Mercer Raceway Park Results Page

Notes from the Little Guy Nationals at Mercer

By Mike Leone

October 12, 2001

Mercer, PA…Despite rain in the forecast last Friday night and cloudy, cold weather with even a few snow flurries Saturday night, over 300 drivers were present for the two-day Little Guy Nationals in the Stock Car, 358 Modified, E-Mod, Micro Sprint, and Demolition Derby classes at Mercer Raceway Park.

A western Pa. record of 112 Stock Cars turned out. Over 25 race tracks were represented throughout western and central Pa., eastern Ohio, and western New York. Of the 112 cars, 59 made their first starts of the year. Winner Ken Drake earned $1,200 for the victory. The win was his ninth of the season in the Stu Rickard-owned #star 61. The Lakewood, New York driver is a regular on the Eriez-Stateline Circuit. Drake, who runs in the Cadet division, had to make some adjustments to make his car legal to run. The car is actually powered by a 360 c.i. engine.

Shaun Hooks had an up and down night. The New Castle, Pa. driver was leading the sixth heat race, but got into a lapped car and suffered a flat tire. He then raced from the tenth starting spot to win the third B main, which gave him a 23^rd place starting spot in the 40-lap feature. Hooks ended up finishing third for the second straight year and finished the year with nine straight top five Mercer finishes.

Not only did the entire feature purse increase this year because of last year’s excellent turnout of 73 cars, but also a B feature was added for the first 24 non-qualifiers. This race was won by Mercer regular, Dave Ferringer, who picked up $300. Next year, the event will again see a purse increase plus most likely an addition of a C feature.

Numerous bonuses and contingencies were paid out. Tom Williams, Brian Miller, Bill Wheeling, and Mike Aley received an extra $25 for the top four drivers who failed to make either the A or B features. Jim McFadden, a Raceway 7 regular, finished fifth and won the $100 bonus for being the top spec 358 finisher. Terry Schaeffer earned an extra $100 for making the longest tow amongst all division. The Micro Sprint driver, who owns RTS Chassis in Reading, Pa., calls Fleetwood, Pa. home.

Thanks to Lias Tire in Indiana, Pa., the next 24 drivers following the first four non-qualifiers received a $25 gift certificate for a 2002 Stock Car legal American Racer Tire. Those drivers were Burton Fingado, Bob Hays, Scott Peterson, Corey Ruffo, Phil Kaufman, Rich Chess, Sr., Brian Johnson, Tim Zuschlag, Randy Summerton, Dave Johnson, Eric Williams, Eric Piotrowski, Duane Grinnell, Chris Seamen, Russ Kapalin, Shawn McArdle, Darrell Calvert, Bill Milbert, Dustin Eckman, Jim Brunson, J.R. Ziegler, Chris Hake, A.J. Schultz, and Jeremiah Shingledecker.

It was a heartbreaker for Mike Jackson, who came up 21 pounds light at the scales and was disqualified from his $2,000 358 Modified win. Jackson was making his first start in the Terry Brewer-owned #15 from Jasper, New York. The win was handed to Smithmill, Pa.’s Mike Stine, who won for his car owner and brother Tom Stine.

Last year, 42 358 Modified turned out and this year’s purse was increased because of the great turnout. A nice field of 50 cars turned out this year and again look for another purse increase in 2002. The field breakdown included 19 local Sportsman Modifieds, 12 Hidden Valley Speedway 358s, eight local 358 Modifieds that run with the big blocks, eight 358 Modifieds that came in from out of the area, and three western Pa. six-cylinder modifieds. Those out of town 358s included last year’s winner, Rick Richner (Niagara Falls, Ny.), Jackson, Chuck Kennison (Watkins Glen, Ny.), Lyle Sherwood (Ulysses, Pa.), Rick Hoctor (Cheektowaga, Ny.), Dylan DeWert (Corning, Ny.), John Zimmerman (Burt, Ny.), and Al Shawver, Jr. (Finksburg, Md.).

The Micro Sprints completed their show first thing on Saturday afternoon. A nice field of 45 cars gathered Friday night to complete their heat races before the rains came. Twenty-seven of the cars returned on Saturday, which was won by Jim Young. It was the first time the Micro Sprints have competed at Mercer in four years. Ironically the Johnstown, Pa. driver became the first driver to repeat in the division as he won back on October 12, 1996. Hagerstown, Maryland’s Dusty Shatzer stayed over and finished sixth on Saturday. The weather kept many of the out-of-town Micros from coming in as the pre-entered drivers of Butch Harrington of Delaware and Randy Baughman of Dover, Pa. did not make the trip in. Other central Pa. and Maryland drivers were also interested in the event that did not show.

