Mercer, PA (April 3, 2013): This Saturday, April 6, Mercer Raceway Park will host the Chiller Thriller. Race-starved fans will get to see three divisions of full-fendered fury, and more. The headline attraction will be the NDRL’s ULMS Late Models, while the FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Series will make its first of two appearances at the speedway. The Mercer Open Stocks will be the other class racing with all wheels covered. But, there is more! The NDRL’s UEMS Modifieds will round out the card. The weather forecast is favorable for this event, so come out early to get your favorite seat. Gates will open at 4 p.m. and there will be an autograph session at 6. Racing will start at 7.
“The weather set us back a week,” said track manager Frank Benic. “But, we’e been on the track removing the debris left over from the enduro and whatever else accumulated snce then.” Confidently, he added, “we’ll be ready!”
So will some of the best talent in the region’s Late Model ranks. With no other races on tap, Matt Lux, Mike Knight, Keith Barbara and Gregg Satterlee are expected to build upon their past successes at the tricky third-mile. Other northern tier stars, like defending series champion Boom Briggs, will take on Jason Dupont, Greg Oakes, Rich Gardner, Bump Headman, and Doug Eck, to name just a few.
The FASTRAK Late Models will open the Northeast Regional Tour under the direction of FASTRAK founder, Stan Lester. Mercer Raceway Park is located smack dab in the middle of two FASTRAK hotbeds. To the north, there are Raceway 7 and Eriez Speedway, and to the southeast, there are Dog Hollow Speedway and Marion Center Speedway. This will be the perfect place for the clans to gather to battle for bragging rights.
Carl McKinney, the defending UEMS Modified champion is expected to make the short trek up route 79 to get in his first laps of the season. A stout field is expected, including Steve Dixon, who lost out to McKinney by just a single point last season. Perennial favorites Randy Hall, Brent Rhebergen and Rich Michael will come down from the Empire State, and Joel Watson is likely to venture east from his Ohio home. Shawn Shingledecker will be just one of the Pennsylvania stars on hand.
The Open Stocks always attract a number of invaders to Mercer Raceway Park. Tommy Fox and Rusty Martz are just two of the tough ombres likely to challenge two-time defending track champion Rusty Moore. Curtis Bish, Brandon Johnston, Russ Byler and many others will also try to defend their home turf.
Special event ticket pricing will be in effect for the Chiller Thriller. Adult general admission will be $17. Seniors (age 60 and over) will get a two dollar discount at the front gate only. Students will be admitted for $7 and all children (ages 8 and under) are free, as usual. The economical Family Pass will be $35, which is good for two adults and up to four minors of any age. Pit passes will be $30.
If you cannot make it to the track this weekend, April 13 will be the first Saturday Night Live! event of the racing season. That program will consist of Mercer’s exciting six divisions: the 410 Sprints, sponsored by Luxaire Heating & Cooling and New Wilmington Motors; the 358 Modifieds presented by Approved Toilet Rentals; the Outlaw Sprint Warriors, hosted by Bonnell’s Collision Center; the Stock Cars, racing under the Precise Racing Products banner; the Modified Lites, backed once again by Big Daddy’s Speed Center and Rock Concrete; and the Mini Stocks, now supported by Eperthener’s Auto Wrecking and Ray’s Racing Collectibles.
Remember that alerts regarding cancellations or postponements of racing events at Mercer Raceway Park can be sent directly to your smart phones or other electronic devices. All you need to do is go to the track website, www.mercerracewaypark.com, and click on the icon for RainedOut.com and follow the easy directions to register your device of choice. Or, you can go directly to the website for RainedOut.com and search for Mercer Raceway Park.
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.