Hobaugh, Bish, Fraley, Marcucci, McAndrew, Campisano also Prevail
Mercer, PA (September 26, 2014): Kevin Hoffman scored the win in the Approved Toilet Rentals 358 Modifieds after a thirilling battle with Lonny Riggs on night number one of the 15th Little Guy Nationals at Mercer Raceway Park. George Hobaugh, Jr. grabbed his career first in the Bonnell’s Rod Shop Outlaw Sprint Warriors.
In other action, Curtis J. Bish topped the Precise Racing Products Open Stock Cars, Ryan Fraley took the Econo Modified go, Sean McAndrew outpaced the rest of the Micro Sprints, Mark Marcucci cam back to win the Baker Corp. Modified Lite race after being involved in a wreck that took out many of the top five machines, and John Campisano wore the nightcap for the Mini Stocks presented by Eperthener’s Auto Wrecking and Ray’s Racing Collectibles.
An unexpected problem with the afternoon fuel delivery forced the staff at Mercer Raceway Park to adjust the order of events on the fly to permit a delivery of fresh and untainted fuel. Despite some grumbling amongst the inconvenienced racers, the program was run off in an orderly fashion.
Kevin Hoffman fought off a persistent Lonny Riggs to take the opening night win in the Approved Toilet Rentals 358 Modified portion of the event. Hoffman took the lead for the first time on lap 15. Lonny Riggs hung tough despite a badly smoking engine, and he regained command just two laps later. Now, it was Hoffman’s turn to give chase. Four rounds later, Hoffman returned the favor.
Riggs continued to pound the cushion trying to keep the momentum up in his failing machine. He was able to draw close in the waning laps, but he could not get by the fleet Hoffman.
While Hoffman and Riggs were fighting for the win, Jimmy Holden climbed up to third, with Randy Chrysler right behind. Andy Priest came on strong in the late stages of the race to get the fifth spot.
Early leader Kyle Fink slipped back to sixth at the finish. Tommy Kristyak, J.R. McGinley, Brian Schaffer, and Matt Reeher completed the top ten. Frankie Guidace was in contention early in the race, but he retired while running second during a lap six caution period.
The three heat winners were Erik Martin, Frank Guidace, and Riggs. There was no B Main, as all cars were allowed to start the feature.
George Hobaugh, Jr. set the early pace in the Bonnell’s Rod Shop Outlaw Sprint Warrior feature event. Sye Lynch was impressive in his return to action aboard one of the McMillin Sprinters. He chased Hobaugh for several laps at the start of the event.The race was halted on lap six when Andy Feil took a violent spill between turns three and four. The young pilot was transported to a local hospital for observation.
After waiting out a lengthy delay for another ambulance to arrive, Hobaugh resumed the lead, with Lynch in tow. Lynch stayed close for several circuits, but once they reached the slower cars, Hobaugh was able to stretch his lead. Lynch remained second at the checkers. C.J. Jones raced home third, with Joe McEwen and Mike Miller completing the top five.
Jimmy Morris, the 2014 track champion, was sixth. Greg Dobrosky, Michael Bauer, Mike Marano, II, and Brandon Matus were next across the line. Ralph Engel raced back to eleventh after suffering a penalty for an unapproved adjustment to his car while the race was stopped.
The heat winners were Feil, Morris, and Dobrosky. There was no B Main.
In the Precise Racing Products Open Stock Cars, Curtis J. Bish went the distance to score the win, but he had to fend off a late race charge from Bob Schwartzmiller to do it. Schwartzmiller came up a couple of car lengths short. Shaun Hooks and Rusty Moore battled to the end for the third spot. Terry Young completed the top five. Pat Fielding, Rob Shook, Randy Wyant, Shawn Lindemuth, and Scott Byers held positions six through ten. A five-car tangle on the backstretch early in the event eliminated a number of cars, as did a smaller shunt on the main stretch. The heat winners were Steve Burns, Jr., Schwartzmiller, and Brent Johnson. The B Main went to Aaron Easler.
In the Econo Modified feature event, an opening lap wreck eliminated a handful of cars. Ryan Fraley and Jace Ferringer were ahead of that tangle, and they diced for the early lead. After a couple of laps, Fraley opened up a comfortable lead. Veteran Butch Lambert advanced to third, and he was challenging for second over the final ten laps. When Ferringer retired on the final lap, that moved him up a notch. Placing third was Junior Mechling, ahead of Keith Felicetty, and Jim Turley. Jace Ferringer was scored ahead of the final finisher in the event, Bob Simmons, based upon the laps he completed. The remainder of the field was Mike Smith, George Vestal, Joshua Ferry, and Jason Longwell. The heat winners were Derek Dellinger, who was unable to start the feature, and Ferry.
Sean McAndrew led the entire distance in the Micro Sprint finale. D.J. Furney gave chase until his mount failed. Steve Dunmire then took up the challenge of tracking down McAndrew. He did draw close, but he ran out of laps and could not mount a serious threat to the leader. Lee Lehnerd took third, with Brandon Hawkins, and Brian Forester in the top five. Barry Lucas, Brent Brinkenholfer, Wesley Liebert, Dave Siemmerich, and Johnny Walker were the next five finishers. The heats for the diminutive Sprints went to Furney, Dunmire, and Lehnerd. The B Main belonged to Walker.
