Mercer Raceway Park

Smoker, Jones, Moore, Teeters and Paden also Score

Mercer, PA (June 15, 2013): Rod George captured the fourth annual Auto Racers for Kids Charity event held at Mercer Raceway Park. The $3,000 victory was his second straight for car owner Jim Chappel. With proceeds benefiting children’s programs in northwestern Pennsylvania, a large crowd was in attendance. The program was made possible by Bonnell’s Collision Center.

Gary Smoker withstood a furious three-car battle in the final laps to earn the win in the 358 Modified race. C.J. Jones led wire to wire in the Outlaw Sprint Warriors. Rusty Moore claimed yet another win in the Stock Cars. Jeff Teeters scored the win in the Modified Lites, while Alex Paden earned his first career win in the Mini Stocks.

Chris Best and Bob Howard paced the field to the start of the headline 410 Sprint Car event, hosted by Luxaire Heating & Cooling and New Wilmington Motors. Best surged ahead, and took the outside groove to lead the early going. Scott Priester used the inside line to apply pressure. Best maintained his advantage despite two interruptions for minor skirmishes. Meanwhile, George quietly moved ahead.

After the lap five restart, George slid past Priester and he closed in on Best. George used a strong inside move to overtake the leader just one lap later. Best, Priester and Carl Bowser continued to ride in formation through lap ten, when Priester ducked under Best to claim second. Shortly thereafter, Bowser moved into third.
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Guidace, Bauer, Moore, Pfeuffer and Haylett Winners Too.

Mercer, PA (June 8, 2013): The Kittanning Comet, Rod George, survived a last lap restart to score his first win at Mercer Raceway Park in the 410 Sprint owned by Jim Chappell. Carl Bowser came up a few car lengths short in the race sponsored by Luxaire Heating & Cooling and New Wilmington Motors.

Frankie Guidace dominated the Approved Toilet Rentals 358 Modified program. Points leader Michael Bauer roared to his second victory in the Bonnell’s Collision Center Outlaw Sprint Warriors. Trusty Rusty Moore captured his fourth win out of five races for the Precise Racing Products Stock Cars. It was his third consecutive win. Starting twelfth was no impediment to Shane Pfeuffer, who scored his second consecutive victory in the Modified Lites, presented by Big Daddy’s Speed Center and Rock Concrete. Ed Haylett narrowly defeated his good friend Wally Stearns in the Mini Stock feature run under the twin banners of Eperthener’s Auto Wrecking and Ray’s Racing Collectibles.

Bowser and George paced the field for the start of the 25 lapper offered by Luxaire Heating & Cooling and New Wilmington Motors. George got the advantage over his younger foe and dropped to the inside as they entered turn one. Bowser fought back on the outside coming off turn two, but George surged ahead traveling down the back chute. Once out front, George opened up a commanding lead. He was ale to outdistance Bowser again when racing resumed following a brief caution on lap eight.
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Miller, Holden, Pfeuffer and Hickok also Win

Mercer, PA (June 1, 2013): With over 50 Sprints crammed in the pits at Mercer Raceway Park for the first triple-header presented by Bonnell’s Collision Center, Pittsburgh’s Danny Holtgraver took a pair of victories. He was the surprise winner in the Patriot Sprint Tour race after starting dead last because he missed the heat races. He led wire to wire in the 410 Sprints on behalf of Luxaire Heating & Cooling and New Wilmington Motors. The third Sprint win, for the Outlaw Sprint Warriors, went to Mike Miller, who held off Smoking Joe McEwen in the final laps.

Jimmy Holden romped home with the win in the Approved Toilet Rentals 358 Modifieds. Shane Pfeuffer scored his first win of the season against the Modified Lites, appearing for Big Daddy’s Speed Center and Rock Concrete. The finale for the Mini Stocks, offered by Eperthener’s Auto Wrecking and Ray’s Racing Collectibles, went to Caleb Hickok.

“We had an awesome car for getting just two hot laps,” Holtgraver said about his 360 Sprinter. “We just made some good moves, and it was fun out there, and we were fortunate enough to start out front in the 410 deal.” Summing things up, the elated driver said, “I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

Because the Groves and Hunter rig broke down just outside of town, Holtgraver could not run in his heat race. He was fortunate enough to get in two quick practice laps while the Patriots ran their dash. Despite the disadvantage, he marched to the front, reaching the top ten just five laps into the race. His advance to the top five was aided by a number of cautions which bunched the field up for him. He cracked the top five on lap 8 and he got third following another restart with nine laps in the books.
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