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By Mike Leone
January 12, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hermitage, PA.Mercer Raceway Park celebrated the 2007 season in grand style Saturday night, January 12, as the beautiful Normandy Banquet Center in Hermitage, Pa. played host for the fifth time to the annual awards banquet and dinner.
The top ten drivers in each of the five divisions received their point fund monies and plaques. The following 2007 track champions also received an engraved Mercer Raceway Park championship pocket watch compliments of Kidd's Jewelry in Greenville, Pa. and an embroidered jacket: Rod George-Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars, Garrett Krummert-American Racer/Lias Tire Modifieds, Brian Booher-Tire Express Stock Cars, Rod Jones-Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites, and Mike Anderson-M&D Paving Mini Stocks.
For the ninth consecutive year under owner Vicki Emig, Mercer Raceway Park continued its tradition of honoring special achievements at its banquet. Five of those types of awards were once again given out Saturday night.
The "Legacy" Award honors and remembers the late Bill Emig. For the first time the recipient was a car owner. The Hoover Brothers grew up right down the road from Bill Emig and both shared their love of golf and racing. In 2007, the Hoover Bros. celebrated their unprecedented third straight championship in the Stock Cars with their driver Brian Booher, who became the division's all-time winner with 32 victories. It was an emotional celebration for the four Hoover Brothers and Booher.
Living legends are those that will forever be held in high respect by those that enjoyed their excellence. This year's "Living Legend" Award was bestowed to Yip Robinson. Robinson started his career back in 1949 two years before Mercer opened and would later go on to race four to five nights per week and ran at over 40 different tracks in his career. Robinson was the first driver at Mercer to ever win in four different divisions and since then only three drivers (Alan Dellinger, Lonny Riggs, Frank Guidace) have been able to accomplish that feat. Mercer's records only go back to the 1966 season, but since that time Robinson won 31 races including 22 in the Modifieds, 4 in the Late Models, and 3 each in the Six-Cylinders and Semi-Lates. He was also the 1969 Modified Champion. Yip currently lives in South Carolina, but his three sons, his daughter, and nephew from Florida were on hand to accept on his behalf.
The "Horizon" Award was put in place to recognize drivers whose careers shine as brightly as the horizon. This year's winner was rookie Eric Gabany. The 22-year-old Mercer, Pa. racer won in just his ninth feature start in the Modifieds. He finished second in the Bill Emig Memorial and sixth in the T3 All-Star Little Guy Nationals after running in the top three for much of the event before being spun out.
Three "Outstanding Achievement" Awards were handed out. The first went to Dillon Barr, who made history by becoming the youngest winner in the 57-year history of Mercer. The Volant, Pa. driver won a Mini Stock feature at 14 years of age and was able to finish in the top 10 in points.
The second Outstanding Achievement was given to Kotie Kirkbride. The Mercer High School driver was a rookie after competing many years in the g-karts. She had 7 top 10 finishes including a career best on September 8 and qualified for the feature in three of the five major events on her way to a ninth place points finish. She showed remarkable improvement throughout the season.
The third Outstanding Achievement went to another female racer in 19-year-old Angie Grzelak. The Hubbard, Ohio driver was a consistent front-runner all season long with 13 top 10 finishes including 5 of them in the top 5. She was a heat race winner on May 19 and led the first seven laps of the feature on September 6 before finishing a career best second at Mercer. On the biggest race of the season at the Little Guy Nationals, she charged from the 24th starting spot to finish a remarkable sixth. In the end, she finished seventh in points despite missing one night.
The "Majestic" Award honors those that have made grand, noble, and dignified gestures on behalf of Mercer Raceway Park and in general. The first Majestic went to Bill Bauer, who has been instrumental in the growth of Mod Lite racing in the region and getting them weekly at Mercer. Bauer is the director of the STAR's Championship Tour and helped to ensure strong fields of cars at all of his events. He raised money to make the Little Guy Nationals the richest event in the history of the region for Mod Lites. He turned into a great track official despite living in Somerset, Pa. some two hours away.
The second Majestic went to Dave Mesaros of Mesaros Towing. Mesaros has provided the wrecker service at the track for over 10 years and has been very dependable and professional in his services. This past season he had to miss some nights late in the season due to open-heart surgery and took it upon himself to find a capable and dependable replacement.
Track Manager Frank Benic was presented a package for an overnight stay in a jacuzzi suite and dinner for two at the Foxburg Inn, which was spearheaded by Sprint Car racer Danny Holtgraver's father Dan, along with fellow Sprint Car drivers Brent Matus, Joe Butera, Mike Lutz, Arnie Kent, Rod George, Scott Bonnell, Andy McKisson, Modified driver Frank Guidace, and Garrett Krummert's father Larry, as well as engine builder Don Blackshear.
