McGinley, Bova, Morris, Stearns and Moore also Collect Wins
Mercer, PA (May 25, 2013): Brandon Spithaler did it again, taking the B.O.S.S. traditional Sprint Car win at Mercer Raceway Park after winning the opener for the winged Sprints presented by Luxaire Heating & Cooling and New Wilmington Motors. His first win in the car fielded by Tom Burkey propelled him into the points lead for the touring series. Remarkably, Spithaler’s winning ride was powered by a 360 motor!
J.R. McGinley led wire to wire in the non-stop feature for the Approved Toilet Rentals 358 Modifieds. Cody Bova picked up the win in the Big Daddy’s Speed Center/Rock Concrete Modified Lites, his second in a row, but this time he was driving his own machine. Jimmy Morris raced home with the win in the Bonnell’s Collision Center Outlaw Sprint Warriors. Wally Stearns scored in the Mini Stocks presented by Eperthener’s Auto Wrecking and Ray’s Racing Collectibles. Rusty Moore made a last lap pass on Bob Schwartzmiller to take the nightcap for the Precise Racing Products Stock Cars.
Spithaler rebounded from a DNF the night before in at B.O.S.S. race at Wayne County Speedway. He ras running a close third that night when a bolt fell out of the steering gear. “It feels like every time I’m in that car, it’s ready to win.” The key to his success was the maneuverability of the car. “I could drive across the track, almost like a winged car,” he explained. Spithaler used that to his advantage to chase down and pass Sheldon Haudenschild, who was riding the rim.
Showing no signs of rust from inactivity, Superman Arnie Kent raced into the early lead. He fought off a strong outside challenge from Michael Fischesser. Sheldon Haudenschild, the winner the night before, raced from seventh to second by lap five and he immediately went to work on Kent, who was making his first start of the season. Haudenschild’s surge to the front was interrupted by a red for Gale Ruth, Jr., who hit a ute tire at the entry to turn one before flipping into the infield. Ruth was unhurt.
When racing resumed, Haudenschild ran the cushion into turn one and he quickly dispatched Kent. Kent maintained second until lap ten, when Dustin Smith and Spithaler made it a three wide battle for position in turns one and two. Spithaler drove off the corner with second, but Smith was unable to sneak past Kent.
Haudenschild reached the rear of the field with fifteen laps down. His pace slowed somewhat while lapping some cars, allowing Spithaler to close in. With Haudenschild up on the cushion, Spithaler moved to the middle of the track to execute the winning pass. That came in turn three with 17 laps in the books. Spithaler then opened up a comfortable lead in the final laps of the race.
Spithaler crossed the line first, followed by Haudenschild. Kent barely edged out Smith for third. In fact, they were so close at the finish that they made slight contact. Both drivers were able to maintain control and they drove safely into turn one. Brandon Matus turned in a creditable performance, taking fifth.
Steve Irwin, Mike Miller, Fischesser, Kirk Jeffers and Chad Wilson completed the top ten.
Heat wins were scored by Spitahler, Irwin, Kent and Brandon Matus. Ruth captured the B Main. Francis Sesco and Mark Cassella were unhurt when they flipped in the preliminaries.
J.R. McGinley burst into the lead at the start of the Approved Toilet Rentals 358 Modifieds. He opened up a big lead in the first half of the race. However, in the second half of the event, Andy Paden began to close, as McGinley’s car was showing a little blue smoke. “We’ve been having some valve seal problems,” the happy winner said. “I hope that’s all it was.”
Jeff Schaffer ran second for the first several laps, but he lost the position to Paden by lap five. Schaffer would fade from the top five before the end of the race. Jimmy Holden and Lonny Riggs moved ahead of Schaffer with five laps in the books. Frankie Guidace passed Riggs fourth late in the race, but time ran out before he could mount a serious challenge on the top three.
McGinley scored his second career win at the Park, followed by Paden, Holden, Guidace and Riggs. Kyle Fink was next, followed by Schaffer, Shawn Fleeger, Makayla Guidace, and Matt Reeher.
Heat wins were earned by Holden and Frankie Guidace.
Cody Bova passed former champion Darin Gallagher on the opening lap and led the entire distance for the win in the Modified Lites presented by Big Daddy’s Speed Center and Rock Concrete. Gallagher made a bid for the lead entering turn one after a restart, but Bova held him off. Gallagher finished ahead of Shane Pfeuffer, Jacob Bova and Paul Smith, who was subbing for his daughter. Taylor underwent surgery earlier in the week for a broken arm.
Bill Stivason finished sixth, coming back from a spin in turn four early in the race. Josh Deems and Cory Webb were the other cars finishing the event. Jason Johnston, Jordie McClaine and Mike Flocken were scored based on laps completed before retiring from competition.
The qualification runs went to Cody Bova and Gallagher.
