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GABANY WINS RAIN-SHORTENED MOD FEATURE AT MERCER BEFORE RAINS WIN AGAIN
By Mike Leone
July 12, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mercer, PA.Like a broken record, for the 16th straight racing event Mother Nature affected the racing program at Mercer Raceway Park on Saturday night. Just when it looked like all was clear, storms fired west of Akron, Ohio toward evening and tracked east with a band of storms washing out racing action after 17 laps of the Modified feature was completed. The remaining features will be made up in the coming weeks.
A big crowd filled the grandstands for the rescheduled Free Venango County Night presented by Allegheny Toyota/Scion as well as $10 Family Night presented by Auto Service Express & Armstrong and Dean Dairy Corp. Night.
Last year Eric Gabany won his first career feature in his rookie season on August 11 and went on to be awarded the "Horizon" Award at the banquet. This year the Mercer, Pa. racer has a second and a pair of thirds in just five starts. On Saturday night, Gabany held off two former champions- a hard-charging Frank Guidace and Gary Smoker to win the 17-lap Tire Express Modified rain-shortened feature.
Gabany raced into the lead from the pole position with defending track champion Garrett Krummert and John Buchanan trailing. Guidace started 12th, but was already up to fourth on lap four when he passed Rick Hall for the spot, while eighth starting Smoker cracked the top five on lap six passing Jimmy Holden.
Marvin Williams brought out the first caution with six laps completed when he spun. On the ensuing restart, Guidace got a great start diving under Buchanan and Krummert for second. Buchanan was also able to get by Krummert to maintain third. Smoker then made a great move to pass both Krummert and Buchanan for third on lap eight.
Guidace and Smoker began to hound Gabany as light rain began to fall at the halfway point. Fred Sasse brought out the second caution with 15 laps completed. The final caution was displayed for Steve Barr in turn two with 17 laps completed. Under caution, the intensity of the rain picked up and the cars were sent off the track. After waiting for about a half four, the intensity of the rain picked up and racing had to be cancelled.
Gabany was credited with his second career win in his Atlantic Timberframes/ Gabany's/ Shaver Barber Shop-sponsored #3E. Guidace edged Smoker for second and with point leader Lonny Riggs unable to start the feature, Guidace and Smoker are now tied atop the points. Krummert and Buchanan dropped to fourth and fifth at the finish. Completing the top 10 were Jeff Schaffer, Hall, Kevin Green, Holden, and Mike Stine. Barr and Stine won the heat races.
In the Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars, Brian Ellenberger and Rod George won the heat races and the feature will be made up on August 2.
In the McElwain Motors FASTRAK Late Models, Kyle Drum & Max Blair won the heat races and the feature will be made up on August 16.
In the Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites, Levi Spinneweber and Rod Jones won the heat races and the feature will be made up this Saturday, July 19.
In the M&D Paving Mini Stocks, Dillon Kineston and Tyler Powell won the heat races over the 23-car field and the feature will be made up this Saturday, July 19.
Tire Express 358 Modifieds (20 laps): 1. ERIC GABANY (3E) 2. Frank Guidace (1G) 3. Gary Smoker (516) 4. Garrett Krummert (29) 5. John Buchanan (93) 6. Jeff Schaffer (4) 7. Rick Hall (B2) 8. Kevin Green (74) 9. Jimmy Holden (28H) 10. Mike Stine (7s) 11. Matt Reeher (711) 12. Dillon McElrath (7) 13. Jr. Baker (359) 14. Fred Sasse 15. Steve Barr (25B) 16. Dave Cogswell (8) 17. Marvin Williams (69w) 18. Lonny Riggs (Black 58)-DNS.
Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Car line-up for August 2 make-up feature: Row 1: Gale Ruth, Jr. & Brian Ellenberger; Row 2: Gale Ruth, Sr. & Dan Kuriger; Row 3: Joe Butera & Paul Kapuchuck; Row 4: Chris Shuttleworth & Arnie Kent; Row 5: Nate Stein & Jeremy Cook; Row 6: Eric Williams & Rod George; Row 7 Brent Matus & Paul Kish Row 8: John McCracken & Charlie Holben.
McElwain Motors FASTRAK Late Models line-up for August 16 make-up feature: Row 1: Brian Booher & Kyle Drum; Row 2: Gary Miller, Jr. & Mike Anderson (Jr.); Row 3: Steve Hollabaugh & Paul Reiser; Row 4: Max Blair & Chris Angelicchio; Row 5: Rusty Moore & Tyler Dietz; Row 6: Chad Myers & Frank Guidace; Row 7: Rusty Cade & Bobby Powell; Row 8: Bill Vance, Jr.
Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites line-up for July 19 make-up feature: Row 1: Terry Young & Kotie Kirkbride; Row 2: J.J. Metheney & Chad Yeager; Row 3: Mark Marcucci & Brian Woodhall; Row 4: Kenny Meadows & Bud Watson; Row 5: Levi Spinneweber & George Englert; Row 6: Rod Jones & Alan Knepper; Row 7: John Gerula, Jr. & Matt Snow; Row 8: Bill Stivason & Todd Canter; Row 9: Bryan Martin.
M&D Paving Mini Stocks line-up for July 19 make-up feature: Row 1: Dillon Kineston & Mike Mathieson; Row 2: Cody Colwell & Jamie Colwell; Row 3: Scott Gilliland & Tyler Powell; Row 4: Kyle Crawford & Steve Laslo; Row 5: Ed Haylett & Chris Myers; Row 6: Wally Stearns, Jr. & Dan McEwen; Row 7: Dillon Barr & Rudolph Troples; Row 8: Pete Blazczak & Sam Kloos; Row 9: Bill Fuchs & Cory Eckels; Row 10: Matt Rape & Matt Cwynar; Row 11: Jordan Gentile-Preston & Kyle Colwell; Row 12: Ryan Beatty.
Upcoming Events:
7/19 "Saturday Night Live!" Sprints, Modifieds, FASTRAK Late Models, Mod Lites, & Mini Stocks plus July 12 Mod Lite & Mini Stock make-up features. 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.
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