Rod George celebrated his second track championship in three years by taking the Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Car crown. One year after being shutout of victory lane and falling to third in points, the Kittanning, Pa. driver rebounded with a stellar season scoring eighth wins and never finishing worse than second in the first nine races. He went on to record 17 top 3s in 20 starts in his Dr. John Crawford/Notary Express/Ankle & Foot Care-sponsored #4.
For the fifth time in the past eight seasons, Arnie Kent finished second in points still in search of his first track championship. Kent had a strong year with three victories as he's now won a feature for each of the past nine seasons. Finishing third through fifth in points with their best ever point finishes were Danny Holtgraver (2 wins), Brent Matus, and Mike Dehner. Completing the top 10 with wins in parentheses were Mike Lutz (1), Gale Ruth, Jr. (1), Joe Butera, Scott Bonnell (2), and Andy McKisson. Other winners were Rob Eyler (1), Todd Bauer (1), and Ed Lynch, Jr. (1).
Despite failing to win a race, Garrett Krummert used consistency to capture his first title of any kind capturing the American Racer/Lias Tire Modified championship. The 19-year-old New Castle, Pa. racer had 9 top 5s and a division-high 16 top 10s driving the McElwain Paint & Collision Center/Sherwin Williams-sponsored #29. After matching his career best runner-up finish on July 21, he picked up a Mod Lite ride where he'd go on to win his first two races of his career.
Defending champion Frank Guidace won the prestigious Bill Emig Memorial and a late a surge saw him challenge for the championship once again. Guidace now has wins in all three of Mercer's major Modified events- the Little Guy Nationals, the Jeff Hoffman Memorial and now the Bill Emig Memorial. Finishing third through tenth with wins in parentheses were Rodney Beltz (3), Gary Smoker (4), Lonny Riggs (2), Rick Hall (1), Brad Rapp, Matt Reeher, Steve Young, and Jimmy Holden (2). Other winners were Jeff Schaffer (4), Eric Gabany (1), Ron Eperthener, Jr. (1), and Billy VanPelt (1).
Brian Booher had another remarkable year capturing his third straight Tire Express Stock Car Championship. He won 60% of the features at 12 and also won more heat races than any other driver with 13 in the Hoover Bros.-owned, Ed & Jerry's NAPA/McEwen Garage Door/Harry & Tim Roofing-sponsored #00H. The Sandy Lake, Pa. racer will be looking for his fourth consecutive title in 2008, but this time in a FASTRAK Late Model.
Two-time champion Andy Buckley added three more wins to his career totals giving him 25 now and finished runner-up. Rod Laskey was a Mercer regular for the first time ever and finished third. Finishing fourth through sixth were Shaun Hooks, Russ Byler, and Matt Wagner. Chris Haines was the only other driver in the top 10 to win a feature and tied with Terry Wheeler for seventh. Ricky Norco and Mark Sanders were ninth and tenth. Other winners were Jason Reagle, Rusty Martz, Rusty Wheeler, and Dan Lewis, and Alan Dellinger.
Rod Jones will go down in history as the first ever Mod Lite champion in the Big Daddy's Speed Center-sponsored division. The West Middlesex, Pa. driver won 10 of the 19 features he competed in including his $1,500 sweep of the Little Guy Nationals. Jones also missed the last night of points when he when to Canada's Merryville Speedway and swept both days of the prestigious Rose Weber Memorial. Jones drove the Jones Performance Products #820 and now has victories in three different divisions at Mercer, as he was a Sprint Car and Micro Sprint winner in the past.
Mark Marcucci led the points early on, but finished second to his good friend with two wins. Teammates Todd Canter and Kenny Meadows finished third and fourth respectively each with a victory. Former Sprint Car winner Doug Stanley was up front all year, but failed to win a feature and finished fifth. Completing the top 10 with wins in parentheses were rookie Levi Spinneweber, Angie Grzelak, Bill Stivason, Kotie Kirkbride, and Lynn Knepper. Other winners were Matt Hay (2), Garrett Krummert (2), Brian Woodhall (1), Eric Hay (1), and Sparky White (1).
Making their return for the first time since 1982 were the Mini Stocks. Despite missing the first two nights, Mike Anderson (Jr.) made his racing debut a winning one on May 5 and would later add another victory in route to the M&D Paving championship. The Harmony, Pa. 17-year-old also had 11 top 3s.
