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By Mike Leone
July 14, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mercer, PA.The sixth straight sunny Saturday at Mercer Raceway Park saw two new faces in the Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic victory lane on $10 family night presented by Armstrong. Celebrating with wins were Rod George-Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars, Ron Eperthener, Jr.-American Racer/Lias Tire Modifieds, Andy Buckley-Tire Express Steve Guthrie, Jr. Memorial Stocks Cars, Kenny Meadows-Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites, and Lucas Sprouse-M&D Paving Mini Stocks.
Rod George used patience and some great moves in the second half of the race to come to the front and steal a first win away from race-long leader Chris Shuttleworth on lap 17 to capture his fifth win of the season in the 20-lap Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Car feature.
"That's a lot of fun when the track's like that," explained the Kittanning, Pa. driver after his 14th victory of the season on the western Pa. circuit. "You couldn't ask for a smoother track. It was a little slick on one end and a little bitey on top on the other- just an awesome race track. The track was real wide tonight and I was close to the wall a couple times. That's the first I've ever see it take a little rubber down. The 11-car (Shuttleworth) sure looked good. He ended up second- that's an awesome run for him and a nice run for Andy (McKisson) getting third too. These guys really made us work for it."
Shuttleworth raced into the lead from the pole position as Mike Dehner took second from Joe Butera, while Andy McKisson moved past teammates Brent Matus and Butera for third. McKisson drove past Dehner for second on the backstretch on lap two. Sixth starting Gale Ruth, Jr. worked his way into contention edging ahead of Dehner for third on lap four.
Paul Kish spun to bring out the first caution with seven laps completed. When racing resumed, Shuttleworth maintained his lead, but on lap nine McKisson began to close as both drivers were searching for their first career Mercer wins. George, who started in eighth, drove around Matus on lap nine to crack the top five then got a beneficial caution with 10 laps completed when Danny Holtgraver spun.
George began to make his charge when racing resumed as the last 10 laps went non-stop. George slipped under Dehner for fourth on lap 11 and squeezed under Ruth for third entering turn three one lap later. June 30 winner Mike Lutz, who started 10th, made his presence known on lap 13 when he moved into the top five with a pass of Dehner.
Up front it was a three-car race for the lead on lap 14. With Shuttleworth and McKisson both protecting the bottom, George went to the top and took second away from McKisson off turn two on lap 15, while Lutz took fourth from Ruth. George was right on Shuttleworth and it was lap 17 when George got a great run off turn two and down the backstretch to get under Shuttleworth and past him in turn three.
George slipped high a couple times off turn four allowing Shuttleworth to stay close, but at the checkered flag it was George capturing his 12th career Mercer win in his Dr. John Crawford III/Notary Express/Ankle & Foot Care-sponsored #4. Shuttleworth brought his 360-powered car home for a career best second in 410 competition. McKisson, who owned only one career top five at Mercer which was a fifth way back on September 18, 1999, was a Mercer best third over Lutz and Ruth, who recorded his third straight top five and fourth of the season. Completing the top 10 were Dehner, Matus, Arnie Kent, Dan Kuriger, and Holtgraver. Heat winners over the 16-car field were Kuriger and Ruth.
Ron Eperthener, Jr. led all 20 laps of the American Racer/Lias Tire Modified feature as he protected the bottom holding off Garrett Krummert for his first win since July 30, 2005. "I'm just grateful for everything," expressed the elated Grove City, Pa. driver. "This is a great night and I'm glad to be here. We started off tonight pulling the truck here with the wrecker and I thought it was going downhill. The crew set the car up and I couldn't ask for a better car. It hooked up down on the bottom and I wasn't about to move off. I never saw any cars behind me to be honest. Garrett got under me, tapped me a little bit, but he left off and drove a clean race and that's racing. You're out here to try to win and it's going to be close and tight and that's what it's all about."
Eperthener quickly raced into the lead with Matt Reeher and Steve Young trailing. Eperthener began to pull away from the field before the first yellow for Alex Anderson with four laps completed. When racing resumed, Young moved ahead of Reeher for second. Krummert started ninth and moved into the mix when he took fourth away from Lonny Riggs on lap five. Krummert caught Reeher and the two battled side-by-side between laps six through nine before Reeher spun on lap 10 bringing out the second caution and moving Krummert to third.
