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Mercer, PA — After a week hiatus over the Labor Day Weekend, Mercer Raceway Park roars back to life this Saturday night, September 11 with a blockbuster event featuring the Western PA Sprint Championship presented by Ehrlich Your Local Pest Control Experts and the BRP Modified Tour presented by Rock Concrete along with the 4 Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Models, Big Daddy’s Speed Center Stock Cars, and the M&D Paving Mini Stocks. All of the marbles are on the line in the final night of points. It’s Anderson Bros. Tool/SK Tool and Yellow Book USA Corporate Nights. Race time is 7 p.m.
Saturday’s promotion is Automotive Service Industry Night presented by Hovis Auto & Truck Supply. Those employed in an automotive/truck field will receive $5 off admission as well as their significant other. Families will receive $10 off.
The DIRTcar Challenge Series returns for its second and final appearance of the season as part of the 21st Annual Western PA Sprint Championship in a $2,000 to-win, $250 to-start feature. The long storied event has seen 11 different winners including (wins in parentheses) Ralph Quarterson (5), Bobby Allen (4), Johnny Beaber(2), Ed Lynch, Jr. (2), Kenny Weld (1), Jan Opperman (1), Buddy Cochran (1), Lynn Paxton (1), Lou Blaney (1), Brian Ellenberger (1), Carl Bowser (1).
The DIRTcar Challenge Series last appeared at Mercer on July 31 when Jack Sodeman, Jr. won his first career Mercer race. Sodeman continued his hot streak at Mercer winning the $3,000 Auto Racers for Kids Charities event on August 28.
Danny Holtgraver meanwhile won Sunday’s DIRTcar Challenge event at Tri-City Speedway for his first career Tri-City win. He brings that momentum to Mercer where he’ll try to overcome a 22-point deficit to Bob Felmlee in the Luxaire Heating & Cooling championship race. Felmlee needs to just finish 12th or better to lock up his fourth track title in four different decades! All of the top talent will be on hand as Mercer will be the only regional track running Sprint Cars all weekend. Mercer has already featured nine different winners in 14 races as no driver has been able to win more than two features this season.
The Big-Block Modifieds return as the previously non-sanctioned event for Saturday night will now be under the BRP Tour banner due to the August 14 rainout. The 30-lap main will pit the big blocks versus Mercer’s tough “358” small blocks. Earlier this year, Jeremiah Shingledecker passed Rex King on the final lap to win his second straight BRP Tour event at Mercer.
Mercer has been the site of 16 BRP Tour events from its inception in 1998 through present. Rex King sits atop the all-time win list with four victories followed by the late Lou Blaney at three. Kevin Bolland and Shingledecker have a pair of victories. Other winners include Alan Dellinger, Tommy Kristyak, Ron Smoker, Brian Swartzlander, and Russell King.
One driver that would love to add his name to that list is Dave Murdick. The Slippery Rock, Pa. driver has been red hot on the western Pa. circuit with four wins at both Lernerville and Tri-City Speedways. Mercer has always been one of Murdick’s favorite tracks so don’t be surprised to see the #61 in victory lane Saturday.
The quality and quantity of cars competing in Mercer’s “358” small-block has really picked up this season. Lonny Riggs has been the guy to beat with four feature wins, but mechanical woes have kept him from contending for the championship. Champion Jimmy Holden would love to pull off an upset, while drivers like Frank Guidace, Jeff Schaffer, Steve Young, Mike Stine, Eric Gabany, Gary Smoker, Rick Hall, Mark Frankhouser, and others will all be gunning for the big blocks.
Saturday night will be an important tune-up for the upcoming Night 1 of the FASTRAK Grand Nationals on October 2. Kyle Zimmerman used consistency all season long to capture the championship, which he really was never contested for. The second-generation Albion, Pa. racer though would love to nail down his first career Mercer win. Zimmerman’s worst finish this season was an 11th and that came in the $6,000 to-win National event, and he has five runner-ups to go along with a third place effort. Zimmerman has a 107-point lead over defending champion Max Blair, who currently leads the $10,000 to-win National Weekly Series and $5,000 Northeast Touring Series Championships. The FASTRAK Late Models will be competing for a minimum of $600 to-win Saturday.
The closest point race is the Stock Cars. For the first time this season, Steve D’Apolito isn’t the point leader. Sandy Lake, Pa. driver Chris Haines grabbed the point lead on August 28 after contact was made with D’Apolito in the July 24 make-up feature ending D’Apolito’s night. Though D’Apolito leads Haines 6-2 in the feature win column and 9-2 in the heat win chart, he trails him by 3 in the point tally due to three bad nights out of the past four. Fourteen-year-old Clay Ruffo sits third in points, but has a hungry pack of racers in Shaun Hooks, Bryan Wagner, Terry Wheeler, and Russ Byler breathing down his neck that could all overtake him.
Rounding out the program are the Mini Stocks in a 15-lap $150 to-win event. It’s been a dream season for Wally Stearns. The 54-year-old Harrisville, Pa. driver began 2010 winless. Nine months later, Stearns leads the division with three victories and has a 32-point lead over Pete Blazczak. Stearns simply needs to finish 22nd or better and his first championship will be his! Blazczak, a two-time winner, is the only other driver with a mathematical shot at the championship. Stearns and Blazczak are just two of 11 different winners in the ultra-competitive division!
“Hopefully Mother Nature will give us a nice Saturday,” stated first year owner Bill Altman. “Saturday is going to be a tremendous night of racing for the fans and not only that, but drivers will be battling for precious points as well. We invite all of the hard working automotive industry labor force out to enjoy this special event for basically regular admission!”
Saturday’s four Shaffer’s Auto Service & Towing “In the Spotlight” drivers are Sprint Car standouts Felmlee, Bowser, Ed Lynch, Jr., and Rod George. The first 300 fans will receive a custom, color autograph card of these four racers. Fans will be able to meet these racers and see their cars in the midway from 5:30 until 6:30 p.m. Also, FASTRAK Late Model driver Mike Anderson, Jr. will join the foursome with his own autograph cards.
Pits open at 3:30 p.m. and grandstand at 4:30 p.m. Warm-ups begin at 6:15 and the first green flag at 7. Adult admission is $17. The family pass for mom, dad, and up to four kids 6-15 is $38. Students 6-15 are $7. Children five and under and parking are free! Pit passes are $35. All rain checks from August 14 will be accepted.
Mercer Raceway Park is a 3/8-mile dirt track 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.mercerracewaypark.com for the latest. Go to www.twitter.com/mercerraceway or Mercer Raceway Park at www.facebook.com/mercerracewaypark to stay up to date.