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By Mike Leone
June 5, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mercer, PA.Mercer Raceway Park will try once again to host the Jeff Hoffman Memorial presented by the Hoffman Door Co. this Saturday night, June 2 at 7 p.m. On the card will be the American Racer/Lias Tire Modifieds, Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars, Tire Express Stock Cars, Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites, and the M&D Paving Mini Stocks. Also on tap will be the Mod Lite and Mini Stock make-up features from May 19 along with the Steve Guthrie, Jr. Memorial Demo Derby.
Saturday's promotion is free Venango County presented by Paul Addington and Allegheny Toyota. All residents from Venango County and accompanying children will be admitted free into the grandstands for general admission by showing valid ID.
"We've fought the weather all season long, but maybe it's fate that everything ironically fell together for Saturday night," explained owner Vicki Emig. "Jeff Hoffman was obviously from Venango County so it's neat that all his friends, family, and associates can come and enjoy this special event in his memory at no charge. Paul Addington of Allegheny Toyota used to supply the late Steve Guthrie, Jr. with demo derby cars. He decided to come on board and present the demo Saturday night in his memory and then went one step further to be the sponsor of our free Venango County Night."
Prior to the rainout last Saturday at Mercer, a season-high car count was in the pit area. The featured attraction of the event will be the 30-lap feature for the Modifieds, which will pay a cool $2,000 in the first of four major events for the division during 2007. "We're honored to be hosting the Jeff Hoffman Memorial for the third straight year and second as a small-block event," stated owner Vicki Emig. "It should be a great race as we have so many quality drivers and cars on a weekly basis in the division let along when $2,000 will be on the line."
Defending race winner and track champion Frank Guidace would love to win his first race of the season Saturday, while Rodney Beltz is in search of his third straight Modified win at the track. No one wants to win the event more than the late Jeff Hoffman's brother Kevin, who's off to a slow start this year, but has a new motor for the event. The always-consistent Steve Young currently leads the points, but hasn't won a race since June 26, 2004. Veterans Jeff Schaffer, Rick Hall, Lonny Riggs, Gary Smoker will be up for the challenge along with the likes of youngsters Garrett Krummert, who is third in points, Brad Rapp, and Jimmy Holden. Invaders Brent Boyer of eastern Pa. and Mike Stine of central Pa. were both on hand Saturday night.
Many new Sprint Cars were in the pits before the rains came added with the extra money and a pill draw format, a good field is expected to battle in the 25-lap $1,500 to-win feature. Two-time winner Rod George, who finished second with the All Stars Tuesday at Lernerville, currently leads the points by 17 over wingless winner Arnie Kent.
The Stock Cars will be primed for a 20-lap $500 to-win event. Four-time winner Brian Booher has a 24-point lead over nemesis Andy Buckley and is also looking for his record fourth straight win. The Mod Lites will be racing for extra money as Rod Jones has the point lead with two wins. The Mini Stock division continues to grow with new cars every week. Last week a season-high 13 cars were on hand and there have already been a total of 16 different cars that have competed. The Mini Stocks will have their make-up feature plus extra money on the line in the night's regular event. Two-time winner Lucas Sprouse is the current point leader.
Pits open at 3:30 p.m. and grandstands open at 4:30 p.m. Hot laps are slated for 6:15 p.m. and the first green flag will wave at 7 p.m. Admission is $13 for adults. Students 6-15 are $7. The Family Pass is $33. Children five and under are free. Pit passes are $30.
The inaugural Jeff Hoffman Memorial was held at Sportsman's Speedway in 2004 and won by New York's Chad Brachmann. In 2005 the event moved to Mercer and was a BRP Tour-sanctioned event won by Rex King. Last year saw Frank Guidace win the biggest race of career over a 32-car field.
Hoffman passed away in 2003, but his legacy will live on amongst fans and racers in western Pa. and eastern Ohio. The Franklin, Pa. native started his career off in the pure stock ranks and was winner before moving into the big-block division driving the familiar Hoffman Door #17H and #00H. In his relative short racing career, Hoffman amassed 89 Modified wins at nine tracks, which ranked him seventh all-time through the 2004 season. He's the all-time Sportsman's Speedway winner with 36 scores and also leads the way at Marion Center with 19 wins. Hoffman also has 19 wins at Tri-City Speedway, nine wins at Challenger Raceway, two wins at Lernerville Speedway, and one win at Expo, Hickory Speedway, Raceway 7, and Sharon Speedway.
Hoffman Door Co. is family-owned and operated since 1974 in Franklin, Pa. Hoffman's provide garage doors, sales and service for residential, commercial, and industrial. For more information, call 888-534-8250.
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 September. The office in New Bedford, Pa. is open year-round Monday through Friday late mornings and after 1:30 p.m. 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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