Mercer, PA (July 25, 2012): This week at Mercer Raceway Park, fans can get up close and personal with their favorite drivers! In addition to the full-six division racing program, the track will host the annual Meet your Heroes Night, courtesy of Herr’s. Fans young and old will be able to mingle with the racers and get photos and autographs.
One driver that everybody should be looking for is Scott Priester. While others have been grabbing the headlines, Priester has quietly run off a string of four fourth place finishes in the Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars. In addidition, the veteran from Rimersburg, PA has a second and a fifth to his credit. Those finishes have put him solidly in the top five in the point standings. Priester would like to kick it up a few notches and take the win for car owner Martha Dionise.
Priester will face some stiff competition, however. Third-generation racer Adam Kekich dropped a bomb on the rest of the field last week, earning his first career victory. Others who have gotten to victory lane in 2012 include Eric Williams, Mike Lutz, Jack Sodeman, Jr. and Brandon Spithaler.
Rod George, another winner this season, damaged his Sprinter in a heat race incident last week, but he dropped his engine into a borrowed car to compete in a special event held last Sunday at another area track. We may well see him use the same combination this weekend.
Mix in talents like Dan Kuriger, Todd Bauer, Chris Best, the father and son teams of Brent and Brandon Matus and Gale Ruth Sr. and Jr., and you can appreciate how tough it could be for Priester to reach the podium.
The Ti22 Performance Outlaw Sprint Warriors will provide the winged Sprint fans with their second dose of excitement. Jimmy Morris went nonstop on the way to victory. Joe McEwen, Skip Daugherty, Mike Miller, Rob Felix, Justin Whitesell, Chris Matthews, C.J. Jones and Michael Bauer are just some of the racers who will try to stop him from getting his third win of the season.
The Approved Toilet Rentals 358 Modifieds will be back in action after having a week off. In their last outings, points leader Rob Curtis suffered a costly engine failure and Lonny Riggs had a rear end problem. They’ve had time to regroup, so look for these veterans to be in the thick of the action. Kyle Fink will be gunning for his third win, but he will also have to contend with Jimmy Holden, Eric Gabany, J.R. McGinley, Matt Reeher, Ron Eperthener and the brothers Schaffer, among others.
Rusty Moore and Curtis J. Bish have been going toe to toe in the Precise Racing Products Stock Cars, but Bob McCann drove his pretty mount to the win last week. Don’t count out Russ Byler, Brandon Johnston, Dan Lewis, Darrin Hyde and Matt Wagner, though!
The Modified Lites will see Shane Pfeuffer and Mark Marcucci square off once again. Marcucci seemed to be unstoppable, but since his return to action just a few weeks ago, Pfeuffer has done it. Also returning to the track recently was 2011 champion Darin Gallagher. Kotie Kirkbride and Taylor Smith love to mix it up with the boys. Which one of them will be the first to grab the checkers? The Modified Lites are presented by Big Daddy’s Speed Center and Rock Concrete.
Teammates Steve Longwell Jr. and Sr. and Joel Wisser have been racing near the front most of the season in the Mini Stocks, but Tyler Fulton and Wally Stearns are just two of the fellows who pose a threat each time they go to the post. Steady veterans like Rudy Troples, Ed Haylett and Tim Callahan add to the fun.
With no racing action planned for August 4, fans will surely want to head out to the Park this weekend. Remember that gates will open at 4 and racing will start at 7.
The normal Saturday Night Live! pricing will be in effect. That means that adults will be admitted for just $13, seniors for $11 and students for $5. Children ages 8 and under are always free. The Family Pass, good for two adults and up to four minors, will be $28. Pit passes will be just $25.
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.