A field of 40 York Triathlon Series E-Mods were ready to take to the track on Friday night for their heat races, but the rains came in and washed out the event. RTR Racing entered three cars with regulars Todd and Ron Roncaglione plus George Englert. McKean County Raceway regulars Michael Brabham and John Kellog, Sr. made the trip. Western Ohio was represented by Lima’s Ronnie Perrine, Jr. and Kevin Gossard in the Gene Steele entry. East Liverpool, Ohio’s Larry Kugel was a surprise entrant. Weirton, West Virginia’s Jimmy Petrelle made for the fifth different state to be represented in his first ever Mercer appearance.

Due to time constraints, the E-Mods returned on Saturday to only run the 20-lap Mel Myers Memorial event. Mel was the brother to long-time racer, Herm, who competed in the event. This race was open to all S.M.O.D.A. points paying members. Niles, Ohio’s Alan Dellinger won the race over the 19-car field. Dellinger also received a huge trophy to commemorate his efforts. The purse was actually split equally amongst all drivers plus contingencies were paid out. A special thanks to Bob McCann, Larry Walters, and Chuck Kennedy, who helped raise money and organize the event.

Doing double-duty on Saturday were Butch Lambert and Dave Shook. Lambert drove his #27 Stock Car and the Chuck Neely #44 E-Mod, while Shook drove the Dave Combs #01 358 Modified and the Lonny Blair #77 Stock Car.

Look for a bigger and better third annual Little Guy Nationals in October 2002.

Mike Stine credited with $2,000 358 Modified win after Jackson was light at the scales; Ken Drake tops 112 Stock Cars; Jim Young wins Micros; E-Mods to Alan Dellinger in Mercer Little Guy Nationals

By Mike Leone

October 6, 2001

Mercer (PA)...Mercer Raceway Park closed the curtain on the 2001 racing season on Saturday night by completing the second annual Little Guy Nationals. More than 300 competitors competed over the two-day period in the five divisions. Scoring wins and celebrating in the Moore’s Auto Body victory lane were Mike Stine-358 Modifieds, Ken Drake-Stock Car A feature and Dave Ferringer-Stock Car B feature, Jim Young-Micro Sprints, and Alan Dellinger-S.M.O.D.A. E-Mods. Nearly 60 demolition derby cars battled and in the end it was Ryan Boyd of Fredonia, Pa. coming out on top for the $500 top prize. Cody Smith was crowned the 2001 "Gladiator Series" Champion and earned an extra $300 and a huge trophy.

Mike Stine was credited with the 30-lap $2,000 to-win 358 Modified Feature win after second place Andy Priest had a flat tire on the final lap and apparent winner Mike Jackson was light at the scales. "I was running third, we were out of tires, and I didn’t have anything for either one of those guys- they were gone," said the Smithmill, Pa. driver in victory lane. "The two thousand will really help for the winter months."

Pole-sitter Steve Barr raced into the lead at the start as Spencer Husted settled into second. Stine started the event from fourth and took over third from Andy Paden on lap two. Jackson, who was making his first start in the Terry Brewer-owned #15, started seventh and was already up to third on lap three when he dropped Stine back to fourth. Following the restart for a caution by New York’s Rick Hoctor with three laps completed, Jackson got by Husted for second on the restart and made what was the apparent winning move by taking the lead from Barr on the backstretch.

A caution for Bill Adams and New York’s John Zimmerman re-bunched the field with four laps completed. Stine was able to dispose of Husted on the restart for third then raced by Barr for second later that lap. Priest, who started 11th, entered the picture on lap eight by passing Chetter Johnson for fourth. On lap 13, Priest began to set his sights on the leaders and took third from Barr with an inside move. Priest then grabbed second from Stine on lap 18. The final caution of the event, which was displayed for last year’s winner Ricky Richner who spun with 24 laps completed, gave Priest a restart alongside Jackson.

When racing resumed, Jackson had enough to keep Priest behind him as he led the last six laps before coming up light at the scales. Priest’s flat tire on the final lap allowed Stine to get by for second and eventually the win. The victory was Stine’s third win in the last five events he has competed in. Stine won the $1,000 to-win season finale at Hidden Valley Speedway and picked up the win at Dog Hollow Speedway on September 21 driving the Gates Hardwood & Timbering/Lutz Radiator/Stine’s Auto Parts & Racing Engines-sponsored, Tom Stine-owned #7.

