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OPEN WHEEL SHOOTOUT FRIDAY AT MERCER FEATURING BILL EMIG MOD MEMORIAL & SPRINTS; TRUCK & TRACTOR PULLING ON SATURDAY
By Mike Leone
September 2, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Mercer, PA).After a one-week hiatus, Mercer Raceway Park will be back in action with a two-day event this weekend starting on Friday night, September 5 with the rescheduled "Open Wheel Shootout" presented by FireDEX of Butler followed on Saturday by the USA-East Regional Finals Full Pull Productions truck and tractor pull.
The "Open Wheel Shootout" was originally scheduled back on July 26, but was rained out before all of the heat race could be completed. A complete new program will be run for all divisions. This will be the only race of the weekend in the region for Sprints and Modifieds. Rain checks from July 26 will be honored. It's also Anderson Bros. Tool Corp. Night.
The Modifieds will be featured in the annual Bill Emig Memorial, which remembers the late Bill Emig, father of 10th year track owner Vicki Emig. Over the years the events has annually been one of the biggest events of the season for the division at each track it has run at and has featured Six-Cylinder Modifieds, Big-Block Modifieds, and 358 Modifieds. This year, the event will pay $1,500 to-win and again be one of the two major events of the season for the Tire Express Modifieds. Frank Guidace is the defending race winner and also leads the points by 13 over Gary Smoker. This will be the last night of points for the Modifieds.
The Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars are down to their final two events. Friday's event will be a 25-lap feature paying $1,500 to-win. The last time the Sprints raced back on August 23, Rod George topped a 29-car field to take over the point lead from Arnie Kent, who was involved in a heat race crash. George of Kittanning, Pa. has a 20-point advantage over Kent in search of his third title in the past three seasons.
The Limited Sprint class will make their first ever appearance. The Limiteds compete primarily at Sharon Speedway under the direction of long-time racer Guy Griffin, who is anxious to compete once again at Mercer. Griffin was the 1997 Big-Block Modified Champion and also has four wins each in both the Big-Block and Six-Cylinder Modified divisions at Mercer. The Limiteds feature a 327 c.i. 450 hp sealed Chevy engine with spec shocks, spec top wing, spec headers and spec Goodyear right rear tire.
The only difference in the show from July 26 is that the Micro Sprints have replaced the PA 305 Sprints, which are unable to return due to an event at Path Valley Speedway. Their 15-lap feature will award the winner $300 and will be tune-up for the upcoming "Little Guy Nationals". The Micro Sprints made their only appearance of the season on July 4, which was won by Steve Dunmire.
The Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites will be racing 15 laps for $300 to-win. Thanks to his third win in the past four weeks on August 23, West Middlesex, Pa.'s Rod Jones went back into the point lead by one over 15-year-old Bud Watson. The kicker is this weekend is the Rose Webber Memorial at Merrittville Speedway and is expected to take at least a half-dozen of Mercer's top runners including Jones.
The M&D Paving Mini Stocks will complete the card. Their point race is also very tight with Mercer's own Dan McEwen leading 14-year-old Dillon Kineston by a mere three points. A total of 44 different cars have competed in the division's second season.
On Friday, pits open at 4:00 p.m. and grandstands at 5:00. Hot laps are slated to begin at 6:45 with racing at 7:30 p.m. Adult admission is $15. Students 6-15 are $7. Kids five and under are free. The Family Pass, which includes mom, dad, and up to four kids 15 and under is $35 and pit passes are $30.
The following day on Saturday will be the second annual USA-East Regional Finals - a Full Pull Productions Truck and Tractor Pull featuring the Semi Trucks, "Run What Ya Brung" Trucks, 4x4 Diesel Trucks, 4x4 Gas Trucks, Limited Pro Stock Tractors, and Super Farm Tractors. Pulling begins at 6:30 p.m. and the rain date is Sunday at 2 p.m. For more information, call Rick Feicht of Full Pull Productions at 1-888-385-5785.
"The September 5 and 6 weekend has kind of turned into like our annual American Thunder Weekend over Memorial Day," acknowledged 10th year owner Vicki Emig. "Originally we weren't scheduled to race that weekend, but it has turned into a nice date to fit in our rescheduled Open Wheel Shootout, which includes my father's annual memorial race. There isn't any racing going on all weekend for the Sprints and Modifieds and I wanted to be able to preserve this event for the racers and fans."
FireDEX of Butler, Inc. has been coming to the rescue of homeowners and businesses in their time of need for more than 25 years. You can count on their immediate response 24/7 to any water, fire, smoke, storm, mold, or vandalism emergency. For more information, call 724-452-7400 or check out their website at www.firedex. net. For 24-hour emergencies, call 1-800-569-5821.
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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