|
KENT HOLDS OFF GEORGE IN NON-STOP SPRINT WIN; SCHAFFER WINS MODS FOR 3RD TIME; BOOHER BECOMES ALL-TIME MERCER STOCK WINNER WITH 31ST WIN; #8 FOR JONES IN MOD LITES; BARR WINS MINIS & IS YOUNGEST WINNER EVER AT 14
By Mike Leone
August 18, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mercer, PA.Mercer Raceway Park completed the 12th straight program on Saturday night as the following drivers celebrated in the Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic victory lane: Arnie Kent-Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars, Jeff Schaffer-American Racer/Lias Tire Modifieds, Brian Booher-Tire Express-Stocks Cars, Rod Jones-Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites, and Dillon Barr-M&D Paving Mini Stocks. It was "Dollar Dayz" presented by Coca-Cola and free Beaver County Night.
A determined Arnie Kent charged from the 11th starting spot passing point leader Rod George early on and then held him off to win the non-stop 20-lap Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Car feature for the third time this season. "I thought about lap 18 the whole time," revealed the New Castle, Pa. winner when asked about the lap that has seen George pass him so many times for the win. "Then on lap 19 I saw Rod underneath me and I knew I had to stick my nose up in traffic. The car was really good at the beginning and started to slow up a little at the end. Coming from 11th I was worried starting behind Rod, but I got ahead of him in traffic at the beginning and stood on it at the end."
Chris Shuttleworth took the lead from pole-sitter Joe Butera at the start, while Davey Jones raced past Mike Dehner and Butera for second. Kent entered the mix on lap three when he drove around Butera for fifth then one lap later snagged fourth from Gale Ruth, Jr. Kent continued his march to the front taking a car per lap when he assumed third on lap five driving around Dehner off turn four. George, who started ninth, cracked the top five on lap six when he passed both Ruth and Mike Lutz, then one lap later took fourth from Dehner. Kent and George both disposed of Jones for second and third on laps seven and eight respectively.
Up front, Shuttleworth continued to set the pace, but his mount started getting loose in the turns allowing Kent to quickly erase a large lead. Kent ran down Shuttleworth and was on the leader on lap nine and didn't waste any time as he drove around the leader off turn two on lap 10 for what turned out to be the winning move. George made a great move on Shuttleworth on lap 12 when he drove up alongside and past him in turn four for second. Kent had a half-straightaway lead on George by the time George raced into second.
The laps ticked off caution-free. On lap 17, Kent caught traffic as George switched to the top and began to close on the leader looking for another typical late-race pass. George was all over Kent searching for a way by on the tacky, multi-grooved track. On the final lap in turns three and four, Kent went low in lapped traffic and George tried a bonsai move around the lapped cars and Kent, but ran out of room as Kent crossed the finish line first.
The feature went non-stop for the second straight week and was timed in 5:13.15. After struggling for much of the season with only a victory in the May 19 wingless event, Kent has now won two of the last three features. For Kent in his Equipment Rental Options/Image Factory-sponsored #18 the win was his 18th of his career in 410 action at Mercer, 19th of his career overall at Mercer, and 22nd of his career overall. Lutz passed Shuttleworth off turn four on lap 16 to finish third. Andy McKisson used a similar move at the checkered flag to finish fourth as he's now finished in the top four in six of the last seven features. Shuttleworth dropped to fifth with his 360 power plant. Completing the top 10 were Ruth, Dehner, Tom Quarterson, Skip Dougherty, and Jones. Heat winners were George and Ruth over the 18-car field.
Running just his seventh race of the season, Jeff Schaffer matched Rodney Beltz and Gary Smoker as the division's top winners by virtue of his win in the 20-lap American Racer/Lias Tire Modified feature. Schaffer swapped the lead with Frank Guidace following two restarts and held him off in the last tune-up before next Saturday's $2,000 to-win Bill Emig Memorial. "The second chance (restart) showed me what I needed to do there," explained the Fombell, Pa. victor.
