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GEORGE TOPS 29-CAR SPRINT FIELD FOR 3RD MERCER WIN; GUIDACE CHARGES TO 2ND MOD WIN; WATSON INVADES & WINS LATE MODELS; #7 FOR JONES IN MOD LITES; 2ND STRAIGHT FOR COLWELL IN MINIS
By Mike Leone
August 23, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mercer, PA.After 20 straight weeks of rain in the forecast, sunshine graced Mercer Raceway Park for the second straight Saturday night as all four shows in August were completed. Celebrating in the Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic victory lane were Rod George-Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars, Frank Guidace-Tire Express Modifieds, Jay Watson-McElwain Motors FASTRAK Late Models, Rod Jones-Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites, and Kyle Colwell-M&D Paving Mini Stocks. Over 100 cars filled the pit area for the third time in four weeks. It was Automotive Service Industry Night presented by Hovis Auto & Truck Supply and the rescheduled Free Butler County Night presented by McClymonds Supply & Transit and Armstrong.
After a record-setting Northeast-leading 21-win season last year, the 2008 season hasn't been what defending track champion Rod George was hoping for. With a season-high 29 Sprint Cars on hand to do battle, George put on one of his best performances of the year to capture the 20-lap Luxaire Heating & Cooling feature for his third Mercer win of the season and sixth overall. The victory combined with Arnie Kent's heat race crash, vaulted George into the point lead with two events remaining.
"Starting fourth really helps out a lot," explained the Kittanning, Pa. speedster. "We've been struggling this year when the tracks have been slick- not that it was slick tonight. They're doing an awesome job, from heat race to feature, the track was just super. All of the guys that race here have gotten better each week. For the most part you can trust all these guys. You can run close and feel comfortable. "
Ohio teen Broc Martin flew past pole-sitter and sophomore racer Brian Steinman to lead the opening lap. George was able to get by Eric Williams and Steinman for second on lap one. George wasted little time rocketing past Martin on the bottom side of turns one and two on lap two for the lead. Lapped traffic came into play for George on lap six, while Williams and Gale Ruth, Jr. passed Steinman for third and fourth on laps six and seven respectively. Ruth, who started seventh, continued his fine run as he grabbed third from Williams right before his dad slowed to bring out the event's only caution with nine laps completed.
When racing resumed, George took off while Ruth and Martin battled for second. The two tried to get around the lapped car of Lindsay Enscoe, but made contact on the backstretch. Ruth was able to get by for second, while Charlie Holben took fourth from Williams. Holben then worked his way by Martin for third on lap 11.
George caught traffic again on lap 14 allowing Ruth to close in slightly. The veteran though was too strong as he raced on to his 18th career Mercer win his Dr. John Crawford III/Pro Shot Directional Boring/Suzanne Stivason/Max Weiss-sponsored #4. Ruth's fine season continued with a strong runner-up. In just his third start of the season in his own #42G, Holben was an impressive third improving on his sixth and fifth place finishes. Andy McKisson, who scored his career first Mercer win on August 9, came from 12th to finish fourth. Mike Lutz was fifth. Completing the top 10 were Martin, Williams, Chris Shuttleworth, Dan Kuriger, and Danny Holtgraver. Heat winners were Ruth, Jr., Lutz, and McKisson. Jeremy Cook won the B main.
In the best race of the night, Frank Guidace charged from the 10th starting spot to deny defending champion Garrett Krummert from his fourth win of the season in the 20-lap Tire Express Modified feature. "I couldn't believe it," exclaimed the Mercer, Pa. winner. "I was on the bottom and the car was fast. We were picking cars off, but we didn't have the right gear in the car to get off the bottom. Garrett has been running real tough and I didn't know if he'd give me the top. The car was running hot the last couple laps and we were able to catch the cushion and sail around there. It was pretty cool."
Rookie Dillon McElrath led the first lap before Jeff Schaffer and Rick Hall got past for the top two spots on lap two. Krummert started sixth and was already up to second when he passed Hall on lap four. Krummert was all over Schaffer until lap nine when the caution waved for Jr. Baker. When green replaced yellow, Krummert made a nice move driving under Schaffer in turn four to lead lap 10. Over the next five laps, Schaffer and Guidace put on an exciting battle for second with Guidace running high and Schaffer low. Finally on lap 15, Guidace edged ahead of Schaffer racing off the topside of turn four just before the event's final caution was displayed for Fred Sasse, McElrath, and Mark Rossey.
Krummert took the bottom for the restart and Guidace had enough momentum off the cushion in turn four to power by Krummert to lead the 16th circuit. The two raced side-by-side on lap 17 and Krummert was able to stay right within striking distance over the last five laps, but Guidace was too strong flying around the cushion to take his second Modified win of the season to go along with four Late Model wins. Guidace's eighth career 358 Modified win and 18th overall at the track came in his G&G Auto #1G. Schaffer was third over a strong run by 11th starting Jimmy Holden and 13th starting Gary Smoker. Rounding out the top 10 were Lonny Riggs, Hall, Eric Gabany, John Buchanan, and Randy Brown. Heat victors over the 21-car field were Brown and Hall.
