|
By Mike Leone
June 9, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mercer, PA.After fighting the rain for the past three weeks, sunny skies and no chance of rain graced Mercer Raceway Park Saturday for just the second time in 12 scheduled events and a huge crowd and a season-high 102 cars turned out for the rescheduled Jeff Hoffman Memorial presented by Hoffman Door Co. and Venango County Night presented by Paul Addington and Allegheny Toyota. Celebrating in the Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic victory lane were Jeff Schaffer-Jeff Hoffman Memorial Modifieds, Scott Bonnell-Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars, Andy Buckley-Tire Express Stock Cars, Rod Jones & Matt Hay-Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites, and Pete Wearing & Lucas Sprouse-M&D Paving Mini Stocks. Greg Ferlin captured the inaugural Steve Guthrie, Jr. Memorial Demolition Derby also presented by Paul Addington and Allegheny Toyota.
Jeff Schaffer has won in four different classes of modifieds and he won the 1996 Big-Block and 2004 Sportsman Modified Championships at Mercer, but on Saturday night Schaffer won the biggest race of his career collecting the $2,000 payday in the 30-lap Jeff Hoffman Memorial for Modifieds. "The Hoffman boys have been racing for years," stated the Fombell, Pa. winner. "They are good guys. We miss Jeff. This is great they put on something like this and I'm just glad to be part of it."
Schaffer grabbed the advantage from Kevin Hoffman on the start, while Eric Gabany moved past Jimmy Holden for third. Hoffman reeled Schaffer back in and was on the leader on lap six looking for a way past. Rodney Beltz, who started fifth, was in search of his third straight win and he looked strong making a nice move to pass both Holden and Gabany for third on lap nine. Gabany got sideways one lap later allowing eighth starter Gary Smoker to move into fourth.
Smoker was battling Beltz for third on lap 12 when he looped his mount, which collected Beltz, Gabany, Rick Hall, Mark Frankhouser, and Rich Whitney. Smoker never stopped and restarted third. Smoker took second away from Hoffman on lap 14 before Hoffman spun bringing out the event's final caution as the last 16 laps went green-to-checkered.
The man on the move was Mike Stine who finished second in the points last season and was making his season debut. Stine started 15th and then had to restart on the tail after a spin on lap nine, but made his way to third on lap 15 when he drove by Lonny Riggs.
Up front, Smoker began to pressure Schaffer in search of his first win of the season, but on lap 20 got sideways allowing Stine to take second. All Schaffer had to do was contend with lap traffic on laps 26 and 27 and he did just that maintaining his advantage and racing on to his second win of the season and ninth of his career in the Approved Toilet Rentals, Ford-powered #4.
Stine was second over Smoker. Hoffman made a nice comeback after his spin to collect fourth at the finish. Mark Frankhouser was fifth in his season debut and earned his best career finish at Mercer. Sixth through tenth were Holden, Hall, Kevin Green, Fred Sasse, and Jr. Baker. Heat winners over the season-high 22-car field were Garrett Krummert and Hoffman.
Scott Bonnell made the decision to return to Mercer Raceway Park on Saturday night and the move made off as he captured the 25-lap $1,500 to-win Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Car feature for his first win of the season on the circuit. "This track is great every time I come here," expressed the Girard, Pa. winner from victory lane. "This is a track I can race on. Frank (Benic) and his crew and Vicki (Emig) do a great job- I'm glad to be back. This win is for my niece Cara Anderson, who is eight years old today. She wanted to come here for her birthday and see me win- this is great!"
New York 360 racer Brad Knab made his season debut and jumped past Joe Butera on the start for the lead. Bonnell, who started fourth, made a nice move to get past Rod George and slip under Butera for second on the opening lap. Bonnell then drove under Knab off turn four on lap two for the lead. George disposed of Butera then made the same move as Bonnell on Knab one lap later for second.
