Press Release Archives - Michaels Mercer Raceway

Michaels Mercer Raceway completes inaugural season with annual banquet. 4 new champions crowned.

January 20, 2020 by Kat Hairhoger

For immediate release

Michaels Mercer Raceway completes inaugural season with annual banquet. 4 new champions crowned

By Jim Balentine

in 2018 Mercer Raceway was dark except for a handful of specials and the question was will weekly racing ever return to Mercer and that question was answered this season.. as Ed Michaels whose family owned the track from 1994 until 1997, purchased the facility in the off-season and returned it to weekly competition.

The Michael’s name is well known in the Mercer area as Ed is a part of several different charities and is also a local business owner in the area and with a very short time frame he completed a very successful first season. With four of the five weekly divisions averaging at least 20 cars or more each night and many first time winners great victory Lane and four of the five track champions never won a title at Mercer before.

The season concluded with the banquet held Saturday night January 18 2020 at the Normandy banquet center in Hermitage Pennsylvania with over 180 people attending the affair. Track announcer Jim Balentine Jr emceed the event which was completed by 9:30, with dancing that followed . The nights 50/50 of over $500 went to a lucky attendee and the the other half to the Erie Pa. Shriners hospital. Over 180 door prizes were given away as well.

Celebrating their first ever Mercer track championships were Brian Schaffer- fastrak modifieds, jake Gamola -305 sprints, Joe Campbell- Mini stocks, and Vivian Jones-Mod lites who is the first ever female to win a track championship in the tracks rich history. The only repeat Champion was veteran Rex king sr who won his first big block modified title at the track since 1995.

Special award winners were most improved driver Rick Regalski #13 big block modified, And 4 rookie of the years- Gage Priester #71 Fastrak modified; Chase Metheney #31c 305 sprints; Ayden Cipriano #5c Mod lites; and Joe Romanko #85J Mini stock.

The evening concluded with track owner Edward Michaels thanking everybody for coming out and supporting the race track and discussed some plans for the new 2020 season with the big announcement of new clay already on the speedway with more clay to come soon. There will be more 410 sprint shows and also some late model shows both Super and Crate LM. The season will begin with the annual chiller thriller the last Saturday in March and the season will conclude with the 21st annual little guy nationals in October. The 2020 schedule will be released shortly.

For more information on Michaels Mercer Raceway please visit their Facebook page or go to www.mercerracewaypark.com

Photo: Mercer track owner Edward Michaels congratulates the 2019 track champions(L to R): Rex King Sr-BB Mods; Vivian Jones-Mod Lites; Jake Gamola-305 sprints; Brian Schaffer-Fastrak Modifieds; and Joe Campbell-Mini stocks ( Ken Potter Photo)

Homak POPS powered by Can-Am Season Ends-Humanic wins & Exley and Fosnaught Co-Champs

October 8, 2019 by Kat Hairhoger

HOMAK PENN OHIO PRO STOCK NATIONALS POWERED BY CAN-AM FINDS JACKSON HUMANIC AND THE 10^TH DIFFERENT 2019 SEASON WINNER IN VICTORY LANE AT MICHAEL’S MERCER RACEWAY’S LITTLE GUY NATIONALS! HUNTER EXLEY AND JASON FOSNAUGHT END 2019 AS CO-CHAMPIONS IN THE POINTS BATTLE!

For Immediate Release

October 6, 2019 (Sandy Lake, PA) In the final event of the 2019 season for the Homak Penn Ohio Pro Stock Championship Series powered by Can-Am, 27 cars showed up at Michael’s Mercer Raceway to battle for $1,300 to-win, while the top 3 in points battled for the championship. Finding victory lane for the first time in a Penn Ohio Series race and Little Guy Nationals event, Jackson Humanic battled Veteran drivers Alan Dellinger and Shaun Hooks and would lead the last 4 laps of the 20-lap race for the win in his SS Chassis #17.

