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By Mike Leone
June 16, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mercer, PA.The second straight sunny Saturday saw fans pack Mercer Raceway Park for $10 family night presented by Armstrong. Celebrating in the Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic victory lane were Rod George-Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars, Gary Smoker-American Racer/Lias Tire Modifieds and May 19 make-up, Brian Booher-Tire Express Stocks Cars, Mark Marcucci-Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites, and Lucas Sprouse-M&D Paving Mini Stocks. Fans flocked the speedway during intermission for "Meet Your Heroes" night as all cars and drivers were present for pictures and autographs. Howard Michaels, who reopened the speedway back in 1994 after it sat dormant for five years and operated Mercer through the 1996 season, passed away after suffering a heart attack in an automobile accident on Friday and was remembered Saturday night.
Three months ago it didn't appear as Rod George was even going to compete in 2007. Thanks to the help of former Sprint Car owner Dr. John Crawford III, George is back on the circuit and winning frequently. Saturday night, George charged from the 11th starting to pass Danny Holtgraver to win his third 20-lap Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Car feature of the year and more impressively his eighth of the season overall after also winning at Lernerville Speedway Friday night.
"That was a lot of fun," expressed the Kittanning, Pa. winner. "Danny (Holtgraver) kind of slipped up a little bit and gave us our shot. He did a great job and that's just a lack of a little patience. He's young and he'll be real fast in years to come. We've had a great year. We weren't even going to run, but we got some help and everything is coming together. We've got our motor in from 1995 that Jimmy Hawley ran."
The race got off to a slow start as two accidents in turn one slowed action on the first lap. Mike Dehner and newcomer Jeremy Cook were involved in both with Cook getting upside down the second time. Charlie Holben, Gale Ruth, Jr., Joe Butera were also involved, but would return to action.
When racing resumed, there would be no more stoppages as the race went green-to-checkered. Mike Lutz was trying to end his bad start to the season in his new ride- Troy Preston's #1P. Lutz jumped out to the early lead over two-time winner Danny Holtgraver with Davey Jones trailing. George was up to fourth after the completion of the first lap then passed Jones for third on lap two. Lutz and Holtgraver had broken away from the pack as George was a straightaway back when he advanced to third.
Lutz ran the top of the speedway, while Holtgraver was working the bottom as the veteran continued to hold off the youngster, while George began to close in on lap five. By lap eight it was a three-car race for the lead and it was that lap that Holtgraver snuck past Lutz off the outside of turn four for the lead. On lap 10, Lutz slipped off turn two allowing George to blast by for second.
Holtgraver was running the cushion, while George ran his custom inside line as George closed on Holtgraver on lap 11. George made his winning move on lap 12 diving underneath Holtgraver, who missed his mark in turn three. George drove a perfect race through lapped traffic and went on for his 10th career Mercer win in his Dr. John Crawford III/Notary Express/Ankle & Foot Care-sponsored #4. George is now just three wins away from 100 career Sprint Car wins and continues to lead the points in search of his second championship and has yet to finish worse than second this season.
Holtgraver was second. Lutz held off fast-closing Arnie Kent and Rob Eyler, who came from the back after pitting, to finish third. Troy Little of Sydney, NSW, Australia came from 16th to finish sixth in his first ever appearance. Completing the top 10 were Jones, Bryan Grove, Brent Matus, and Holben. Heat winners over the 16-car field were Kent and Lutz.
Gary Smoker has been off to a slow start in 2007, but the 2005 champion ended that on Saturday night as he swept both 20-lap American Racer/Lias Tire Modified features for his first wins of the season. "It's Father's Day Weekend so I have to thank all the dads and servicemen that are over fighting for our country, while we're here enjoying life," stated the Mercer, Pa. racer.
In the first feature, Smoker inherited the lead on lap five back on May 19 when leader Garrett Krummert had problems right before the rains came. When the race resumed Saturday night, Smoker led the final 15 non-stop laps in the D&D Racing-owned, Kristyak's Service Plaza/MBMR Inc./High Reach/Omac Inc.-sponsored #516 for his first win since August 4 of last season. Defending champion, Frank Guidace, who has also been off to slow start in his new Troyer car was a season-best second after passing Jimmy Holden for the spot on lap six. Lonny Riggs, who started 13th, inherited third on lap eight when Holden exited and would hold off Rick Hall and 12th starting Brad Rapp for third.