Two-time winner Danny Holtgraver looked strong as he passed Carl Bowser for fourth on lap four then took third away from Knab on lap five. Up front, Bonnell began to contend with lapped traffic on lap 12, but Holtgraver's strong run ended when he looped his mount with 12 laps completed moving seventh starting Arnie Kent to third. When racing resumed, Todd Bauer had just taken fourth away from Knab before Knab slipped high and slid into the safety barrels in turn four bringing out the caution.
The cautions benefited Bonnell giving him a clear track. With five laps to go, George made a charge and closed in on the leader. Entering turn three with traffic ahead, Bonnell missed his mark slightly losing lots of momentum as George snuck under. The two were side-by-side in traffic coming off turn four and it appeared George had the slight advantage, but Scott Rodgers slammed the frontstretch wall and flipped in front of Bonnell. Bonnell did a good job to avoid Rodgers and the lap did not count.
With another clear track ahead, Bonnell was unchallenged over the last six laps as he captured his third career 410 win and fifth overall counting two 360 wins at Mercer in his Bonnell's Collision Center/Fairview Service Center/Sikkens Auto Paint-sponsored #3B. "I knew Rod was going to be tough when I seen him underneath me," explained Bonnell. "Luckily traffic didn't play a part or he would have been gone. I wouldn't have had anything for him. I knew I had to keep him back there and I'd have a chance."
George was second for the fourth time this season to go along with two wins as he continues to lead the points. Kent was third. Bauer, 13th starting Charlie Holben, and Bowser were fourth through sixth in their season debuts. Mike Dehner advanced from 15th to finish seventh over Dan Kuriger, Brent Matus, and Holtgraver. Kuriger won his first career heat and Holtgraver won the other heat over the season-high 20-car field.
Andy Buckley started all the way back in 19th and benefited from many others' misfortunes to collect his second win of the season in the 20-lap $500 to-win Tire Express Stock Car feature. "It was tough to be back there," said the Stoneboro, Pa. winner. "I guess we survived it and missed all the wrecks. The car worked really good tonight."
Andy Thompson moved past pole-sitter Bobby Whitling on the start. The two battled hard with Whitling taking over the lead on lap three only to have Thompson regain it back one lap later. The two raced side-by-side, while eighth starter Brian Booher passed Mike Pegher, Jr. for third on lap four. On lap five, Booher entered the battle making it a three-car race for lead. Booher went to the outside to sneak past Whitling for third.
Booher went under Thompson for the lead on lap nine as Thompson car mishandled over the backstretch bringing out the caution. Whitling was second for the restart with Shaun Hooks third. Hooks, the 2002 track champion, got into the back of Whitling, the 2003 track champion, sending Whitling around in turn four on lap 11. Hooks was sent to the tail. Under caution, Booher exited the event ending his bid at four straight wins and totally reshuffling the line-up.
Buckley was now the leader with Mark Sanders second and Ryan Moyer third. Mike Pegher, Jr., who was involved in an early spin, came back through the field and passed both Moyer and Sanders for second on lap 13. Pegher looked like he might have something for Buckley and a caution with 14 laps completed would have put him alongside Buckley, but Pegher pulled off under caution moving Sanders back to second. Sanders' fine run ended when he spun on the final lap.
Buckley survived all the cautions in his McClung Auto Body/World of Wheels/Specialty Tube-sponsored #965 for his 24th career win matching him with Brian Booher atop the Stock Car win list since the track reopened in 1994. Hooks came back to place second at the finish in Clyde Robert's #33c over Whitling. Rod Laskey was fourth ahead of Moyer in his season debut. Bryan Shaffer won his first ever Stock Car heat and Booher won the other over the 20-car field.
Making his first start since winning the opening night Star's Championship Tour event, Matt Hay of Somerset, Pa. returned to win the 15-lap $300 to-win event for the Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites. Brian Woodhall passed good friend Jeremy Adamik for the early lead, while Kenny Meadows went from fourth to second on the opening lap. Woodhall and Meadows put on a good race running side-by-side on laps three and four before both Meadows and Doug Stanley moved past on lap five. Woodhall got back around Stanley on lap six for second and then caught back up to Meadows as the two again raced side-by-side for the lead on lap seven with Woodhall retaking the lead. Meadows wouldn't go away as he and Woodhall raced side-by-side once again on laps nine and ten.