Homak Penn Ohio Pro Stock drivers kicked off the 20^th Annual Little Guy Nationals event on Friday, October 4^th by competing in hot lap qualifying to determine heat race starting positions. 9 drivers were split into 3 groups to make up 3 heats. Humanic was fast qualifier in group 1 earning him the pole position in the 1^st heat. Chris Schneider substitute driver in the Tarr Motorsports owned #29 was fast qualifier in group 2 putting him in the top spot in heat 2. The third group found Alan Dellinger driver of the Jason Longwell #7s as fast qualifier and overall fast qualifier to start on the pole in heat 3.

All 27 drivers would transfer from the heats with the top 2 drivers competing in a dash paying $100 to the winner. Heat race winners included Tim Bish #11B, last year’s Little Guy Nationals winner; Chris Schneider, 4-time Penn Ohio Points Champion, and legend stock car driver, Alan Dellinger. The redraw put Humanic and Tim Bish on the front row of the dash, Dellinger and Tim Deutsch #20 in the second row, and Shaun Hooks #65 and Schneider #29 in the third row. At the completion of 6 laps, Humanic edged Dellinger, with Deutsch over Hooks, and Schneider in fifth followed by Bish.

Humanic would lead the 27 car field to the green in the 20-lap event with Dellinger to his outside. Point contenders Exley, Fosnaught and McGuire would start the race in 16^th, 15^th, and 13^th respectively with just five points separating the top 3. Dellinger would edge Humanic for the lead on the first circuit despite losing his hood on the start, which brought out the first caution of the caution-plagued event.

Dellinger would chose the inside lane on the restart putting Humanic on the outside. Continuing to lead the way, Dellinger kept Humanic at bay while Deutsch, Hooks and Schneider battled for the 3^rd through 5^th positions until the 2^nd caution of the event flew on lap 4. Deutsch used the restart to his advantage taking over the runner up spot from Humanic while Dellinger maintained the lead. On lap 8, Humanic regained 2^nd leaving Deutsch and Hooks to race for 3^rd.

The third caution flag waved on lap 10 for multiple cars spinning in turn 2. No laps would be completed before a red would halt racing action for a hard collision on the front stretch involving Curt Bish #00, Tyler Wyant #24, and Rod Laskey #1R. Wyant and Bish would exit the race track on tow trucks while Laskey was able to restart at the tail of the field. Point leader Exley sustained front end damage in the incident but was able to continue racing.

The restart would find Dellinger choosing the inside line with Humanic on the outside followed by Deutsch, Hooks, Schneider and Tim Bish. At the completion of lap 11, Schneider passed Hooks for the 4^th position and another caution flag would fly for a multi-car collision in turn 2 involving Jim Fosnaught #20J, Mike Van Zandt #19c, Leigh Wheeler #717, and Jeremy Perry #15x. Exley exited to the pits under the caution to remove the damage to his front end and returned before racing resumed, restarting in 20^th. Fosnaught would restart in 11^th and McGuire in 12^th.

With 11 laps in, Dellinger led the way yet again with Humanic in tow followed by Deutsch and Schneider. Schneider would take over 3^rd from Deutsch on lap 12, with Deutsch slipping back to 5^th one lap later advancing Hooks to 4^th. Jim Fosnaught’s spin on lap 14 would bring out another yellow. The restart found Humanic in a battle with Hooks for the runner up spot with Hooks taking over the position on lap 16.

The final caution would be a red flag for a collision in turn 2 involving Jamie Barber #1B, Laskey and Van Zandt resulting in Barber rolling over. Under red, leader Alan Dellinger signaled for a tow truck as he experienced issues with his drive train enabling him to continue. Hooks inherited the lead with 4 laps remaining and chose the inside lane leaving Humanic on the outside yet again. Humanic powered through turn 1 and 2 to command the lead over Hooks and didn’t look back as he picked up his first Little Guy Nationals win at Michael’s Mercer Raceway 1.371 seconds over Hooks. Schneider finished the race in 3^rd, however failed to report to tech after the race resulting in a disqualification advancing Deutsch to a 3^rd place finish; Bobby Whitling #7W in 4^th over Tim Bish, Jeff Broniszewski #08 in 6^th, Rusty Moore #17M in 7^th, Jason Fosnaught in 8^th, McGuire in 9^th, Chris Withers #21W rounded out the top 10.

