B.O.S.S. Sprints Saturday; Truck and Tractor Pull Sunday
Mercer, PA (May 21, 2013): Mercer Raceway Park will offer motorsports enthusiasts two unique programs for their enjoyment over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Saturday evening, May 25, the oval will play host to traditional (i.e., non-wing) Sprint Cars, as the traveling stars of the Buckeye Outlaw Sprint Series will take on the speedway’s own 410 Sprints sponsored by Luxaire Heating & Cooling and New Wilmington Motors. Then, on Sunday, May 26, the attentions will turn to the pulling pit for the All American Spring Nationals World Championship Pulling Event.
This Saturday, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers will present the B.O.S.S. Sprints and more! There will be tickets and other give-aways for the minor league baseball team.
B.O.S.S. officials are expecting a large turn-out of drivers at the Park, including Landon Simon, Jamie Miller, Steve Irwin, Chuck Wilson, Nick Landon, and many more. Several of the B.O.S.S. faithful have ties to the Western Pennsylvania racing community, such as Mark Cassella, Tony Beaber and his father, Johnny. Skip Daugherty, who has competed at Mercer Raceway Park in 410 and 305 Sprints, will make his debut with the tour.
Evans City’s own Brandon Spithaler will have a foot in both camps. He has declared his intentions to compete for the B.O.S.S. championship, but he already has one Mercer win with a wing over his head. Last season, he won with and without the wings, and he would like nothing more than to duplicate that feat in 2013.
Defending the home turf will be none other than Scott Priester, whose win last Saturday propelled him into the points lead. He cannot lose any ground this weekend, for the special event will not count towards the speedway title. Joining him will be last year’s champion, Eric Williams, who lost the lead, and the win, after his nose wing was rendered useless late in the race. Jack Sodeman, Jr., Brent and Brandon Matus, Dan Kuriger, Adam Kekich and Chris Best are some of the other pilots who are also expected to leave their wings at home.
Also on the racing card will be the Approved Toilet Rentals 358 Modifieds, the Bonnell’s Collision Center Outlaw Sprint Warriors and the Precise Racing Products Stock Cars. Once again, Big Daddy’s Speed Center and Rock Concrete will present the Modified Lites, and Eperthener’s Auto Wrecking and Ray’s Racing Collectibles will offer the Mini Stocks. Each of these divisions will be competing for points, so all of the top competitors are expected.
Admission prices for the B.O.S.S. program will be just $15 for adults, $13 for seniors (60+), and $7 for students (ages 9-18). Children (ages 8 and under) are free. The Family Pass will be in effect for this event. At $35 for two adults and up to four minors of any age, it is quite a bargain. Pit passes will be $25.
Gates will open at 4 p.m., and racing will start at 7 p.m. Come out early to get the best seats for this must see event!
The Sunday pulling event will feature four classes of trucks and tractors, including the Smoker Series Tractors, the Big Rig Semis, the Run What Ya Brung 4 x 4 Trucks, and the new Work Stock Diesel Trucks. Because this will be the first points contest of the 2013 pulling season, all of the top competitors are expected.
Over the years some of the top pullers have come to Mercer to start their drive to capture the seasonal championship. Some of the best known in that group include the multiple Smoker Series champion Ray Link from Patton, Pennsylvania, with his John Deere named, “Gone ‘Moken,” and the Big Rigs Series champ Fred Sanders from Ravenna, Ohio, with his famed “Silver Bullet.” Other notables have been Don Snyder from Canfield, Ohio, with his awesome “Mr. Nasty” Peterbilt Big Rig and the ultra powerful “Ridin’ Dirty” Modified Diesel 4 x 4 from Chardon, Ohio, and driven by Tim Jackson.
This edition will be no different as the top tractors and the top semi trucks from all parts of the United States will converge on Mercer Raceway Park.
The All-American Smoker Series tractors will be one of the highlights of the event as the best multi turbo-charged diesels in the land will vie for the handsome early season prize money. A field of twelve to fifteen tractors is expected at Mercer.
The Big Rigs Semi Trucks, featuring all of the top modified rigs in the country, all take to the track at Mercer. This is the only time that area fans can see all of these huge smoke-belching machines on the same track at the same time early in the season.
The modified four-wheel drive trucks are also coming to the Spring Nationals as the new Run What Ya Brung class is slated for the pull. This very powerful class will permit super charged engines for the first time in 2013 and some owners may opt to put a special nitrous oxide system on their huge cubic inch engines. And for the first time, the diesel 4 x 4 trucks will be allowed to run a triple turbo-charger set up with USA-EAST.
The pull at Mercer will also have a local type class when the new Work Stock Diesel 4 x 4 Trucks come together for the first time. These trucks are street legal trucks that form the entry level division for diesel pulling. Local area trucks are welcome to participate but must pass a tech inspection prior to entering the pull.
The pulling community is eager to start the season and Mercer Raceway Park rolls out the red carpet for the awesome machines that come from far and wide to be a part of the event. Fans plan for this pull each year and annually pack the grandstand for the USA-EAST Season opener. And of course the infield is also opened for the pull – the only time all season where fans can actually sit in the grassy center at the raceway.
Admission for the pull will be only $15 for adults, $13 for seniors (60+), and $7 for students (ages 9-18). Children will be free for the pull, too. The Family Pass will be $32, and it will again be good for two adults and up to four minors of any age. Pit passes will be $30.
The gates will open at 3 p.m. and the pulls will start at 6:30 p.m. The pull will have a Monday raindate, if needed.
Remember that alerts regarding any cancellation of the racing activity can be sent to your smart phone or other electronic devices. Just go to the track website,www.mercerracewaypark.com, and click on the icon for RainedOut.com and follow the easy steps to sign up.
About Mercer Raceway Park: 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 from late March through late September. For more information, check outwww.mercerracewaypark.com, www.twitter.com/mercerraceway, orwww.facebook.com/mercerracewaypark.