Lonny Riggs raced out to the early lead over Kevin Green. Fifth starting Schaffer moved to third on the opening lap then took second from Green off the inside of turn two on lap two before a caution for a five-car melee in turn two. Schaffer overtook Riggs for the top spot riding the cushion off turn two following the restart. Guidace, who started sixth alongside Schaffer, made his way to the front passing Green for third on lap three then shot under Riggs for second off turn two on lap five.
Following the event's second caution for a spin by Jr. Baker with five laps completed, Guidace used the identical move Schaffer performed on Riggs to take the lead. Two more laps were completed before the caution was displayed for Steve Barr, who was making his season debut. The ensuing restart again propelled the outside starter into the lead as Schaffer rode the cushion back into the lead.
Rodney Beltz, who started 10th, entered the picture when he passed Rick Hall for fourth on lap 10. A battled then ensued for third as Riggs tried to hold off Beltz and ninth starter Gary Smoker. Beltz nosed ahead of Riggs for third on lap 15. Smoker finally worked his way by Riggs off turn two on lap 18 for fourth
Up front, Schaffer was too much for Guidace in the Jerry Schaffer-owned, Approved Toilet Rentals-sponsored #4s as he collected his 10th career win. Guidace was second for the second straight week and fifth time this season as the defending champion is still in search of his season's first win. Smoker was able to sneak around Beltz off the outside of turn four to finish third. Riggs dropped to fifth. Hall, Ron Eperthener, Jr., Eric Gabany, Barr, and Mike Stine completed the top 10. Heat winners were Smoker and Schaffer over the 19-car field.
Brian Booher made history by becoming the all-time Stock Car winner in the speedway's history capturing his 31st career win overtaking Alan Dellinger's standard in the 15-lap Tire Express sponsored event. Booher's fourth win in the past five weeks was not typical as some four other teams' crews pitched in to get him back on the track after a early race crash. "I pulled up there with a smashed race car," explained the Sandy Lake, Pa. racer following his track leading 11th win of the season. "I have to thank my crew, the Buckley team, the Wheelers, and everyone else. They just wanted to see us come back out and get this 31st victory. Today is Bubba and Gary's birthday- they own the car. I'm happy for our team; it's been a great season."
Three separate accidents in the first lap greatly reduced the field taking out many of the top runners. When racing resumed on lap two, the final 14 laps went non-stop. Twelfth starter J.R. Ziegler, who was making his season debut, inherited the lead. Another newcomer, Skip Reseigh started 13th, and took over the lead on lap two. Booher had restarted seventh and was already up to second by the completion of lap two. Booher made the winning move on lap three when Reseigh slipped high off turn four, which also allowed Rick Norco and Shaun Hooks by in second and third. Hooks then passed Norco for second on lap five. In the final laps, Hooks closed on Booher's ill-handling car, which was missing the hood and several body parts, but Booher had enough to hold on in the Terry Hoover-owned, Ed & Jerry's Auto Service/Harry & Tim's Roofing/Brad McEwen Garage Doors-sponsored #00H. Hooks was second for the second straight week and fifth time of the season still in search of a first win in Clyde Roberts' #33c. Norco was third over career best finishes by Reseigh and Ziegler. Taking heat victories were Booher and Buckley over the 16-car field.
Point leader Rod Jones continues to set the standard in the Mod Lites following his division-leading eighth victory of the season in the 15-lap Big Daddy's Speed Center sponsored event. "The car was awesome and I can't thank the crew enough," expressed the West Middlesex, Pa. resident. "This was my dad's first race in 10 years and he had a ball out there."
Last week, Jarred Barclay led the first five laps before being passed by Jones for the victory. This week, Barclay set the pace for the first four laps before J.J. Metheney got upside down bringing out the red. He was okay. Jones, who started ninth, had passed three #10 cars in Kenny Meadows, Lynn Knepper, and Levi Spinneweber on lap three to place him second for the restart. When racing resumed, Jones again took over from Barclay and only two cautions slowed his run to the checkered in the Dave Jones-owned, Jones Performance- sponsored #820. After being shutout of victory lane for five races with five new winners, Jones made it two-in-a-row and now has 10 career wins at the track. Mark Marcucci passed Barclay for third on lap 10 then got under Meadows in turn three on lap 13 to finish second. Meadows was third. Barclay and rookie Spinneweber dropped to fourth and fifth for their career best efforts. Doug Stanley and Jones topped the heats over the 18-car field.