Meanwhile, Hay, who started 12th, drove past Todd Canter for third on lap 10, Meadows for second on lap 11, and then right under and past Woodhall off the inside of turn four on lap 12 for the lead. Hay went on to collect the victory in the Richard Lawson-owned #70x7. Woodhall was second as Canter, Meadows, and Mark Marcucci completed the top five. Heat winners over the 27-car field were Canter, Hay, and Rod Jones. Tom Klein won the B main.
Rod Jones of West Middlesex, Pa. was victorious in the 15-lap May 19 Big Daddy's Speed Center make-up feature for his third win of the season. Angie Grzelak passed Levi Spinneweber and Ben Black on the opening lap for the lead. Grzelak's lead lasted only one lap as Marcucci, Jones, and Canter took first through third on lap two. Jones took the lead from Marcucci one lap later, while Stanley passed Canter for third. Marcucci surprised Jones as he got under the leader in turn one to take the lead on lap seven. Marcucci's fine run ended when he spun on lap 11. Jones was handed the lead back and he went unchallenged the rest of the way in the Dave Jones-owned, Jones Performance Products-sponsored #820 for his fifth career win at the track. Rookie Jeremy Adamik was a career best second after starting 12th. Canadian racer Adam Murphy came from 10th to finish third after passing Meadows on the final lap in his first ever appearance. Meadows dropped to fourth over Stanley.
Lucas Sprouse of Elkton, Ohio captured his third win of the season in the 12-lap M&D Paving Mini Stock feature. Sprouse started fifth and made the winning move on lap five taking the lead away from Mike Anderson (Jr.) with an inside move off turn two. Sprouse, who continues to lead the points, went on to victory in his #23s. Pete Wearing passed Mike Anderson (Jr.) on the final lap to finish second. Newcomer Cameron McQunwn was fourth over John Hartman. Bill Fuchs and Sprouse won the heats over the season-high 13-car field.
Third generation racer Pete Wearing and grandson to western Pennsylvania legend Bob Wearing, Sr. captured his first career win in the 12-lap May 19 M&D Paving Mini Stock make-up feature. The Callery, Pa. youngster started fourth and moved into second on the opening lap. Wearing ran down race-long leader Anderson. The two friends raced side-by-side on the last lap. Anderson tried to move Wearing up coming off turn four with the two making contact. Wearing though was able to keep control and had enough momentum to steal the win away in the Rege Wearing-owned, Slippery Rock Dunes-sponsored #111. Steve Polkabla was third over Dan Nagy and Leland Haylett.
Jeff Hoffman Memorial American Racer/Lias Tire (358) Modifieds (30 laps): 1. JEFF SCHAFFER ($2,000) 2. Mike Stine 3. Gary Smoker 4. Kevin Hoffman 5. Mark Frankhouser 6. Jimmy Holden 7. Rick Hall 8. Kevin Green 9. Fred Sasse 10. Jr. Baker 11. Brent Boyer 12. Lonny Riggs 13. Brad Rapp 14. Garrett Krummert 15. Steve Young 16. Eric Gabany 17. Rodney Beltz 18. Frank Guidace 19. Rich Whitney 20. Ron Eperthener, Jr. 21. Keith Swartzlander 22. Matt Reeher.
Luxaire Heating & Cooling (410) Sprint Cars (25 laps): 1. SCOTT BONNELL ($1,500) 2. Rod George 3. Arnie Kent 4. Todd Bauer 5. Charlie Holben 6. Carl Bowser 7. Mike Dehner 8. Dan Kuriger 9. Brent Matus 10. Danny Holtgraver 11. Joe Butera 12. Mary Anne Williams 13. Mike Lutz 14. Brad Knab 15. Scott Rodgers 16. Mark Whitebread 17. Scott Priester 18. Andy McKisson 19. Gale Ruth, Jr. 20. Chris Shuttleworth- DNS.
