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Mike Leone
MERCER, Penn. (April 10) - After snow showers the night prior, sunshine and warmer temperatures returned on Saturday allowing Mercer Raceway Park to complete the third straight event of the new season. Celebrating in the Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic victory lane were Ed Lynch, Jr.-Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars, Dustin Martin-Approved Toilet Rentals Modifieds, Max Blair-4 Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Models, Mike Eschrich-E-Mods, and Jamey Lee-M&D Paving Mini Stocks.
Max Blair made it two-for-two as he raced from the 12th starting spot to beat Kyle Zimmerman for the second straight week in the 4 Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Model feature. "I said it last week that the track couldn't get in any nicer," stated the 20-year-old Centerville, Pa. driver. "I was wrong. You could race from the infield clean to two inches from the wall and I'm worn out. That was a lot of fun racing with Kyle Zimmerman. We're real good buddies. We live close to one another and help each other out a lot."
Leigh Wheeler grabbed the early leader with Damian Bidwell moving from fourth to second on the opening lap. Zimmerman passed pole-sitter Garrett Mott for third on lap two and it was a three-car race for the lead. Following a restart for a caution by Mott with five laps completed, a wild scramble took place on lap six with Zimmerman and Shane Bambarger taking over the top two spots.
Blair entered the battle when he drove by Wheeler for third on lap eight. Blair then took over second from Bambarger on lap 10 following a restart for a spin by Justin Tatlow. Blair was all over Zimmerman and the duo raced side-by-side for the lead on laps 12-14; meanwhile right behind them, Bambarger and Lacki also raced side-by-side for third with Lacki getting the spot on lap 13. Blair then would make the winning move on lap 14 racing out of turn four as he snuck around Zimmerman on the outside.
One more caution was all that slowed Blair from his division-leading ninth career Mercer win in his #111. Zimmerman was second. Lacki had a solid run in third after starting 10th and held off a late charge by Joe Martin. Mike Blose was fifth. Sixth through 10th were Dwayne Pond, Tatlow, Bambarger, Mike Anderson, Jr., and Wheeler. Heat winners were Blair and Blose.
4 Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Models (20 laps): 1. MAX BLAIR (111) 2. Kyle Zimmerman (z17) 3. John Lacki (7) 4. Joe Martin (55) 5. Mike Blose (5) 6. Dwayne Pond (B1D) 7. Justin Tatlow (81) 8. Shane Bambarger (68B) 9. Mike Anderson, Jr. (72) 10. Leigh Wheeler (Smith 717) 11. Damian Bidwell (1/2-Pint) 12. Justin Kreider (29) 13. Jason Stanke (44) 14. Sean Puz (33) 15. Roger Laughlin (53) 16. Garrett Mott (43x).
Luxaire Heating & Cooling (410) Sprint Cars (20 laps, $1,500 to-win): 1. ED LYNCH, JR. (2L) 2. Carl Bowser (10) 3. Russ Sansosti (23s) 4. Bob Felmlee (6) 5. Rod George (4) 6. Mike Lutz (Chappel 8) 7. Danny Holtgraver (D4) 8. Jack Sodeman, Jr. (23Jr) 9. Dan Kuriger (08) 10. Jason Dolick (D12) 11. Brad Knab (38) 12. Eric Williams (7) 13. Pete Miller III (3) 14. Charlie Holben (Dionise 15) 15. Chris Shuttleworth (11) 16. Brent Matus (33) 17. Joe McEwen (Paden 11W) 18. Jack Helget (Taylor 71c) 19. Jeff Taylor (17T) 20. Brandon Matus (13).
Approved Toilet Rentals (358) Modifieds (20 laps): 1. Dustin Martin (29D) 2. Frank Guidace (1G) 3. Jimmy Holden (28H) 4. Lonny Riggs (Black 58) 5. Kyle Fink (66F) 6. Jeff Schaffer (Gumpp 51) 7. Chris Dye (23D) 8. Gary Smoker (516) 9. Tom Holden (15H) 10. Joe Kubiniec (19) 11. Greg Unrue, Jr. (5) 12. Chris Myers (1c).
E-Mods (15 laps): 1. MIKE ESCHRICH (9E) 2. Shane Crotty (4) 3. T.J. Downs (03) 4. Leonard Enos (27) 5. Dave Atkinson (30) 6. Howard Fraley (17) 7. Bob McCann (Fornataro USA 1) 8. Dan Davies (71D) 9. Jordan Eck (20) 10. Jimmy Plance (4J)-DNS.
M&D Paving Mini Stocks (12 laps): 1. JAMEY LEE (4J) 2. Jordan Ehrenberg (JD57) 3. Tim Callahan (54) 4. Wally Stearns, Jr. (33) 5. Zach Hawk (47) 6. Pete Blazczak (77) 7. Lucas Sprouse (24s) 8. Josh Bowser (4) 9. Jerry Batcher (Blazczak 77) 10. Mike McConnell (31) 11. Rudolph Troples III (28) 12. Randy Sprouse (23s) 13. Troy Lehnortt (46) 14. Max Smoker (409) 15. Ed Haylett (8-ball) 16. Matt McNany (141) 17. Byron Kress (62) 18. Kevin Kilgore (0).
Upcoming Events:
4/17 Sprints, Mods, FASTRAK Late Models, E-Mods, Stocks, & Mini Stocks.
4/24 Sprints, Mods, FASTRAK Late Models, Stocks, & Mini Stocks. 2 for $20 Adult Admission. Twin-State & PCTC Club Nights.
5/01 Sprints, Mods, FASTRAK Late Models, Stocks, & Mini Stocks. Free general admission for all Shenango Valley residents presented by Flynn's Tire & Auto Service. Mahoning Valley Scrappers Night with 1,000 ticket giveaways.
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