Mike Leone
Mercer, PA…After suffering two straight rainouts before getting in last weekend’s fifth event of the season, Mercer Raceway Park will resume action this Saturday night, May 8 with a full five-division “Saturday Night Live” program of Luxaire Heating & Cooling 410 Sprint Cars for $1,500 to-win, Approved Toilet Rentals Modifieds, 4 Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Models, Big Daddy’s Speed Center Stock Cars, and the M&D Paving Mini Stocks. Race time is 7 p.m.
Saturday’s promotion is $10 Single Parent Night as part of Mercer Raceway Park’s successful $10 Family Night package presented this year by new marketing partner Klingensmith’s Drugstore. Mom OR Dad, and as many kids 15 and under will be admitted for just $10!
“Last year for the first time we decided to add a $10 Single Parent Night,” explained marketing director Vicki Emig. “Because our $10 Family Nights include two adults, we had many requests from single parents to be included so we took their suggestion to heart and have brought it back this year. This is sure a great night of entertainment for just $10!”
With his second win in the first three nights of action, hometown racer Mike Lutz has regained the Sprint Car point lead in search of his first track title. Lutz has just a four-point lead over week two winner Ed Lynch, Jr. and just a five-point leader over Bob Felmlee, who has yet to finish worse than fourth in his heat race or feature this season. The Sprint Cars will not only be competing for a region-high $1,500 to-win plus a Goodyear Tire again Saturday, but four additional Goodyear Tires will also be given away.
Jimmy Holden broke the tie with Lonny Riggs last Saturday, but still has just a two-point lead in the Modified race and is only up three on defending three-time champion Frank Guidace. The Tiona, Pa. driver has never won a championship at Mercer and has yet to win a feature in 2010.
With two-time winner Max Blair in West Virginia, Dwayne Pond captured his first career Late Model feature in the FASTRAK-sanctioned event. Pond’s win advanced him up to third in points behind new point leader Kyle Zimmerman and two-time winner Blair.
The building Stock Car division rose to 11 cars last week, but it was still Steve D’Apolito in charge for his second win. The Boardman, Ohio driver won his first five Mercer races of his career last year and now would love to add a track championship to his resume.
While Pete Blazczak became the fifth different Mini Stock winner of the season last Saturday, teenager Jordan Ehrenberg continues to lead the points. The New Castle driver joins the other four point leaders as having never won a championship, but Ehrenberg has also never won a feature as he gets closer and closer to that elusive first win.
“We’ve had some tremendous racing so far this year,” stated new owner Bill Altman. “It’s great to see new faces atop the point list and new winners in victory lane. After such a nice start, Mother Nature hasn’t been very kind the last three weeks, hopefully better weather is ahead. I have to thank Klingensmith’s Drugstore for being the presenting sponsor of this week’s promotion. These nights make it affordable for all families to take in the racing that we enjoy on a week in and week out basis.”
Shaffer’s Auto Service & Towing will present week two of 16 for the “In the Spotlight” hero card program. This week’s four racers include Joe McEwen (Sprints), Kyle Fink (Modifieds), Chris Haines (Stock Cars), and Jordan Ehrenberg (Mini Stocks). The first 300 will receive autograph cards with these four racers featured to obtain autographs from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the midway. The drivers will also have their cars on display for pictures.
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.