Dillon Barr became the second driver to make history on the night. At 14 years of age, Barr became the youngest driver in the 57-year history of the speedway to win a feature. Barr's win came in the 12-lap M&D Paving Mini Stock feature. The Volant, Pa. driver was making just his 10th appearance and only seventh feature start. Barr has led laps on numerous nights this season, but this time was able to run a complete race. Barr started third and passed John Shannon and Jason Bell on the opening lap and never looked back leading from green-to-checkered in his #15. Pete Wearing came from 11th to pass Mike Anderson (Jr.) on lap seven to finish second for the eighth time this season. Cameron McQuown was a season best third. Mike McConnell was fourth in just his second start. Lucas Sprouse was fifth. Barr and Bill Fuchs won the heats over the 16-car field.
Luxaire Heating & Cooling (410) Sprint Cars: 1. ARNIE KENT 2. Rod George 3. Mike Lutz 4. Andy McKisson 5. Chris Shuttleworth 6. Gale Ruth, Jr. 7. Mike Dehner 8. Tom Quarterson 9. Skip Dougherty 10. Davey Jones 11. Danny Holtgraver 12. Paul Kapuchuck 13. Joe Butera 14. Butch Beasley 15. Rob Walters 16. Brent Matus 17. Robert VanTassel 18. Duffy Smith-DNS.
American Racer/Lias Tire (358) Modifieds: 1. JEFF SCHAFFER 2. Frank Guidace 3. Gary Smoker 4. Rodney Beltz 5. Lonny Riggs 6. Rick Hall 7. Ron Eperthener, Jr. 8. Eric Gabany 9. Steve Barr 10. Mike Stine 11. Garrett Krummert 12. Greg Davis 13. Kevin Green 14. Jr. Baker 15. Rick Kress 16. Ryan Haney 17. Dillon McElrath 18. Matt Reeher 19. Mark Frankhouser.
Tire Express Stock Cars: 1. BRIAN BOOHER 2. Shaun Hooks 3. Rick Norco 4. Skip Reseigh 5. J.R. Ziegler 6. Mike Dobrick 7. Cory Webb 8. Matt Wagner 9. Russ Byler 10. Rod Laskey 11. Chris Haines 12. Terry Wheeler 13. Andy Buckley 14. Randy Sprouse 15. Jim Flaherty 16. Paul Reiser-DNS.
Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites: 1. ROD JONES 2. Mark Marcucci 3. Kenny Meadows 4. Jarred Barclay 5. Levi Spinneweber 6. Ben Black 7. Doug Stanley 8. Todd Canter 9. George Englert 10. Garrett Krummert 11. Lynn Knepper 12. Angie Grzelak 13. Kotie Kirkbride 14. Bill Stivason 15. Alan Knepper 16. W.L. Stile 17. Dave Jones 18. J.J. Metheney.
M&D Paving Mini Stocks: 1. DILLON BARR 2. Pete Wearing 3. Cameron McQuown 4. Mike McConnell 5. Lucas Sprouse 6. Rudolph Troples 7. Sam Kloos 8. Braden Bice 9. Gary Fleming 10. John Shannon 11. Wally Stearns 12. Dan Nagy 13. Jason Bell 14. Mike Anderson (Jr.) 15. Bill Fuchs 16. Ed Haylett.
Upcoming Events:
8/25 Bill Emig Memorial presented by M&M Insurance featuring Modifieds for $2,000 to-win plus Sprints ($1,500), Stocks ($500), Mod Lites ($300), & Mini Stocks ($60). National Riffle Association Night- $5 for card-carrying members and $5 for their significant other.
9/1 No Racing
9/8 19th Annual Western PA Sprint Championship presented by Armstrong. Sprints ($3,000), Mods ($800), Open Stocks ($500), Mod Lites ($300), & Mini Stocks ($60). Final night of points except for Modifieds.
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.
|
|