The orange #7 of Stine was followed by the orange #07 of Chetter Johnson, who was paid $1,000 for second. George Sankey was third after starting fourteenth. New York’s Dylan DeWert raced from nineteenth to come home fourth over a solid finish by Barr in fifth. Priest held on for sixth. Lou Gentile was the first six-cylinder across the line in seventh. New York’s Chuck Kennison was eighth after starting twenty-first. Richner came back to get ninth over Paden. Heats for the 50-car field went to Richner, Stine, Gentile, Johnson, Al Shawver, Jr., and Jackson. The three last chance races went to DeWert, Hoctor, and Kennison.

Lakewood, New York’s Ken Drake topped a record field of 112 Stock Cars to capture the 40-lap $1,200 to-win feature event. "I want to dedicate this win to Chuck Sennott," said Drake in victory lane. "We’ve been competing on the Stateline-Eriez Circuit for eight years and took his number when we started." Sennott, who was fatally injured in accident recently at Delaware International Speedway in a late model, was a former winner at both Stateline and Eriez Speedways before he moved to eastern Pennsylvania.

Jeff Buccella led the 25-car field to green and took the early lead. Drake, who started fifth, got by Mercer regulars Gary Robinson on the start, Gary Miller, Jr. for third on lap two, and Gary Norman for second on lap three. The first caution was displayed for Steve Keith and Marion Center Speedway Champion Scott Stein, who tangled with five laps completed. On the restart, Drake made what would be the winning move taking the lead from Buccella on the sixth circuit. Three cautions on laps eight, ten, and twelve respectively kept the field bunched up.

When racing resumed on lap 13, the man on the move was Jeff Walters. The Challenger Raceway Champion started the race in twenty-second and made a nice move on lap 14 to pass both Rusty Moore and Bobby Whitling for third. However, three laps later Walters, Moore, and Rich Howell all tangled and brought out the fifth and final caution of the event. This moved Whitling back to third for the restart. When green replaced yellow, Whitling was able to get around Buccella for second on lap 17.

The last 24 laps went non-stop. Drake had built up a straightaway lead on Whitling with five laps to go and appeared headed for the easy win. However, Drake appeared to slow in the last three laps as he struggled to get through lapped traffic. Whitling made a last lap charge and came up only a few car lengths behind in second. Drake’s #*61 is owned by Stu Rickard and is sponsored by Corry Laser and Rickard’s Rod & Custom.

Shaun Hooks passed nine cars to win the third last chance race and transferred to the feature, where he started 23rd. Hooks charged through the feature to finish third for the second straight year after getting by Buccella on lap 24. It was Hook’s ninth straight Mercer top five finish. Buccella dropped to fourth. Jim McFadden had solid run in fifth after starting eighteenth. Walters came from the back of the pack again to place sixth. Miller dropped to seventh over Doug Iorio, Moore, and Mike Boyd.

The 15-lap B feature was for the first 25 non-qualifiers and was won by Dave Ferringer. Ferringer came from sixteenth to third in the non-stop third last chance race just to start seventh in this event. The Cochranton, Pa. driver took the lead from Sam Fisher on lap seven and went on for the $300 win in his #02. Terry Kroner would pass Brian Douglas for second on lap 11. Douglas was third over Steve D’Apolito and Jeff Kravec.

The top two finishers from the 10 heat races qualified for the feature and were won by Andy Buckley, Drake, Whitling, Robinson, Stein, Howell, Moore, Buccella, Norman, and Miller. The five last chance races with the winner only transferring to the back of the feature were won by Tony Bruno, Walters, Hooks, Bob Sloss, and Boyd. Various bonus monies and contingencies will be determined and paid out as well.

The Micro Sprints returned from Friday night to complete their show and it was Jim Young capturing the 25-lap $600 to-win feature. "I was fortunate tonight," said the Johnstown, Pa. racer. "I really didn’t think I had anything for Terry Schaeffer or Joey Sanger. They got together and left a big hole for me. It was my race to lose after that."

Sixteen-year-old Joey Sanger led the first nine laps from the pole position before the first caution of the event occurred for Brian Walker, who spun in second place. On lap 13, Schaeffer, Young, and Chad Reitz all got by Brian Riddle for second. The veteran Schaeffer ran down Sanger and got under the youngster in turn two on lap 14. The two made contact, which allowed Young and Reitz to get by for first and second. Schaeffer recovered for third while Riddle got past Sanger for fourth.

Two more cautions, one on lap 14 and the other on lap 18, were all that slowed Young’s run to the checkers for his 17th overall win of 2001 in his Predator House Car, Cernics-sponsored #8. Young became the first driver in six Micro Sprint races ever run at Mercer to repeat. His first win came almost exactly five years ago on October 12, 1996.