Exley battled his way back to finish 11^th ending the 2019 in a tie for points with Fosnaught. Both drivers will be 2019 Homak Penn Ohio Pro Stock Championship Series powered by Can-Am Point Co-Champions with 965 points. McGuire is awarded 3^rd with 962 points, Humanic in 4^th with 957, and Hooks in 5^th with 944 points. Broniszewski and Tim Bish tied for 6^th with 924 points. Rusty Moore finished in 8^th with 915 points, Curt Bish #29 in 9^th with 910 points, and Chris Withers in 10^th with 874 points.

Results:
Homak Penn Ohio Pro Stock Series powered by Can-Am, Michael’s Mercer Raceway, Little Guy Nationals, 20 laps, October 4, 2019, A Main Finishing order, $1,300 to-win: 1- *Jackson Humanic (17); 2- *Shaun Hooks (65); 3- *Tim Deutsch (20); 4- *Bobby Whitling (7W); 5- *Tim Bish (11B); 6- *Jeff Broniszewski (08); 7- *Rusty Moore (17M); 8- *Jason Fosnaught (73); 9- *Chris McGuire (63); 10- *Chris Withers (21W); 11- *Hunter Exley (23HJR); 12- *Randy Wyant (11T); 13- *Paul Davis (3); 14- *Noah Brunell (31); 15- Mike Miller (81M); 16- Jeremy Perry (15X); 17- *Nick Kocuba (10); 18- *Alan Dellinger sub for Jason Longwell (7S); 19- *Rod Laskey (1R); 20- Jamie Barber (1B); 21- Mike Van Zandt (19c); 22- *Jim Fosnaught (20J); 23- *Leigh Wheeler (717); 24- *Curt Bish (00); 25- Tyler Wyant (24); 26- *Pat Fielding (23); DQ – *Chris Schneider sub for Curt Bish (29)

*denotes 2019 Penn Ohio Series Member

Homak Penn Ohio Pro Stock Championship Series powered by Can-Am contingency prizes were awarded to the following drivers:

Sponsor	Prize	Prize Winner
Hoosier/Precise Racing	Hoosier Tire	Jackson Humanic #17
American Racer/Lias Tire	American Racer Tire	Tim Bish #11B
SS Chassis & Supply	Wheel	James Fosnaught #20J
Close Racing	$100 Certificate	Randy Wyant #11T
Joe Willcox Performance Automatics	$100 Certificate	Paul Davis #3
Genesis Racing Shocks	$75 Certificate	Jason Fosnaught #73
Dirt Defender	Wheel Cover	Hunter Exley #23HJR
Ultra Shield Race Products	$50 Certificate	Alan Dellinger #7S
Ultra Shield Race Products	Tearoffs certificate	Jeff Broniszewski #08
Arbodies	$25 Certificate	Curt Bish #00
Big Daddy’s	$25 Certificate	Bobby Whitling #7W
Big Daddy’s	$25 Certificate	Shaun Hooks #65
Wedge Motorsports	$25 Certificate	Jackson Humanic #17
Wedge Motorsports	$25 Certificate	Leigh Wheeler #717
Wedge Motorsports	$25 Certificate	Pat Fielding #23
Wedge Motorsports	$25 Certificate	Chris Withers #21W
Precise	$25 Gift Card	Tim Bish #11B
STAAR Lubricants	Trick Shot	Nick Kocuba #10
STAAR Lubricants	Trick Shot	Rusty Moore #17M
STAAR Lubricants	Trick Shot	Chris McGuire #63
STAAR Lubricants	Trick Shot	Noah Brunell #31
STAAR Lubricants	Trick Shot	Tim Deutsch #20
BT Truck & Auto	Brake Cleaner	Chris McGuire #63
BT Truck & Auto	Brake Cleaner	Rusty Moore #17M
BT Truck & Auto	Brake Cleaner	Tim Deutsch #20

Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennohioprostocks and follow us on Twitter @Pennohiostocks. For more information on the Series visit our website at www.pennohioprostocks.com, email info@pennohioprostocks.com or call 724-730-1623. Correspondence can also be sent to 172 Tent Hill Road, Sandy Lake, PA 16145.

