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RIGGS WINS BILL EMIG MOD MEMORIAL FOR 3RD WIN; CAREER 1ST FOR BOWSER AT MERCER AS 30 SPRINTS ON HAND; PADEN WINS LTD SPRINTS; GROVES, KRUMMERT, & LASLO WIN FIRSTS IN MOD LITES, MICROS, & MINIS
By Mike Leone
September 5, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mercer, PA.It took two tries and appeared may have to take a third for the "Open Wheel Shootout" to be completed as steady rain fell 10 miles to the west and north of Mercer Raceway Park, but only a brief shower and some sprinkles fell Friday night. Celebrating in the Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic victory lane were Lonny Riggs-Tire Express Modified Bill Emig Memorial, Carl Bowser-Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars, Andy Paden-Limited Sprints, Jay Groves-Micro Sprints, Garrett Krummert-Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites, and Stephen Laslo-M&D Paving Mini Stocks. The event, which was rained out during the heat races on July 26, was presented by FireDEX of Butler and it was also Anderson Bros. Tool Corp. Night.
Lonny Riggs is on a roll. Riggs captured his second win of the year on August 9, backed that up with a strong third place against the BRP Big-Block Modified Tour on August 16, and on Friday night nailed down the prestigious Bill Emig Memorial victory in the 25-lap, $1,500 to-win Tire Express feature for his third victory of the season.
"I think the car was better on the bottom, but I had to get to the top to find out," explained the Volant, Pa. driver after his second victory in the Bill Emig Memorial as he won the event back for big blocks in 2003. "We were getting through lapped traffic good. The car worked great top-to-bottom. "
Riggs started the event from fifth and advanced to third on the opening lap behind Jimmy Holden and Garrett Krummert. Two cautions slowed the event with two laps completed. When green replaced yellow, Krummert used the outside to take the lead from Holden off turn four on lap three. Riggs drove under Holden to grab second on lap seven. Riggs ran down Krummert on lap nine and on the following lap the two split the lapped car of Randy Brown with Riggs coming out first to lead the 10th circuit.
On lap 11, Krummert slipped high in turn four allowing Holden to slip back under for second. The top three were in heavy traffic on laps 14 and 15 before Riggs pulled away on lap 16 while the battle continued for second. After 18 non-stop laps, John Buchanan couldn't make it off the track necessitating the final caution of the event.
When racing resumed, Riggs took off with two lapped cars behind. Rapp used the lapped cars to his advantage getting by Krummert for third. The victory for Riggs was his 10th career in the division and 23rd overall at the track. Holden was a season best second ahead of 11th starting Rapp, Krummert, and Gary Smoker. Mercer's Guidace was able to garner his second championship in the past three seasons and will look to add the FASTRAK Late Model crown this Saturday. Completing the top 10 were Jeff Schaffer, Steve Barr, Frank Guidace, Rick Hall, and Marvin Williams. Heat winners over the 22-car field were Rapp and Holden.
The 2008 season hasn't been a memorable one for Carl Bowser. The former Micro Sprint graduate has suffered through his worst season since he started 410 Sprint Car racing with only one top five showing at Lernerville Speedway. Making just his third start of the season at Mercer, Bowser came out top of the 25-lap non-stop, $1,500 to-win Luxaire Heating & Cooling thriller holding off the staunch challenges of Andy McKisson and Mike Lutz for his first career Mercer win.
"I was waiting for most of the race for someone to get me," said the Sarver, Pa. driver whose only other win came at Lernerville on August 18, 2006. "I think I hit everything on the front straightaway and I went the whole way down the backstretch off the track like three or four times. I figured the only way I could do this is if it went non-stop. Usually at Lernerville when the others start getting tired the last five laps I'm at my best and get into nice, fast runs. I saw Andy (McKisson) coming off turn four and figured I was either going to hit the wall or win it- so that's what we went for."
Bowser raced out to the early lead with Eric Williams and Jeremy Cook in tow. McKisson, who started sixth, advanced to fourth on lap five before Bowser started getting into lapped traffic on lap six. On lap seven, Bowser caught the cushion wrong in turn four and came off sideways allowing Williams to close. McKisson meanwhile drove under Cook for third on lap nine and quickly closed on Williams.
McKisson, who has had a stellar season since not even starting the year until July 25, worked his way under and past Williams for second on lap 11 and caught Bowser one lap later. Lutz followed McKisson to third. McKisson was all over Bowser trying to find a way by in lapped traffic on laps 13 and 14. Lutz then closed on the two on lap 15 making it a three-car race for the win the rest of the way.
