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$10 FAMILY NIGHT & FREE NEW CASTLE NIGHT SATURDAY AT MERCER WITH 5-DIVISION RACING PLUS KIDS BIKE RACES
By Mike Leone
August 6, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Mercer, PA).Mercer Raceway Park will look to complete another racing event this Saturday night, August 9 with a five-division racing card of Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars, Tire Express Modifieds, McElwain Motors FASTRAK Late Models, Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites, and the M&D Paving Mini Stocks with racing beginning at 7 p.m. It's US Foods Corp. Night.
The first promotion Saturday is the final $10 Family Night of the year presented by Auto Service Express and Armstrong. Mom, dad, and as many kids 15 and under are admitted for just $10. Note: in order to take advantage of the offer, there must be both a male and a female with at least one child.
The rescheduled Free New Castle Night from June 21 presented by Augustine's Italian Village will also be on tap. All residents with a New Castle address on a valid ID and all accompanying children 15 and under will be admitted free into the grandstands.
"We had a great turnout of New Castle residents back on June 21," acknowledged 10th year owner Vicki Emig. "That was just before we evacuated the crowd before the wicked weather struck. Hopefully with a nice day we get can get a large turnout of people from New Castle as well as families that can take advantage of our great offer. New Castle has turned into a great area for us to promote to and we get a lot of loyal fans that make the short drive up each week. The family nights also draw in new people to the Park and some that otherwise would not have been able to attend."
Kids bike races will be held during intermission presented by Eat 'n Park Restaurants and Ray's Racing Collectibles. All kids 12 and under can participate and helmets are required.
Last Saturday, Gale Ruth, Jr. and Arnie Kent picked up their first wins of the year in the Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars. Ruth has really improved his game in the last year as he's collected the first five wins of his career at three different speedways. Kent meanwhile made a statement with a dominating non-stop victory in the night's regularly scheduled feature for his first win of the season. The New Castle, Pa. driver now has a 21-point lead over Rod George in his search at his first track title in his 18th year of racing.
One driver anxious to make a return behind the wheel is Danny Holtgraver, who won two races in 2007. The Pittsburgh teen has been out of action for three months since getting injured at Lernerville Speedway on May 9. Holtgraver turned laps on Wednesday during practice in both of his #D4 Sprint Cars.
The Modified race is really heating up. Like Ruth, Garrett Krummert has also really improved his performance. The New Castle racer has won the first three Modified races of his career this year to go along with two Mod Lite victories late last season after going five winless years to start his career. Krummert won last Saturday's 20-lap Tire Express feature and is within five points of Gary Smoker for second and just 10 behind point leader Frank Guidace, who is looking for his second crown.
Guidace also continues to hang on to his point lead in the FASTRAK Late Models. The Mercer, Pa. driver leads three-time Stock Car champion Brian Booher by 13 points and heads the division with four wins. Max Blair made just his second start last Saturday and parked his car in victory lane for the first time in his career following the 20-lap McElwain Motors event. Blair continues to lead the National Weekly Series points, which is worth $10,000.
Despite missing two events this season, defending champion Rod Jones has taken over the point lead in the Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites. The West Middlesex former Micro Sprint and 410 Sprint Car racer now tops the win charts over everyone at the speedway following his fifth win last Saturday night. In the closest race of all five divisions, only 11 points separates the top five positions. After his first did not finish of the year, Todd Canter surrendered the point lead for the first time and sits four points back of Jones tied for second with two-time winner Alan Knepper. Bud Watson tails Jones by only six points as his first win is just around the corner. Kenny Meadows, a one-time winner, is fifth.
Fourteen-year- old Dillon Kineston of New Castle took over the M&D Paving Mini Stock point lead last Saturday for the first time and leads Dan McEwen by seven points. Both racers have one victory this season. Last Saturday, a season-high 25 cars turned out!
Pit gates open at 3:30 p.m. and grandstand gates open at 4:30. Warm ups begin at 6:15 and racing begins at 7. For all others, adult admission is $11, students 6-15 are $5, and kids five and under are free. Pit passes are $25.
Coming up next Saturday, August 16 is "The Return" featuring the Big-Block Modifieds in a BRP Tour-sanctioned event as the big blocks are back for the first time in two and half years. The FASTRAK Late Models will race for $800 to-win plus will have their July 12 make-up feature. The Mod Lites and Mini Stocks will be racing for extra money. There will be a special autograph session for current and former modified racers plus lots of bonus monies for the racers. A huge fireworks display will take place presented by Walt's of Mercer Plaza.
Remember to circle your calendars for Friday, September 5 as last Saturday's "Open Wheel Shootout"/Bill Emig Memorial presented by FireDEX of Butler returns as a complete new program. The PA 305 Sprint Series are unable to return and have been replaced by the Micro Sprints.
Mercer Raceway Park is located just minutes from both Interstates 79 & 80 just off Route 19 at 555 Fairground Road, Mercer, PA. For more information, check out www.mercerracewaypa rk.com or call the office at 724-964-9300. For information on race day, call the track at 724-662-1310 |
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