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Mike Leone
MERCER, Penn. (April 5) - After a one week delay, the 2008 season kicked off Saturday night at Mercer Raceway Park with the rescheduled "Chiller Thriller". Celebrating in the Hoosier Tire victory lane with wins were Dennis Lunger-Steel-Block Late Models, Rusty Wheeler-Stock Cars, Randy Hall-United E-Mod Series, and Chris Myers-Mini Stocks as three states- Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York made up the four winners. A great crowd turned out with 91 cars and the track crew did an excellent job getting the track in super conditions following the snowiest winter ever and rain for most of Friday that left the grounds saturated.
Dennis Lunger made a statement showing just how fast and competitive FASTRAK GM 604 crate engines are as he came out victorious in the open competition Steel-Block Late Model 30-lap feature after starting in the ninth position. Lunger's efforts were worth $2,000 in his first ever Late Model start at Mercer.
"I was really shocked," acknowledged the Corry, Pa. racer. "This crate engine really took off for us. We made some changes and freed the car up. We were a little tight in the heat. The guys worked really hard and gave me an awesome car. This thing was really good tonight. We really like it down here (Mercer). Every time we run here we do well."
Brent Johnson took the early lead from the pole position with 2006 Modified Champion Frank Guidace and three-time Stock Car Champion Brian Booher in pursuit. Booher passed Guidace for second on lap two and set his sights on Johnson. Booher was all over Johnson for the next five laps, but pushed high in turn four on lap eight allowing sixth starting Jim Rozum III to take second with Lunger and Guidace also getting by.
Lunger and 12th starting Dave Tackett made their way past Rozum for third on lap 11. Lunger would make his winning move on lap 13 when he drove to the inside of Johnson in turn four and came out with the lead at the start-finish line. Lunger survived four cautions over the final 17 laps as he was never seriously challenged in the Rueben Schwartz-owned #17L. Johnson held on to second ahead of Tackett. Modified standout Jeremiah Shingledecker made his Late Model debut and finished a respectable fourth after starting 17th. Guidace dropped to fifth in his first ever Late Model start. Completing the top 10 were Rozum, Denny Fenton, Ed Connor, Greg Johnson, and Charles Supplee. Heat winners over the 19-car field were Brian Smith and Tackett.
Rusty Wheeler added another big payday to his resume at Mercer winning the 25-lap $1,000 Stock Car feature by passing on four cars with a daring winning move. Two of his three other prior victories were $2,000 Little Guy National wins.
"I was having a heck of a time on those restarts," revealed the Dorset, Ohio driver. "I just couldn't get going so I seen Buckley laying back just a little and figured I'd try it too. The track was narrow tonight so I figured I would try a bonsai move in turn one; it stuck and here we are! I like running this track- it's small and challenging. It puts the racing into the driver's hands."
Rob Bates led the event's first two laps before slipping high in turn four on lap three allowing Shaun Hooks to take the lead. Wheeler, who started sixth, was in fourth when the caution was displayed for Chad O'Brien with 17 laps completed. On the ensuring restart, Wheeler got a great start driving by Andy Buckley, Bates, and Hooks for the lead going into turn one. Once in front, the only thing to slow Wheeler's run to his fourth career win in the Rich Howell-owned #44 were four cautions. Hooks and Rusty Martz were running second and third, but Martz made contact with Hooks on a lap 21 restart taking both cars out of contention.
Bates, who was the $300 Stock Car B Consolation winner and finished second in the Northeast Stock Car Championship all at last year's season ending Little Guy Nationals, returned to finish a career best second and earned $500. Lester Shoff was driving Gary Fisher's #99F and finished a career best third over Russ Byler and Tony Bruno. Mark Sanders, Buckley, Hooks, Martz, and Tim Burns were sixth through tenth. Heat winners over the 31-car field were Martz, Dan Lewis, and Tim Bush. Dave McLaughlin won the B main.
The United E-Mod Series held their inaugural event at Mercer Saturday and though Randy Hall is no stranger to victory lane as he was the 2007 E-Mod Cavalcade of Champions, his 25-lap $750 to-win was his first career feature win at Mercer.
"We were real good off turn four and I saw the leader (Jack Young) had a push coming off the turn so I knew if I got passed Russ (Dunn) I knew we'd have a good shot," explained the Olean, New York standout. "The track was real smooth tonight. I was surprised for the first night out; they (track crew) did a good job. We had a good car tonight. I have to thank everyone that helps us out."