Three more cautions slowed action between laps 10-18. On the lap 19 restart, Young got a great run to get under Eperthener in turn one but the caught the inside berm then Eperthener's rear, which sent his car spinning. Then on the ensuing restart, Young made contact with Alex Anderson sending Young's car hard into the turn one fence. Young was okay.
The final restart saw Krummert make one last ditch effort to get under Eperthener, but couldn't make the pass stick as Eperthener took the checkered flag first for his second ever win in the division and eighth overall of his career in his Eperthener Auto Wrecking/Eperthener Notary Service/Stearns Garage/McCool's Graphics-sponsored #333. Krummert matched his second on opening night to maintain the point lead. Brad Rapp, who started 11th, got under both Rodney Beltz and Frank Guidace on the final lap to claim third. Guidace blew a tire at the finish and smacked the wall, but held onto fourth ahead of Beltz. Sixth through tenth were Reeher, Riggs, Kevin Green, Rick Hall, and Jr. Baker. Heat victors over the 15-car field were Young and Eperthener.
Andy Buckley was declared the winner of the inaugural Steve Guthrie, Jr. Memorial for the Stock Cars after apparent winner Jason Reagle's heads failed post tech inspection. Reagle's last lap pass was all for not as Buckley was awarded his third win of the season in the 20-lap $500 to-win Tire Express-sponsored event.
"Him (Reagle) and I had a really good race," explained the Stoneboro, Pa. winner. "The last corner was a little rough, but it all worked out in the end. Steve and Stevie (Guthrie) are my neighbors. We've race together, been good friends, and have had picnic and parties together for years. I was really trying hard tonight to take this plaque home, but I'm going to give this plaque back to the Guthrie Family and let them hang it on their wall. I think it's special and they're special people."
Reagle, who has been victorious the last two weeks at Tri-City Speedway and last week at Mercer, drew the pole position and raced into the lead. Andy Buckley, who stared sixth, made his way to third by the completion of the opening lap then disposed of Rod Laskey for second on lap two. Buckley drove to the outside of Reagle racing off turn two on lap six to make the pass for the lead. Reagle stayed close over the ensuing laps and then got alongside Buckley on lap 14. The two raced door-to-door, side-by-side between laps 14-17 with Buckley maintain his lead using the outside groove. Meanwhile, Laskey and Terry Wheeler were battling hard for third before Laskey slowed bringing out the caution with 18 laps completed.
When racing resumed, Reagle pulled alongside of Buckley as the two continued their side-by-side duel over the last seven laps. On the final lap, Reagle went to the top in turn two and got a great run coming off and down the backstretch. Reagle then drove hard to the inside of turn three getting under and past Buckley with slight contact and took the checkered flag first for his apparent fourth straight win on the circuit before later being disqualified. Buckley was credited with his 25th career win in his McClung Auto Body/Specialty Tube-sponsored #965. Wheeler, who started 13th, was second over 11th starting Shaun Hooks. After recording two fifth place finishes in his last two starts, Chris Haines bettered that with a career best fourth after the DQ of Reagle. Russ Coyne completed the top five. Heat winners were Buckley and Laskey over the 20-car field.
Kenny Meadows and his teammate Todd Canter have been close numerous times this year, but on Saturday night Meadows finally put it all together capturing his first ever win at Mercer in the 15-lap Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lite feature and celebrated his victory by doing donuts on the frontstretch.
Wilbur Juillerat led the first lap before spinning out on lap two handing the lead sixth starting Meadows. Rod Jones, who started 12th, charged through the pack and passed J.J. Metheney for second on lap three. Mark Marcucci and Lynn Knepper took third and fourth away from Metheney on lap five. Jones' shot at his fourth straight win ended when he spun with five laps completed moving Marcucci to second and Knepper back to third. When racing resumed, Knepper grabbed second from Marcucci, but Marcucci fought back to retake the position on lap eight.
Back up front, Meadows of Warren, Ohio raced on for his seventh career Mod Lite win overall in the Ollie Teague-owned, Job Rite Pools & Spas-sponsored #10T. Marcucci held on to second. Jones made his way back to third after getting by both Canter and Knepper on lap 10. Knepper dropped to fourth over Canter. Heat winners over the 16-car field were Marcucci and George Englert.
