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By Mike Leone
June 2, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mercer, PA.Despite sunshine throughout the entire day Saturday at Mercer Raceway Park and only a 30% chance of storms, one cell exploded over Mercer County early in the evening. Brian Booher won the May 19 Stock Car feature before the intensity of the rain picked up and after waiting over one hour officials threw in the towel. The largest car count of the season turned out for the Jeff Hoffman Memorial presented by Hoffman Door Co. as 23 American Racer/Lias Tire Modifieds, 22 Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars, 21 Tire Express Stock Cars, 15 Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites, and 13 M&D Paving Mini Stocks were pit side.
With weather now affecting the last three weeks, the schedule has been reshuffled once again. The Jeff Hoffman Memorial will take place this Saturday night, June 9 along with the previously scheduled Steve Guthrie, Jr. Memorial Demo Derby and free Venango County Night presented by Paul Addington and Allegheny Toyota. The Mini Stock and Mod Lite make-up features will also take place. It's also General Electric Diesel Engine Plant Corp. Night. Rain checks from Saturday night will be good for the next two weeks.
Meanwhile, the May 19 Modified make-up feature and the May 26 "Meet Your Heroes" Autograph Night have been pushed back to June 16. "The weather has been very disheartening this year," stated ninth year owner Vicki Emig. "You plan all winter long and promote the events only to have the weather ruin everyone's hard work. In 11 scheduled events this season, we've only had one night where there hasn't been a chance of rain. We feel bad for the racers too as some have now towed three straight weeks to the track without running a feature."
Brian Booher put on a dominating performance winning for the third straight week and fourth this season in the non-stop 15-lap Tire Express Stock Car May 19 make-up feature. "We got the car dialed in and it felt really good," explained the Sandy Lake, Pa. driver from the announcer's booth during the rain delay. "It's working well right now. We didn't change anything from the last feature we ran. The track was real nice and tacky. I could run anywhere. This win goes to my new son, who's here tonight. He's nine days old."
Booher started ninth and marched his way up to third by the second lap taking the position from Rod Laskey. One lap later Booher got past Mark Sanders for third. Bill Vance, Jr. led the first four laps, but slipped high in turn four on lap five allowing Booher to fly past on the bottom for the lead.
Once in front, Booher pulled away and checked out from the field in the Terry Hoover-owned, Ed & Jerry's Auto Service/Harry & Tim's Roofing/Brad McEwen Garage Doors-sponsored #00H as he cruised his 24th career win putting him atop the Stock Car win list since the track reopened in 1994. Andy Thompson, who started seventh, took third from Sanders on lap nine and then passed Vance on lap 13 for second, but was more than a straightaway back at the finish. Vance held on to a career best third over Sanders and Andy Buckley.
Tire Express Stock Cars (5/19 make-up feature): 1. BRIAN BOOHER 2. Andy Thompson 3. Bill Vance, Jr. 4. Mark Sanders 5. Andy Buckley 6. Rick Norco 7. Rod Laskey 8. Chris Haines 9. Matt Wagner 10. Russ Byler 11. Shaun Hooks 12. Nick Mohawk-DNS 13. Casey Smith-DNS 14. Brandon Johnston-DNS.
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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