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By Mike Leone
July 21, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mercer, PA.The seventh straight sunny Saturday at Mercer Raceway Park saw the following drivers celebrate in the Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic victory lane on Yellow Book USA Night: Rod George-Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars, Jimmy Holden-American Racer/Lias Tire Modifieds, Brian Booher-Tire Express Ken Carbone Memorial Stocks Cars, Brian Woodhall-Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites, and Lucas Sprouse-M&D Paving Mini Stocks. The Carbone Family presented the fifth annual Ken Carbone Memorial and they awarded plaques to all five feature winners, tear-offs to the top 10 finishers in all divisions, $300 to the Stock Car winner, and a products basket to the 10th place finishers in the Stock Cars in memory of the 10th anniversary of Ken's passing.
Rod George slipped past Andy McKisson and then held off the determined racer through lapped traffic for his second straight win, division leading sixth of the season, and region leading 16th overall in the 20-lap Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Car feature.
"That was a lot of fun especially racing with Andy (McKisson) there," described the Kittanning, Pa. driver. "They made it real tough. You couldn't ask for a better race track tonight. You could run the top, bottom, and middle. Everyone was all over the place. Hat's off to the track crew; they did a super job tonight. Frank (Benic) has this track down pat. It's definitely the best racing surface we've got."
Paul Kish led the 21-car field to green made up racers from five different states, while McKisson passed Jeff Taylor for second. Fifth starting Danny Holtgraver moved past Taylor for third on lap two with seventh starting George following. On lap four, the #4 of George passed the #D4 of Holtgraver for third. The under-funded Kish was a doing a great job setting the pace, but on lap five McKisson made the pass as he dove under the leader in turns one and two for the lead.
George had the bottom working for him as he raced under Kish for second on lap six then the following lap got under McKisson in turns one and two, but couldn't make the pass stick. The two raced side-by-side for the lead on lap eight. In turn three the lapped car of Doug Dodson was just enough to slow McKisson's momentum as George slipped past for the lead. Holtgraver was able to get past Kish for third on lap seven as Kish's dropped through the pack as he lost his brakes.
Two-time winner Scott Bonnell and June 30 winner Mike Lutz battled nearly the entire race swapping positions back and forth. On lap 12, Bonnell got past for fourth, but one lap later Lutz got back by. George built a straightaway lead, but on lap 14 McKisson began to cut into the deficit. George struggled to lap last week's Lincoln Speedway winner Jeff Busby of Delaware and on lap 17 McKisson really closed on the leader as he found a great line around the speedway. Just as it appeared a battle for the lead was about to ensue, Holtgraver lopped his mount in third bringing out the caution with 17 laps completed. On the ensuing restart, Ohio youngster Broc Martin, who was making his second straight start, spun to bring out the final caution.
When racing resumed, George nearly slipped off the track in turn two allowing McKisson a chance, but George was able to keep his momentum down the backstretch and closed the door in turn three. George sped off with a clear track ahead to capture his 13th of his career at Mercer and #109 overall in his Dr. John Crawford III/Notary Express/Ankle & Foot Care-sponsored #4. McKisson, who previously owned only one top five at Mercer which was a fifth back in 1999, followed up last week's career best third with a fine runner-up. Ninth starting Lutz edged Bonnell in a near photo finish for third. Making just his second Mercer start of the season and fourth overall Ohio, invader Duffy Smith had a career best Mercer run coming from 10th to finish fifth. Rounding out the top 10 were central Pa. invader Scott Lutz, New York's Chris Shuttleworth, central Pa. runner Bill Brian, Jr., Brent Matus, and Bryan Grove. Topping the heats over the season-high 21-car field were George and Holtgraver.
Back on June 23 Jimmy Holden finally captured his first Mercer win of years of trying. After missing a couple nights due to the birth of his new son, Holden returned to win the 20-lap American Racer/Lias Tire Modified feature with an impressive drive to his second win holding off last week's winner Ron Eperthener, Jr. "I'm thrilled about the kid and I'm thrilled to death about the car," said the elated Tiona, Pa. racer. "That's the best this thing has ever worked and I can say that. We've been working on where this is now at for a long time."