Smoker came back later in the night to make a clean sweep winning the regularly scheduled 20-lapper with a thrilling late race pass of Rodney Beltz. "I dug on the bottom, dug on the bottom, dug on the bottom," explained Smoker. "There was just nothing there I just spun, spun, spun the tires so I went to the top to see what was up there and it worked. I have to thank my Lord and savior Jesus Christ, who kept me safe all night long."
Ron Eperthener, Jr. led the first five laps before Beltz took over following a restart on lap six. Smoker, who started second, fell back to as far as fourth before taking third back from Riggs on lap seven. Eperthener spun on lap eight ensuing a six-car melee in turns three and four. The accident moved Smoker to second and Guidace to third. It appeared Beltz was headed for his third win of the season until Smoker began to close in on the leader on lap 17 running the outside. Two cautions with 18 laps completed put Smoker alongside Beltz for the restart.
When racing resumed, Smoker was able to sneak around Beltz then held off an attempted slide job and valiant effort by Beltz to capture his leading 11th win in the division and 39th of his career at Mercer. After restarting on the tail on lap eight, Rapp had an impressive run to the front. He moved into the top five on lap 16 past Rick Hall, took fourth from Kevin Hoffman on lap 18, and finally grabbed the third spot on lap 19 from Guidace. Guidace and Hall were fourth and fifth. Eric Gabany won his first career heat race and Smoker also won his heat race over the 19-car field.
Brian Booher continued his winning ways in the Stock Cars winning his track leading fifth of the season in the 15-lap Tire Express event overtaking Shaun Hooks on the next-to-last lap. "I want to wish my dad and all the fathers out there a happy Father's Day and thank my crew and sponsors," said the Sandy Lake, Pa. resident. "We have a real fast hot rod right now. I didn't think I was going to get him (Hooks). His car was running real good tonight. When he went to the low side, I went to the top and gave it all I had."
Hooks led the field to green once again aboard Clyde Roberts' #33c and set the early pace. Booher, who started eighth, was able to pass both Mark Sanders and Russ Byler on lap five for second following the event's only caution. Booher closed on Hooks on lap six and the standouts put on an excellent race over the final nine laps. Booher got under Hooks in turn one on lap nine only to see Hooks maintain the lead. The duo then raced side-by-side for the lead on lap 12 with Hooks managing to hold on. With three laps to go, Andy Thompson, Jason Reagle, and Andy Buckley closed on Hooks and Booher making it a five-car race for the lead. Booher and Hooks again were side-by-side on lap 14 and it was then that Booher had enough momentum to get past Hooks off turn two.
Booher would lead the final two laps in the Terry Hoover-owned, Ed & Jerry's Auto Service/Harry & Tim's Roofing/Brad McEwen Garage Doors-sponsored #00H to collect his milestone 25th career win, which puts him back on top the division's win list since the track reopened in 1994. Hooks was second for the second straight week. Thompson edged newcomer Reagle and last week's winner Andy Buckley for third. Booher and Buckley won the heats over the 16-car field.
Mark Marcucci was the benefactor of Todd Canter's misfortunes to win his second of the season in the 15-lap Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lite feature. Canter, who started eighth, made some great move to overtake all the cars starting in front of him to lead the opening lap with rookie Chad Yeager and Angie Grzelak trailing. Grzelak and Meadows both passed Yeager for second and third on lap two. Grzelak slipped high off turn four and got into the frontstretch wall on lap three allowing Meadows and Marcucci by for second and third.
Marcucci slipped under Meadows for second on lap seven. Canter appeared headed to his first ever win at the track, but on lap 13 his steering broke and sent him spinning in turn four. Under caution, his teammate Meadows also exited the event. Marcucci led the final three laps in his father's D&M Excavating & Construction/ Harper & Houston Masonry/Ernie' s Transmissions- sponsored #8M. Jeff Teeters subbed for Ben Black and was second after starting 14th. Tenth starting Doug Stanley was third after passing Grzelak on lap 13. Grzelak held off Levi Spinneweber for fourth as both racers recording their season's best efforts. Stanley and Canter won the heats over the 17-car field.