Making just his second appearance of the season and first since Memorial Day, Raceway 7 track champion Jay Watson captured the victory with a stout run in the 20-lap McElwain Motors FASTRAK Late Model feature. Watson's only other Mercer win came more than 12 years ago on July 3, 1996 in an E-Mod.
"I really like this division," stated the Conneaut, Ohio former Super Late Model and E-Mod standout. "It's pretty cost efficient. Tonight we won with a set of tires that had nine features on them if you can believe that- you can't beat it. The tires last, the motors are cheap, and the racing is good. I don't get out and run too many tracks because of family obligations. I'd like to be here every week. We came with a couple different setups to try for the Grand Nationals. It's a great race track and a great place to race. Everyone here is real professional and I appreciate them putting on the shows."
Right off the bat it was three-wide for the lead with third starting Watson leading the opening lap with Rusty Moore and Gary Miller, Jr. trailing. Watson got a break on lap four when his car pushed allowing Moore by for the lead, but Brian Booher brought out the caution negating the pass. On the restart, Dennis Lunger, Jr. made a nice move to get by Steve Hollabaugh and Miller for third. The next nine laps ran off caution-free as Watson, Moore, and Lunger pulled away.
Following a caution for Ben Black and Rusty Cade with 12 laps completed, Lunger drove under Moore in turn four on lap 13 to take second. Another caution for Cade brought out the final caution with 15 laps completed and allowed Lunger to line-up alongside Watson. Lunger though didn't have anything for Watson, who captured the win in his C&C Lawn Care/Polchosky Excavation-sponsore d #7x. Lunger's second was his best effort since his opening night $2,000 "Chiller Thriller" win. Moore and Hollabaugh traded third and fourth back and forth, but in the end it was Moore edging Hollabaugh for the spot. Butch Lambert was fifth. Sixth through tenth were Booher, Miller, Carl McKinney, Guidace, and Chad Myers. Heat wins went to Guidace and Booher over the 14-car field.
Defending champion Rod Jones survived six cautions to win his track-leading seventh feature of the season in the 15-lap Big Daddy's Speed Center event. "It's not as easy as it looks," said the West Middlesex, Pa. winner. "I have a great bunch of guys that make it look easy. I have to thank them, Jones Performance, and Leader Chassis. The track was great and these guys are just as fast everywhere we go."
Mark Marcucci raced out to the early lead with Kenny Meadows in tow. Jones started ninth and quickly made his way to third on lap two. Meadows passed Marcucci to lead lap three, but the following lap it was three-wide for the lead with Jones getting by off turn four to lead lap four with Marcucci back to second. Jones was able to survive all of the stoppages for his 17th career Mod Lite win and 19th overall at the track in his #820, while the battle from second through sixth was intense swapping positions back and fourth seemingly every lap.
In his heat race, point leader Bud Watson nearly flipped as he rode the frontstretch wall after contact with Jones as his car suffered severe front-end damage. The 15-year-old was able to make repairs for the feature and came back to place second after getting by Levi Spinneweber on lap 12 to maintain his point lead. After not starting his heat, Alan Knepper, another 15-year-old, came through the pack to place third over Meadows and Spinneweber. Teammates Todd Canter and Meadows were heat winners over the 14-car field.
Kyle Colwell made it two-in-a-row in the M&D Paving Mini Stock 12-lap feature. His win is unofficial pending a post-race tech inspection of his computer. "Another awesome track at Mercer Raceway Park- they never let us down," expressed the Knox, Pa. grandson of the late Sam & Bonnie Colwell, who were owners of Sportsman's Speedway. "The hardest thing in these cars is keeping the wheels straight in the turns and not over-steering and snowplowing. "
One-time winner John Shannon led the first five laps. Cody Colwell passed pole-sitter and point leader Dan McEwen for third on lap four. Kyle Colwell meanwhile started 11th and drove by Cody and Pete Blazczak for second on lap five. Kyle then made his winning move passing Shannon off turn four on lap six. Blazczak and Tim Callahan were able to pass Shannon for second and third on laps eight and 11 respectively. The two ran down Colwell to make it a three-car race for the win. On the final lap, Colwell and Blazczak were side-by-side for the lead, but Colwell had just enough to hold on for the victory in the Russ and Gena Colwell-owned, Myers Water Wells/Colwell Service/S&W Autobody-sponsored #80JR. Callahan was a strong third. Shannon dropped to fourth over Cody Colwell. Kyle Colwell and Stephen Laslo won the heats over the 23-car field.
Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars (20 laps): 1. ROD GEORGE (4) 2. Gale Ruth, Jr. (5x) 3. Charlie Holben (42G) 4. Andy McKisson (0) 5. Mike Lutz (Preston 1P) 6. Broc Martin (83M) 7. Eric Williams (76) 8. Chris Shuttleworth (11) 9. Dan Kuriger (08) 10. Danny Holtgraver (D4) 11. Duffy Smith (Kempthorn 38K) 12. Jeremy Cook (5L) 13. Brian Steinman (24s) 14. Glenn Styres (0) 15. Gary Rankin (Kaminski 8K) 16. Mike Dehner (17) 17. Paul Kish (Clark 4c) 18. Joe Butera (Matus 3J) 19. Brent Matus (33) 20. Lindsay Enscoe (96) 21. Nate Stein (93) 22. Sheila Rankin (16) 23. Gale Ruth, Sr. (1R) 24. Keith Dempster (5) DNQ: Walt Tutak, Jr. (141), Brandon Matus (33W), John McCracken (63), Arnie Kent (18), Robert VanTassel (69x).
Tire Express 358 Modifieds (20 laps): 1. FRANK GUIDACE (1G) 2. Garrett Krummert (29) 3. Jeff Schaffer (4) 4. Jimmy Holden (28H) 5. Gary Smoker (516) 6. Lonny Riggs (Black 58) 7. Rick Hall (B2) 8. Eric Gabany (3E) 9. John Buchanan (93) 10. Randy Brown (67R) 11. Mark Frankhouser (03) 12. Matt Reeher (711) 13. Kevin Green (74) 14. Mark Rossey (Brown 67J) 15. Mark Bailey (14B) 16. Fred Sasse (0) 17. Dillon McElrath (7) 18. Steve Barr (25B) 19. Jr. Baker (359) 20. Rick Kress (222) 21. Dave Cogswell (8)-DNS.
McElwain Motors FASTRAK Late Models (20 laps): 1. JAY WATSON (7x) 2. Dennis Lunger, Jr. (17L) 3. Rusty Moore (17M) 4. Steve Hollabaugh (3H) 5. Butch Lambert (27) 6. Brian Booher (Hoover 00H) 7. Gary Miller, Jr. (1m) 8. Carl McKinney (6M) 9. Frank Guidace (1G) 10. Chad Myers (01) 11. Steve D'Apolito (84) 12. Andy Buckley (Robinson 34R) 13. Rusty Cade (47) 14. Ben Black (27B).
Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites (15 laps): 1. ROD JONES (820) 2. Bud Watson (15) 3. Alan Knepper (1) 4. Kenny Meadows (Teague 10T) 5. Levin Spinneweber (10s) 6. Mark Marcucci (8M) 7. Kotie Kirkbride (97N) 8. Dave Jones (82) 9. George Englert (11x) 10. Bill Stivason (116) 11. J.J. Metheney (31c) 12. Todd Canter (Teague 9T) 13. Lynn Knepper (10) 14. Terry Young (98).
M&D Paving Mini Stocks (12 laps): 1. KYLE COLWELL (80JR) 2. Pete Blazczak (77) 3. Tim Callahan (Stewart 26T) 4. John Shannon (14) 5. Cody Colwell (67R) 6. Dan McEwen (44) 7. Dillon Kineston (19) 8. Stephen Laslo (55) 9. Jerry Batcher (Blazczak 7) 10. Wally Stearns, Jr. (33) 11. Joe Reed (Brown 67) 12. Dan Nagy (17B) 13. Ed Haylett (8-ball) 14. Shannon Heberling (1H) 15. Bill Fuchs (10) 16. Scott Gilliland (27) 17. Kyle Crawford (14c) 18. Dillon Barr (15) 19. Rudolph Troples (28) 20. Tyler Powell (36) 21. Adam Bulfone (19JR) 22. Jordan Ehrenberg (JD57)-DNS 23. Sam Kloos (62K)-DNS.
Upcoming Events:
8/30 No racing.
9/05 (Fri) "Open Wheel Shootout" presented by FireDEX of Butler. Bill Emig Memorial for Mods ($1,500), Sprint Cars ($1,500), Limited Sprints, Micro Sprints ($300), Mod Lites ($300), & Mini Stocks. Anderson Bros. Tool Corp Night. Note: racing begins at 7:30 p.m. (Rain date Friday, September 19)
9/06 USA-East Regional Finals Truck & Tractor Pulling featuring Semi Trucks, "Run What Ya Brung" Trucks, 4x4 Diesel Trucks, 4x4 Gas Trucks, Limited Pro Stock Tractors, & Super Farm Tractors. Pulling begins at 6:30. (Rain date Sunday, September 7).
9/13 20th Annual Western PA Sprint Championship ($2,000), FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series ($1,200), E-Mods ($600), Mod Lites ($300), & Mini Stocks.
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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