Mercer, PA (August 6, 2013): The FASTRAK Northeast Regional Touring Series for Pro Late Models makes its second stop of the 2103 season at Mercer Raceway Park this Saturday, August 10. Also on the racing card will be the six exciting divisions that make up the normal Saturday Night Live! program. All of this action will be presented courtesy of Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC.
The FASTRAK season kicked off at the Park back in April. David Scott captured the win in the Chiller Thriller. Since then, other stars in the Pro Late Model world have chalked up wins on the tour, including Max Blair, Mike Pegher, Jr., Dave Airgood, Jr., and Wayne Robertson. Saturday’s event is the second half of a big double header weekend for the FASTRAK competitors, so a banner field is expected!
With his strong second place run last week, Greenville’s Eric Williams doubled his points lead over Jack Sodeman, Jr. Williams now has a 26 point margin over Sodeman, who raced his 410 Sprint Car despite having two fractured vertebrae. The battle for the championship will go right down to the wire between these two popular drivers.
Scott Priester has a firm grip on third in the 410 Sprint standings. Adam Kekich and Dan Kuriger complete the top five. Sixth spot is hotly contested by Chris Best and last week’s feature winner, Rod George. Bob McMillin, Gale Ruth, Jr., and John McCracken, Jr. are safely within the top ten in the current rankings.
But, there are plenty more hot shoes in the division sponsored by Luxaire Heating & Cooling, New Wilmington Motors, and Ralph Butch, Inc. Consider this: Carl Bowser, a recent feature winner at another area track, and Brandon Matus, a top runner wherever he goes, are on the outside looking in!
In the Approved Toilet Rentals 358 Modified class, Mercer’s own Frankie Guidace now leads Kyle FInk by 73 markers, but, with a win last week, J.R. McGinley has now closed to within nine points of second place. Making things all the more interesting, Jeff Shaffer is only 13 points out of second. Jimmy Holden rides along in fifth, with Lonny Riggs in seventh.
The next four spots are really tight, however. Just eight points make the difference between seventh, held by Max Smoker, and tenth, occupied by Makayla Guidace. Sandwiched in between are Matt Reeher and Shawn Fleeger.
Michael Bauer still tops the Bonnell’s Collision Center Outlaw Sprint Warriors tally. C.J. Jones and Jimmy Morris are tied for second, 53 points behind the young man from Clarion. Joe McEwen, who has suffered from some bad luck, is fourth, and could jump ahead of Jones and Morris if things were to go his way for a change. Andy Feil, the newest winner in the class, sits in fifth.
Shane Pfeuffer saw his lead shrink to 69 points in the Modified Lites, presented by Big Daddy’s Speed Center and Rock Concrete. The Rochester pilot is ahead of Cody and Jacob Bova. Jacob is now a winner in his own right. Earlier in the season, brother Cody drove his car to victory. Bill Stivason holds down fourth. Cory Webb jumped by Josh Deems in the contest for fifth. That position could change hands again, though, as they are only six points apart.
In the two remaining classes, the leaders have seemingly insurmountable advantages. Seeking his third Precise Racing Products Stock Car title, New Castle’s Rusty Moore tops Andy Thompson by 194 chips. Similarly, Jamey Lee of Fairmont City outpaces Tyler Fulton by 197 counters! They race in the Mini Stock division, which appears under the twin banners of Eperthener’s Auto Wrecking and Ray’s Racing Collectibles.
Gates will open at 4 p.m., and practice will start at 6:30. Racing will commence at 7.
Admission for the special event will be $17 for adults, $15 for seniors, and $9 for students (ages 9-15). Children ages 8 and under are always free at Mercer Raceway Park. The popular Family Pass will by $35, and that will be good for two adults and up to four minors of any age. Pit Passes will be $30.
Next week, August 17, the Big Block Modifieds of the BRP/Hoosier Tire Modified Tour will invade the Park to challenge the 358 Modifieds in the annual Smackdown! So far, the Big Blocks have had the bragging rights at the Park. Could this be the year that a Mercer regular gets to talk some trash? It could happen, as New Yorker Chad Brachmann tops the Mod Tour points and he races a very potent 358 Modified himself.
Remember that you can get alerts regarding the cancellation of any racing event at Mercer Raceway Park sent directly to your smartphone or other electronic device. To register, please go to the track’s website, www.mercerracewaypark.com, click on the icon for RainedOut.com, and follow the easy steps.
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 out www.mercerracewaypark.com, www.twitter.com/mercerraceway, or www.facebook.com/mercerracewaypark.