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By Mike Leone
May 19, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mercer, PA.For the third straight Saturday at Mercer Raceway Park, late in the afternoon the clouds rolled in, the wind picked up and the temperatures dropped more than 10 degrees, but this time unexpected rain fell from the clouds. A brief rain delayed action during the heat races, but the track was worked back in and the heats were completed before the heavy rains came in, but it was not before Arnie Kent was victorious in the Luxaire Heating & Cooling Wingless Sprint Cars. Five laps of the American Racer/Lias Tire Modified feature were in the books before getting rained out. The Modified feature will resume this Saturday night, May 26 and the Mod Lites will also run their 15-lap make-up feature. The Stock Car and Mini Stock features will be run on June 2.
Arnie Kent loves racing Sprint Cars wingless, but before Saturday night the New Castle, Pennsylvania driver was never able to crack victory lane. In 15 career non-winged starts, Kent had two second places to show, one at Hickory Speedway in 1997 and another at Mercer in 2003. But on Saturday night, Kent's love for traditional sprint car racing finally paid off as he captured the 20-lap Luxaire Heating & Cooling event earning $1,500 for his efforts holding off Rod George and denying him of four straight wins on the western Pennsylvania circuit.
The Sprint Cars took to the already tacky surface with light rain falling and it would continue throughout the event. Kent drew the pole position and was able to muscle his way into the lead with George trailing. Davey Jones brought out the event's first caution when he spun off the backstretch with two completed. When racing resumed, Kent continued to lead but George began challenging the leader on lap five. The two raced side-by-side on laps five and six with George on the bottom and Kent on the top; meanwhile, Mike Dehner passed two-time winner Danny Holtgraver for second on lap six. Holtgraver was then passed by Gale Ruth, Jr. for fourth before he exited the event.
Scott Priester made his first start of the year, but his night ended when he came to a rest bringing out the event's second and final caution with eight laps completed. When racing resumed, George was all over Kent trying every move possible. George again got under Kent in turns one and two on lap 11, but got sideways off turn two allowing Kent to open up more than a half-straightaway lead.
As the laps ticked off, George cut into Kent's lead every lap and really closed on lap 16, while Mike Lutz began to pressure Ruth for fourth. George was right there hoping to find a way around or a Kent slip. On the final lap, George drove in hard and got a great run off turn four and was right on Kent's bumper, but came up on car-length shy in his bid for his fourth straight win on the circuit.
For Kent in his Equipment Rental Options/Image Factory-sponsored #18 the win was his first overall of the season, first ever in a non-winged car, 16th of his career in 410 action at Mercer, 17th of his career overall at Mercer, and 21st of his career overall. George has still not finished worse than second in five Mercer starts this season as the 2005 champion leads the points. Dehner's continued his career best season with a career best third place finish for his third top five of the season. In six previous seasons of competition, Dehner had failed to finish in the top five with last year's sixth place finish in the non-winged event his best career finish to date. Lutz made his second start of the season in Troy Preston's #1P and was able to pass Ruth on lap 18 to finish fourth. Ruth was fifth in his first start of the season. Ralph Spithaler, Jr., who owns three career wins at Mercer, made his first start of the season and was sixth. Ohio invader Mike Burkin made his first ever appearance and was seventh. Joe Butera made his third career non-winged start, but first ever at Mercer and recorded a career best finish in eighth ahead of his car owner Brent Matus. Bill Kiley made his first start of the season and completed the top 10. Heat winners were Lutz and Holtgraver.
Skipping the Sprint Car interview, the Modifieds rolled right onto the speedway for their 20-lap feature as the intensity of the rain picked up. From his fourth starting position, Garrett Krummert bolted into the lead and led the first four laps in search of his first career win. However, Krummert's car slowed on lap five and brought out the event's first caution. Gary Smoker inherited the lead with Jimmy Holden alongside for the restart with five laps completed. When the race resumed, the yellow was thrown as the track surface became too wet. The radar indicated hours of rain and the remainder of the show was cancelled. The final 15 laps will be completed this Saturday night, May 26.
Andy Thompson of Mercer and Andy Buckley of Stoneboro, Pa. split the Tire Express Stock Car heats. The Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites had a strong turnout of 22 cars. With light rain falling, Angie Grzelak of Hubbard, Ohio won her second career heat race at Mercer, while Rod Jones of West Middlesex, Pa. won the second heat race after the rain delay. The M&D Paving Mini Stocks brought nine cars including two new ones bringing the year car count to 13 for the new division. With the impending weather, just one heat race was run with Pete Wearing of Callery, Pa. victorious.
A huge night will be now be set for this Saturday, May 26 as it will truly be fan appreciation night. Fans will see the regular five divisions in action plus the Modified and Mod Lite make-up features all for just $5 for adults, $12 for families, and $2 for students 6-15 on "Pack the Track" Night presented by Froggy 95.1. It's also "Meet Your Heroes" Autograph Night during intermission.
Luxaire Heating & Cooling (410) Wingless Sprint Cars: 1. ARNIE KENT 2. Rod George 3. Mike Dehner 4. Mike Lutz 5. Gale Ruth, Jr. 6. Ralph Spithaler, Jr. 7. Mike Burkin 8. Joe Butera 9. Brent Matus 10. Bill Kiley 11. Richard Reinhart 12. Scott Priester 13. Danny Holtgraver 14. Davey Jones.
Upcoming Events:
5/26 Sprints, Mods, Stocks, Mod Lites, and Mini Stocks plus 5/19 make-up features for Mods & Mod Lites. "Pack the Track"/Fan Appreciation Night ($5 adult, $12 family, $2 student admission) & "Meet Your Heroes" Autograph Night presented by Froggy 95.1
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 p.m. Rain date Mon, May 28 at 5 p.m.
6/02 "Jeff Hoffman Memorial" presented by Hoffman Door Co. Mods ($2,000), Sprints ($1,500), Stocks ($500), Mod Lites, & Mini Stocks plus 5/19 make-up features for Stocks & Mini Stocks.
6/9 Sprints, Mods, Stocks, Mod Lites, and Mini Stocks plus Demo Derby. Free general admission for all Venango County residents. General Electric Diesel Engine Plant Corp. Night.
Gates open at 4:30 p.m. with hot laps at 6:15 p.m. and racing at 7 p.m.
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.mercerracewaypa rk.com for the latest.
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