|
By Mike Leone
June 23, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mercer, PA.The third straight sunny Saturday saw fans pack Mercer Raceway Park for American Patriot Night presented by Herr's Foods. Celebrating in the Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic victory lane were Rod George-Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars, Jimmy Holden-American Racer/Lias Tire Modifieds, Brian Booher-Tire Express Stocks Cars, Rod Jones-Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites, and Bill Fuchs-M&D Paving Mini Stocks. Armstrong presented free Butler County Night plus all veterans of war and scouts in uniform were admitted free. Fans enjoyed a spectacular fireworks display after sunset.
Rod George's three-race win steak western Pa. circuit may have ended with a second place finish on Friday night at Lernerville Speedway, but on Saturday night George returned to victory lane for the fourth time in five nights earning his 99th career win after a non-stop victory in the 20-lap Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Car feature.
"I'll you what, this track is awesome again," stated the Kittanning, Pa. winner. "The thing was real fast around the top, real fast on the bottom. You can start anywhere on this track and race. I tell all the young guys this is where they should race. You can't ask for much more than that. I've got to thank all the people for coming out to watch tonight- just an awesome race. The young guys are running real well. I knew if I didn't get Danny (Holtgraver) there, there was no way I'd get around him."
Gale Ruth, Jr. rocketed into the lead at the start of the event, while Brent Matus passed teammate Joe Butera for second with Danny Holtgraver getting past Mike Dehner and Butera for third on the opening lap. By lap three it was a four-car race for second with Matus trying to hold off Holtgraver, Dehner, and Mike Lutz. One lap later, eighth starter Rod George entered the mix making it five cars battling for second.
On lap four, Holtgraver got under Matus for second and George followed in third one lap later. George ran down Holtgraver and was right on him as the two not only battled for second but closed on Ruth on lap six. George made a perfect move on lap seven getting under Holtgraver then made his mount stick on the bottom of turn four getting a great run off and down the frontstretch to slip past Ruth for the lead.
Holtgraver worked his way by Ruth for second on lap nine and Lutz followed in third on lap 11. Scott Bonnell, who won the June 9 event, started ninth and took fourth from Ruth on lap 14. Back up front George had opened up more than a straightaway lead as the laps ticked off. George had to deal with lapped traffic on laps 15 and 16 allowing Holtgraver to close within a half-straightaway, but the veteran was able to clear traffic and pulled back away on lap 17 and went unchallenged the rest of the way. George's second straight win was his fourth of season and 10th of his career at Mercer in his Dr. John Crawford III/Notary Express/Ankle & Foot Care-sponsored #4. George continues to lead the points as he has still yet to finish worse than second this year. The non-stop event was timed in 4:58.92.
Holtgraver and Lutz finished second and third to George for the second straight week. Bonnell had a solid fourth over Arnie Kent. Completing the top 10 were Ruth, Matus, Dehner, New Jersey's Jeff Taylor, and Butera. Heat winners were Kent and Holtgraver.
Despite winning some 13 races in his career, Jimmy Holden has been trying for four years to win at Mercer and Saturday night the youngster finally captured his first ever Mercer win holding off the challenges of the division's best in the competitive 20-lap American Racer/Lias Tire Modified feature.
"This first win feels great," expressed the Tiona, Pa. driver. "This feels like the first win of all. We've won everywhere else, just couldn't do it here. This means a whole hell of a lot to the team. The car was strong. I thought it was real good and the best the car has been in a long time, but I had company there so we have some work to do."
Holden jumped to the lead past Matt Reeher, while seventh starting Garrett Krummert took second from Reeher on lap two. Krummert closed on Holden on lap four and the two ran side-by-side on laps five, six, and seven with Holden holding on. Meanwhile, ninth starting Frank Guidace and eighth starting Rodney Beltz were able to pass Reeher for third and fourth and the two also raced side-by-side behind Holden and Krummert on lap seven with Beltz taking the position.
Brad Rapp, who started 10th, made it a five-car race for the lead on lap seven and then was able to slip past Guidace for fourth on lap eight. Beltz drove by Krummert for second on lap nine and set his sights on Holden closing in on the leader at the halfway point. Rapp looked strong going to the inside and past Krummert for third on lap 13. One lap later Rapp charged under Beltz in turns one and two and made the pass stick for second. Rapp quickly closed on the leader hoping to steal a first ever win away from Holden and at the same time get his first win of the season.
Rapp pressured Holden hard, but Holden protected the inside line and took the checkered flag first for an impressive victory in a race that had just two cautions. The win came in the Dean Holden-owned, Holden Oil & Gas/Hoover Oilfield Supply/Homeland Energy-sponsored #28H and was just Holden's first top five of the season. Rapp was second over point leader Beltz. Gary Smoker, who started 14th, made a late charge to finish fourth after getting past Krummert on lap 18. Krummert dropped to fifth. Rick Hall and Brad Rapp won the heats.
Like a broken record, Brian Booher returned to victory lane for the second straight week and track-leading sixth time of the season in the 15-lap Tire Express Stock Car feature. "This car has been really good this year," stated the Sandy Lake, Pa. winner. "They helped us out this year by lowering the weight to 3,000 pounds. That's a big help. I have to thank my sponsors and my crew. That's the best crew down there."