Lucas Sprouse of Elkton, Ohio extended his point lead by virtue of his sixth win of the season in the 12-lap M&D Paving Mini Stock feature. Ed Haylett charged past Wally Stearns and Dan Nagy for the lead in his new 8-ball car at the start of the event. Sixth starting Mike Anderson, Jr. took over the top spot on lap three. Anderson and Haylett then made contact on lap four allowing Sprouse to sneak by into the lead with 12th starting Pete Wearing following. Wearing was all over Sprouse the rest of the way, but it Sprouse in his #23s taking the win. Wearing was second for the sixth time in seven races this season to go along with a win. Anderson was third as Haylett and Kris Anderson completed the first five. Don D'Onofrio and Sprouse won the heats over the 13-car field.
Luxaire Heating & Cooling (410) Sprint Cars: 1. ROD GEORGE 2. Chris Shuttleworth 3. Andy McKisson 4. Mike Lutz 5. Gale Ruth, Jr. 6. Mike Dehner 7. Brent Matus 8. Arnie Kent 9. Dan Kuriger 10. Danny Holtgraver 11. Broc Martin 12. Davey Jones 13. Joe Butera 14. Jason Pisani 15. Paul Kish 16. John Stickley-DNS.
American Racer/Lias Tire (358) Modifieds: 1. RON EPERTHENER, JR. 2. Garrett Krummert 3. Brad Rapp 4. Frank Guidace 5. Rodney Beltz 6. Matt Reeher 7. Lonny Riggs 8. Kevin Green 9. Rick Hall 10. Jr. Baker 11. Alex Anderson 12. Steve Young 13. Rich Whitney 14. Eric Gabany 15. Brian May-DNS.
Tire Express Steve Guthrie, Jr. Memorial Stock Cars (20 laps): 1. ANDY BUCKLEY ($500) 2. Terry Wheeler 3. Shaun Hooks 4. Chris Haines 5. Russ Coyne 6. Mark Sanders 7. Denny Crawford 8. Mark Felicetty 9. Kevin Thompson 10. Bryan Wagner 11. Russ Byler 12. Rick Norco 13. Rod Laskey 14. Brian Booher 15. Bill Vance, Jr. 16. Chris Schneider 17. Jim Brunson 18. Jason Reagle-DSQ 19. Matt Wagner-DNS 20. Randy Sprouse-DNS.
Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites: 1. KENNY MEADOWS 2. Mark Marcucci 3. Rod Jones 4. Lynn Knepper 5. Todd Canter 6. Bill Stivason 7. Kotie Kirkbride 8. Levi Spinneweber 9. Jeremy Adamik 10. J.J. Metheney 11. George Englert 12. Wilbur Juillerat 13. Calvin Clay 14. Alan Knepper 15. Angie Grzelak 16. Jarred Barclay.
M&D Paving Mini Stocks: 1. LUCAS SPROUSE 2. Pete Wearing 3. Mike Anderson (Jr.) 4. Ed Haylett 5. Kris Anderson 6. Don D'Onofrio 7. Dan Nagy 8. Wally Stearns 9. Jason Bell 10. Anthony Shetter 11. John Hartman 12. Bill Fuchs 13. Leland Haylett.
Upcoming Events:
7/21 Sprints, Mods, Mod Lites, Mini Stocks, and the Ken Carbone Memorial for Stocks ($650) plus Compact Car Demo Derby. Labor Union Night- $5 admission for card-carrying union members and their significant other. Yellow Book USA Night.
7/28 7th annual "Sprint Slug-Out" featuring triple 15s for Sprints plus Mods, Stocks, Mod Lites, & Mini Stocks.
8/1 (Wed) Open practice for all divisions from 5 p.m. until dark.
8/4 Sprints, Mods, Stocks, Mod Lites, & Mini Stocks plus the 7/4/07 Star's Championship Tour Mod Lite make-up feature. "Pack the Track" Night with $5 adult, $12 family, $2 student admission. "Meet Your Heroes" autograph night presented by Froggy 95.1
Gates open at 4:30 with hot laps at 6:15 and racing at 7 p.m.
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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