The 2019 Penn Ohio Pro Stock Championship Series is brought to you by Homak, “Globally Known & Professionally Trusted since 1947” and powered by Can-Am, “We’re built for this”; along with the support of Wrapz by Reiser, Hoosier Tire, Precise Racing Products, American Racer, Lias Tire, E & K Equipment, Timber Lake Lodge, Les Frickshun, SS Chassis & Supply, Bish Heating & Cooling, Dirt Defender LLC, Blue Ox Timber, Close Racing Supply, Genesis Racing Shocks, ARbodies, Trick Shot Penetrating Lubricant, R & R Enterprise Auto Sales & Garage, Wedge Motorsports, Animal Graphics & Signs, Big Daddy’s Speed Center, Ultra Shield Race Products, Joe Willcox Performance Automatics, Phantom Signs & Shirts, Three Rivers Karting, Power of Bowser and Jacob’s Towing.

MERCER LITTLE GUY NATIONALS NIGHT 2 OCT 5 2019

October 8, 2019 by Kat Hairhoger

For immediate release

MERCER LITTLE GUY NATIONALS NIGHT 2 OCT 5 2019

Mini Stock feature (12 laps)

17j Willie Aley, 311 Johnny Bruce Sr, 77 Pete Blaczak, 304 Dwayne Reddinger, 54 Tim Callahan , 40C Joe Campbell , 85j Joe Romanko, 55 Lane Reinwald, 10 Bill Fuchs, 0 Carl Ealy, 71x , 79 John McCracken, 36 DJ McRae, 87 Mike Barr, 7x Justin Bailey, 43 David Keagy, 53Z Larry Blake, 27 Steve Guthrie, s12 Jamie Tasker, 64 Summer Pitts, 41x Nick Steiger, 0 Carl Ealy, 1 Junior Baker, 8ball Ed Haylett, 23MP Michael Porterfield-DNS, 10s Trevin Schaffer, 17s Shane Shook-DSQ, 24D Kyle Donnelly-DSQ

Pro Stock feature (20 laps)

7W Bobby Whitling, 17M Rusty Moore, 21W Chris Withers, 29 Curtis J. Bish, 965 Andy Buckley, 717 Leigh Wheeler, 67J Jamie Duncan, 7s Alan Dellinger, 81m Mike Miller, 20j Jim Fosnaught, 23 Pat Fielding, 32 Wesley McCray, 11B Tim Bish, 29B Scott Byers, 61M Charlie McMillin, 02c Brian Carothers, 104 Allan Lamb, 11t Randy Wyant, 11y Dale Yeaney, 17 Jackson Humanic, 84s Joshua Seippel, 24 Tyler Wyant, 1m Gary Miller Jr, 00 Curt Bish ,22jr Chase Lambert -DNS

FASTRAK Modified Feature (20 Laps)

41 Brian Schaffer , 5 Brian Sadler , 44 Jim Brice, 9D Josh Deems, 404 Michael Kristyak, 43jr Blaze Myers, 14 Jerry Schaffer , 17 Brandon Ritchey, 11j David Kalb Jr., 4s Eric Gabany, 33G Todd Gabriel, 404s Max Smoker, 615 Cameron Nastasi, 29e Erik Martin , 048 Jason Huffnagle, 4 Will Schaffer, 15B Gary Smoker, 86 Shayne Izzo, 24P Preston Cope, 71 Gage Priester, 38T Tom Urey, 29 Steve Slater , 9K Chad Gumpp-DNS

358 Modified feature (20 Laps)

28H Jimmy Holden, 25B Steve Barr, 2B Ron Cartwright, 14 Jeff Schaffer Jr., 66F Kyle Fink, 66M J.R. McGinley, 13 Rick Regalski, 47V Phil Vigneri, 29* Eric Beggs, 60 Kyle Holden, 678 John Smith, 88F Shawn Fleeger, 39J Josh Deems, 711 Matt Reeher, 10 Jeff Schaffer Sr., 19W Richard Whitney, 44 Shannon Whaley, 51 Clyde Gumpp, 11B Eric Gabany, 74 Kevin Green,

Racesaver 305 Sprints feature (15 laps)

