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9TH ANNUAL "LITTLE GUY NATIONALS" SET FOR FRIDAY & SATURDAY AT MERCER;
Two complete shows for Stocks & Mod Lites; T3 All-Star Mod Series for $2,000 to-win on Saturday; Micro Sprints, Mini Stocks, & Strictly Stocks also part of action
By Mike Leone
September 23, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mercer, PA.Mercer Raceway Park is once again primed to host western Pennsylvania' s richest support-division only event- "The Little Guy Nationals". This ninth annual event will be presented by American Racer/Lias Tire and will take place this Friday and Saturday, September 26 & 27. Complete shows will be held both days with the Stock Cars, STAR's Mod Lites, Micro Sprints, and Mini Stocks running on Friday night at 7 p.m. and then T3 All-Star Modifieds, Stock Cars, Mod Lites, and Strictly Stocks on Saturday at 4 p.m. The rain date is Sunday at 2 p.m. with an entire event rain date of Friday-Sunday, October 17-19.
"The Little Guy Nationals is one of our favorites events of the season," stated 10th year owner Vicki Emig. "It's a great event to give back to the support divisions and I have been thankful for the excellent support in the eight previous years so that we can continue to host this gathering of racers and fans from all over the Northeast."
The Stock Car portion of the Little Guy Nationals is western Pennsylvania' s crown jewel of Stock Car events. The Stock Cars will be featured in two complete shows both Friday and Saturday. On Friday night, the 25-lap feature will pay $1,000 to-win, $70 to take the green flag. Then on Saturday, Stock Cars will hit the track for 40 laps paying $2,000 to-win, $130 to-start.
Along with the big $2,000 to-win feature on Saturday for the Stock Cars, the next 48 non-qualifiers will again be given an opportunity to run a feature. The first 24 non-qualifiers will race in the 15-lap B feature paying $300 to-win, while the next 24 non-qualifiers will run in the 12-lap C feature paying $200 to-win.
Past winners of the Little Guy Nationals include Matt Lux (2000), Ken Drake (2001), Tony Hersh (2002), Bobby Whitling (2003), Shaun Hooks (2004), Rusty Wheeler (2005 & 2006), and Alan Dellinger. The car count has ranged from a low of 73 in 2000 to a high of 122 in 2002.
The Micro Sprints will make their third appearance of the season in a 20-lap $750 to-win feature. Past winners of the Little Guy Nationals include Jim Young (2001), Karlin Miller (2002), Terry Schaeffer (2003), Steve Dunmire (2004), Jay Groves (2005 & 2006), and Brian Kishbaugh (2007).
The Mod Lites will compete in their richest two-day event ever in the region thanks to two key sponsors that have come on board. On Friday, the 20-lap feature will be presented by Truk Rodz by Jones Performance and will pay the winner $800 to-win and $75. Then on Saturday, the STAR's sanctioned 25-lap feature presented by Wedge Motorsports will award $1,000 to-win and $100 to-start! Tracey Fritter of Zanesville, Ohio won the first two events, while Delaware racers Eric McKinney and Steve White invaded with victories in 2005 and 2006. Last year, Rod Jones swept both days to become the first local to win the Little Guy Nationals. Cars from Canada, New York, West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Delaware are expected.
From its humble beginnings, the Mini Stock division has grown in leaps and bounds since Tim Bish beat five others cars at the Little Guy Nationals in 2006 and when just one car showed when the class debuted weekly in 2007. Last year, Cory Kilgore topped a record 27-car field. Will a Mercer regular stop the invaders this year? The biggest event of the season to date will see a complete payoff with $150 going to the winner of Friday's 15-lap M&D Paving feature.
Joining the Stock Cars and Mod Lites on Saturday will be the Tire Express Modifieds in the season's only visit by New York's T3 All-Star Series. Their 30-lap feature will pay $2,000 to-win, $125 to-start. The first three events went to invaders Ricky Richner of New York, Mike Stine of central Pa., and Rick Hoctor of New York. Gary Smoker of Mercer won the 2004 event. In 2007, Lonny Riggs of Volant, Pa. became the first driver to repeat backing up his 2003 win. Last year, T3 star Billy VanPelt captured the prestigious event.
The event always attracts a large contingent of New York cars from the Ransomville/ Merrittville and Black Rock/Woodhull circuits to take on Mercer's regulars. The average car count has been 48 cars. For more info on the T3 Series, check out their website at www.t3allstarseries .com.
Returning to the Little Guy Nationals on Saturday are the Strictly Stocks/Thundercars/ Amateur Stocks. The Strictly Stocks competed weekly at Mercer from 2004-2006. Past winners of this event include Robby Switzer, Mitch Wattelet, and Dave Airgood, Jr. The event will run under Tri-City Speedway and Pittsburgh's PA Motor Speedway rules. The 15-lap feature will pay $150 to-win with a complete payoff for a division that normally only competes for a trophy.
On Friday, pit gates open at 3 p.m. and the grandstands at 4:30 p.m. Hot laps will begin at 6:15 p.m. with racing at 7 p.m. Then on Saturday, pit gates open at 11 a.m. and the grandstands at 1:30 p.m. Hot laps will begin at approximately 3 p.m. with racing at 4 p.m.
Adult admission is $13 on Friday and $15 on Saturday. The Family Pass is $33 on Friday and $35 on Saturday. Students 6-15 are $7 both days and children five and under are always free. Pit passes are $30 both days.
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 September. 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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