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FRANK GUIDACE MAKES IT TWO T3 ALL STAR SERIES LITTLE GUY NATIONALS WINS AT MERCER IN THE PAST THREE YEARS.
The Mercer, Pa speedster puts his Troyer Race Car firmly in victory lane.
A massive 13 car, lap 22 accident mars the event.
(Woodhull, NY) With the 2008 season winding down the T3 All Star Series for 358 Modifieds presented by Troyer Race Cars made their annual trek west to Vicki Emig’s immaculate Mercer Raceway Park for the Little Guy Nationals 358 Modified event.
Thirty-four cars checked in for the prestigious event including ten of the top eleven current point leaders in the touring series. On a beautiful fall afternoon and evening four qualifying heat events were run with Mercer regulars Eric Gabany, Frank Guidace and Mike Stine taking wins. T3 regular, Ray Bliss Jr. claimed the additional heat event. Consolation wins went to current T3 point leader, Jimmy Holden and Bryan Terwilliger.
Twenty-six of the best 358 Modified pilots in the region took the opening green with Mike Stine jumping from his Red Cat Pole position into the early lead. Stine would stretch his advantage to almost a half straight a way advantage over the first nineteen laps of action before a spin by top five driver, Lonnie Riggs brought out the first caution. Three more quick cautions would slow the event between laps nineteen and twenty one, however it was still Stine at the head of the class. On a lap twenty one restart, Stine suddenly went pit side with a soft left rear giving the lead to the 2008 Mercer Raceway Track Champion, Frank Guidace. Another caution on lap twenty-two for a disabled machine on the track set up the stage for one of the worst crashes in Mercer Raceway and T3 All Star Series history when on lap twenty two the third place running machine of Garrett Crummert lost control on the front straight almost collecting the second place running machine of Ray Bliss Jr. Crummert then continued his series of spins into the turn one area where the entire pack of cars came roaring in. By the time the field crashed to a halt some thirteen machines were in the melee including most or all of the cars running from third to sixteenth. Ron Cartwright Jr. was shoved into the pile by another competitor where he then did a series of wild side over side rolls over the top of numerous other machines. Cartwright’s badly mangled car came to rest on top of the equally destroyed machines of Gary Smoker and Lonnie Riggs. It took nearly a full half hour with a fleet of wreckers and a backhoe to clear the speedway and even though some of the cars were able to continue there was considerable flat tire and body damage to most or all vehicles.
On the ensuing restart, Guidace was able to lead the remaining eight non stop green flag laps and claim his second Little Guy Nationals win in the past three seasons as he was also victorious in 2006. For Guidace it was a career year where he won two track titles in the same season at Mercer, the Little Guy Nationals and he has firmly put Troyer Race Cars back into the game for the 358 Modified set. Bliss was able to hold on for a well deserved runner-up finish followed by Eric Gabany, Jimmy Holden and Billy VanPelt. Brad Rapp led the charge of the next group of five across the line chased there by Bryan Terwilliger, Mike Stine, Dale Welty and Mike Turner. Once again it was a very good mix of Mercer top guns protecting their home turf against the T3 All Star Series regulars as the top ten was an even split.
Jimmy Holden holds a very slim point margin over reigning T3 Champ, Billy VanPelt as the fourth year touring group will wrap up the season on Saturday, October 11 at the Woodhull Raceway. It will be the Annual Lyle Sherwood Memorial Event. The current point tally shows that anyone of the top six drivers has a very legitimate shot at the title.
T3 ALL STAR SERIES FOR 358 MODIFIEDS PRESENTED BY TROYER RACE CARS.
Race Results, Sept. 27, 2008 Event #5 Mercer Raceway Park
Entries, 34
Swarthout Recycling Heats: Eric Gabany, Frank Guidace, Ray Bliss Jr., Mike Stine
Suzuki Motorcycles and ATV’s Consolation’s: Jimmy Holden, Bryan Terwilliger
L.J. Kennedy Trucking 30 lap Little Guy Nationals Feature: Frank Guidace, Ray Bliss Jr., Eric Gabany, Jimmy Holden, Billy VanPelt, Brad Rapp, Bryan Terwilliger, Mike Stine, Dale Welty, Mike Turner, Mark Frankhouser, Ray Dann, Kevin Green, Garrett
Krummert, Gary Smoker, Lonnie Riggs, Ron Cartwright Jr., Ron White, Curt VanPelt, John Buchanan, Travis Shingledecker, Tom Holden, Rich Whitney, Tim Guild, Jarred Keeney, Jeff Schaffer.
DNQ: Dillon McElrath, Mark Bailey, Jim Turley, Joe Gibson, Dave Cogswell, Marvin Williams, J.T McKernan.
Special Awards:
Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards Red Cat Pole Position: Mike Stine
VP Racing Fuels Award: Ray Bliss Jr.
Dewert Speed Award: MikeTurner
Wilkins RV Lap 17 Award: Mike Stine
Addison Farm Supply Hard Charger Award: Jimmy Holden
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Best Looking Move Award: Frank Guidace
Leaf Racewear Award: Billy VanPelt
Lias Tire Hard Luck Award: Ron Cartwright JR.
Suzuki Motorcycles and ATV’s Time Out Chairs: Kevin Green, Mike Turner
Insinger Race Fuels Awards: Gary Smoker, Ron White, Tom Holden
Genesis Shocks Shocking Experience Qualifiers: Ron Cartwright JR., Bryan Terwilliger, Ron White, Lonnie Riggs, Gary Smoker, John Buchanan,
Red’s Speed Shop Qualifiers; Rich Whitney, Brad Rapp, Curt VanPelt,
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