Anderson's good friend Pete Wearing was a winner and was the most consistent at the track with 12 top 3 finishes including seven runner-ups to naturally finish second in points. Third through tenth in points with wins in parentheses were Lucas Sprouse (7), Bill Fuchs (3), Leland Haylett, Wally Stearns, Jr., Dan Nagy, Steve Polkabla, Dillon Barr (1), and Ed Haylett. Other winners were Mike Mathieson, Tim Bish, John Ford, and Cory Kilgore.
Receiving plaques for their career first wins were Gale Ruth, Jr., Eric Gabany, Garrett Krummert, and Chris Haines. Receiving perfect attendance certificates were Rod George, Brent Matus, Joe Butera, Garrett Krummert, Matt Reeher, Rod Laskey, and Levi Spinneweber- Mod Lites.
Track announcer Mike Dutko emceed the event and thanked the sponsors, employees, press, drivers, owners, and all of the fans for making 2007 another success. Special thanks went out to the Mercer East End, Pine Township, and Jefferson Fire Departments along with Mesaros Towing. The 2008 season was previewed with many upcoming special events. It was reiterated that the FASTRAK Late Models will replace the Stock Cars as a weekly division. A DJ closed out the banquet until midnight with live music for everyone's dancing and listening pleasures.
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 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.
Final 2007 Mercer Raceway Park Point Standings
Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars: 1. ROD GEORGE (Kittanning, PA) 740 2. Arnie Kent (New Castle, PA) 662 3. Danny Holtgraver (Pittsburgh, PA) 543 4. Brent Matus (Wampum, PA) 524 5. Mike Dehner (Clarion, PA) 490 6. Mike Lutz (Mercer, PA) 446 7. Gale Ruth, Jr. (Pleasantville, PA) 433 8. Joe Butera (Wampum, PA) 419 9. Scott Bonnell (Girard, PA) 364 10. Andy McKisson (Strattanville, PA) 293.
American Racer/Lias Tire (358) Modifieds: 1. GARRETT KRUMMERT (New Castle, PA) 624 2. Frank Guidace (Mercer, PA) 604 3. Rodney Beltz (Ellwood City, PA) 599 4. Gary Smoker (Mercer, PA) 592 5. Lonny Riggs (Volant, PA) 526 6. Rick Hall (Stoneboro, PA) 512 7. Brad Rapp (Shippenville, PA) 492 8. Matt Reeher (Volant, PA) 491 9. Steve Young (Grove City, PA) 480 10. Jimmy Holden (Tiona, PA) 467.
Tire Express Stock Cars: 1. BRIAN BOOHER (Sandy Lake, Pa.) 2. Andy Buckley (Stoneboro, PA) 651 3. Rod Laskey (Seneca, PA) 589 4. Shaun Hooks (New Castle, PA) 549 5. Russ Byler (New Wilmington, PA) 530 6. Matt Wagner (New Wilmington, PA) 421 7. Terry Wheeler (Stoneboro, PA) & Chris Haines (Sandy Lake, PA) 418 9. Rick Norco (New Castle, PA) 390 10. Mark Sanders (New Castle, PA) 349.
Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites: 1. ROD JONES (West Middlesex, PA) 629 2. Mark Marcucci (West Middlesex, PA) 614 3. Todd Canter (Warren, OH) 595 4. Kenny Meadows (Warren, OH) 579 5. Doug Stanley (North Benton, OH) 558 6. Levi Spinneweber (Butler, PA) 527 7. Angie Grzelak (Hubbard, OH) 517 8. Bill Stivason (Kittanning, PA) 459 9. Kotie Kirkbride (Mercer, PA) 411 10. Lynn Knepper (Somerset, PA) 368
M&D Paving Mini Stocks: 1. MIKE ANDERSON (Harmony, PA) 593 2. Pete Wearing (Callery, PA) 572 3. Lucas Sprouse (Elkton, OH) 507 4. Bill Fuchs (Greenville, PA) 453 5. Leland Haylett (Polk, PA) 436 6. Wally Stearns (Harrisville, PA) 433 7. Dan Nagy (Greenville, PA) 387 8. Steve Polkabla (Grove City, PA) 316 9. Dillon Barr (Grove City, PA) 310 10. Ed Haylett (Polk, PA) 309.
Special Award Winners:
"Living Legend": Yip Robinson
"Legacy": Hoover Bros. Racing/Brian Booher
"Horizon": Eric Gabany
"Outstanding Achievement" : Dillon Barr, Angie Grzelak, & Kotie Kirkbride
"Majestic": Bill Bauer & Dave Mesaros
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