Bowser ran high and McKisson low with Lutz right behind lap after lap. Bowser opened up a decent lead on lap 20, but McKisson closed right back in on lap 21 in lapped traffic. Lutz and McKisson then ran side-by-side for second on lap 22 and it was briefly three-wide for the lead in turns three and four. On lap 23, Lutz momentarily got by McKisson for second, but McKisson was able to get back by in traffic. On a breathtaking final lap, the trio battled hard through lapped traffic somehow not touching as they could have been covered in a blanket. Coming out of turn four for the checkered, McKisson got alongside of Bowser, but Bowser had enough momentum off the top to squeeze by without hitting the wall to win in his Reeseman Autobody/Shellhamme r-Atwood Nationwide-sponsore d #10. The event went non-stop 6:34.23.
McKisson was second for the second time this season over Lutz in the Troy Preston #1P. Charlie Holben got a good run in the Martha Dionise #15 coming from seventh to finish fourth over Rod George. Danny Holtgraver was sixth. Ed Lynch, Jr. came back from a heat race flip to transfer through the B main and finish seventh in the feature after starting 21st. Williams dropped to eighth over Arnie Kent and Jimmy Hawley. Winning the heats over the season-high 30-car field were Ralph Spithaler, Jr., George, and Williams. Paul Kish won the B main.
Former Modified racer, Andy Paden, made a return to his old stomping grounds and captured the 15-lap Limited Sprint feature win. "I wish we had more (cars) here tonight," expressed the Greenville, Pa. racer on the nine cars that showed up. "This is a great class. I love it here at Mercer and have been wanting to be here all year long. This is awesome."
Paden shot around Brandon Spithaler on the start and rode the cushion to victory in the non-stop event timed in 4:05.82. Paden's fifth career Mercer win came in his Kidd's Jewelry-sponsored #24. Another former Mercer Modified regular, Guy Griffin, started sixth and finished second after getting by Spithaler on lap four. Spithaler dropped to third over Pete Miller III and Bill Thomas. Spithaler won the heat race.
Jay Groves was victorious in the 15-lap, $300 to-win Micro Sprint feature as a tune-up to the September 26 "Little Guy Nationals". "The car was working real good," acknowledged the Sugar Grove, Pa. racer. "This is only the second time out this year and I got second at the first show so I'm pretty happy. These guys are fast- I'm pretty fortunate."
Groves passed Dave Altman on the opening lap and was never seriously challenged in an event that was only slowed once for caution. Ironically, the caution was for the driver that may have given Groves a run for the money. After reporting late to the speedway, George Hobaugh, Jr. had to make his way to the front from 13th. Hobaugh passed Todd Reusser for third on lap seven and Mike Himes for second on lap nine. Hobaugh's run at Groves ended when his mount slowed on lap 10. Groves then led the final five laps for his third career Mercer win in the Dirt Bag Motorsports/ DBY Motorsports/ P. Beedle Construction- sponsored #25. Himes, Reusser, Jeff Bacha, and Tim Smith were second through fifth. Heat wins went to Groves and Hobaugh over the 17-car field.
Last year Garrett Krummert was the Modified Champion without winning a single feature, but he did manage to win the first two races of his career in the Mod Lites. This year, Krummert has found victory lane three times in the Modifieds, but has been winless in the Mod Lites at Mercer. That ended on Friday night, as Krummert convincingly won the 15-lap, $300 to-win Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lite feature.
"I have to thank Levi Spinneweber, " acknowledged the New Castle, Pa. resident. "His dad owns the cars. He was out of town this week. Levi has been getting on me about trying this new setup and I've been telling him no, no I can't. Finally I let him.it was perfect..100% . I have to thank him and his girlfriend Susan."
Krummert started eighth and was in the top five after one lap. Tony Tatgenhorst and Krummert passed Bill Stivason for second and third on lap two and one lap later Krummert moved to second passed Tatgenhorst. Meanwhile up front, Kotie Kirkbride raced to the lead from the fourth starting spot and set the pace for the first three laps. On lap four, Krummert drew alongside Kirkbride, but Kirkbride was able to maintain her lead Krummert's winning move came on lap five when he dove under Kirkbride in turn one. The two made contact as Krummert came out with the lead.
Krummert quickly pulled away from the field in the Mike Spinneweber- owned Anderson Windows/Cranberry Supply/Doyle Equipment-sponsored #20s and went on for his sixth career Mercer win by nearly nine seconds. The battled raged for second through eighth as those cars could have been covered by a blanket. Kirkbride held on for a career best second nipping Tatgenhorst in his best Mercer effort. Kirkbride's uncle, Terry Young, was fourth after starting ninth. David Innes rounded out the top five. Levi Spinneweber and Krummert won the heats over the 12 cars as most of Mercer's top cars went to Merrittville Speedway to compete in the Rose Webber Memorial.
Stephen Laslo has been getting faster and fast every week with a pair of seconds and a pair of fourths in the past five events. Friday night, Laslo bettered himself with his first career win in the 12-lap M&D Paving Mini Stock feature. "I can't believe it," expressed the Warren, Ohio racer. "I've been waiting for this for a long time. This is unbelievable. Dillon (Kineston) has a fast car and I thought he was going to take it from me again, but I pulled this one out."
