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Mike Leone
MERCER, Penn. (June 7) - A heavy late afternoon downpour delayed action nearly 90 minutes, but Mercer Raceway Park was able to complete the program on Saturday night with three new winners including a career first. Celebrating in the Hoosier Tire victory lane were Brian Ellenberger-Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars, Lonny Riggs-Tire Express Modifieds, Bobby Powell-McElwain Motors FASTRAK Late Models, Rod Jones-Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites, and John Shannon-M&D Paving Mini Stocks.
It was "Pack the Track Night" presented by Coca-Cola, "Meet Your Heroes" Autograph Night presented by Duke Whiting for 17th District Representative, and Emerson Process Management Corp Night.
Brian Ellenberger has made Mercer Raceway Park his Saturday night home away from the All Star Circuit of Champions this year and it's paying off as he made it three wins in three starts by scoring the 20-lap Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Car win. "Wow it's a fast Mercer Raceway Park out there tonight," expressed the jubilant Butler, Pa. winner. "Frank (Benic) prepares the best track around. That's the fast way around (above the cushion)- that's what my crew chief told me. He set the car for up top and said I better go up there so I had to listen to him."
Brent Matus overtook pole-sitter Paul Kapuchuck to grab the early lead, while fourth starter Jeremy Cook raced past Chris Shuttleworth and Kapuchuck for second on the opening lap. Arnie Kent started fifth and passed Shuttleworth for second on lap two then drove around Kapuchuck off turn two for third two laps later.
Matus had stretched out to a decent lead, but was erased when Lindsay Enscoe brought out the caution with four laps completed. When racing resumed, Kent passed Cook for runner-up and Ellenberger moved into the top five with a pass of Shuttleworth before action was slowed again for debris with just one more lap completed.
Back under green flag conditions, all eyes were on Ellenberger who drove around Kapuchuck off turn two for fourth on lap six then made a similar move one lap later to take third from Cook. Matus was doing his best to hold off Kent on laps eight and nine, but Kent was too much taking the lead on the ninth circuit. The fast closing Ellenberger drove around Matus for second later that lap.
Kent's lead was short-lived as Ellenberger pulled alongside the leader on lap 10 and grabbed the lead for good racing off the inside of turn one on lap 11. The event's final caution was for a slowing Shuttleworth with 12 laps completed. Ellenberger dominated the last eight laps in what will be his last appearance until August as he'll hit the road with the All Stars and World of Outlaws in his Open Joist/Car*Mate Trailers/Hoosier Tire/K&N Filters-sponsored #20E. Ellenberger's victory was the seventh of his career at Mercer and 13th overall.
Kent was a season best second. Matus was a strong third for his best effort since May 12, 2007. Cook turned in an impressive run with a career best fourth. Scott Bonnell was fifth. Completing the top 10 were Kapuchuck, Gale Ruth, Sr., Paul Kish, Joe Butera, and Enscoe. Heat winners were Gale Ruth, Jr. and Ellenberger. Point leader Rod George was not in action due to his son's wedding.
Lonny Riggs put on one of the most dominating performances seen in quite some time in the Modified division as his first win of the season came by 5.76 seconds over Kevin Green in the 20-lap Tire Express-sponsored feature. "A lot of people probably didn't like that track, but I loved it," expressed the Volant, Pa. victor. "I love it when we have a big cushion."
Green raced into the early lead with Matt Reeher passing Matt Howsare for second. Riggs, who started sixth, wasted little time getting into contention as he passed Dillon McElrath, Mark Frankhouser, and Howsare all on the first lap for third. Riggs then powered around the cushion off turn four taking second from Reeher on lap three. Riggs was all over Green by lap five and one lap later made the winning move again riding the cushion past Green off turn four.
Three cautions slowed action between laps seven and 11. One was for a spin by Garrett Krummert, who had won the last two features. The second caution was for Frank Guidace, who had moved into second on lap eight, but found the wall in turn two ending his night. Howsare brought out the final caution with 11 laps completed.
The final nine laps went non-stop as Riggs pulled away every lap for his eighth career win in the division and 21st overall at Mercer in the Merle Black-owned, Iron Bridge Inn/Pit Stop Pub-sponsored #58. Green did a great job holding off Mark Frankhouser and Jeff Schaffer for a career best second as he attributed the monthly practices over the last year to his improvement. Frankhouser's third was his best ever at Mercer. Schaffer came all the way from 18th to fourth. Reeher turned in his best performance in fifth since a third on June 18, 2005. Steve Barr, Gary Smoker, Brian Fink, Ron Eperthener, Jr., and John Buchanan were sixth through 10th. Barr and Riggs won the heats over the 20-car field.