80JR Kyle Colwell, 21 Rob Felix, 00S Randy Sterling, 154 Shamus Odonell, x7 Andy Cavanaugh, 88 Greg Dobrosky, 347 Nevan Odonell, 2 Derek Hauck, 92 Dylan Proctor, 4j Jacob Gamola , 31C Chase Metheney, 56 Steve Cousins, 25K Nate Kline, 12G Thomas Jasen Jr, 5 John Walp, 34 Adam Noland, 22 Gary Kreiss Jr.-DNS

Mod Lite feature (15 laps)

267 Shane Webb, 59m Tanner McLaughlin, 51 Tyler Purnell, 825 Dusty Frantz, 82m Roman Jones, 32B Robby Barris, 33 Mark Biskup, 24 Joey Sisk, 820 Rod Jones, 22 Logan Lewis, 5c Ayden Cipriano, 14 Jacob Eakin, 16c Amelia clay, 5B Larry Bevivino, 99B Michael Heverly, 840 Clint Snyder, 5 Jason Darocha, 20m Vivian Jones, 1L Jeff Teeters, 14x, 01 Nathaniel Bale ,1b Mark Beveridge, 830 Jeff Davis, 8h Jacob Isenhart, 17 Jason Gracey, 17m Shawn Migdol

Micro Sprint feature (15 laps)

83 Steve Dunmire, 12 Todd Reusser, 10L Wes Libert, 22r Ryan Fredericks, 113 Brian Boraweic Jr,1b Brian Marriot, 61 Jeff Haefke, 25d CJ Davis, 25 Ryan McAndrew, 11z Austin Pasqueralla, 7 Noah Wirginis, 0 Mike Mechlem, 21 Dustin Young,4×12 Garth Fochler, 13 Jim Barkes, 53h John Hand, 27c Lonnie McConahay, 15b, Luke Hails, m83 Matt Haefke, 16 Paul Young, 3h JT Horwat, 8 Natalie Brannon, 42m Maverick White-DNS 07 Tom Sigley-DNS

Economod feature (15 laps)

42 Nate Young, 7 Garrett Calvert, 77D Dustin Demattia, J19 Jason Fosnaught, 27 Keith Felicetty, 965 Andy Buckley, 21 Jarrett Young, 1M Gary Miller Jr, 2 Dan Moffitt, 6S Ed Roberts, 777 Stone Lapecevich, 32 Jr. Mechling, 71L Dennis Lunger Jr, 25 Ed Snyder, 44R Gary Robinson-DNS

Jr. Sprint Stock feature (6 laps)

44 Conner Metheney, 789 Kalen Jackson , 85 Randy White, 20 Colten McAndrew, 57 Logan Bigley, 8G Garrett Davenport, 58 Logen Lockhart, 40D Jaxon Dye, 11A Ava Adamik, 5 Grady Rinehart

Jr. Sprint Open feature (8 laps)

8 Sam Darby, 6 Evan Darby, 18L Luke Mulichak, 22 Stone Lapcevich , 25BAD Tyler Allison , 89 Travis Carothers, 40 Jaren Dye, 8M Macey Adamik, 3J Jacob Begenwald, 15 Nathan Shook

Mercer Story for Dirtweek Edition

October 8, 2019 by Kat Hairhoger

For immediate release

By Lou Long

While many consider the dirt track located minutes from the courthouse in Mercer to be a fixture on the Western PA racing scene, the reality is that the speedway has had its ups and downs over the years. However, the new owner, Edward Michaels, is committed to bringing back the glory days at the tricky oval.

The first track was cut into a fairgrounds in the 1870s. It was a half mile in length, and its size and shape can still be visualized from the tree line. Portions of the current racing surface and some old Maple trees are all that remain. Horse racing was a staple through the outbreak of hostilities in World War Two. After the war, the fairgrounds were sold and the new owner held harness races and motorcycle races under surplus floodlights purchased from a nearby military facility. Little is known about those events, except that only a few of them were staged. The track then entered into its first stage of dormancy.