The Modified Lite race was presented by Baker Corp. of Aliquippa, PA., Mark Marcucci rebounded from an early race incident that took out most of the top running machines. He passed Chris Logan for the win. Matt Hay, another driver involved in that early shunt, came back for third. Kenny Meadows, and Jason Darocha were fourth and fifth. Aaron Meister, one of the leaders of the race, crossed in sixth. Keith Smith was seventh. Doug Jones, Mike Flockerzi, and Curtis Stivason held down top ten positions. Rod Jones and Jeff Teeters scored in the qualifiers.
John Campisano successfully invaded the Park, taking the win in the final race of the night for the Mini Stocks offered by Eperthener’s Auto Wrecking and Ray’s Racing Collectibles. He crossed ahead of another visitor, Brian Felmlee. Tyler Fulton was the first regular to finish. Next came Pete Blazak and Caleb Hickok. Bobby Siegel ran sixth, with Rudy Troples, Shane Smith, Shane Shook, and Jim Fye completed the top ten. Tim Callahan and Fulton were the heat winners.
Approved Toilet Rentals 358 Modifieds: Kevin Hoffman, Lonny Riggs, Jimmy Holden, Randy Chrysler, Andy Priest, Kyle Fink, Tommy Kristyak, J.R. McGinley, Brian Schaffer, Matt Reeher, Shawn Fleeger, Kyle Holden, Steve Barr, Jeff Schaffer, Jr., Makayla Guidace, Max Smoker, Kole Holden, Shayne Izzo, Richard Whitney, Chris Haines, Clyde Gumpp, Carl Weatherby, Erik Martin, Frank Guidce, Don Brown.
Bonnell’s Rod Shop Outlaw Sprint Warriors: George Hobaugh, Jr., Sye Lynch, C.J. Jones, Joe McEwen, Mike Miller, Jimmy Morris, Greg Dobrosky, Michael Bauer, Mike Marano, II, Brandon Matus, Ralph Engel, Tyler Denochik, Darren Pifer, Kotie Kirkbride, Mark Rossey, Walt Tutak, Devin Litwiler, Alex Paden, George Frederick, Randy Sterling, Clay Riney, Andy Feil, Matt Gardina, Jake Gomola (DNS).
Precise Racing Products Open Stocks: Curtis J. Bish, Bob Schwartzmiller, Shaun Hooks, Rusty Moore, Terry Young, Pat Fielding, Rob Shook, Randy Wyant, Shawn Lindemuth, Scott Byers, Art Edwards, William Hurrelbrink, Brett McDonald, Nick Kocuba, garrett Calvert, Bill Banick, Jr., Gary Luzier, Bobby Heim, Tim Burns, Aaron Easler, Bob McCann, Steve Burns, Jr., Brent Johnson, Gary Miller (DNS). DNQ: Jesse Brock, Leigh Wheeler, Davey Myers.
Econo Modifieds: Ryan Fraley, Butch Lambert, Junior Mechling, Keith Felicetty, Jim Turley, Jace Ferringer, Bob Simmons, Mike Smith, George Vestal, Joshua Ferry, Jason Longwell, Dennis Dellinger (DNS), Steve Haefke (DNS), Derek Dellinger (DNS).
Micro Sprints: Sean McAndrew, Steve Dunmire, Lee Lehnerd, Brandon Hawkins, Brian Forester, Barry Lucas, Brent Brinkenholfer, Wesley Liebert, Dave Siemmerich, Johnny Walker, Kyle Colwell, John Flatt, R.J. Robertson, D.J. Furney, Dave Hawkins, George Hobaugh, jr., Peter K. Ries, Brian Borawic, Jr., Tim Eakin, Tyler Hawkins, Allyn Cavoto, III, C.J. Davis, Austin Pasquella, Mike Kerr. DNQ: Markus Miller, Jason Hamacek, Scott Hawkins, Greg Lazzara, Brandon Fredericks, Jeff Haefke.
Baker Corp. Modified Lites: Mark Marcucci, Chris Logan, Matt Hay, Kenny Meadows, Jason Darocha, Aaron Meister, Keith Smith, Doug Jones, Mike Flockerzi, Curtis Stivason, Tiffany Williams, Rob Hilliard, Shane Webb, Josh Christopher, Jeff Teeters, Jacob Bova, Levi Spinwebber, Rod Jones, Preston Roach, Cedy Cooper (DNS).
Eperthener’s Auto Wrecking/Ray’s Racing Collectibles Mini Stocks: John Campisano, Brian Felmlee, Tyler Fulton, Pete Blazak, Caleb Hickok, Bobby Siegel, Rudy Troples, Shane Smith, Shane Shook, Jim Fye, Peter Williams, Alan Perry, Adam Reseigh, Brandon Ritchey, Tim Callahan.