Beasley.
Bolland Machine Big-Block Modifieds: 1. JOE CRAWFORD 2. Les Myers 3. Steve
Young 4. Lonny Riggs 5. Rodney Beltz 6. Scott Gurdak 7. Frank Guidace 8.
Carl Murdick 9. Dean Pearson 10. Rob Curtis 11. Don McKnight 12. Nick
Ritchey 13. Rick Hall 14. Rich Ferguson 15. Rick Kress 16. Red Fordyce 17.
Dave Reges 18. Carl Weatherby 19. George Davis 20. Gary Risch, Jr.-DNS 21.
Dave Harbaugh-DNS.
New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modifieds: 1. RICK RYDER 2. Bill Adams
3. John Buchanan 4. Chanda Reitz 5. Ron Eperthener, Jr. 6. Al Priester 7.
Steve Young 8. Dean Pearson 9. Andy Paden 10. Dave Coggswell 11. Zack Moran
12. Jerry Schaffer 13. Rick Hall 14. Fred Sasse 15. Morgan Sasse 16. Randy
Rodemoyer 17. Andy Priest 18. Gary Bollinger 19. Greg Unrue 20. Allen Ferry
21. Brad Watson 22. Curt Matthews 23. Leroy Johnson, Jr.
Butterfield's Pub Stock Cars: 1. RUSS KAPALIN 2. Mike Aley 3. Bobby Whitling
4. Willie Aley 5. Gary Robinson 6. Andy Buckley 7. Bill Hanna 8. Gary
Miller, Jr. 9. Rusty Moore 10. Jim Brunson 11. Shaun Hooks 12. Rick Anthony
13. Kevin Thompson 14. Greg Beach 15. Dave Lewis, Sr. 16. Jeff Kravec 17.
Lonnie O'Brien 18. Brian Miller 19. Rick Norco 20. Bob Hays 21. Ray Bailey,
Jr. 22. Dave Ferringer 23. Mark Felicetty 24. Dan Fedorchak 25. Lynn
Hostetler-DNS DNQ-Terry Kroner, Ron Ehrman, Earl Snyder, Robert Caszatt,
Jr., Adam Aley, Erick Cwynar, Donny Baughman, Ed Hays, Andy Thompson, Keith
Nagy, Jim Miller.
ATPA GRAND AMERICAN SPRING NATIONALS
Mercer Raceway Park – Mercer, Pennsylvania
The 2001 ATPA Grand American circuit got off to a very successful start at the first-ever event at Mercer Raceway Park in Pennsylvania. The pull was originally scheduled for Sunday, May 27, but a heavy rain just before show time caused the rain-date to be utilized and causing the nearly 3,000 spectators to come back on Memorial Day evening. The ATPA pull was produced by Rick Feicht’s Full Pull Productions of Jamestown, Pennsylvania. Three classes were run over a very good clay track.
LUCAS OIL UNLIMITED SUPER STOCK TRACTORS: A giant ‘AAAA’ purse and the new Firestone Tires contingency cash payment awaited fifteen of the top Alky super stockers in the nation along with one diesel tractor – Henry Everman’s "Final Decision" IH from New York – which finished in ninth place.
The upset winner was the "Desperado" International of Sid Broughton. After a third place finish at the Fort Wayne ATPA Winternationals, the tractor had shown promise for the season, but it is now the points leader in the ATPA Grand American circuit. Broughton’s tractor had run almost exclusively with the Empire State Pullers and ATPA affiliated group in New York for the past two years. But during the winter of 2000-01 a number of rule changes in ESP had handicapped the "Desperado". "This tractor was built for the Grand American circuit and that is where it will run most of the season" said Sid in a post event interview.
Jeff Hirt and "Runnin’ Bare", the winner of the Louisville NFMS was second in the five-way pull-off while Dave Marino finished third with the "Show Me Showdown". Former national champion Jordan Lustik on "Silver Bullet" was fourth after an engine malfunction at mid-track and Wisconsin’s Aaron Hull rounded out the pull-off group with a fifth on the Minneapolis-Moline.
Last year’s ATPA Grand American points champion, Dennis Johnson, went out of bounds with "Shagnasty" after an apparent mechanical problem that will cause that team to have to work from the back of the points pack in 2001. The eagerly anticipated debut of the new Kwiatkowski John Deere was also unsuccessful as the beautifully prepared "Taking Care of Business" also went out of bounds and finished at the bottom of the class. The other Arnie driven Alky, "Wild Thing" experienced some sort of fuel problem on the starting line and was never a factor in this season’s first test.
SUPER STOCK FOUR WHEEL DRIVE TRUCKS: This ATPA-sanctioned all-eastern field of twenty-five small block trucks featured Dodges, Fords and Chevrolets and produced only one full pull in the class. Luke Simeon of Brookfield, Ohio took it out the gate with his S-10 called "Out-A-The-Blue" to capture the first event of 2001. "Ram Rod", a Dodge owned by Mark Stewart from West Virginia was second while the vastly improved "Haunted Heartbeat" of Steve Snider from Ohio was third. The champion in this class for the past two years, "Shotgun Red" and Guy Shingleton, lost a motor in this event and will have to scramble to get a three-peat in 2001. The top three trucks all qualified for the addition cash payments from the K & N Filters contingency program that is being offered to selected regional level classes by the ATPA.
BIG RIGS SEMI TRUCKS: The best trucks in America gathered for this ATPA points class which also paid K & N contingency money. The winner was the four-time world’s champion, Tom Lindsey with "Built For Business" at 299.49. But the newly reconditioned "Wild Fire" and J.R. Flock put down a pass of 298.93 to keep the pressure on the reigning ATPA champion. Third went to Don Snyder and "Mr. Nasty" while "Silver Bullet" ended 4th for Fred Sanders.
