By Mike Leone
(Mercer, PA)…After the most successful season opener in six years, Mercer Raceway Park is set to turn the page to week two with the popular “Saturday Night Live” kickoff program. The Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars, Approved Toilet Rentals Modifieds, and the 4 Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Models will make their season debut and be joined by the Big Daddy Speed Center Stock Cars and the M&D Paving Mini Stocks this Saturday night, April 3. Race time is 7 p.m.
Fans will get their first look at the high-flying Sprint Cars for the new 2010 season. With no other racing in the region on Saturday or Sunday, a strong field of quality cars is expected. Fans will be in for a treat if some of drivers expected are able to show. All eyes will be on Rod George, who will begin his title defense in search of his fourth straight title and fifth in six years. George, who is coming off back surgery in February, has racked up 24 wins in the past seven seasons at Mercer alone! One driver expected to challenge George for the title is Mercer’s own Mike Lutz, who will be behind the wheel of the Jim Chappel-owned #8. Chappel was a Mercer champion himself when the track reopened in 1994 and repeated the feat in 1995.
The Modifieds have thrilled fans for decade after decade at Mercer. Fans should expect to see a resurgence in the in the ultra-competitive 358 small-block division as many drivers have stated they will be competing at Mercer in 2010 They’ll all be gunning for hometown driver Frank Guidace, who has won three of the division’s last four championships and also claimed the 2008 FASTRAK Late Model title! Lots of local talent and some returning stars will be giving it their all to stop Guidace’s run.
The FASTRAK Late Models will begin their third season of competition at The Park. The amount of drivers that continue to be attracted to this division is truly amazing. This division that debuted in the Northeast in 2007 had 205 racers compete last year. Max Blair is excited to get his season underway. The 20-year-old Centerville, Pa. driver is fresh off his first Mercer championship. In 2008, Blair was not only the $5,000 Northeast Touring Series Champion, but also captured the $10,000 National Weekly Series crown. Blair will be hot to trot to return to prominence.
Mercer brought back the Stock Car division in 2009 and hopes with some changes that were made over the offseason will allow the car counts to grow, while maintaining an affordable, level playing field. One thing that is certain is there will be new champion as Andy Buckley has sold his car and at this time will not compete in the division in 2010.
One driver that could be tough to beat is Steve D’Apolito, who won his first five races of his Mercer career last year. He’ll be challenged by last week’s open Stock Car winner Dan Lewis, who stated he’ll be racing at Mercer in 2010. The two Ohio drivers along with 2002 champion Shaun Hooks are expected as the division’s favorites. The division will allow the 358s and 406s to compete, but everyone is on the $80 spec American Racer tire.
The Mini Stocks continue to provide an outlet for people to get involved in racing in an affordable way by utilizing front-wheel-drive four cylinders with safety modifications. The division generally boasts one of, if not, the highest car counts each week. Last week got off to a strong start with 21 cars in action. Jamey Lee of Fairmount City is the defending champion.
“Last year car counts were up in the Sprint Car, FASTRAK Late Model, and Mini Stock divisions and we look for the Modifieds and Stock Cars to bounce back with higher car count for 2010 due to some restructuring of rules packages in these divisions,” described 12th year owner Vicki Emig. “Last Saturday was such a great event and we couldn’t have asked for better racing as the track surface allowed for three and four-wide racing all night with drivers coming from deep in the pack to the front. Right now the forecast is looking excellent with sunshine and temps around 80 degrees!”
Mercer Raceway Park is offering a season kickoff special on VIP suites for Saturday. Just $100 will get you and approximately 9 of your friends a luxury 10×10 air conditioned suite overlooking the speedway. These normally sell for $150 per night. If interested, call 724-964-9300 to reserve your suite.
Pit gates open at 3:30 p.m. with grandstands at 4:30. Hot laps begin at 6:15 and the first green flag waves at 7.
Adult admission is $12. Mom and dad can bring up to four kids 15 and under for just a buck with the $25 family pass. Students 6-15 are just $5 and kids five and under are always free. Pits passes are $25. Fans can take advantage of the “SPEEDPASS” by upgrading their admission ticket to the pit area at intermission for just $5 or $10 for the entire family.
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.