Rick Hall took the early lead from Matt Reeher, while Holden was able to pass Eperthener and Reeher for second on lap two. Holden made what turned out to be the winning move on lap four driving around Hall off turn four, while Eperthener grabbed third from Reeher, and Gary Smoker followed in fourth. Smoker was able to take third from Eperthener on lap seven only to see both Eperthener and Brad Rapp race under him for third and fourth on lap 11.
Three cautions between laps 12 and 13 slowed action for spins by Jerry Schaffer, Frank Guidace, and Mark Frankhouser. On lap 16, Hall slipped high off turn two allowing Eperthener to race by for second. Eperthener closed the gap on Holden in the final two laps. Eperthener got a great run off turn four on the final lap, but came up just two car lengths shy as Holden captured the victory in Dean Holden-owned, Holden Oil & Gas/Hoover Oilfield Supply/Homeland Energy-sponsored #28H. After missing the first five nights and struggling his first three nights of racing, Eperthener now has a win, a second, and a fourth in three of his last four races. Hall was third over ninth starting Rapp, who took over the point lead for the first time in his career. Jeff Schaffer was fifth. Completing the top 10 were Smoker, Reeher, Garrett Krummert, Eric Gabany, and Rodney Beltz. Heat winners were Holden and Frank Guidace over the 20-car field.
Brian Booher has now won 28 features in his career in the Stock Cars, but none richer than Saturday's $650 victory in the Ken Carbone Memorial Tire Express-sponsored event. "We really wanted to win this race," expressed the Sandy Lake, Pa. resident. "We worked really hard in the pits tonight on this car. The track has been a little different the last couple weeks. They said lets try something different and it worked out. I have to thank the Carbone Family for doing this for the Stock division. We really look forward to this every year."
Rick Norco jumped out to the early lead, while fifth starting Mike Pegher, Jr. passed both Jim Brunson and Rod Laskey for second on lap two. Pegher then grabbed the lead from Norco racing off turn four on lap three. Booher, who started eighth, passed Laskey for third on lap three then went three-wide for the lead on lap four with Norco and Pegher. Pegher was able to maintain the lead, while Booher edged ahead of Norco for second. Pegher and Booher then ran side-by-side for the lead on laps five and six with Booher performing a slide job in turn four to lead lap six.
Ninth starting Andy Buckley made his presence known as he caught up to Pegher and the two raced side-by-side for second on laps 10-12. Buckley and Norco both slipped past Pegher for second and third on lap 12. Up front though, Booher set the pace and went on for his track leading eighth victory of the season in the Terry Hoover-owned, Ed & Jerry's Auto Service/Harry & Tim's Roofing/Brad McEwen Garage Doors-sponsored #00H. Booher is now within two wins of Alan Dellinger's all-time mark of 30 victories in the class. Buckley was second as Norco matched a season-best third. Pegher dropped to fourth over Shaun Hooks. Heat winners over the season-high 23-car field were Buckley and Bobby Whitling.
Brian Woodhall became the second different Mod Lite winner in as many weeks as he captured the 15-lap Big Daddy's Speed Center feature. "Oh man that track was awesome," explained the Apollo, Pa. driver. "I built a car for a slick track and this track hasn't been slick all year. Mercer Raceway Park is awesome! Thanks for picking up our class."
Starting from the fifth position, Doug Stanley blasted into the lead on the opening lap with ninth starting Woodhall making it all the way to second and seventh starting Mark Marcucci to third. Rod Jones, who started 12th, made his way into contention taking third from Marcucci on lap seven. Jones though would bring out the event's only caution when he spun after 11 non-stop laps.
Former wingless Sprint Car winner Doug Stanley was looking for his first Mod Lite win, but lost the lead on lap 13 when Woodhall got under and past the leader in turns one and two. Stanley then nearly looped his mount coming off turn four on lap 14, but contact with Marcucci straightened him out. Woodhall had clear sailing as he went on for his third career Mod Lite win and fifth overall including two Sprint Car victories in his Eliminator Race Cars/CNC Specialties/ Devitas Pizza-sponsored #8B. Jones made it all the way back to second, but was docked four spots for jumping a row on the restart. Marcucci was credited with second as Stanley and teammates Todd Canter and Kenny Meadows completed the top five. Jones and Woodhall won the heats over the 16-car field.