Lucas Sprouse captured his fourth win of the season in the 12-lap M&D Paving Mini Stock feature. The Elkton, Ohio driver started ninth and charged up to second past Dan Nagy on lap six. Sprouse made the winning move on lap eight taking the lead away from Pete Wearing. Sprouse went on for the victory in his #23s. Wearing was second over Mike Anderson (Jr.). In just his second career start, Don D'Onofrio was fourth before his car went up in a blaze of fire in the pit area. Nagy, who led the first four laps, finished fifth. Sprouse and Anderson won the heats over the season-high 14 cars.
Luxaire Heating & Cooling (410) Sprint Cars: 1. ROD GEORGE 2. Danny Holtgraver 3. Mike Lutz 4. Arnie Kent 5. Rob Eyler 6. Troy Little 7. Davey Jones 8. Bryan Grove 9. Brent Matus 10. Charlie Holben 11. Mike Dehner 12. Joe Butera 13. Richard Rinehart 14. Gale Ruth, Jr. 15. Jeremy Cook 16. Robert Vantassel.
American Racer/Lias Tire (358) Modifieds (5/19/07 make-up): 1. GARY SMOKER 2. Frank Guidace 3. Lonny Riggs 4. Rick Hall 5. Brad Rapp 6. Steve Young 7. Rodney Beltz 8. Rich Whitney 9. Garrett Krummert 10. Matt Reeher 11. Fred Sasse 12. Jr. Baker 13. Rod Artman 14. Jimmy Holden 15. Alex Anderson-DNS.
American Racer/Lias Tire (358) Modifieds: 1. GARY SMOKER 2. Rodney Beltz 3. Brad Rapp 4. Frank Guidace 5. Rick Hall 6. Steve Young 7. Garrett Krummert 8. Matt Reeher 9. Kevin Green 10. Rich Whitney 11. Alex Anderson 12. Kevin Hoffman 13. Jimmy Holden 14. Fred Sasse 15. Jr. Baker 16. Ron Eperthener, Jr. 17. Lonny Riggs 18. Eric Gabany 19. Rod Artman-DNS.
Tire Express Stock Cars: 1. BRIAN BOOHER 2. Shaun Hooks 3. Andy Thompson 4. Jason Reagle 5. Andy Buckley 6. Rod Laskey 7. Mark Sanders 8. Bob Sloss 9. Russ Coyne 10. Randy Wyant 11. Bryan Wagner 12. Matt Wagner 13. Dave Airgood, Jr. 14. Bill Vance, Jr. 15. Russ Byler 16. Brandon Johnston.
Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites: 1. MARK MARCUCCI 2. Jeff Teeters 3. Doug Stanley 4. Angie Grzelak 5. Levi Spinneweber 6. George Englert 7. Chris Logan 8. J.J. Metheney 9. Chad Yeager 10. Kotie Kirkbride 11. Ray Gregory 12. Todd Canter 13. Kenny Meadows 14. Heather Scherrbaum 15. William Stivason 16. Ted Williams 17. Matt Snow-DNS.
M&D Paving Mini Stocks: 1. LUCAS SPROUSE 2. Pete Wearing 3. Mike Anderson (Jr.) 4. Don D'Onofrio 5. Dan Nagy 6. Steve Polkabla 7. Anthony Shetter 8. John Hartman 9. Wally Stearns 10. Leland Haylett 11. James Longwell 12. Ed Haylett 13. Bill Fuchs 14. Dillon Barr-DNS.
Upcoming Events:
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.
7/7 "Stand On It" presented by Truck Rodz by Jones Performance. Sprints, Mods, Stocks, Mod Lites, & Mini Stocks plus Drag Racing by Full Pull Productions for Street Semis, 4x4 Gas Trucks, 4x4 Diesel Trucks, and an open competition class. 4-H Night- $10 family admission for all card-carrying members.
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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