Can the modifieds defend their home turf against the late models in “SmackDown!”?
By Mike Dutko
For 7/30/04
Sometimes you need a little excitement in your life, and Vicki Emig is only too happy to provide it when Mercer Raceway Park hosts “SmackDown!” No, we’re not going to put a bunch of steroid-pumped, muscle-bound freaks in the ring to wreak havoc on each other without actually hitting the other guy. We are going to take the “bad-to-the-bone” modifieds and put them on the track with the late models, and let them go at each other in yet another first time ever event for this area coming up Saturday, August 7.
The idea of modifieds competing against late models has been tried in other areas of the country. Two that come to mind are Hagerstown, Maryland and Delaware International. The big difference is Hagerstown and Delaware are big half-mile tracks with plenty of room for each to run and hide from the other. Nobody can run and hide at Mercer.
Frank Benic and his crew have done an outstanding job with the track surface this year. It has been bitey all year long. That has made for outstanding competition and incredible speeds. This is going to be great! Unlike the wrestling version of Smackdown, the outcome of this match has not been predetermined.
Match races have been tried for just about every division, but this one seems to be the best fit. Recently in Ohio they tried a challenge race with one sprint car versus one late model. The sprint car won. Not surprising you might say, but the sprint car had to run 11 laps versus 10 for the late model. So clearly that match-up was out.
The question going into next week’s race in my mind is will the late models have the courage to show and challenge the Mercer modifieds. We play “Bad to the Bone” for good reason when the modifieds take to the track. They are no nonsense, flat out, hardcore racers. The modifieds have certainly evolved from the early days of the coupes Mercer was famous for.
A number of drivers have crossed from one form of racing to another with varying degrees of success, but I can’t really recall many that have been successful in both a late model and a modified. Alan Dellinger, a.k.a. Jim Dandy, Jr., might be the exception to that rule as he has won in both classes. In fact, his first venture into victory lane in a modified came at Mercer Raceway Park in 2002, and later that year won in a late model.
Ralph Spithaler, Jr. is a very talented driver who has won track championships in a modified and a sprint car. He tried a few races in a late model, but never quite found the combination. Probably the two most famous drivers who have transcended both divisions are Bob Wearing, Sr. and Blackie Watt. Watt was on hand to compete with his bus earlier this year, while Bob’s son Wearing, Jr. always competes in the late model events at Mercer.
One thing is for sure nobody knows exactly what to expect from this race. Some people think we need to post copies of Rule #20 in every pit: Absolutely no fighting for any reason. Drivers, owners, crew members, etc. fighting will be subject to a suspension.
Will it be a slugfest? Will it be a runaway? Will we see lots of side-by-side racing, or will we see drivers laying on the chrome horn, (that’s the bumper for you novices), to make a pass? Will there be peace and harmony in the pits afterwards, or will security director, Curtis, put a few hundred extra miles on his quad that night. That’s the neat aspect to this particular event, we really don’t know exactly what to expect.
All I know is you don’t want to miss this one of a kind event. The big question for me is will the late models have what it takes to challenge our modified regulars. They may be objectively faster and certainly lighter, but I put my money on the modifieds to defend their home turf. We’ll find out next week.
Fans will get their fill of racing on August 7 as the sprint cars, sportsman mods, and stocks will also be in competition for extra laps and extra bucks. The strictly stocks will also be in action; all this for just $15 for adults!
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