Tire Express Stock Cars (20 laps): 1. ANDY BUCKLEY ($500) 2. Shaun Hooks 3. Bobby Whitling 4. Rod Laskey 5. Ryan Moyer 6. Bryan Wagner 7. Bryan Shaffer 8. Mark Sanders 9. Matt Wagner 10. Mike Pegher, Jr. 11. Curt Bish, Sr. 12. Chris Haines 13. Andy Thompson 14. Russ Byler 15. Brian Booher 16. Butch Lambert 17. Rusty Wheeler 18. Bill Vance, Jr. 19. Rick Norco 20. Terry Wheeler-DNS.
Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites (15 laps): 1. MATT HAY ($300) 2. Brian Woodhall 3. Todd Canter 4. Kenny Meadows 5. Mark Marcucci 6. Doug Stanley 7. Lynn Knepper 8. Adam Murphy 9. Richard Lawson 10. John Gerula 11. Levi Spinneweber 12. Tom Klein 13. J.J. Metheney 14. Chad Yeager 15. Alan Knepper 16. Kotie Kirkbride 17. Wilbur Juillerat 18. Bill Stivason 19. Eric Hay 20. Mikey Hay 21. Jerry Cushing 22. Matt Snow 23. Rod Jones 24. Jeremy Adamik DNQ: Mark Brighton, Angie Grzelak, Ben Black.
Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites (5/19/07 make-up): 1. ROD JONES 2. Jeremy Adamik 3. Adam Murphy 4. Kenny Meadows 5. Doug Stanley 6. Angie Grzelak 7. Tom Klein 8. Mark Brighton 9. J.J. Metheney 10. Wilbur Juillerat 11. Alan Knepper 12. Chad Yeager 13. Mark Marcucci 14. Todd Canter 15. Levi Spinneweber 16. Eric Hay 17. Kotie Kirkbride 18. Lynn Knepper 19. Ben Black 20. Jarred Barclay-DNS 21. Chris Logan-DNS 22. Darrel Lewis-DNS.
M&D Paving Mini Stocks (12 laps): 1. LUCAS SPROUSE ($60) 2. Pete Wearing 3. Mike Anderson (Jr.) 4. Cameron McQunwn 5. John Hartman 6. Leland Haylett 7. Steve Polkabla 8. Don D'Onofrio 9. Bill Fuchs 10. Kristen Baselj 11. Dan Nagy-DNS 12. Dillon Barr-DNS 13. Wally Stearns-DNS.
M&D Paving Mini Stocks (5/19/07 make-up): 1. PETE WEARING 2. Mike Anderson (Jr.) 3. Steve Polkabla 4. Dan Nagy 5. Leland Haylett 6. Dillon Barr 7. Wally Stearns 8. John Hartman 9. James Longwell-DNS.
Upcoming Events:
6/16 Sprints, Mods, Stocks, Mod Lites, Mini Stocks plus 5/19 Mod make-up feature. "Meet Your Heroes" Autograph Night presented by Froggy 95. $10 Family Night presented by Armstrong. Gates at 4:30. Racing at 7.
6/23 Sprints, Mods, Stocks, Mod Lites, & Mini Stocks plus fireworks! Free general admission for Butler County residents, all veterans of war, and scouts in uniform presented by Armstrong. Gates at 4:30. Racing at 7.
6/30 Sprints, Mods, Stocks, Mod Lites, & Mini Stocks. Free general admission for all Ohio residents. Gates at 4:30. Racing at 7.
7/4 (Wed) FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Series ($5,000), T3 All-Star Modified Series ($1,500), & Star's Championship Mod Lite Tour ($500). Gates at 3:30. Racing at 6.
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.
|
|