Lucas Sprouse of Elkton, Ohio extended his point lead by virtue of his seventh win of the season in the 12-lap M&D Paving Mini Stock feature. After dropping out of his heat, Sprouse started the event from the 14th starting spot and moved to second on lap four when leader Bill Fuchs slowed. Sprouse chased leader Pete Wearing lap after lap and finally got by on lap nine when Wearing got high off turn four. Wearing stayed strong and the two raced side-by-side on laps 10 and 11, but Sprouse was too much as he went on for the win in his #23s. Wearing was second for the seventh time in eight races this season to go along with a win. Dan Nagy led the first lap and held on for his best finish in third. Former Modified and Stock Car driver Mike Mathieson came from 13th to finish fourth in his season debut. Ed Haylett completed the top five. Fuchs and Wearing won the heats over the 14-car field.
Luxaire Heating & Cooling (410) Sprint Cars: 1. ROD GEORGE 2. Andy McKisson 3. Mike Lutz 4. Scott Bonnell 5. Duffy Smith 6. Scott Lutz 7. Chris Shuttleworth 8. Bill Brian, Jr. 9. Brent Matus 10. Bryan Grove 11. Danny Holtgraver 12. Jeff Busby 13. Broc Martin 14. Paul Kish 15. Bobby Howard 16. Mike Dehner 17. Doug Dodson 18. Joe Butera 19. Jack Helget 20. Jeff Taylor 21. Gale Ruth, Jr.
American Racer/Lias Tire (358) Modifieds: 1. JIMMY HOLDEN 2. Ron Eperthener, Jr. 3. Rick Hall 4. Brad Rapp 5. Jeff Schaffer 6. Gary Smoker 7. Matt Reeher 8. Garrett Krummert 9. Eric Gabany 10. Rodney Beltz 11. Jerry Schaffer 12. Rich Whitney 13. Shane Jones 14. Steve Young 15. Mark Frankhouser 16. Kevin Green 17. Frank Guidace 18. Jr. Baker 19. Brian May-DNS 20. Rod Artman-DNS.
Tire Express Steve Guthrie, Jr. Memorial Stock Cars: 1. BRIAN BOOHER ($650) 2. Andy Buckley 3. Rick Norco 4. Mike Pegher, Jr. 5. Shaun Hooks 6. Tim Deutsch 7. Rod Laskey 8. Butch Lambert 9. Terry Wheeler 10. Mark Sanders 11. Bob Sloss 12. Jason Fosnaught 13. Chris Haines 14. Jim Brunson 15. Denny Crawford 16. Bret McCarthy 17. Jim Flaherty 18. Russ Byler 19. Bobby Whitling 20. Mark Felicetty 21. Randy Sprouse 22. Matt Wagner-DNS 23. Chris Schneider-DNS.
Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites: 1. BRIAN WOODHALL 2. Mark Marcucci 3. Doug Stanley 4. Todd Canter 5. Kenny Meadows 6. Rod Jones 7. Lynn Knepper 8. Bill Stivason 9. J.J. Metheney 10. Jeremy Adamik 11. Chad Yeager 12. Kotie Kirkbride 13. Alan Knepper 14. Matt Snow 15. Levi Spinneweber 16. Wilbur Juillerat.
M&D Paving Mini Stocks: 1. LUCAS SPROUSE 2. Pete Wearing 3. Dan Nagy 4. Mike Mathieson 5. Ed Haylett 6. Anthony Shetter 7. Bill Fuchs 8. Mike Anderson (Jr.) 9. Wally Stearns 10. John Shannon 11. Steve Polkabla 12. Don D'Onofrio 13. Leland Haylett 14. Kris Anderson-DNS.
Upcoming Events:
7/28 7th annual "Sprint Slug-Out" featuring triple 15s for Sprints plus Mods ($800), Stocks ($500), Mod Lites ($300), & Mini Stocks ($60).
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
8/11 Wingless Sprints ($1,500), Mods, Stocks, Mod Lites, & Mini Stocks plus kids bike races. $10 family night presented by Armstrong.
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.mercerracewaypa rk.com for the latest.
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