Around 1950, auto racing was gaining in popularity in the region, with contests being held across the border in Ohio. An enterprising group leased the Mercer facility to conduct races sanctioned by the State Line Stock Car Racing Association. The configuration of the track was changed to 3/8 mile to make the races more entertaining. As the new track was being cut in, however, a spring was discovered in the area laid out for the new third turn. So, that corner was pulled in to avoid the water source. Even now, weeps still make their occasional appearance on the track, but a drain located on the inside of the turn helps to keep that in check. But, the first solution to the moisture problem gave the track its unusual egg shape that makes it one of the harder courses to master in the region.

The Stock Car races were first held on July 26, 1951 at Mercer Raceway, and 1310 fans were in attendance. Coincidentally, the last four digits of the track’s telephone number are the same, 1310. The inaugural season ended with a pair of Midget races. Racing continued through 1959 under various promotional regimes. However, the lease was not renewed for the 1960 season and the track sat idle again for more than three seasons.

Racing picked back up again in 1964 and continued until 1982. Through that time, Super Modifieds morphed into Sprint Cars, the Hardtops became the Modifieds, and a Stock or six-cylinder class evolved into Sportsmen. Names like Lou Blaney, Ralph Quarterson, Buddy Cochran became synonymous with the track, as they piled up victories in multiple classes, particularly the Super Modifieds/Sprints and the Hardtops/Modifieds.

However, after the 1982 season, the track closed again. With the exception of a few races put on in 1988 by Mike Rakoci and in 1989 by Vern Hawley, the track would stay dark until 1994!

At that time, Howard Micahaels entered on the scene. With a Herculean effort by Michaels and his sons, Edward and Earl, the facility was cleaned up and reopened. In May of that year, the first races were held under the Michaels banner, with Jimmy Hawley taking the Sprint win. Les Myers, who still competes in Vintage Modifieds from time to time, captured the Modified win. The Michaels regime lasted through the 1996, when the facility was sold to Gary and Cindy Butch, who conducted the races through 1998. Vicki Emig then took the reins in 1999 and held them until she sold the track to Bill Altman.

Altman owned and operated the track for several seasons, but eventually he, too, closed shop. A couple of special events were presented by Joe Bova and Eric WIlliams in 2018. The events were successful, and hopes were high that Williams, a former Sprint Car champion at the track, might continue as the promoter going forward. However, at his finale, the 19th Annual Little Guys Nationals, Williams introduced Ed Michaels as the future owner of the speedway.

Micheals rebranded the track as Michaels Mercer Raceway and weekly racing began again in the Spring of 2019. The first winner under Michaels was Rex King, Jr., who fondly recalled playing in the grandstands as a small child. Ed Michaels just concluded his first year of operations last weekend with the 20th Annual Little Guys Nationals. He expressed his thanks to his sponsors, staff, and racers who helped him through his first year as promoter of record.

Michaels would grade his first year performance as a B. “There are probably some things that I could have done better,” he said. “But, you know, some of that is the money.” Although he is a successful businessman outside of racing, Michaels noted, “I don’t have the big money that some others have, too, I tried to run it more on a family basis, not on some monster budget based thing.”

Nonetheless, he has plans for some improvements for 2020. First on the agenda is putting some new clay on the track. “The new clay should be installed in the next three weeks,” he said. That will allow it to knit with the current surface over the winter. Another track improvement is the possibility of installing some LED lighting. “We won’t do it all at once,” Michaels noted. “We want to see how they will work, and then there is the cost factor to consider.”

A go-kart track will also be cut into the pit area within the next couple of weeks as well. “It shouldn’t be too difficult, what with the equipment that we have and what else is available to me,” he explained. Plans call for the kart track to be ready for racing in the Spring of 2020. Races will probably be held on Saturday mornings or afternoons, which will make things easier to promote, given Michaels’ other business commitments and the availability of his staff. “We will also put up another light pole in the pits, which will also serve the kart track, just in case we decide to do some night racing.” Michaels explained that the kart track will help to attract youngsters into the sport and give them a stepping stone into other classes like the Junior Sprints and Modified Lites.

Down the road, Michaels may add additional grandstand seating along the backstretch. This will improve the vantage point for the pit spectators and also provide additional seating capacity in the event that he wants to book a special event or two.