Schaeffer re-passed Reitz on the final lap for second and dropped Reitz to third over Riddle and Sanger. Completing the top 10 were Dusty Shatzer, Chad Krumpe, Chris Best, Tim Robertson, and Clint Lohler. Heat winners on Friday night were Riddle, Young, Rob Felix, and Sanger. The two last chance races scheduled for Saturday afternoon were cancelled after only 27 of the 45 cars returned.

The 20-lap inaugural Mel Myers Memorial feature for the E-Mods was won by Alan Dellinger. The Niles, Ohio driver came all the way from ninth to third on the opening lap. Leader Ron Roncaglione slipped off the track in turns three and four on lap three and Dellinger went by for the lead as Russ Dunn and Jeff Taylor trailed. Taylor moved into second on lap 13 by getting around Dunn. A caution for Butch Lambert and Larry Walters on the last lap set up a one-lap shootout to the checkers. Dellinger still was not to be denied as he won his third career Mercer E-Mod race in the Mark McClellan-owned #119 to add to his 30 career Mercer Stock Car wins. Both Dunn and Roncaglione were able to get by Taylor on the last lap for second and third. Taylor dropped to fourth over thirteenth starter Chuck Kennedy. Rounding out the top 10 were Jeff Rudrick, Carl McKinney, Bob McCann, Shawn Domhoff, and Dale Fuller. The 19-car race was open to all S.M.O.D.A. points-paying club members.

358 Modified Feature (30 laps): 1. MIKE STINE ($2,000) 2. Chetter Johnson 3. George Sankey 4. Dylan DeWert 5. Steve Barr 6. Andy Priest 7. Lou Gentile 8. Chuck Kennison 9. Ricky Richner 10. Andy Paden 11. Al Priester 12. Red Fordyce 13. Les Myers 14. Spencer Husted 15. Rick Ryder 16. Al Shawver, Jr. 17. Dean Pearson 18. Greg Unrue 19. John Zimmerman 20. Nick Ritchey 21. Lyle Sherwood 22. Bill Adams 23. Rick Hoctor 24. Mike Jackson-DSQ DNQ: Jimmy Holden, Allen Ferry, Mark Frankhouser, John Buchanan, Dave Cogswell, Lee Miller, Pud Welsh, John Confer, Bill Baptiste, Jimmy Faas, Zack Moran, Mark Latshaw, J.D. Whitman, Jay Priest, Conny Allen, Mike Butterworth, Bryan Albright, Dana Gearhart, Rick Kress, Chanda Reitz, Tim Owens, Marvin Williams, Tom Holden, Ron Eperthener, Jr., Stan Bell, Dave Shook.

Stock Cars A Feature (40 laps): 1. KEN DRAKE ($1,200) 2. Bobby Whitling 3. Shaun Hooks 4. Jeff Buccella 5. Jim McFadden 6. Jeff Walters 7. Gary Miller, Jr. 8. Doug Iorio 9. Rusty Moore 10. Mike Boyd 11. Rory Reed 12. Tony Bruno 13. Gary Robinson 14. Terry Wheeler 15. Gary Norman 16. Bob Sloss 17. Butch Lambert 18. Scott Stein 19. Rich Howell 20. Brian Duffy 21. Steve Keith 22. Todd Matthews 23. Willie Aley 24. Troy Aikey 25. Andy Buckley.

Stock Cars B Feature (15 laps): 1. DAVE FERRINGER ($300) 2. Terry Kroner 3. Brian Douglas 4. Steve D’Apolito 5. Jeff Kravec 6. Bobby Heim 7. Tim Deutsch 8. Rick Anthony 9. Dave Willoughby 10. Jason Schoonmaker 11. Tom Fox 12. Fred Pfeifer 13. Mike Miller 14. John Hobbs 15. Dick Pascorell 16. Ben Blake 17. William Blum, Jr. 18. Dave Atkinson 19. Sam Fisher 20. Wayne Carbo 21. Eric Rising 22. Nick Reges 23. Andy Thompson 24. Ed Cornell 25. Rick Norco.