Bobby Powell became the Northeast's first racer to qualify for the $250,000+ FASTRAK Grand Nationals and did it in grand style with his first victory of the season in the 20-lap McElwain Motors FASTRAK Late Model feature. "I've finally made it to victory lane," stated the Waterford, Pa. winner. "This is our 15th night and I hadn't got the checkered, but now we did. This is 50 points and we had a good finish last night. Hopefully we can use this and keep rolling. I was terrified of that big cushion so I wasn't surprised he (Steve Hollabaugh) took the bottom, but it worked out."
The front row cars of Mike Anderson, Jr. and Gary Miller, Jr. got together on the start, which allowed fourth starting Steve D'Apolito to ascend to the lead with sixth starting Steve Hollabaugh second. Hollabaugh passed D'Apolito for the lead on lap four. Eighth starting Brian Booher and fifth starting Powell were able to get past D'Apolito for second and third on lap six when he got sideways.
A caution for newcomer Dan Angelicchio slowed action with nine laps completed. On the ensuing restart, Booher used the cushion to take the lead. Booher began to pull away as the battle raged for second with Hollabaugh trying to hold off Powell and Frank Guidace. With the white flag waving, Booher looked like a sure winner, but jumped the cushion off turn four and slammed the frontstretch wall. Hollabaugh was handed the lead back with Powell second.
Hollabaugh chose the inside again for the restart, but Powell was able to glide around the cushion and power by into the lead. Powell would only lead one lap, but it was the one that counted as he scored his seventh career Mercer win in the Scott Bidwell-owned, Fame RV Center/Maloney Tool & Mold/Rich Johnson Electric-sponsored #B1D. Hollabaugh was a season best second over Guidace, Andy Buckley, and newcomer Chris Angelicchio. Rounding out the top 10 were Kevin Meadows, Rusty Moore, Miller, Dan Angelicchio, and Bill Vance, Jr. Heat winners over the 16-car field were Meadows and D'Apolito.
Rod Jones captured the 15-lap Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lite feature for the second time this season and third overall with his win last week at Raceway 7. "Lynn (Knepper) is one of those guys you can race wheel-to-wheel with. He's a great guy. I kind of hate taking it away from him, but you got to do what you got to do."
Lynn Knepper took charge of the event at the start. Fifteen-year-old Bud Watson used the outside to fly from eighth up to second past Terry Young on lap four. Jones, who started 11th, drove by Young for third on lap six and caught Watson two laps later. Jones was all over the youngster and didn't get by until lap 13 when Watson caught the berm of mud in turn two sending his car across the track. Watson's fine run ended later that lap when he looped his mount off turn four. The caution was a costly one for Knepper as well as it erased his lead and apparent victory.
When racing resumed, Knepper and Jones raced side-by-side on lap 14 with Jones nosing ahead to lead the lap. Knepper stayed close, but Jones was able to take his 14th career win in the Dave Jones-owned, Jones Performance-sponsored #820 by one car-length. Brian Woodhall, who started 12th in his season debut, passed Levi Spinneweber on lap 14 to finish third. Spinneweber was fourth over Mark Marcucci. Topping the heats were Woodhall and Jones over the 17-car field.
John Shannon became the latest new winner in the Mini Stocks as the youngster captured his first career win in the 12-lap M&D Paving-sponsored feature. The Harrisville, Pa. second-year racer dedicated the victory to fellow racer and friend, Leland Haylett, who is on life support battling leukemia. Shannon started eighth and inherited the lead on lap six when leader Dan Nagy hit the wall. Once in front, Shannon never looked back for the win in his #14. Rookie Dillon Kineston, who spun on the first lap, assumed second and held on for his career best finish. Scott Gilliland was third. Rookie Tyler Powell turned in his best effort in fourth ahead of 13th starting Kris Anderson. Heat winners over the 17-car field were Dillon Barr and Dan McEwen.
Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars (20 laps): 1. BRIAN ELLENBERGER (20E) 2. Arnie Kent (18) 3. Brent Matus (33) 4. Jeremy Cook (5L) 5. Scott Bonnell (3B) 6. Paul Kapuchuck (10) 7. Gale Ruth, Sr. (1R) 8. Paul Kish (Clark 4c) 9. Joe Butera (Matus 3J) 10. Lindsay Enscoe (96) 11. Pup Nystrom (Holtgraver D4) 12. Chris Shuttleworth 13. Gale Ruth, Jr. (5x).
Tire Express 358 Modifieds (20 laps): 1. LONNY RIGGS (58) 2. Kevin Green (74) 3. Mark Frankhouser (03) 4. Jeff Schaffer (4) 5. Matt Reeher (711) 6. Steve Barr (25B) 7. Gary Smoker (516) 8. Brian Fink (Brown 67J) 9. Ron Eperthener, Jr. (333) 10. John Buchanan (93) 11. Marvin Williams (69W) 12. Garrett Krummert (29) 13. Adam Siegel (91) 14. Jr. Baker (359) 15. Fred Sasse (0) 16. Dillon McElrath (7) 17. Matt Howsare (5H) 18. Shane Jones (Holden 15H) 19. Frank Guidace (1G) 20. Rick Hall (B2)-DNS.
McElwain Motors FASTRAK Late Models (20 laps): 1. BOBBY POWELL (Bidwell B1D) 2. Steve Hollabaugh (3H) 3. Frank Guidace (1G) 4. Andy Buckley (Robinson 34R) 5. Chris Angelicchio (54) 6. Kevin Meadows (Welsch 49) 7. Rusty Moore (17m) 8. Gary Miller, Jr. (1m) 9. Dan Angelicchio (14) 10. Bill Vance, Jr. (93) 11. Brian Booher (Hoover 00H) 12. Steve D'Apolito (84) 13. Mike Anderson, Jr. (72) 14. Tyler Dietz (10) 15. Bob Dorman (19) 16. Rusty Cade (47).
Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites (15 laps): 1. ROD JONES (820) 2. Lynn Knepper (10) 3. Brian Woodhall (8B) 4. Levi Spinneweber (10s) 5. Mark Marcucci (8M) 6. Todd Canter (Teague 9T) 7. Terry Young (98) 8. Bud Watson (15) 9. Dave Jones (82) 10. George Englert (11x) 11. Bill Stivason (116) 12. Kotie Kirkbride (97N) 13. John Gerula, Jr. (54) 14. Alan Knepper (1) 15. Bryan Martin (237) 16. Kenny Meadows (Teague 10T) 17. J.J. Metheney (31c).
M&D Paving Mini Stocks (12 laps): 1. JOHN SHANNON (14) 2. Dillon Kineston 3. Scott Gilliland (27) 4. Tyler Powell (36) 5. Kris Anderson (3D) 6. Dillon Barr (15) 7. Rudolph Troples (28) 8. Kyle Crawford (14c) 9. Sam Kloos (62K) 10. Pete Blazczak (77) 11. Dan Nagy (17B) 12. Dan McEwen (44) 13. Bill Fuchs (10) 14. Wally Stearns, Jr. (33) 15. Mike McConnell (31) 16. Jordan Ehrenberg (JD57)-DNS 17. Josh Verrill (13)-DNS.
Upcoming Events:
6/14 "Saturday Night Live!" Sprints, Modifieds, FASTRAK Late Models, Mod Lites, & Mini Stocks. Free general admission for all Crawford County residents presented by the Oncology Wellness Institute of the Meadville Medical Center & Armstrong. $10 Family Night presented by Auto Service Express & Armstrong. "Thunder at the Park" Bike Night presented by Renegade Classics Outlet Store with bikers and their riders admitted for $5. Yellow Book USA Corp. Night
6/21 "Saturday Night Live!" Sprints, Modifieds, FASTRAK Late Models, Mod Lites, & Mini Stocks. "Racing for a Cure" American Cancer Society Benefit. Cancer survivors admitted free. Free general admission for all Shenango Valley residents presented by Froggy 95. UMPC Horizon Corp Night.
Gates open at 4:30 p.m. with hot laps at 6:30 and racing at 7.
6/28 "Saturday Night Live!" Sprints, Modifieds, FASTRAK Late Models, Mod Lites, & Mini Stocks. American Patriot Night with fireworks presented by Walt's of Mercer Plaza. Free general admission for all Butler County residents presented by McClymond's Supply & Transit & Armstrong. Free general admission for all veterans with ID and scouts in uniform.
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