|
STAR'S MOD LITES TO JONES FOR 3RD WIN AT MERCER; DUNMIRE TAKES MICROS FOR 3RD TIME; VETERAN MAYBERRY WINS LEGENDS; CAREER 1ST FOR MCEWEN IN MINIS; GILLETTE WINS $1,000 "KABOOM 150" ENDURO
By Mike Leone
July 4, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mercer, PA.After two straight Saturday rain outs, Mercer Raceway Park was back in action on Friday night for the inaugural "Small Car National Open" presented by Truk Rodz by Jones Performance to celebrate Independence Day. Celebrating in the Hoosier Tire victory lane were Rod Jones-Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites, Steve Dunmire-Micro Sprints, Tom Mayberry-INEX Legend Cars, Dan McEwen-M&D Paving Mini Stocks, and Tim Gillette-"KABOOM 150" Enduro.
In the 20-lap Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites, defending track champion Rod Jones charged to the front and passed Mikey Hay to become the division's first three-time winner of the season and erased Hay's chances of making it three-for-three in STAR's events this season. "We were a little worried about the track with the new surface," explained the West Middlesex, Pa. winner. "It's got a lot of bite in it though. Frank (Benic) and the guys did a great job with it. Anytime Mikey Hay pulls alongside you concerned. I missed a shift on that one restart and let him have it that one time."
Hay took off from his second starting spot past 15-year-old pole-sitter Alan Knepper, who won his first race on June 14. Jones, who started ninth, used the outside to charge to the front passing Levi Spinneweber and J.J. Metheney for third on lap four. Following the event's first caution with six laps completed, Jones passed Knepper for second. Jones ran down Hay and the two raced side-by-side on lap 10 with Jones getting by on the outside to lead lap 11 before Rod's father Dave spun to bring out the caution. After one more completed lap, a 12-car melee took place in turns one and two. Most of the cars would return to action.
When racing resumed, Spinneweber passed Knepper for third on lap 13 before spinning one lap later. Jones would survive two more cautions and held off Hay for the victory in the Jones Performance #820. The $600 win was the 13th of Jones' career at Mercer in the Mod Lites and 15th overall. Knepper and Garrett Krummert swapped third and fourth back and forth in the closing laps with Knepper getting third. Dave Jones was fifth after starting 18th and coming from the tail after a spin to complete a good night for the Jones Family on Jones Performance Night. Heat winners over the season-high 25-car field were Bill Watson, Rod Jones, and Metheney.
Steve Dunmire wired the 20-lap Micro Sprint feature leading from green-to-checkered in a dominating fashion for the $500 win in the division's first appearance of the season. "The car was really good," stated the Ford City, Pa. racer. "I have to thank my sponsors, my dad, and Mercer Raceway Park for having us. The track was awesome and I'm happy we came away with the victory."
The event got off to a rough start when Mike Himes spun in turn three, which ensued a six-car accident. When racing got underway, Dunmire blasted by Dave Hawkins for the lead on the opening lap with Jay Groves and Jeff Bacha moving into second and third. Sixth starter Todd Reusser passed Bacha for third on lap two before Mike Crane brought out the event's second caution. The next 15 laps went non-stop with Dunmire opening up a big lead while Reusser challenged Groves for the runner-up spot.
The race was slowed for the final time with 17 laps completed when C.J. Jones came to a stop on the frontstretch right in front of Dunmire, which erased the leader's straightaway plus lead. When green replaced yellow, Dunmire had two lapped cars separating him from the second place of Groves, which allowed him to pull away for his third career win and biggest since his $750 payday during the 2004 Little Guy Nationals in the DBY Motorsports, Buffalo Limestone-sponsored #83. Groves edged Reusser for second. Bacha dropped to fourth over Doug Karlene. Topping the heats over the 26-car field were Karlene, Groves, and Reusser.
