From Mike Leone
Mercer, PA — For almost 60 years, Mercer Raceway Park has been presenting exciting Saturday Night grassroots racing. As the 2010 season approaches, a full slate of door-to-door, mudslinging, in your face action on The Parkβs tricky 3/8-mile bullring is once again planned.
Cost savings promotions, put in place long before current economic conditions put a strain on race fans budgetsβ will once again be prominent throughout this yearβs schedule and are sure to take on new importance.
The Parkβs signature $25 Family Pass, where mom and dad can bring the kids for just a buck, will lead the pack of special discounted offers this season and will be joined by $10 Family Nights, 2 for $20 adult admissions (presented by Mahoning Valley Scrappers), βFree County Nightsβ, βKids Eat Freeβ along with many others.
A menagerie of other fun-filled activities will complete the package in making Mercer Raceway Park the regionβs leader in affordable family entertainment. Pre-race activities will once again fill the midway highlighted by Shafferβs Auto Serviceβs βIn the Spotlightβ Collectible Hero cards, as fans once again will have the opportunity to collect a series of 17 full-color autograph cards. Beginning May 1 and continuing through Sept. 11, the four drivers featured on each weekβs card will take center stage for up close and personal fan interaction.
Beginning June 5, Y-103 – The Classic Rock Station and WHOT β Hot 101 will keep things rockinβ as their popular radio personalities will entertain fans and help keep things cool for 10 straight weeks throughout the summer.
Kids by the hundreds are expected to flood The Park with excitement as one of the most popular super heroes of modern times, Marvelβs βIron Man,β makes a special appearance on July 3 just shortly after his long awaited movie sequel βIron Man 2β hits the big screen. Kids will receive an βIron Manβ hero card to collect their own special autograph keepsake.
For years Mercer Raceway Park has presented one of the regionβs most beautiful firework displays. This yearβs will be no exception and is promised to be even more spectacular. Cartwright Fireworks has been given the go ahead to create a masterpiece of both close proximity and overheard pyrotechnics that will light up the sky and thunder through The Park for βAmerican Patriot Nightβ on June 26.
βMovin’ on Upβ will periodically surprise unsuspecting fans in the grandstands with the awesome chance to enjoy luxury VIP accommodations and eats in a βThatβs a way to go to the races!β experience. Shortly after the nightβs events kick-off, random ticket numbers will be drawn that will allow a family or a group of six to eight adults to move on up from the grandstands to their private VIP suite.
One of the most popular promotions in years will return on July 24 as Herr Foodβs presents βMeet Your Heroesβ Camera and Autograph Night. A phenomenal experience for both adults and kids alike, this promotion has turned into quite a site as hundreds of fans flood the front stretch along with approximately 100 drivers and their cars. A festival-like atmosphere is created as drivers dole out candy, photos, t-shirts, and other special mementos to their fans.
A true entertainment experience is not complete without partaking in great food and The Park brings it to you with one of the greatest menus of racetrack cuisine ever presented! Of course all the expected staples are available, hot dogs, hamburgers, and fries, but itβs the unsuspected items that will fulfill your appetite.
Meatball sandwiches smothered in cheese, fresh baked Augustine Pizza, creamy mac and cheese, fresh cut fries, chicken zingers, loaded baked potatoes, but thereβs no way youβll want to miss a savory item from the βGrubb Pubβ BBQ area which will once again feature fresh grilled hamburgers, cheeseburgers, ΒΌ-pound hot dogs, and kielbasa. New for this year will be Fat Jimmyβs BBQ famous pulled pork. The New Castle restaurant will also present our βFree New Castle Nightβ on August 7.
If itβs dessert or snacks youβre looking for how about fresh strawberry shortcake, hot apple dumplings, cheesecake, vanilla and caramel whipped cream topped iced coffee, fruit smoothies, parfait sized fancy snow cones, and all your favorite ice cream treats.
βIt was always my hope from the beginning that Mercer Raceway Park would become one of the top entertainment facilities in our region,β stated 12th year owner Vicki Emig. βThere was never a doubt that our racers would keep on giving everyone that tremendous racing that always been the backbone of Mercer Raceway Park, but couple that with affordable prices, great promotions, and quality concessions and I think weβve created a great package.β
Mercer Raceway Park will kick off the 59th anniversary season on Saturday, March 27. The βChiller Thrillerβ will feature for the first time ever the UFo Championship Super Late Models for $2,500 to-win in the 40th anniversary since Late Models first appeared at The Park in 1970. Returning for the event are the United E-Mod Series for $1,000 to-win, open Stock Cars for $1,000 to-win, and Mini Stocks with racing at 7 p.m.
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 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 on www.facebook.com/mercerracewaypark to stay up to date.