Mercer Raceway Park

Mercer, PA (January 22, 2012):  Mercer Raceway Park officially closed the books on the 2011 season with its gala banquet and awards ceremonies held at the Normandy Banquet Center, in Hermitage. In addition, speedway management made several improtant announcements for the 2012 racing season.

Receiving top honors were Bob Felmlee (Luxaire Heating and Cooling Sprint Cars), Guy Griffin (Ti22 Performance Outlaw Sprint Warriors), Jimmy Holden (Approved Toilet Rentals 358 Modifieds), Rusty Moore (Precise Racing Products Stock Cars), Darin Gallagher (Big Dog R/C Center Modified Lites), and Pete Blazak (Big Daddy’s Speed Center Mini Stocks).

Banquet photos from track photographer Toni Carbone are posted online

Felmlee, of Franklin, claimed his second straight title in the Sprint Car division,  topping another veteran, Rod George, of Kittanning, by seventeen points. Behind them, however, three younger pilots showed that the future of Sprint Car racing at the Park will be exciting for many years to come. Brandon Spithaler, of Evans City, burst onto the scene with his first win in the early part of the 2011 season, and the momentum carried him to third place in the standings. Finishing fourth and fifth were a pair of third-generation drivers. Adam “Bomb” Kekich, who also was named the track’s Rookie of the Year, led Brandon “the Wheelman” Matus in the final tally.

Rounding out the top ten in the Luxaire Heating and Cooling Sprint Cars were Brent Matus, Scott Priester, Chris Best, Eric Williams, and Gail Ruth, Jr.

The 2011 season was the debut of the track’s other Sprint Car class, the Ti22 Performance Outlaw Sprint Warriors. Guy Griffin, of Greenville, came out on top, the second time in his long career that he was a champion at Mercer Raceway Park. Previously, Griffin topped the track’s Modified class. His protege, Justin Whitesell, of Austintown, OH, ranked second, while Dennis Wagner, of Pulaski, finished third. Fourth place went to Michael Bauer, a high school student from Clarion, and fifth was Jim Morris, of Fowler, OH.

Adam Anderson, Jacob Lagestee, Mike Lutz, Harold Braden, Jr., and Jeff Taylor were also recognized for their accomplishments during the 2011 season.

Jimmy Holden also claimed his second consecutive title in the Approved Toilet Rentals 358 Modifieds. The driver from Tiona finished 29 points ahead of his rival, Frank Guidace, of Mercer, but the competition between them all season long was much closer than the final margin would suggest. It seemed as though they traded the top spot on a weekly basis, and the championship came down to the final race of the year. Third was another Mercer driver, Eric Gabany, who logged two outstanding third-place runs when the Big Block Modifieds came to town. Fourth was Matt Reeher, while Kyle Fink completed the top five.

Positions six through ten went to Rick Hall, Dustin Martin, Ron Eperthener, Lonny Riggs, and Kevin Green.

Trusty Rusty Moore, of New Castle, dominated the Precise Racing Products Stock Cars, despite increasing competition as the year progressed. For his accomplishment, Moore also received two other awards. One was the track’s special achievement award for his record-setting fourteen wins, while the other was the prestigious Cavalcade Award as the top Stock Car pilot in the region. Russell Byler, of New Wilmington, and Bob McCann, also of New Castle, were second and third, respectively. Darrin Hyde and Brandon Johnston, completed the top five.

Marty Warren, Terry Wheeler, Bryan Wagner, Anthony Bruno a/k/a Tony Spaghetti, and Andy Thompson ranked sixth through tenth in the resurgent class.

Young Darin Gallagher, of Buler, took top honors for the first time in his brief career in the Big Dog R/C Center Modified Lites. Finishing second was Tom Line, of Apollo, while Cody Bova, of Struthers, OH, ranked third. Andy Feil and Shane Pfeuffer completed the top five.

Kotie Kirkbride, Jacob Bova, Andrew Bruce, Mark Marcucci and Brian Miller completed the top ten in this exciting division.

Last but not least, Pete Blazczak of Gibsonia, grabed the crown for the Big Daddy’s Speed Center Mini Stock division. Blazczak, who was rebounding from a season-ending injury in 2010, started the season red-hot, but he barely had enough steam to hold off veteran Ed Haylett in the final weeks of the season. Haylett, of Polk, was also named teh track’s most improved driver. Troy Lehnortt, of Oil City, was the third-place finisher. Michael Thompson and Rudy Troples were fourth and fifth, respectively.

Joel Wisser, Mike McConnell, Steve Longwell, Sr. Chase Anthony and Steve Longwell, Jr. came in sixth through tenth in the track’s other full-fendered division.

