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By Mike Leone
April 19, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mercer, PA.After two cancellations in the first three weeks, Mercer Raceway Park returned to action on Saturday night and was able to complete the first weekly five-division "Saturday Night Live" program despite showers scattered throughout the area and some light rain during the last three features. Celebrating in the Hoosier Tire victory lane were Brian Ellenberger- Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars, Frank Guidace-FASTRAK Late Models, Gary Smoker-Tire Express Modifieds, Mikey Hall-Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites, and Chris Myers-M&D Paving Mini Stocks. It was the first of five $10 Family Nights presented by new marketing partner Auto Service Express along with promotional partner Armstrong.
Usually it's Rod George making late race passes for victory, but on Saturday night Brian Ellenberger turned the tables making a thrilling last lap, turn four pass of George in lapped traffic to come out on top in the 20-lap Luxaire Heating & Cooling lid-lifter.
"The door was open," exclaimed the jubilant Butler, Pa. winner. "I got underneath him the lap before and if it was still open I knew I'd have a shot and it worked out. I found a nice line down there in (turns) three and four and it started working. It just seemed like took forever for my tires to come to life, but they finally took off those last five laps. I love this place- Frank Benic is my buddy and he preps the best race track in the country."
The race got off to a rough start when Sprint rookie Chad Wilds hit the wall on the start and came back across the track and collected teammate Walt Tutak, Jr. as well as Brent Matus with Wilds getting upside down. All three drivers were okay, but done for the night Defending two-time champion, Rod George, fresh off his career best 21 win season in 2007, jumped out to the early race lead taking the advantage over Ellenberger. Arnie Kent moved up a position to third past Chris Shuttleworth.
Shuttleworth lost fourth on lap three to Mike Lutz, who was behind the wheel of Jim Chappel's #8, in between two stoppages, one for a spin by Scott Bonnell and the second for a red for Jack Helget, who got upside down with six laps completed.
The last 14 laps went non-stop. Kent challenged Ellenberger early on trying to get under the All Star Circuit of Champion regular, but was unable to get by. Ellenberger distanced himself from Kent just past the halfway point and began to pressure the leader. George though was able to make the right moves in lapped traffic to maintain the lead. Ellenberger was right on George with two to go and with the white flag waving everyone sensed a possible last lap pass.
Traffic was ahead as George and Ellenberger entered turn three. George drove through the middle of turns three and four with Scott Bonnell on the bottom. Ellenberger went low and his mount stuck like it did the last few laps as he was able to squeak past George coming out of turn four to take the win in his Open Joist/Car*Mate Trailers/Hoosier Tire/K&N Filters-sponsored #20E. The victory was Ellenberger' s fifth of his career at Mercer and 11th overall.
George's momentum carried him into the turn four wall breaking his rear end, but was able to limp across the line in second edging Kent. Lutz was fourth over Shuttleworth' s 360-powered engine. Completing the top 10 were Danny Holtgraver, Rob Eyler, Jimmy Hawley, central Pa. invader Bob Howard, and Bonnell. Hawley of West Middlesex, Pa. made his return to racing after a near five-year absence and dominated his heat by a straightaway over Lutz. George won the other heat over the 20-car field.
In his FASTRAK Late Model debut, Modified racer Frank Guidace made history by becoming the first driver in the 57-year history of Mercer to win in five different classes of cars with his victory in the 20-lap McElwain Motors-sponsored feature. Guidace also has victories in the big-block, six-cylinder, sportsman, and 358 modified divisions and broke the tie with Yip Robinson, Alan Dellinger, and Lonny Riggs, who were also victorious in four different classes of cars.
"That's an honor because I love this place and I've come here since I was kid," stated the Mercer, Pa. driver after being told of his accomplishment. "I will tell you what this Lazer Chassis was on a rail up there. These cars are really a lot of fun. They are a world of a difference (from the Modifieds) as the brakes are different and they roll over different. I didn't think I could hold these guys off. I didn't know where everyone was at as I'm not used to the car numbers. I knew who the double zero was so I was watching Brian (Booher) and knew he was coming up there."
Guidace took the lead at the start from Stock Car standout Steve D'Apolito. Kevin Meadows started fourth and took second on lap three when D'Apolito slipped off the backstretch. Meadows ran down Guidace and was all over the leader on lap six as he ran low and Guidace high, while defending three-time Stock Car champion Brian Booher started 12th and passed D'Apolito for third. At the halfway point, Guidace began to pull away, while Booher challenged Meadows for second. Booher ran low, while Meadows chose the highline. The duo battled hard for second in traffic allowing Ben Blake to close and make it a three-car race for second, but up front Guidace went on for victory in his #1G.
Meadows edged Booher and Black for second, but was disqualified in post-race tech for a carburetor spacer infraction. Booher was credited for second over an impressive run by Mod Lite graduate Ben Black. Scott Myers was fourth with Bob Kish fifth. Sixth through tenth were Steve Hollabaugh, 2007 Mini Stock Champion Mike Anderson (Jr.), Bobby Powell, Bob Vogt, Jr., and Chad Myers. Heat winners were Scott Myers and Powell.
After tying Jeff Schaffer with the most wins in the Modified division in 2007, Gary Smoker started 2008 off with a bang winning the 20-lap Tire Express Modified feature for the 14th time of his career- tops in the short history of the division.
The Mercer, Pa. driver drew the pole position and took off with the lead with Lonny Riggs passing Matt Howsare for second. Smoker's greatest challenge came on lap three when Riggs tried to go on the outside of him for the lead in turn four, but jumped his wheel sending Riggs sliding off the track.
