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STOCK CARS FEATURED IN 2 COMPLETE SHOWS AT MERCER'S LITTLE GUY NATIONALS SEPT 28 & 29; NORTHEAST CHAMPIONSHIP TO ALSO BE RUN ON THE 29TH
By Mike Leone
September 20, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mercer, PA.The region's richest support-division- only event returns for the eighth consecutive year on Friday and Saturday, September 28 and 29. The kingpin of the event annually is the always-competitive Tire Express Stock Car division. For the sixth consecutive year it will feature two complete shows on both Friday and Saturday.
Friday's action will get underway at 7 p.m. featuring heat races, last chance races, concluding with a 25-lap feature paying $1,000 to-win, $70 to-start. Past winners include Dan Lewis (2002), Tom Snyder, Jr. (2003), Rory Reed (2004), Mike Pegher, Jr. (2005), and Tim Deutsch ($1,000).
Saturday's card will get underway early at 4 p.m. again featuring heat races, last chance races, and concluding with a 40-lap feature paying $2,000 to-win, $140 to-start. Saturday's action will again include a B consolation feature for the first 24 non-qualifiers paying $300 to-win, $65 to-start and a C consolation feature for the next 24 non-qualifiers paying $200 to-win, $60 to-start. New this year will be the Northeast Stock Car Championship (see below).
Past winners of the Little Guy Nationals include Matt Lux (2000), Ken Drake (2001), Tony Hersh (2002), Bobby Whitling (2003), Shaun Hooks (2004), and Rusty Wheeler (2005 & 2006). Will there be a new winner, will Wheeler, the Raceway 7 Champion and dominator, make it three-in-a-row, or will three-time champion and 12-time winner Brian Booher win his first in the event?
"The Little Guy Nationals is always one of our favorite events," stated ninth year owner Vicki Emig. "It's really a 'who's who' of Stock Car racers throughout western and central Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio, and western New York. The heat and last chance races alone are always intense action just to get into the night's mains with the quality of cars and caliber of racers that annually participate. The entire show in is something we give back to the hard-working support class racers thus the name Little Guy."
The Little Guy Nationals annually draws the region's highest car count. The average car count for Saturday's portion is 95 cars and a record 122 participated in the 2002 event. A total of 347 drivers from seven states plus Canada have competed over the years. Brothers Mike and Willie Aley, Tony Bruno, Shaun Hooks, Ricky Norco, and Bobby Whitling have competed all seven years and are all again expected back for an eighth. Whitling has qualified for Saturday's feature six of the seven years missing last year's for the first time, but was able to win the $300 B feature. For detailed stats on the event, you can log on to www.mercerracewaypa rk.com click on Stat History and then the Little Guy links.
New this year on Saturday is the Northeast Stock Car Championship, which has been entirely coordinated by tech inspector Randy Myers. This inaugural race will be 15 laps and will include the top two point drivers from Mercer, Sharon, Tri-City, Lernerville, Raceway 7, Stateline, and Eriez Speedways. The third place man will be an alternate. At present time the race will pay $1,000 to the winner with $500 going to second, $300 to-third with an undetermined amount for fourth and fifth. Numerous contingencies and bonuses have been posted.
"Randy approached me with the idea for this race late in the summer," explained Emig. "What he's put together in such a short period of time is very impressive and is a nice reward for the racers. Now these drivers have the ability of winning over $4,000 in cash alone over the weekend!"
McClung Autobody of Sandy Lake, Pa. has donated $200. The following are $100 cash donors: Ralph's Garage (Polk, PA), Mercer Raceway Park, Lakeview Fertilizer (Sandy Lake, PA), Olsen Towing (Franklin, PA), RCR Automotive (Franklin, PA), Zimmers Service Center (Springfield, PA), Specialty Tube (Oil City, PA), K&K Dynamics (New Castle, PA), McEwen Garage Doors, General Welding Supply, Hovis Auto Supply (Franklin, PA), Triple-S Auto (New Castle, PA), and Rusty Wheeler R&R Chassis. The following are $50 cash donors: Ray's Racing Collectibles (Grove City, PA), Tregler's Precision Services (Fairview, PA), Sherman's Auto Repair (Emlenton, PA), Rolling Hills Golf Course (Pulaski, PA), Richardson Tree Service, Ardex Chemicals, Dave Winger & Windy River Band, Harry & Tim Roofing, Cameron Pools (Franklin, PA), Airways Lounge (Franklin, PA), Ed & Jerry's Auto Service (New Wilmington, PA), and Jim Braho Auto.
Race I (Boardman, OH) is providing a shock and valving plus another shock will go to the 10th place finisher. Big Daddy's Speed Center (Grove City, PA) is providing two $50 gift certificates. Advance Auto (New Castle, PA) is providing two six packs of Castrol Syntec. Advance Auto (Franklin, PA) is providing oil and supplies. Lias Tire (Indiana, PA) will be giving one Stock Car tire of choice. McCool's Signs & Graphics will be awarding $100 certificate toward a lettering job. Wilkinson Awards will be presenting the engraved trophy. 4-Your-Car Connection (Seneca, PA) will be giving away 35 seat cushions, which will be autographed by the drivers.
The following bonuses have been posted: $100 to a car that starts last and wins (Ralph's Garage), $100 for a last lap winning pass (RCR Automotive, $100 to a winning Mercer car In Memory of Bill Emig (Vicki Emig), $100 to a winning Lernerville car (Triple-S Auto), and $100 to a winning Tregler's engine (Tregler's Precision Services).
Drivers locked into this event include Brian Booher and Andy Buckley (Mercer), Steve D'Apolito and Mike Aley (Sharon), Doug Iorio II and Danny Exley (Tri-City), Rusty Wheeler and Ken Zimmer (Raceway 7), Mike Pegher, Jr. and Jason Fosnaught (Lernerville) . Eriez and Stateline Speedways will conclude their points this weekend. Rob Bates and Chris Withers (Eriez) appear to have the top two spots locked up, while at Stateline it's Alex Froman and John Boyd leading the way.
Anyone wishing to contribute to this event can call Randy Myers at 814-432-2461 days or 814-432-5175 nights. Any technical questions should be directed at Myers as well.
Admission on Friday is adults $13, students 6-15 $7, children five and under free, the family pass $33, and pit passes $30. Pits will open at 3 p.m. and grandstands at 4:30 with hot laps at approximately 6:15 on Friday night and racing starting at 7 p.m. Other classes in competition, which will begin the night, include the July 4 T3 All-Star Modified make-up feature along with complete shows for the Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites, Micro Sprints, and the M&D Paving Mini Stocks.
Admission on Saturday is adults $15, students 6-15 $7, children five and under free, the family pass $35, and pit passes are $30. On Saturday, pits will open at 11 a.m. and the grandstands at 1:30 p.m. with hot laps at approximately 3 and racing at 4 p.m. Other classes in competition include the T3 All-Star Modified Series, Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites, and a Demo Derby.
The rain date is Sunday with two-hour earlier starting times. The entire event rain date is the following weekend Friday-Sunday, October 5-7.
There is a $25 pre-entry fee for Stock Cars or $35 on race day. The fee covers both days of action.
Mercer Raceway Park held its first auto race on July 26, 1951 and 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 September. The office in New Bedford, Pa. is open year-round Monday through Friday late mornings and after 1:30 p.m. 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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