Terry Wheeler raced past Russ Byler for the early lead. Booher, who started ninth, made his way to third on lap six before the event's first and only caution when Bryan Shaffer slid into the water barrels. When racing resumed, Byler surprisingly overtook the veteran Wheeler. Booher then edged ahead of Wheeler for second on lap eight and closed on the leader. Booher and Byler ran side-by-side on laps 10, 11, and 12 for the lead before Byler slipped high in turn two allowing Booher to snatch the lead away on lap 12.
Booher then pulled away in the Terry Hoover-owned, Ed & Jerry's Auto Service/Harry & Tim's Roofing/Brad McEwen Garage Doors-sponsored #00H for his 26th career win, which is tops in the division since the track reopened in 1994. "I was waiting on him (Byler) to make a mistake and hoping he would," explained Booher. "He's running real good and fast and he held his line."
Byler, who has limited experience in a Micro Sprint, was a career best second in his first season in a full-size car. Wheeler dropped to third over Rod Laskey and Chris Haines. Bryan Shaffer and Booher topped the heat races.
Todd Canter "can't" buy a win. Last week Canter all but had his first win sewed up until his steering broke on lap 13. Saturday night, a caution with one lap to go allowed Rod Jones to steal his fourth win of the season away from Canter in the 15-lap Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites.
Bill Stivason led his first ever lap before fifth starting Lynn Knepper made the pass for the lead on lap two. Canter, who started ninth, grabbed second from Stivason on lap three. Following a restart, Canter overtook Knepper for the lead on lap four while 11th starting Jones moved to third past Jarred Barclay.
Jones of West Middlesex, Pa. and last week's winner Mark Marcucci moved past Knepper for second and third on laps five and seven respectively. Jones closed on Canter on lap 12, but Canter pulled back away on laps 13 and 14. Canter appeared headed to the victory, but Ben Black brought out just the event's second caution setting up a one-lap shootout to the finish. Jones got a good restart on the outside to grab the lead. Canter fought back off turn four, but came up just one car-length short at the checkered. Jones' sixth career win came in the Dave Jones-owned, Jones Performance Products-owned #820. Marcucci was third to maintain his point lead. George Englert was fourth in just his second start over Knepper and Angie Grzelak, who fought back from an early spin. Heat winners over the 20-car field were Marcucci and Center.
Bill Fuchs of Greenville, Pa. won his first career race topping a season-high 15-car field in the M&D Paving Mini Stocks. Fuchs survived four cautions leading from green-to-checkered in the 12-lap feature in his #10. Pete Wearing started ninth and placed second after passing John Hartman for second on lap six. Hartman was third over Cameron McQuown and Don D'Onofrio. The results are unofficial pending a technical ruling this week concerning tires. Heat winners were Hartman and Wearing.
Luxaire Heating & Cooling (410) Sprint Cars: 1. ROD GEORGE 2. Danny Holtgraver 3. Mike Lutz 4. Scott Bonnell 5. Arnie Kent 6. Gale Ruth, Jr. 7. Brent Matus 8. Mike Dehner 9. Jeff Taylor 10. Joe Butera 11. Jack Helget 12. Lindsay Enscoe 13. Robert VanTassel.
American Racer/Lias Tire (358) Modifieds: 1. JIMMY HOLDEN 2. Brad Rapp 3. Rodney Beltz 4. Gary Smoker 5. Garrett Krummert 6. Frank Guidace 7. Steve Young 8. Matt Reeher 9. Ron Eperthener, Jr. 10. Kevin Green 11. Alex Anderson 12. Jr. Baker 13. Rick Hall 14. Fred Sasse 15. Lonny Riggs 16. Eric Gabany.
Tire Express Stock Cars: 1. BRIAN BOOHER 2. Russ Byler 3. Terry Wheeler 4. Rod Laskey 5. Chris Haines 6. Shaun Hooks 7. Mark Sanders 8. Matt Wagner 9. Bill Vance, Jr. 10. Paul Reiser 11. Bryan Shaffer 12. Brandon Johnston-DNS.
Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites: 1. ROD JONES 2. Todd Canter 3. Mark Marcucci 4. George Englert 5. Lynn Knepper 6. Angie Grzelak 7. Tom Klein 8. Levi Spinneweber 9. Bill Stivason 10. Kotie Kirkbride 11. Jarred Barclay 12. Alan Knepper 13. Wilbur Juillerat 14. Ben Black 15. Chad Yeager 16. Craig Scherrbaum 17. J.J. Metheney 18. Kenny Meadows-DNS 19. Mike Evans-DNS 20. Doug Stanley-DNS.
M&D Paving Mini Stocks: 1. BILL FUCHS 2. Pete Wearing 3. John Hartman 4. Cameron McQuown 5. Don D'Onofrio 6. Anthony Shetter 7. Leland Haylett 8. Steve Polkabla 9. Dan Nagy 10. Ed Haylett 11. Kris Anderson 12. Wally Stearns 13. Mike Anderson (Jr.) 14. Dillon Barr 15. Lucas Sprouse.
Upcoming Events:
6/27 (Wed) Open practice for all divisions. Pits open at 4 p.m. Practice 5 until dark.
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.
|
|