Stock Cars that did qualify for either feature: Tom Williams, Brian Miller, Bill Wheeling, Mike Aley, Burton Fingado, Bob Hays, Scott Peterson, Corey Ruffo, Phil Kaufman, Rich Chess, Sr., Brian Johnson, Tim Zuschlag, Randy Summerton, Dave Johnson, Eric Williams, Eric Piotrowski, Duane Grinnell, Chris Seamen, Russ Kapalin, Shawn McArdle, Darrell Calvert, Bill Milbert, Dustin Eckman, Jim Brunson, J.R. Ziegler, Chris Hake, A.J. Schultz, Jeremiah Shingledecker, Butch Zimmerman, Brian Guzowski, Ed Simmer, Darren Buell, Mark Bell, Bruce Burlingame, Ty Hanten, Steve Anderson, Rod Laskey, Jodi Woodworth, Sr., Eddie Hugill, Dave Shook, Ryan Dye, Jarrod Deeter, Jim Davis, Brian Zimmerly, Ray Bailey, Jr., Mark Grabowski, Don McGuire, Aaron Robinson, Keith Nagy, Adam Ashcroft, Bill Kirschner, Darrell Bossard, Dan Fedorchak, Tom Kline, Jeff Taylor, Ed Hart, Matt Rubright, Bill Exley, Pat Gorton, Jeremy Stafford, Lonnie O’Brien, Doug Foster.

Micro Sprint Feature (25 laps): 1. JIM YOUNG ($600) 2. Terry Schaeffer 3. Chad Reitz 4. Brian Riddle 5. Joey Sanger 6. Dusty Shatzer 7. Chad Krumpe 8. Chris Best 9. Tom Robertson 10. Clint Lohler 11. Jason Dempsey 12. Rob Felix 13. Chuck Miller 14. Lindsay Enscoe 15. Dan Smeal 16. Jake Spangler 17. Jeremy Cook 18. Nathan Lauschus 19. Bryan Shimek 20. Brian Walker 21. Nate Stein 22. John Adams 23. Jason Dolick 24. John Broadbent 25. Dwayn Carothers 26. J.J. Metheney-DNS 27. Barry Lucas-DNS Did not return from Friday night: Bob Fink, Mike Himes, Preston Anderson, Steve Fife, Jason Pisani, Ron King, Russ Kyler, Mike McConnell, Dustin Brown, Vince Berardinelli, Adam King, Jeff Bacha, Jay Groves, Steve Lowes, Mark Myers, Bill Cunningham, Dan Smeal, Jimmy Horwat.

Mel Myers Memorial S.M.O.D.A. E-Mod Feature (20 laps): 1. ALAN DELLINGER 2. Russ Dunn 3. Ron Roncaglione 4. Jeff Taylor 5. Chuck Kennedy 6. Jeff Rudrick 7. Carl McKinney 8. Bob McCann 9. Shawn Domhoff 10. Dale Fuller 11. Herm Myers 12. Mike Anderson 13. Larry Walters 14. Butch Lambert 15. Fred Bratchie 16. Bob Diver 17. Kris Pisarcik 18. Rich Stiffler 19. Arlan Coy.

Micro Sprint heat race completed before rains on Friday at Mercer Raceway Park

By Mike Leone

October 5, 2001

Mercer (PA)...Night one of the second annual Little Guy Nationals on Friday night succumbed to rain showers after the completion of the four Micro Sprint heat races. Heat winners were Brian Riddle, Jim Young, Rob Felix, and Joey Sanger over the 45-car field. The Micro Sprints will return on Saturday to complete their two scheduled B mains and their 25-lap $600 to-win feature.

The York Triathlon Series E-Mods were also on the card with 40 cars on hand. Four heat races, two B mains, a dash, and the 20-lap Mel Myers Memorial were scheduled to compete. Their 40-lap $1,000 to-win feature was scheduled to be run Saturday. However, due to time constraints with Saturday’s show, only the 20-lap Mel Myers Memorial will be run for the E-Mods. This event originally scheduled for the top 10 drivers in S.M.O.D.A. points will now be opened up to all S.M.O.D.A. points paying members with additional money posted by Mercer Raceway Park. The York Triathlon Series part of the event has been cancelled and will not be made up.

Along with the remainder of the Micro Sprint program and the Mel Myers Memorial E-Mod race, a complete show will be run for the Stock Cars and open 358 Modifieds. The Stock Cars will be highlighted by a 40-lap $1,200 to-win feature. The next 24 drivers will run a 15-lap consolation feature paying $300 to-win. The 358 Modified part of the program will feature a 30-lap $2,000 to-win feature. A demolition derby paying $500 to-win will complete the program.

Pit gates open at 12 noon. Grandstands open at 2 p.m. Hot laps start at 3 p.m. The regular racing program is slated to begin at 4 p.m. The rain date is Sunday at the same times. Adult admission is $13. Students 6-15 are $5. The family pass is $30. Children five and under free. Pit passes are $25. For more information, call the track office at 724-662-1310.