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Mike Leone
MERCER, Penn. (April 18) - The fourth straight night of racing to open the 2009 season at Mercer Raceway Park was completed on Saturday night as finally sunny and warmer weather greeted fans and competitors alike. Celebrating in the Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic victory lane were Rod George-Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars, Eric Gabany-Approved Toilet Rentals Modifieds, Mike Pegher, Jr.-4 Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Models, Andy Buckley-GM 602 Stock Cars, Alan Knepper-Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites, and Jamey Lee-M&D Mini Stocks.
Prior to September 7, 2002, Rod George had never won a feature at Mercer Raceway Park. On Saturday night, George captured his second win of the season and milestone 20th of his career at Mercer in the 20-lap Luxaire Heating & Cooling feature.
Opening night winner, Mike Pegher, Jr., drove another stellar race to capture the 20-lap 4 Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Model feature as he inches toward his goal of the 2009 FASTRAK National Weekly Championship. "I thought I was going to get stuck on the inside, but he changed his mind on the frontstretch," described the Wexford, Pa. winner when asked about leader Gary Miller, Jr. choosing the inside on the restart. "I thought for sure Max (Blair) was right there when that lapped car got in my way. I was just waiting for him to me pass, but apparently not."
Bill Thomas overtook pole-sitter Michael Mitchell on the start. Following a restart, Mitchell regained the lead on lap two. Pegher, who started seventh, worked his way into contention taking fourth from Ben Black on lap four. Thomas' great run ended on lap six when he lost the handle in turn three, which moved Miller to second and Pegher to third.
On the restart, Miller used the top to get past Mitchell for the lead. Pegher then drove under Mitchell coming out of turn four on lap nine for second. The event's final caution was displayed with 10 laps completed when newcomer Kyle Layton spun.
On the ensuing restart, Pegher took over the lead. Miller then got sideways and made contact with Mitchell allowing 12th starting Blair to sneak by for second. Pegher and Blair pulled away on lap 13. And like opening night, Blair was no match for Pegher, who drove the Cochran Automotive/Triple-S Auto Sales/MonaVie-sponsored #1c to his 12th career Mercer win.
After a fifth on opening night, Miller turned in a fine third place effort holding off Butch Lambert in a photo finish. Mitchell dropped to fifth in just his second ever race. Rounding out the top 10 were Mike Anderson, Jr., Dan Angelicchio, Chris Haines, Bud Watson, and Black. Blair and Thomas won the heats.
RACE RESULTS
4 Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Models (20 laps): 1. MIKE PEGHER, JR. (Geisler 1c) 2. Max Blair (111) 3. Gary Miller, Jr. (1M) 4. Butch Lambert (27) 5. Michael Mitchell (19) 6. Mike Anderson, Jr. (72) 7. Dan Angelicchio (14) 8. Chris Haines (35H) 9. Bud Watson (2) 10. Ben Black (27B) 11. Steve Hollabaugh (3H) 12. Bill Thomas (22) 13. Kyle Layton (*99) 14. Rusty Cade (47) 15. Jim Long (71)-DNS 16. Jason Stanke (44)-DNS.
Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars (20 laps): 1. ROD GEORGE (4) 2. Eric Williams (7) 3. Scott Priester (11x) 4. Arnie Kent (18) 5. Gale Ruth, Jr. (1R) 6. Craig Folmar (81) 7. Charlie Holben (42G) 8. Chris Shuttleworth (11) 9. Scott Bonnell (3B) 10. Bryan Grove (45) 11. Johnny Beaber (Taylor 7B) 12. Tony Beaber (3T) 13. Carl Bowser (10) 14. Brad Knab (38) 15. Brent Matus (33) 16. Jeremy Cook (5L) 17. Todd Bauer (45) 18. Nate Stein (93) 19. Russ Sansosti (Scott 23s) 20. Jeff Taylor (17T) 21. Danny Holtgraver (D4) 22. Gary Kriess, Jr. (55) 23. Rob Eyler (5a) 24. Jack Sodeman, Jr. (Rudzik 49) DNQ: Caleb Griffith (12), Jack Helget (Taylor 71c), Lindsay Enscoe (96), Joe Butera (Matus 3J), Garrett Krummert (George 43), Ralph Spithaler, Jr. (56), John McCracken, Jr. (79).
Approved Toilet Rentals 358 Modifieds (20 laps): 1. ERIC GABANY (3E) 2. Frank Guidace (1G) 3. Mark Frankhouser (03) 4. Rick Hall (B2) 5. Travis Shingledecker (73MD) 6. Eric Martin (29D) 7. Dave Cogswell (8) 8. Matt Reeher (711) 9. Jr. Baker (359) 10. Dillion McElrath (7) 11. Rodney Beltz (Emig 1) 12. Kevin Green (74)-DSQ 13. Lonny Riggs (Black 58)-DNS 14. Jimmy Holden (28H)-DNS.
GM 602 Crate Stock Cars (12 laps): 1. ANDY BUCKLEY (965) 2. Shaun Hooks (Janovick 65) 3. Rod Laskey (1R).
Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites (15 laps): 1. ALAN KNEPPER (10) 2. Shane Pfeuffer (Lawson 40L) 3. George Englert (11x) 4. Mark Marcucci (8M) 5. Chad Yeager (7) 6. Curtis Stivason (36s) 7. Richard Lawson (70x7) 8. J.J. Metheney (Snow 34) 9. Cody Bova (Rudzik 20B) 10. Bill Stivason (116) 11. Mylan Markovich, Jr. (2M) 12. Levi Spinneweber (10s) 13. Terry Young (Kirkbride 97N) 14. Kevin Savacko (76).
M&D Paving Mini Stocks (12 laps): 1. JAMEY LEE (44J) 2. Dillon Kineston (19) 3. Wally Stearns, Jr. (33) 4. Dillon Barr (15) 5. Josh Bowser (4) 6. Ed Haylett (8-ball) 7. Lee Lehnerd (71) 8. Dan McEwen (44) 9. E.J. Rarer (3J) 10. Bill Fuchs (10) 11. John Shannon (14) 12. Marty Warren, Jr. (05) 13. Mike Mathieson (72) 14. Doug Fairfield (JR02) 15. Pete Blazczak (77) 16. Dwight Boice (21) 17. Kevin Kilgore (0) 18. Mike McConnell (31) 19. Jerry Batcher (7) 20. Steve Walker (McEwen 4M) 21. Rudolph Troples (28).
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