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By Mike Leone
May 12, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mercer, PA.Mercer Raceway Park presented the fourth straight five-division "Saturday Night Live" program of the season on Saturday night. Celebrating in the Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic victory lane were Rod George-Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars, Rodney Beltz-American Racer/Lias Tire Modifieds, Brian Booher-Tire Express Stock Cars, Rod Jones-Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites, and Lucas Sprouse-M&D Paving Mini Stocks. It was a good night to be named Rod as three of the five winners were Rods and Rod Laskey finished second in the Stocks. It was $10 Family Night presented by Armstrong and the first kids bike races as Ray's Racing Collectibles, Dean Dairy, and Grove City Eat 'n Park all awarded prizes to participants and winners.
Rod George held off two separate thrilling charges by Rob Eyler one from 10th and the second from the rear to win the 20-lap Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Car feature for the second time on a fast track. "That was a great race," expressed the Kittanning, Pa. winner. "I'll tell you what, hats off to Frank (Benic) and his crew.that track was good top, bottom, anywhere. I kind of got together there with Rob (Eyler) on the frontstretch when it was three-wide- I hate for that to happen. We're pretty good friends. He came back and we had a good race there at the end. That was a super, fun race and it's a testament to how nice the track is. It's the best prepped track in western Pennsylvania."
Brent Matus took the advantage on the start, while Mike Dehner, Danny Holtgraver, and ninth starting George raced past rookie Cole Duncan on the opening lap. George made quick work of Holtgraver as he raced under the two-time winner for third on lap three before Holtgraver broke and brought out the caution. This moved Eyler to fourth for the restart. When racing resumed, it was a three-car race for second with Dehner trying to hold off George and Eyler. In turn four on lap five, George went under Dehner and Eyler made a bonsai move around the top. It was three-wide coming off the turn and just as George and Eyler cleared Dehner the two made slight contact with Eyler spinning across the frontstretch and thankfully avoiding contact with the wall and other cars.
When green replaced yellow, Matus led lap six before George pulled alongside him on lap seven and then made what turned out to be the winning move with a slider in turn four. Meanwhile, all eyes turned to Eyler as he passed Aaron Shaffer to get back into the top five on lap eight. Eyler ran down Bryan Grove and took fourth on lap 12 and one lap later put a slider on Dehner in turn four to take third.
A caution for a spin by 16-year-old Ohio rookie and newcomer Travis Philo bunched up the field with 13 laps completed. Back under green, Eyler then put a slider on Matus in turn four to take second. At this point he was a half-straightaway behind George and slowly closed in the ensuing laps. Philo then spun off the track in turn three; Holtgraver didn't see the caution and jumped Davey Jones' wheel sending him flipping to where Philo was spun. Thankfully there was minimal contact with the two as both drivers were okay.
On the restart with two laps to go, Eyler drove his car as hard as ever pulling alongside George, but George had just enough to hold off Eyler, who missed the previous two weeks due to motor woes. For George it was his ninth career win in the Dr. John Crawford III/Notary Express-sponsored #4. Matus turned in a career best Mercer finish in third over a strong run by Ohio's Grove as Dehner dropped to fifth. Sixth through tenth were Arnie Kent, Shaffer, Jones, Duncan, and rookie Justin Paris. Heat winners were George and Grove.
After going nearly five years without a win, Rodney Beltz made it two-in-a-row in the 20-lap American Racer/Lias Tire Modifieds. "It's a lot better when you're winning, but when you're struggling it's bad," explained the Ellwood City, Pa. victor. "I'd like to thank Vicki (Emig) for giving me the opportunity to drive the car and Kyle (Ripper) for working on it. Hope everything keeps going good."
Rick Hall and Lonny Riggs overtook Matt Reeher on the start of the race for first and second. Beltz, who started fifth, passed Jimmy Holden then Reeher for third before going under Riggs for second in turn two on lap four. Beltz made what turned out to be the winning move going to the inside of Hall in turn two on lap six. Riggs used the outside to drive around Hall for second on lap seven. Riggs stayed with Beltz and appeared to be closing on the leader until his car went up in smoke and hit the wall on lap 16.
Beltz pulled away on the restart in the Emig Racing #1 to capture his 18th career win. Brad Rapp, who started 11th, battled with Hall over the last five laps before finally getting past the veteran on the final lap coming off turn two down the backstretch for his season's best finish. Hall dropped to third over 10th starter Jeff Schaffer and Steve Young. Completing the top 10 were Keith Swartzlander in the second Jerry Schaffer entry, Kevin Hoffman, Kevin Green, Riggs, and Eric Gabany. Topping the heats were Garrett Krummert and Schaffer.
Brian Booher continued his dominance of the Stock Car division with his second straight win and third of the season in the 15-lap Tire Express-sponsored event. "My crew is putting an awesome race car together for me," stated the Sandy Lake, Pa. winner. "The track conditions were great; I love to see this kind of track. I want to wish everyone a happy Mother's Day."
Russ Byler took off from the pole position in his first year in a full-size car. Fourth starter Rod Laskey passed Norco for second on lap three and then overtook Byler for the lead on lap four. Booher, who started eighth, passed Norco for third on lap four then grabbed second from Byler one lap later just before the caution was displayed for newcomer Tony Bruno.