The Bonnell’s Collision Center Outlaw Sprint Warrior win went to Jimmy Morris, who ovecame a series of engine woes at the start of the season. He explained that the gremlin was a broken wire in the ignition system. Michael Bauer climbed to second in the second half of the race. Next was last week’s winner, C.J. Jones. Jacob Lagestee finished fourth after running secondfor most of the way. Andy Feil was fifth.
Rob Felix, Joe McEwen and Jeff Goodman took sixth through eighth positions. Thomas Sanders and Jacob Gomola were eliminated in a turn four shunt, but were awarded spots in the top ten nonetheless.
Feil and Bauer were victorious in their heat races.
Wally Stearns won a thriller in the Mini Stocks offered by Eperthener’s Auto Wrecking and Ray’s Racing Collectibles. Points leader Jamey Lee ran a close second. Last week’s winner, Pete Blazak, crossed in third. Tyler Fulton and Tim Callahan were next at the finish.
Shane Smith placed ahead of early leader Steve Longwell, Sr. Adam Bulfone, Leo Hanlon and Rudy Troples rounded out the top ten.
Lee and Callahan captured the heat wins.
Rusty Moore trailed Bob Schwartzmiller until the third turn of the last lap. He pulled even in the final corners and powered off turn four for the win. After them were Curtis Bish, Andy Thompson, and Bob McCann. Tim Burns, Bobby Heim, Ryan Moyer, Garrett Calvert and Brandon Johnston were the remainder of the field.
The heat victory went to Moore.
Racing will resume on Saturday, June 1, with a blockbuster for Sprint Car fans. The speedway will host the the Luxaire Heating & Cooling/New Wilmington Motors 410 Sprint Cars, Bonnell’s Collision Center Outlaw Sprint Warriors, and the Patriot Sprint Tour for the 360 Sprints. In addition, the Approved Toilet Rentals 358 Modifieds, Big Daddy’s Speed Center/Rock Concrete Modified Lites, and Eperthener’s Auto Wrecking/Ray’s Racing Collectibles Mini Stocks will be on the card. There will be no racing for the Precise Racing Products Stock Cars. Gates will open at 4, with racing at 7. All of this winged Sprint Car action, and more, will be yours for the low, low price of $15 for adults, $13 for seniors, and $7 for students. The Family Pass will be $32 and the Pit Passes will be $30. This promotion was made possible by Bonnell’s Collision Center.
B.O.S.S. Sprint Cars: Brandon Spithaler, Sheldon Haudenschild, Arnie Kent, Dustin Smith, Brandon Matus, Steve Irwin, Mike Miller, Michael Fischesser, Kirk Jeffers, Chad Wilson, Tony Beaber, Dallas Hewitt, Adam Miller, Aaron Middaugh, Skip Daugherty, Mike Burkin, Scott Priester, Chuck Wilson, Gale Ruth, Jr., Johnny Beaber. DNQ: Kent Wolters, Dereck Hastings, Brent Matus, Bob McMillin, Bill Griffith, John McCracken, Mark Cassella, Francis Sesco, Craig Folmer.
Approved Toilet Rentals 358 Modifieds: J.R. McGinley, Andy Paden, Jimmy Holden, Frankie Guidace, Lonny Riggs, Kyle Fink, Jeff Schaffer, Shawn Fleeger, Makayla Guidace, Matt Reeher, Eric Beggs, Max Smoker (DNS).
Big Daddy’s Speed Center/Rock Concrete Modified Lites: Cody Bova, Darin Gallagher, Shane Pfeuffer, Jacob Bova, Paul Smith, Bill Stivason, Josh Deems, Cory Webb, Jason Johnston, Jordie McClaine, Mike Flocken.
Bonnell’s Collision Center Outlaw Sprint Warriors: Jimmy Morris, Miachael Bauer, C.J. Jones, Jacob Lagestee, Andy Feil, Rob Felix, Joe McEwen, Jeff Goodman, Thomas Sanders, Jacob Gomola, Greg Dobrosky, Chris Matthews, Dalton Daniels. DNS: Harold Braden, Jr., Joe Siembida, Richard Lawson, Mike Miller.
Eperthener’s Auto Wrecking/Ray’s Racing Collectibles Mini Stocks: Wally Stearns, Jamey Lee, Pete Blazak, Tyler Fulton, Tim Callahan, Shane Smith, Steve Longwell, Sr., Adam Bulfone, Leo Hanlon, Rudy Troples, Patricia Riffe, Mike McConnell, Josh Eakman, Alex Paden.
Precise Racing Products Stock Cars: Rusty Moore, Bob Schwartzmiller, Curtis Bish, Andy Thompson, Bob McCann, Tim Burns, Bobby Heim, Ryan Moyer, Garrett Calvert, Brandon Johnston.