After all of the accolades were presented, speedway management announced that five of the six divisional sponsors will be returning for the 2012 season. Joining Luxaire Heating and Cooling, Ti22 Performance, Approved Toilet Rentals, Precise Racing Products  and Big Dog R/C Center will be Team USA, the new title sponsor for the Modified Lites.

The first event of the 2012 season was also announced. The annual Chiller Thriller will be held on Saturday, March 31. The headline class will be the UFo Late Models. Support divisions will be released at a later date. Non-wing racing will return to Mercer Raceway Park, with both BOSS Sprints and ARDC Midgets getting to run topless. The FASTRAK Late Models and the BRP/Hoosier Tire Modified Tour will be featured, as will the All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Cars. Watch for an announcement of the full 2012 schedule in the coming weeks.

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.

Mercer, PA (January 8, 2012):  Tim Gillette returned to the winner’s circle in the region’s most prestigious enduro, the Jack Frost 150 held at Mercer Raceway Park. Steve Longwell, Sr. opened the season with a big win the one Snowflake 25 for the Big Dog R/C Center Mini Stocks.

Although Gillette took the lead on lap 70, his run to the checkers was not an easy one. “I had just enough power,” the enduro meister sighed in relief. He had de-tuned his trusty 1993 Toyota that has carried him to victory many times before. “I thought that the track was going to be slippery,” he explained. However, mild temperatures melted the snow, and it didn’t take the racers very long to turn the muck into a very tacky racing surface. Nonetheless, Gillette was able to hold off a last-lap challenge from Brian Sprague.

Fifty-three cars lined up for the start of the enduro, with a pair of veteran Mini Stock drivers occupying the front row. Trooper Tim Callahan jumped out to the early lead, but Wally Stearns made a power move on the inside of turn four to snatch the lead away.

Stearns’ bid for victory ended on lap six, when he retired from the race. That passed the baton to Aaron Hill, who led the next ten laps. Hill surrendered the klead to Brad Shaffer in the heavy traffic. Shaffer maintained control for five circuits beore Wally Naletko slipped out front.

Hill rallied and regained the lead on lap 21. Naletko stayed close, though, and grabbed the lead again on lap 33. Hill fought back to lead once more. This time, he was the the one to surrender the point after just one lap. While Naletko held sway, it was James Gatto starting to apply the pressure. Gatto led a pair, but Naletko battled back to lead several more laps.

On lap 58, Gatto took the lead and he opened up a comfortable margin over the rest of teh field. However, Gatto tangled with a lapped car in turn four and that enabled Gillete to slip past him on lap 70.

Gillette paced the field, with Dave Morrow in second. BUt, the man on the move was Rick Hall, a regular in the 358 Modified class. Hall climbed into second, but Gillette had him in his sights. Gillete was unable to put the veteran down a lap, as they diced through traffic. That almost proved to be his undoing.

At the 100 lap mark, Hall went to the whip. He started to pull away from the leader.Hal was steadily chopping into Gillette’s advantage, and it seemd to be just a matter opf time until Hall’s Ford Escort would sweep into the lead. However. Hall’s charge to the front ended in turn one just ten laps from the end.

When Hall drove away from Gillete, another driver was nipping on his heels. That was Brian Sprague. When Hall faltered, Sprague continued the charge. As the final laps clicked off, Sprague was closing in on Gillete.

When the white flag flew, Sprague was all over Gillete. The pair entered turn one bumper to bumper, and Gillete made that little Toyota seem as wide as a lowboy hauling a prefab house. Sprague tried to sweep past on the outside of turn two, but Gillete powered off the corner in control. He hled off Sprague’s final challenges in thurns three and four and swept under the checkers for the thousand dollar win.

Following them across the finish line was Brian Rydbom, who ran a steady race. Dan Zimmerman and Thomas Meanor rounde out the top five.

In the Big Dog R/C Center Mini Stocks, Steve Longwell, Sr. raced out to an early lead in the afternoon’s opening event. His son raced in second until Rudy Truples came to life. Truples gave chase, but he was unable to overhaul Longwell, Sr. to challenge for the win.

Longwell crossed the line a few car lengths ahed of Truples. Ken Koby grabbed third, ahead of Michael Thompson and Fillippe Fetterchini.

Taylor Shaley, Steve Longwell, Jr., Bryan Warren, Jamie Wrightsman and Joel Wisser completed the top ten.

With the first racing action of 2102 in the books, attention will now turn to the annual Mercer Raceway Park Banquet and Awards Ceremony. The gala affair will take place on January 21 at the Normandy Banquet Center, in Hermitage. Tickets can be obtained by contacting track manager Frank Benic, at 724-699-1260.

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.