Modifieds will return as the headline class for 2020. However, Michaels is considering some additional specials given the positive feedback that he received after some of the events held in 2019. He is not ready to make any announcements in that regard, however, as he wants to work with other area speedways to coordinate the schedule. There is also the possibility that the Fastrak Limited Modifieds will see an expanded schedule in 2020, with some special events being held at other venues with some participation by Michaels.

Michaels Mercer Raceway is in good hands now. Ed Michaels is emotionally invested in the promotion of the track and he was visible to and accessible by his racers and patrons on race nights. Racers and fans responded in a positive manner to the resurrection of the speedway and, hopefully, the upwards trajectory at Mercer will continue into 2020 and beyond.

Editor’s note: the author would like to acknowledge the contributions of Walt Wimer, Mike Leone, and others to the historical portion of this article.

Opening night of 20th annual Little Guy Nationals at Mercer highlighted wins by Jackson Humanic-Penn/Ohio Stocks, Phil Vigneri-358 Mods, Brian Sadler-FASTRAK Mods,and Kyle Colwell-305 sprints. Other wins by Vivian Jones-Mod lites, Steve Dunmire-Micro Sprints, and Shane Shook-Mini stocks.

October 8, 2019 by Kat Hairhoger

For immediate release

By Jim Balentine

Opening night of 20^th annual Little Guy Nationals at Mercer highlighted wins by Jackson Humanic-Penn/Ohio Stocks, Phil Vigneri-358 Mods, Brian Sadler-FASTRAK Mods,and Kyle Colwell-305 sprints. Other wins by Vivian Jones-Mod lites, Steve Dunmire-Micro Sprints, and Shane Shook-Mini stocks.

Friday Oct 4 2019

The 20^th annual Little Guy Nationals at Mercer began on Friday night with 156 cars in seven divisions in the pit area. The show began at 6:30 and was completed at 11:56 pm.

The highlighted event of the night was the final Penn/Ohio Pro stock race of 2019 with Mercer win less Jackson Humanic and 24 time Mercer stock winner Alan Dellinger on the pole with Former winners Tim Deutsch and Shaun Hooks in the 2^nd row. Dellinger raced into the lead immediately and was looking for his first little guy win since 2009, but multiple cautions slowed the event. Deutsch, Hooks and 5^th starting Chris Schneider put on a torrid battle along with Humanic for 2^nd swapping places numerous times. On lap 10 the 717 of Leigh Wheeler , 23 of Pat Fielding, 10 Nick Kocuba, 1R of Rod Laskey and the 15x of Jeremy Perry came together in turn 2 blocking the track. When racing resumed on the frontstretch a grinding crash between the 00 Curt Bish, 23H of Hunter Exley,1R of Laskey and the 24 of Tyler Wyant came together with Bish hitting Wyant hard against the outside wall bringing out the red. After going back to green another yellow slowed the action in turn 2 with Wheeler, James Fosnaught, Perry and Mike Van Zandt bringing out the red once again. Then the red came out again a few laps later entering turn 1 as the 1B of Jamie Barber flipped but he was ok. Under the red leader Dellinger came to a stop against the outside wall with broken parts in the rear end, ending his night. Humanic inherited the lead and went on to win his first ever Mercer win by 1.31. “the car was good all night, Alan (Dellinger) is tough he’s one of the best in the business, we finally got one!! its been a long time coming its been about a 6-8 year dry spell. We have had a lot of good runs this year and it finally came through tonight.” Hooks would finish 2^nd, Deutsch 3^rd, seventh starting Bobby Whitling 4^th and Tim Bish 5^th.

The 358 Modifieds made their first appearance of 2019 with 38 time Mercer winner Jimmy Holden on the pole with 30 time Mercer winner Lonnie Riggs alongside. Riggs immediately jumped into the lead with Holden in tow along with New York invader Phil Vigneri from 5th. Riggs was looking to capture his first little guy win since 2016 while getting into lapped traffic by lap 7 but on lap 9 Riggs broke spewing smoke into the air in turn 3, ending his night. Vigneri inherited the lead Kyle Fink was moving up through the pack and got around Holden on lap 15. Vigneri held on and went onto the win by 2.6 seconds, his 2^nd Mercer win of the season after winning a big block race earlier this year. “this is amazing I am blessed to be here this car has been awesome!! anytime you have to go toe to toe with Holden and Fink you know you have to run a perfect race.” Fink was 2^nd, Holden 3^rd, Shannon Whaley 4^th and Jeff Schaffer Sr. 5^th.

