FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 21, 2010

11TH RUNNING OF "LITTLE GUY NATIONALS" SET FOR FRIDAY & SATURDAY AT MERCER; HUGE CAR COUNTS EXPECTED IN MODS, STOCKS, FASTRAK LATE MODELS, MICRO SPRINTS, MOD LITES, STRICTLY STOCKS & MINI STOCKS

By Mike Leone
Mercer, PA…Mercer Raceway Park is once again primed to host western Pennsylvania's richest support-division only event- "The Little Guy Nationals". This often-imitated, never but duplicated 11th annual event will be presented by American Racer/Lias Tire and will take place this Friday and Saturday, September 24 & 25. Complete shows for this granddaddy event will be held both days with the Modifieds, Stock Cars, Micro Sprints, Strictly Stocks, and Mini Stocks running on Friday night at 7 p.m. and then the 358 Modifieds, Stock Cars, FASTRAK Late Models, STAR’s Mod Lites, Strictly Stocks, and Mini Stocks on Saturday at 4 p.m. The rain date is Sunday at 2 p.m. with an entire event rain date of Friday-Sunday, October 15-17.

“I’m looking forward to this weekend’s events,” stated first year owner Bill Altman. “This will be the first time I will get to experience the Little Guy Nationals- something I’ve heard so much about! This has always been one of Mercer’s biggest events and has led the region in car counts. I’m thrilled to be able to continue this great tradition and offer these support divisions a race of their own for substantial purses.”

The Stock Car portion of the Little Guy Nationals is western Pennsylvania's crown jewel of Stock Car events. The Stock Cars will be featured in two complete shows both Friday and Saturday. On Friday night, the 25-lap feature will pay $1,000 to-win. Then on Saturday, Stock Cars will be featured in twin features for the second consecutive year. The first feature will be 30 laps with $1,500 going to the winner. The second feature will be 25 laps for $1,000 to-win and only be open to drivers that have not won five or more Stock Car features in 2010 or have won two or more past “Little Guy Nationals”. The first 24 non-qualifiers that failed to start either feature on Saturday will race in the 15-lap consolation non-qualifiers feature paying $300 to-win.

Past winners of the Little Guy Nationals include Matt Lux (2000), Ken Drake (2001), Tony Hersh (2002), Bobby Whitling (2003), Shaun Hooks (2004), Rusty Wheeler (2005 & 2006), Alan Dellinger (2007 & 2008), and Rusty Martz (2009). Greg Fenno won the second $1,000 feature last year on Saturday night.

A total of 405 different drivers have competed in Saturday’s portion from seven states (MI, NC, NY, OH, PA, VA, WV) plus Canada. Six drivers have participated in all 10 years (Mike Aley, Willie Aley, Tony Bruno, Shaun Hooks, and Bobby Whitling). Whiting has qualified for Saturday’s A feature 9 of the 10 years and won the B feature the other year! The average car count for the Saturday portion is over 86 cars.

For the second straight year, the Modifieds will be part of both days of action bringing additional excitement to the race fans. Friday’s feature will see the Modified battle for $1,000 pitting the 358s against any big-blocks that haven’t won a big-block feature in the past three years. (Note: Big-block winners are permitted to race if they compete in a legal “358). Saturday’s 30-lap feature will pay $2,000 to-win for the Approved Toilet Rentals 358s only, the richest for the division regionally.

The first three “358” events went to invaders Ricky Richner of New York, Mike Stine of central Pa., and Rick Hoctor of New York. Gary Smoker of Mercer won the 2004 event. In 2005, Lonny Riggs of Volant, Pa. became the first driver to repeat backing up his 2003 win. In 2007, T3 star Billy VanPelt captured the prestigious event. Frank Guidace will enter Saturday night with a two-year win streak and winner in three of the last four. The event always attracts a large contingent of New York cars from the Ransomville/Merrittville and Woodhull circuits to take on Mercer’s regulars. The average car count has been over 43 cars.

The Micro Sprints will make their first appearance of the season racing for $500 to-win on Friday night. There have been eight different winners in the nine events held including Jim Young (2001), Karlin Miller (2002), Terry Schaeffer (2003), Steve Dunmire (2004), Jay Groves (2005 & 2006), Brian Kishbaugh (2007), Todd Reusser (2008), and Mike Himes (2009).

From its humble beginnings, the Mini Stock division has grown in leaps and bounds since Tim Bish beat five others cars at the Little Guy Nationals in 2006 and when just one car showed when the class debuted weekly in 2007. The last three years, Cory Kilgore has come out on top and will look for his fourth straight win. This year, 58 different drivers have competed.

And like the Stock Cars and Modifieds, the M&D Paving Mini Stocks will have the opportunity to compete both days of the “Little Guy Nationals”. Friday night will pay $150 to-win, while on Saturday racers will battle for a season high $200 to-win. Both nights include complete payoffs. The more liberal “Crashing Through the Snow” rules will be utilized.

The Strictly/Pure/Amateur Stocks will also be competing both days in 15-lap features with full feature payoffs. Friday night will pay $200 to-win, while $250 will be up for grabs on Saturday. The event is open to all cars from Dog Hollow, Thunder Mountain, Pittsburgh, Marion Center, Hummingbird, Tri-City, and Sportsman’s Speedways provided they meet the specs set forth. Drivers from other tracks are urged to contact tech inspector Kenny Hardy at 724-651-8515 to confirm eligibility.

The 4 Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Models will join Saturday’s racing card for the second straight year and again will only be open to those drivers that have not won a FASTRAK-sanctioned event anywhere in 2010 and have made at least one start in a FASTRAK-sanctioned event in 2010. The 25-lap feature will pay $800 to-win. Last year, Josh Holtgraver topped a 25-car field for his first career FASTRAK-sanctioned win.

Rounding out Saturday’s card will be the STAR’s Mod Lites in their second appearance of the season. Earlier this season, Mikey Hay won the July 10 event, while Lynn Knepper won a regular event on August 7 for his first career Mercer win.

On Friday, pit gates open at 3 p.m. and the grandstands at 4:30 p.m. Hot laps will begin at 6:15 p.m. with racing at 7 p.m. Then on Saturday, pit gates open at noon and the grandstands at 1:30 p.m. Hot laps will begin at approximately 3 p.m. for new cars with racing at 4 p.m. Tow vehicles and trailers will be permitted to be left in the pit area overnight Friday; however, all persons will be cleared from the pit area after the races.

Grandstand admission each day is $15 for adults, $7 for students 6-15, and the Family Pass is $35 with kids five and under free. Pit passes are $30 on Friday and $35 on Saturday.

Stock Car pre-entry fee is $35 and $50 on day of event, which covers both days. Micro Sprint pre-entry fee is $30 and $50 on day of event. 358 Modifieds have a $50 entry fee for the weekend. The STAR’s Mod Lite entry is $50. There is no entry fee for the Mini Stocks, Strictly Stocks, and FASTRAK Late Models. All information including rules, payoffs, entry forms, etc. are posted at http://www.mercerracewaypark.com/littleguyhome.htm.

Mercer Raceway Park is 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 late March through October. The office in New Bedford, Pa. is open year-round late mornings and after 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information call the office at 724-964-9300 or the track on race day at 724-662-1310. Check out our website at www.mercerracewaypark.com for the latest.