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By Mike Leone
June 29, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mercer, PA.For the second straight year, Fourth of July holiday racing returns to Mercer Raceway Park this Wednesday night. "Saluting the Red, White, & Blue" will be the richest event in the history of Mercer Raceway Park and will feature the FASTRAK Late Models, T3 All-Star Modified Series, and the Star's Championship Tour for Mod Lites. It will be the first time ever these three sanctioning bodies have appeared together. Racing begins early at 6 p.m.
Highlighting the event will be first ever appearance by the FASTRAK Late Models. The event will be part of the inaugural Northeast Touring Series, which will pay its champion $5,000 with the opportunity to win the $50,000 National Championship in October. The FASTRAK Late Models will compete Wednesday in the Yankee 40, which will be a 40-lap feature paying $5,000 to-win!
"We're very excited to be able to host the biggest FASTRAK event of the season, which turns out to be part of the richest event ever at Mercer," stated owner Vicki Emig. "The FASTRAK Late Models have been putting on tremendous racing in the five Touring events as well as locally at the weekly-sanctioned tracks thus far and we expect more of that on Wednesday with two and three-wide racing the norm. This will be the most competitive racing you will probably see all year."
Alan Dellinger (a.k.a. Jim Dandy, Jr.) is the Series' current point leader fresh off his first win last Saturday night at Ohio's Lakeville Speedway. Dick Barton and John Lacki each have a pair of Touring Series victories thus far. Other top runners like Todd Andrews, Rodney Phillips, Jay Watson, Greg Oakes, Bump Hedman, John Watson, Mark Osburn, Steve Hollabaugh, Larry Kugel, Dave Padula, Carl McKinney, and many more are expected. Along with the Touring Series regulars, expect weekly racers from Raceway 7, Freedom Raceway, Dog Hollow Speedway, McKean County Speedway, and Pittsburgh Pennsylvania's Motor Speedway to take part.
Mike Pegher, Jr., who owns 10 career Stock victories at Mercer and numerous wins at surrounding speedways, is eager to make his FASTRAK debut Wednesday. Other former Stock Car racers familiar to Mercer that are part of the FASTRAK Series include brothers Scott and Chad Myers and Tom Snyder, Jr.
The regional racers are expected to face some outsiders from the south. One driver that called and is planning on making the trip is South Carolina racer Scott Morgan. For more information on FASTRAK, check out the Northeast Region website at www.fastraknortheast.com and the national website at www.fastrakracing.com
The second of four major events for the American Racer/Lias Tire Modifieds will also be showcased as the T3 All-Star Series makes their first of two appearances this season. The 30-lap feature will pay $1,500 to-win, $100 to-start. The event will be a pill draw and will utilize T3's open tire rule.
The T3 Series always brings a strong contingent of racers from northern Pennsylvania and throughout New York state including brothers Billy and Curt VanPelt, Mike and Stacy Jackson, Ron Cartwright, Jr., Ray Bliss, Dylan DeWert, Bryan Terwilliger, Donnie Lawson, Gil Tegg, Jr., Dale Welty, Dave Dubois, Ron White, Mark Frankhouser, and others. They will face stiff challenge from Mercer's top runners including defending track champion Frank Guidace, current point leader Rodney Beltz along with Steve Young, Jeff Schaffer, Lonny Riggs, Brad Rapp, Kevin Hoffman, Gary Smoker, Rick Hall, Ron Eperthener, Jr., Jimmy Holden, Garrett Krummert, Brian Fink, Matt Baker, Mike Stine, and others. Last year 41 cars were on hand with Billy VanPelt defeating Brad Rapp.
Completing the program will be the second of three appearances by the Star's Championship Tour for the Mod Lites. Their 20-lap feature will pay $500 to-win. Matt Hay was the winner back on April 21 topping a 30-car field. A strong field more than 30 cars is expected featuring all the top Mercer runners plus outsiders from the Star's Tour and Deerfield Speedway.
All features will be a redraw for the first 12 starting spots. Positions 13-24 will be straight-up from heats races or B mains. It will be a Mercer points event for the Modifieds and Mod Lites.
Spend your 4th of July at Mercer Raceway Park for this unique event, the richest in Mercer Raceway Park's 56-year history featuring FASTRAK, T3, and Star's together for the first time ever!
Pit gates open at 2:30 p.m. and grandstands at 3:30, hot laps are at 5:15, and racing begins at 6. Adult admission for this quality event is just $15. Students 6-15 are $7. Children five and under are always free. The family pass, which admits mom, dad, and up to four kids, is $35. Pit passes are $30.
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 late mornings and after 1:30 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.mercerracewaypark.com for the latest. |
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