When racing resumed, Smoker controlled the race while defending champion Garrett Krummert made his way to third on lap five passing Kevin Green after starting 10th. Eric Gabany had a strong run going in second, but slipped high off the backstretch on lap 11 allowing Krummert and Frank Guidace by for second and third.
Krummert and Guidace remained in striking distance, but Smoker was too much in the MBMR, Inc./Bells Portable Restrooms-sponsored , D&D Racing-owned #516. Krummert edged Guidace for second, but was light at the scales moving Guidace to second with Gabany, Riggs, and Brad Rapp completing the top five. Rounding out the top 10 were Dillon McElrath, Randy Brown, Jr. Baker, Fred Sasse, and Matt Howsare. Krummert and Gabany won the heats over the 16-car field.
Mikey Hay won his first ever at Mercer in the 15-lap Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lite feature, which was run in light rain and even had a brief rain delay. The Somerset, Pa. driver now joins his brother Matt and father Eric as winners in the division.
Hay started the race in seventh and moved to second past Todd Canter on lap three before a caution, which turned into a brief rain delay. Once the rain subsided, Hay passed Mark Marcucci on the restart and was never challenged the rest of the way in his #22. Hay became the division's 14th different winner in just 30 races. Canter held of for second. Dave Jones edged his son Rod for his best finish in third since he returned to race last season. Fifteen-year- old Bud Watson came from 18th to finish fifth. Heat victors over the 21-car field were Levi Spinneweber and Hay.
Fifteen-year- old Chris Myers made it back-to-back victories in the Mini Stocks with his victory in the 12-lap M&D Paving-sponsored feature with light rain falling throughout the event. The Knox, Pa. driver started fifth and had the lead on the opening lap. Myers' teammate Curtis Brown came from 11th to second, but broke on the final lap as did the third place car of Dan Nagy. Mike McConnell, who started eighth, crossed the line in second for a career best finish. Scott Gilliland and Dan McEwen finished a career best third and fourth ahead of Wally Stearns, Jr. 2007 ended with a record 27 cars on hand and Saturday night's 19-car field was a record for a regular event since the class started with one car last season. Heat winners were John Shannon and Myers.
Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars (20 laps): 1. BRIAN ELLENBERGER (20E) 2. Rod George (4) 3. Arnie Kent (18) 4. Mike Lutz (8-Chappel) 5. Chris Shuttleworth (11) 6. Danny Holtgraver (D4) 7. Rob Eyler (5a) 8. Jimmy Hawley (49-Rudzik) 9. Bob Howard (49) 10. Scott Bonnell (3B) 11. Jeff Taylor (17T) 12. Paul Kapuchuck (10) 13. Brian Steinman (24s) 14. Joe Butera (3J-Matus) 15. Bob Felmlee (6) 16. Jack Helget (71c-Taylor) 17. Russ Sansosti (23-Scott) 18. Chad Wilds (41) 19. Brent Matus (33) 20. Walt Tutak, Jr. (141).
Tire Express 358 Modifieds (20 laps): 1. GARY SMOKER 2. Frank Guidace 3. Eric Gabany 4. Lonny Riggs 5. Brad Rapp 6. Dillon McElrath 7. Randy Brown 8. Jr. Baker 9. Fred Sasse 10. Matt Howsare 11. Kevin Green 12. Skinny Hall 13. Matt Reeher 14. Garrett Krummert-DSQ (light) 15. Mark Frankhouser- DSQ (light) 16. Jimmy Holden-DNS.
McElwain Motors FASTRAK Late Models (20 laps): 1. FRANK GUIDACE 2. Brian Booher 3. Ben Black 4. Scott Myers 5. Bob Kish 6. Steve Hollabaugh 7. Mike Anderson (Jr.) 8. Bobby Powell 9. Bob Vogt, Jr. 10. Chad Myers 11. Dave Airgood, Jr. 12. Calvin Clay 13. Steve D'Apolito 14. Rusty Moore 15. Scott Jones 16. Kevin Meadows-DSQ.
Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites (15 laps): 1. MIKEY HAY 2. Todd Canter 3. Dave Jones 4. Rod Jones 5. Bud Watson 6. George Englert 7. Kotie Kirkbride 8. Lynn Knepper 9. Bryan Martin 10. Alan Knepper 11. Mike Evans 12. Mylan Markovich 13. Bill Stivason 14. Bob Latchaw 15. Chad Yeager 16. Jim Golden 17. Mark Marcucci 18. Levi Spinneweber 19. Terry Young 20. J.J. Metheney 21. Kenny Meadows-DNS.
M&D Paving Mini Stocks (12 laps): 1. CHRIS MYERS 2. Mike McConnell 3. Scott Gilliland 4. Dan McEwen 5. Wally Stearns, Jr. 6. Dillon Kineston 7. Stephen Laslo 8. Justin Reinard 9. Curtis Brown 10. Dan Nagy 11. Pete Blazczak 12. Tyler Powell 13. Bill Fuchs 14. Ed Haylett 15. John Shannon 16. Sam Kloos 17. Kyle Crawford 18. Mike Mathieson 19. Rudolph Troples.
Upcoming Events:
4/26 "Saturday Night Live!" Sprints, Modifieds, FASTRAK Late Models, Mod Lites, & Mini Stocks.
5/03 "Saturday Night Live!" Sprints, Modifieds, FASTRAK Late Models, Mod Lites, & Mini Stocks. Free admission for all Beaver County residents presented by Image Factory Signs & Graphics
5/10 "Saturday Night Live!" Sprints, Modifieds, FASTRAK Late Models, Mod Lites, & Mini Stocks plus Kids Bike Races. $10 Family Night presented by Auto Service Express & Armstrong. Twin-State & PCTC Night
Gates open at 4:30 p.m. with hot laps at 6:30 and racing at 7.
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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