Former east coast Modified great Tom Mayberry captured the 20-lap feature for the INEX Legend Cars in a regional qualifying event in their first ever appearance. Despite just six cars that made the long tow in threatening weather, five of the drivers led laps. "We were a little disappointed in the car count," acknowledged . "We were hoping to show you folks what the legends can do. We had a long night last night at Susquehanna. We were questioning coming a couple times with the weather, but were determined to come on out and give you folks a show. This is my 36th year of racing; we used to run Modifieds and Sprint Cars in the eastern part of Pennsylvania, but never ventured out this way."
Rob Sobieski led the first five laps before spinning out of the lead off turn four. Justin Grim inherited the lead and led until lap eight when he slowed allowing Floridian Kara Clarke, who now calls Charlotte, NC home, to grab the lead. Clarke's lead lasted only one lap as Reed Salony and Mayberry drove around the leader off turn four for first and second on lap nine. Mayberry's 15-year-old son, T.J., brought out the event's second and final caution with 10 laps completed. On the restart, Mayberry overtook Salony. The two raced side-by-side throughout the final 10 non-stop laps, but it was Mayberry holding on for victory in the Ralph Rehrig-owned #27R. Salony was second over Sobieski, Clarke, T.J. Mayberry, and Grim.
Second-generation racer Dan McEwen captured his career first win after apparent winner, Bill Fuchs, was docked two spots for rough driving on the final lap in the 15-lap M&D Paving Mini Stock feature. "That was a good race, but he drove into the side of me," acknowledged the Mercer, Pa. winner. "You got to do what you got to do to win, but you don't have to do that."
Dillon Barr led the first lap before fourth starting McEwen and Ed Haylett moved into first and second. Fuchs, who started sixth, passed Barr for third on lap three. Fuchs and newcomer Jamey Lee drove under Haylett to take over second and third on laps eight and ten respectively. A caution for rookie Adam Bulfone with 13 laps completed set up a two-lap shootout to the finish. On the last lap, Fuchs drove hard into turn one knocking McEwen up the track. Fuchs then took the checkered flag first, but was moved back two spots in the finishing order. McEwen's win came in his #44 over the #44J of Lee. Fuchs was credited with third with Haylett and 12th starting Kris Anderson completing the top five. A season-high 23 cars were on hand with heat races going to Fuchs and Dillon Kineston.
Tim Gillette used the same car that he competed in the "Jack Frost 150" Enduro on January 5 to drive to victory in the "KABOOM 150" Enduro seven months later.
Sixty-nine of the 75 entered cars took the green for the 15-lap event with former Stock Car winner Dwight Boice flying from his 21st starting spot to the lead. Boice led the first five laps before 59th starter David Campbell made the pass in heavy traffic to lead lap six. Boice though reassumed the lead on lap seven and led until the 16th lap when Campbell took the lead back. Sprint Car racer, Arnie Kent, started fourth and led laps 28-35.
On lap 36, Randal Shaffer took command. His lead was short-lived as Gillette made his way to the front to lead for the first time on lap 40. Former Stock Car Champion and Little Guy Nationals winner, Shaun Hooks, took the lead on lap 92 from Gillette and held the lead until lap 108 when Gillette grabbed the lead back for good. Gillette led the final 43 laps in his 1990 Toyota Camry sponsored by Gillette Import Autoworks.
Joe Philip was six laps behind the leader in second. Sean Beck was third 11 laps down. Fourteen-year- old Dillon Kineston completed an excellent night finishing fourth after his heat win and sixth place finish in the Mini Stocks. Dean Schreffler was fifth.
Thirteen drivers finished the event, which was completed in one hour and 43 minutes including three red flags; one for a fire, one for a flip by Kevin Latshaw, and the third for Bob Drewnowski who took a hard shot in the driver's side.
Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites (20 laps, $600 to-win): 1. ROD JONES (820) 2. Mikey Hay (22) 3. Alan Knepper (1) 4. Garrett Krummert (Spinneweber 20s) 5. Dave Jones (82) 6. Todd Canter (Teague 9T) 7. Kenny Meadows (Teague 10T) 8. Doug Stanley (Coen 1C) 9. Terry Young (98) 10. Bud Watson (15) 11. David Innes (18) 12. Kotie Kirkbride (97N) 13. George Englert (11X) 14. Bill Stivason (116) 15. Josh Sliter (17) 16. Gene Buck (55) 17. Lynn Knepper (Lawson 40L) 18. Levi Spinneweber (10s) 19. John Gerula, Jr. (54) 20. J.J. Metheney (31c) 21. Mark Marcucci (8M) 22. Bill Watson (13) 23. Mylan Markovich (2) 24. Matt Snow (34) 25.Mike Wilson (51)-DNS.
Micro Sprints (20 laps, $500 to-win): 1. STEVE DUNMIRE (83) 2. Jay Groves (25) 3. Todd Reusser (Gagne 98) 4. Jeff Bacha (48) 5. Doug Karlene (11x) 6. Bob Robertson (4B) 7. Mike Himes (79) 8. Mike Nulph (9N) 9. Mark Ewer (20R) 10. Jim Myers (45) 11. Mikey Schall (03) 12. Tim Smith (404) 13. Mike Kerr (23K) 14. Eric Williams (7) 15. Jessica McDivitt (22) 16. Scott Hawkins (27H) 17. Dave Hawkins (27) 18. Clayton Mullett (20x) 19. C.J. Jones (10J) 20. Mike Crane (2c) 21. Sam Fulmer (F16) 22. Nathan Karenbauer (7s) 23. Tim Robertson (7a)-DNS 24. George Hobaugh, Jr. (40) 25. Mike McKnight (21)-DNS 26. Michael Perricellia (18)-DNS.
INEX Legend Cars (20 laps): 1. TOM MAYBERRY (Rehrig 27R) 2. Reed Salony (22) 3. Rob Sobieski (Rehrig 17R) 4. Kara Clarke (21) 5. T.J. Mayberry (Rehrig 16JR) 6. Justin Grim (611)
M&D Paving Mini Stocks (15 laps, $100 to-win): 1. DAN MCEWEN (44) 2. Jamey Lee (44J) 3. Bill Fuchs (10) 4. Ed Haylett (8-ball) 5. Kris Anderson (3D) 6. Dillon Kineston (19) 7. Kyle Crawford (14c) 8. Jordan Gentile-Preston (1P) 9. Adam Bulfone (19JR) 10. Dillon Barr (15) 11. Eric Gabany (3) 12. Stephen Laslo (55) 13. Scott Gilliland (27) 14. Rudolph Troples (28) 15. Sam Kloos (62K) 16. Curtis Brown (67) 17. Tyler Powell (36) 18. Jordan Ehrenberg (JD57) 19. Wally Stearns, Jr. (33)-DNS 20. Mike McConnell (31)-DNS 21. John Shannon (14)-DNS 22. Dan Nagy (17B)-DNS 23. Pete Blazczak (77)-DNS.
"KABOOM 150" Enduro (150 laps, $1,000 to-win) top 10: 1. TIM GILLETTE (12) 2. Joe Philip (14) 3. Sean Beck (52) 4. Dillon Kineston (56) 5. Dean Schreffler (50) 6. Jim McClean (Greer 3) 7. Ray Seibert (43) 8. Rusty Cade (47) 9. Jeremy Speicher (28) 10. Dan Varga (61).
Upcoming Events:
7/12 "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. Free Venango County Night presented by Allegheny Toyota/Scion. Dean Dairy Corp. Night.
7/19 "Saturday Night Live!" Sprints, Modifieds, FASTRAK Late Models, Mod Lites, & Mini Stocks. Free Ohio Night presented by Sports Obsession (Eastwood Mall)
7/26 "Open Wheel Shootout" presented by FireDEX of Butler. Bill Emig Modified Memorial ($1,500), 410 Sprint Cars ($1,500), PA 305 Sprints, Limited Sprints, Mod Lites ($300), & Mini Stocks. Anderson Bros. Tool Corp. 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.
|
|