Laslo started fifth and made the winning move on lap two taking the lead from Dillon Barr in turn four. Two cautions slowed Laslo's run to the checkered in his NRC Management/The Lawn Wizard-sponsored #55. Kineston started 10th and made his way to second on lap three past Pete Blazczak. The two swapped second back and fourth with Kineston getting by for good on lap 11. New point leader Kineston held off Blazczak, Curtis Brown, and Dan McEwen as positions second through seventh were in a pack for much of the event. Laslo and Brown won the heats over the 17-car field.
Tire Express 358 Modified Bill Emig Memorial (25 laps, $1,500 to-win): 1.LONNY RIGGS (Black 58) 2. Jimmy Holden (28H) 3. Brad Rapp (11R) 4. Garrett Krummert (29) 5. Gary Smoker (516) 6. Jeff Schaffer (4) 7. Steve Barr (25B) 8. Frank Guidace (1G) 9. Rick Hall (B2) 10. Marvin Williams (69W) 11. Mark Rossey (Brown 67J) 12. Kevin Green (74) 13. Jr. Baker (359) 14. Dave Cogswell (8) 15. Randy Brown (67R) 16. Fred Sasse (0) 17. John Buchanan (93) 18. Mark Frankhouser (03) 19. Rick Kress (222) 20. Dillon McElrath (7) 21. Eric Gabany (3E) 22. Matt Reeher (711)-DNS.
Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars (25 laps, $1,500 to-win): 1. CARL BOWSER (10) 2. Andy McKisson (0) 3. Mike Lutz (Preston 1P) 4. Charlie Holben (Dionise 15) 5. Rod George (4) 6. Danny Holtgraver (D4) 7. Ed Lynch, Jr. (2L) 8. Eric Williams (76) 9. Arnie Kent (18) 10. Jimmy Hawley (Rudzik 49) 11. Jack Sodeman, Jr. (23Jr) 12. Dan Kuriger (08) 13. Bob Felmlee (6) 14. Jeremy Cook (5L) 15. Scott Bonnell (3B) 16. Gale Ruth, Jr. (5x) 17. Chris Shuttleworth (11) 18. Brent Ellenberger (29E) 19. Brent Matus (33) 20. Paul Kish (Clark 4c) 21. Lindsay Enscoe (96) 22. Joe Butera (Matus 3J) 23. Ralph Spithaler, Jr. (56) 24. Paul Kapuchuck (10) 25. Brian Ellenberger (20E)-DNS DNQ: Gale Ruth, Sr. (1R), John McCracken (63), Brandon Matus (33W), Mike Dehner (17), Brian Steinman (24s)
Limited Sprints (15 laps): 1. ANDY PADEN (24) 2. Guy Griffin (11) 3. Brandon Spithaler (22) 4. Pete Miller III (3) 5. Bill Thomas (99) 6. Jason Scoville 7. Chad Carpenter (35) 8. A.J. Albrecht (7) 9. Jim Morris (16).
Micro Sprints (15 laps, $300 to-win): 1. JAY GROVES (25) 2. Mike Himes (79) 3. Todd Reusser (Gagne 98) 4. Jeff Bacha (48) 5. Tim Smith (404) 6. Matt Nulph (9N) 7. Ryan Fredericks (22R) 8. Brandon Guston (80) 9. Mike Kerr (23K) 10. Sam Fulmer (F16) 11. Dave Altman (20A) 12. George Hobaugh, Jr. (40) 13. Johnny Huffman (7) 14. Brandon Matus (33)-DNS 15. Nathan Karenbauer (7S)-DNS 16. Joe Butera (03)-DNS 17. Mike McKnight (21)-DNS.
Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites (15 laps, $300 to-win): 1. GARRETT KRUMMERT (Spinneweber 20s) 2. Kotie Kirkbride (97N) 3. Tony Tatgenhorst (63) 4. Terry Young (98) 5. David Innes (18) 6. Bill Stivason (116) 7. Bud Watson (15) 8. John Gerula, Jr. (54) 9. Chad Yeager (7) 10. Jason Johnston (34B) 11. Levi Spinneweber (10s) 12. Jay Dye (40)-DNS.
M&D Paving Mini Stocks (12 laps): 1. STEPHEN LASLO (55) 2. Dillon Kineston (19) 3. Pete Blazczak (77) 4. Curtis Brown (67) 5. Dan McEwen (44) 6. Tim Callahan (Stewart 26T) 7. Jerry Batcher (Blazczak 7) 8. Tyler Powell (36) 9. Dillon Barr (15) 10. Ed Haylett (8-ball) 11. Dan Nagy (17B) 12. Rudolph Troples (28) 13. Sam Kloos (62K) 14. John Shannon (14) 15. Dave Heberling (1H) 16. Scott Gilliland (27) 17. Wally Stearns, Jr. (33).
Upcoming Events:
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 PM. (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. Racing at 7 PM.
9/20 No racing
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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