The FASTRAK Modifieds 20 lapper was led to green by the 5 of Brian Sadler and 43jr of Blaze Myers. Sadler immediately jumped into the lead. 46 time winner Gary Smoker driving the Barr 15B was driving in 2^nd while 2019 track champion Brian Schaffer battled Blaze Myers for 3^rd. Schaffer eventually got around Smoker and was setting his sights on Sadler. Several yellows slowed the race but Sadler was not deterred from the restarts and led flag to flag for his 2^nd win of 2019 holding of Brian Schaffer by .587 seconds at the end. “we had 7-8 different winners this year and with Brian and Shayne Izzo it has been an exciting year”. Schaffer settled for 2^nd , Blaze Myers 3^rd, Smoker was 4^th and Brandon Ritchey 5^th.

In the 305 Sprints 6 time 410 Sprint winner Gary Kriess Jr took off at the start looking for his first 305 win with Steve Cousins 2^nd and Kyle Colwell 3^rd. As the laps ticked away on lap 14 Thomas Jasen hit the water barrels outside of turn 4 laying water all across the race track causing a lengthy delay. When racing resumed, Colwell was able to get around Kreiss and went on to his 2^nd win of 2019.”I got some help from the lapped cars to get around Gary but ill take it as I can get them. I called Tony Beaber during the night and talked about the set up and it came out pretty well. I told him I’d send him a text from victory lane so now I can do it” Kreiss was 2^nd, Chase Metheny 3^rd, Steve Cousins 4^th and Rob Felix 5^th.

In the Mod lite 12 lapper Mark Biskup was the early leader but 2019 track champion Vivian Jones and her brother Roman got around Biskup. Ayden Cipriano came up from the bottom to take over the lead around the 3 cars. Cipriano then had his hand full with Vivian battling back and forth for the lead but Vivian got around Cipriano and went on to her 6^th win on 2019 by 2.15 seconds. “it feels great to win this (little guy nationals ) after racing here for so long!! I didn’t know what I was doing when I went to pass Ayden so I just went and did it.” Cipriano ended up in 2^nd, Roman Jones 3^rd, Jeff Teeters 4^th and newcomer Shane McLoughlin 5^th.

Kyle Donnelly in the 24D led the 12 lap 26 car Mini stock feature to green with many of the top point men starting in the middle to rear of the field making the first few laps exciting going 3 wide many times around the oval. 5 time winner Shane Shook who started 6^th came up to challenge Donnelly almost immediately. Donnelly was driving the race of his career looking for his 1^st Mercer checker until Shook got around him and went on for the easy win by 10 car lengths for his 11^th Mercer checkered. Donnelly ended up 2^nd , Willie Aley 3^rd, Pete Blazcak from 13th was 4^th and Joe Romanko from 8^th to 5^th.

Steve Dunmire started on the outside pole of the 12 lap Micro Sprint feature and made it look easy capturing his 1^st Little Guy win since 2015. Lonnie McConahay came up from 14^th to finsih 2^nd. Noah Wirginis was 3^rd, Ryan McAndrew 4^th and Brian Marriott 5^th.

Michaels Mercer Raceway completes inaugural season with annual banquet. 4 new champions crowned.

Homak POPS powered by Can-Am Season Ends-Humanic wins & Exley and Fosnaught Co-Champs

MERCER LITTLE GUY NATIONALS NIGHT 2 OCT 5 2019

Mercer Story for Dirtweek Edition

Opening night of 20th annual Little Guy Nationals at Mercer highlighted wins by Jackson Humanic-Penn/Ohio Stocks, Phil Vigneri-358 Mods, Brian Sadler-FASTRAK Mods,and Kyle Colwell-305 sprints. Other wins by Vivian Jones-Mod lites, Steve Dunmire-Micro Sprints, and Shane Shook-Mini stocks.

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