Laskey surprisingly chose the top for the restart giving the inside to the always bottom-running Booher. When racing resumed, Booher grabbed the lead and denied the fourth Rod from winning on the night. Booher's win was his 23rd of his career matching him atop the list with Andy Buckley since the track reopened in 1994 and came in the Terry Hoover-owned, Ed & Jerry's Auto Service/Harry & Tim's Roofing/Brad McEwen Garage Doors-sponsored #00H. Laskey matched his career best Mercer finish in second. Norco was third over Buckley and Andy Thompson. Heat winners were Booher and Norco.
Former Sprint Car racer Rod Jones became the first repeat winner in the Mod Lites as he captured the 15-lap Big Daddy's Speed Center-sponsored feature for the second time this season overtaking and then holding off another former Sprint Car racer in Doug Stanley. "Good track, good car, good team," stated the West Middlesex, Pa. racer. "I changed my mind three or four times under red and didn't know what to do, but my gut kept telling me to stay high and it worked."
Stanley made a great move on the opening lap advancing from fifth into the lead over J.J. Metheney, while Brian Woodhall moved from eighth into third after the completion of one lap. Woodhall and 11th starting Jones both disposed of Metheney for second and third on lap three. Jones overtook the slowing Woodhall on lap five for second. Jones' winning pass of Stanley came following a restart on lap six. Last week's winner Mark Marcucci was running third on lap nine when he flipped in turn four, but crawled out okay.
Jones chose the outside on the restart and kept Stanley at bay in the Dave Jones-owned #820 for his fourth career overall Mercer win. Angie Grzelak, who started 14th, worked his way to third on lap 10 only to have Todd Canter and Chris Logan pass her in the closing laps. Canter was a career best third over Logan and Grzelak. Logan and Jones were heat race winners.
On opening night, Lucas Sprouse was credited with the victory as he was the only car in the return of the Mini Stock division after 25 years. On Saturday night, the car count swelled to nine as Sprouse returned to victory lane in the 12-lap M&D Paving-sponsored feature. The Elkton, Ohio driver passed Wally Stearns and Leland Haylett on the opening lap and led the rest of the way in his #23s. Newcomer Pete Wearing was second after passing Haylett for the spot on lap seven. Haylett dropped to third over James Longwell and John Hartman. Wearing and Sprouse were heat victors.
Luxaire Heating & Cooling (410) Sprint Cars: 1. ROD GEORGE 2. Rob Eyler 3. Brent Matus 4. Bryan Grove 5. Mike Dehner 6. Arnie Kent 7. Aaron Shaffer 8. Davey Jones 9. Cole Duncan 10. Justin Paris 11. Travis Philo 12. Danny Holtgraver 13. Joe Butera 14. Mike Lutz-DNS.
American Racer/Lias Tire (358) Modifieds: 1. RODNEY BELTZ 2. Brad Rapp 3. Rick Hall 4. Jeff Schaffer 5. Steve Young 6. Keith Swartzlander 7. Kevin Hoffman 8. Kevin Green 9. Lonny Riggs 10. Eric Gabany 11. Jimmy Holden 12. Garrett Krummert 13. Matt Reeher 14. Frank Guidace 15. Rich Whitney-DNS 16. Jason Longwell-DNS.
Tire Express Stock Cars: 1. BRIAN BOOHER 2. Rod Laskey 3. Rick Norco 4. Andy Buckley 5. Andy Thompson 6. Mark Sanders 7. Russ Byler 8. Bill Vance, Jr. 9. Matt Wagner 10. Bryan Shaffer 11. Tony Bruno 12. Bryan Wagner 13. Shaun Hooks-DNS.
Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites: 1. ROD JONES 2. Doug Stanley 3. Todd Canter 4. Chris Logan 5. Angie Grzelak 6. Levi Spinneweber 7. J.J. Metheney 8. Jeremy Adamik 9. Chad Yeager 10. Wilbur Juillerat 11. Kenny Meadows 12. Mark Marcucci 13. Ben Black 14. Brian Woodhall 15. John Brunner-DNS 16. Bill Stivason-DNS.
M&D Paving Mini Stocks: 1. LUCAS SPROUSE 2. Pete Wearing 3. Leland Haylett 4. James Longwell 5. John Hartman 6. Wally Stearns 7. Mike Anderson (Jr.) 8. Bill Fuchs-DNS 9. Dillon Barr-DNS.
Upcoming Events:
5/19 Wingless Sprints ($1,500), Mods, Stocks, Mod Lites, and Mini Stocks. Free general admission for all Crawford County residents presented by Armstrong.
5/26 Sprints, Mods, Stocks, Mod Lites, and Mini Stocks. "Pack the Track"/Fan Appreciation Night ($5 adult, $12 family, $2 student admission) & "Meet Your Heroes" Autograph Night presented by Froggy 95.1
Gates open at 4:30 p.m. with hot laps at 6:15 p.m. and racing at 7 p.m.
5/27 All-American "Spring Nationals" World Championship Pulling Event. Big Rig Semis, Smoker Tractors, Street Diesel 4x4 Trucks, & Street Semis. Pulling begins at 6:30 PM
6/02 "Jeff Hoffman Memorial" presented by Hoffman Door Co. Mods ($2,000), Sprints ($1,500), Stocks ($500), Mod Lites, & Mini Stocks.
Mercer Raceway Park is located minutes from both Interstate 79 and 80 just off Route 19 on Fairground Road in Mercer, Pa. Dirt track racing and quality family entertainment are presented weekly late March through early October. The office in New Bedford, Pa. is open year-round after 1:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information call the office at 724-964-9300 or the track on race day at 724-662-1310. Check out our website at www.mercerracewaypark.com for the latest.
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