Jack Young, a one-time E-Mod winner at Mercer, looked strong from the pole position as he led the first 10 laps. Hall, who started sixth, moved into second on lap 10 after racing side-by-side for two laps with two-time Mercer E-Mod winner Russ Dunn. Hall began to pressure Young on lap 11, but coming off turn four, Young pushed and got sideways losing the handle and spinning into the frontstretch wall; thankfully, the entire field was able to avoid his helpless mount.
Hall then went on to lead the final 15 laps with only one caution to slow his efforts in his Follman Rentals-sponsored #10 to become the 13th different E-Mod winner at Mercer in the 23 races run. Dunn edged 11th and 12th starting Shawn Shingledecker and Dave Hess, Jr. for third. Sixth through tenth were Butch Lambert, John Woodward, Jr., Al Brewer, Justin Carlson, and Bruce Powell. Topping the heat races over the 28-car field were Alan Dellinger, Hall, and Richard Michael, Jr.
Making his first ever Mercer start, 15-year-old Chris Myers came out on top of the 15-lap Mini Stock feature. The Knox, Pa. former go-karter earned $150 for his efforts. Myers started in third and had the lead on the opening lap passing rookie Tyler Powell and last year's three time winner Bill Fuchs. Only one caution slowed Myers' efforts in the Eric's Auto Service-sponsored #C1. Fuchs was second ahead of Modified racer Eric Gabany. John Shannon was a career best fourth with Dan Nagy completing the top five. Myers and Shannon won the heats over the 13-car field.
Steel-Block Late Models (30 laps): 1. DENNIS LUNGER ($2,000) 2. Brent Johnson 3. Dave Tackett 4. Jeremiah Shingledecker 5. Frank Guidace 6. Jim Rozum III 7. Denny Fenton 8. Ed Connor 9. Greg Johnson 10. Charles Supplee 11. Bob Vogt, Jr. 12. Ben Porter 13. Brian Smith 14. Jesse Smith 15. Brian Booher 16. Burton Fingado 17. Bob McMillen 18. Calvin Clay-DNS 19. Cory Wilson-DNS.
Stock Cars (25 laps): 1. RUSTY WHEELER ($1,000) 2. Rob Bates 3. Lester Shoff 4. Russ Byler 5. Tony Bruno 6. Mark Sanders 7. Andy Buckley 8. Shaun Hooks 9. Rusty Martz 10. Tim Burns 11. Josh Seippel 12. Chad O'Brien 13. Dave McLaughlin 14. Tommy Dembowski 15. Chris Haines 16. Rod Laskey 17. Scott Jones 18. John Swabik 19. Terry Wheeler 20. Tim Bish 21. Dan Lewis 22. Jamie Barber 23. Larry Root 24. Russ Coyne DNQ: Jamie Brown, Jake Huppenthal, Tim Deutsch, Eric Baun, Matt Wagner, Dan Smeal, Neil Wilson, Jr.
United E-Mod Series (25 laps): 1. RANDY HALL ($750) 2. Russ Dunn 3. Shawn Shingledecker 4. Dave Hess, Jr. 5. George Catanzano 6. Butch Lambert 7. John Woodward, Jr. 8. Al Brewer 9. Justin Carlson 10. Bruce Powell 11. Vic Vena 12. Steve Dixon 13. Gary Eicher 14. Troy Carr 15. Justin Tatlow 16. Joe Weber 17. Kyle Bedell 18. Gary Sullivan 19. Jack Young 20. Alan Dellinger 21. Richard Michael, Jr. 22. Nathan Hill 23. Jim Dellinger 24. Craig Bedell-DNS 25. Joel Watson-DNS 26. T.J. Downs-DNS 27. Rick Robinson-DNS 28. Paul Phillips-DNS.
M&D Paving Mini Stocks (15 laps): 1. CHRIS MYERS ($150) 2. Bill Fuchs 3. Eric Gabany 4. John Shannon 5. Dan Nagy 6. Daniel McEwen 7. Tyler Powell 8. Ray Hickok, Jr. 9. Mike McConnell 10. Mike Mathieson 11. Justin Reinard-DNS 12. Jason Joiner-DNS 13. Chris Hickok (illegal)
Upcoming Events:
4/09 Open practice for all divisions. Gates @ 4 p.m. with practice 5 until dark. Rain date Thursday.
4/12 "Saturday Night Live!" Sprints, Modifieds, FASTRAK Late Models, Mod Lites, & Mini Stocks. Points start.
4/19 "Saturday Night Live!" Sprints, Modifieds, FASTRAK Late Models, Mod Lites, & Mini Stocks. $10 Family Night presented by Auto Service Express & Armstrong
4/26 "Saturday Night Live!" Sprints, Modifieds, FASTRAK Late Models, Mod Lites, & Mini Stocks.
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 early 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.
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