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Mike Leone
MERCER, Penn. (May 15) - After the third rainout in four weeks, Mother Nature finally gave Mercer Raceway Park a reprieve on Saturday night as the sunshine returned allowing an excellent night of racing to be completed with four new winners including a career first. Celebrating in the Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic victory lane were Danny Holtgraver-Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars, Lonny Riggs-Approved Toilet Rentals Modifieds, Tyler Dietz-4 Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Models, Shaun Hooks-Big Daddy's Speed Center Stock Cars, and Lee Lehnerd-M&D Paving Mini Stocks.
Three years ago Danny Holtgraver opened the 2007 season winning two of the first three Sprint Car features. Since then, Holtgraver hasn't had much luck at the tricky 3/8-mile oval. That changed Saturday night, when the 20-year-old racer ran the race of his life holding off the best Sprint Car racers western Pennsylvania has to offer for the 20-lap victory in the Luxaire Heating & Cooling feature. Holtgraver's third career Mercer Sprint win was worth $1,500 plus a certificate for a new Goodyear Tire.
"I saw the whole car," described the Pittsburgh, Pa. racer when asked about Ed Lynch, Jr. all over him in the closing laps. "He was definitely good and came from somewhere in the back so I knew he was on. We got the jump on the start and took off and I just tried to run my race, take it easy, and it worked. When I saw him I stood up in the seat a little bit and started driving a little harder, but tried not to over drive it."
The event's only stoppage came on the opening lap when Pete Miller III tried ducking under leader Carl Bowser and spun off turn two, did a 360, and an easy flip. He was okay, but done from the event. When racing resumed, Holtgraver used the outside to power around Bowser in turn two for the lead. Sixth starting Rod George quickly moved into contention taking Chris Best for third on lap three.
Lynch, who started eighth, passed both Brandon Spithaler and Chris Best for fourth on lap three. Holtgraver continued to maintain a fairly comfortable lead over Bowser when he caught lapped traffic on lap nine, while George and Lynch began closing on Bowser. By lap 11, it was a three-car race for second with Bowser trying to hold off George and Lynch, while Holtgraver's lead shrunk to a half-straightaway. Lynch then shot under George for third on lap 13 and used the bottom again to take second from Bowser this time in turn two on lap 15. George followed Lynch one lap later getting under Bowser in turn four for third.
The breathtaking action continued for the final three laps as Lynch got under and alongside Holtgraver. The duo ran side-by-side to the finish with Holtgraver up top and Lynch on the bottom. On the last lap, Holtgraver got a strong enough run to move to the bottom in turns three and four to block Lynch's advances. Lynch then slung his #2L to the outside and it was a drag race to the finish with Holtgraver holding on by a half-car length. Holtgraver's fourth career Mercer came in the West View Motors/Spinneweber's Auto Sales/Ti22 Performance-sponsored #D4.
"I want to thank Bill (Altman) for doing on this and stepping up and paying us more money and Goodyear Tires," stated Holtgraver. "It draws the best whenever everyone's here. You got to beat the best to be the best, and I think we beat the best tonight. My dad has this car so hooked up. We struggled at the beginning of the year and were no good on these new Goodyear Tires, but we got them hooked up now. We changed some stuff and we're definitely going in the right direction. We've been in the top five every night for the past three weeks or so."
Lynch's runner-up moved him back into the point lead and also earned him the second hard charger of the year, which was worth a certificate for a Goodyear Tire. George, who won Friday night at Lernerville, settled for third over Bowser and ninth starting Bob Felmlee, who has yet to finish out of the top five in a heat or feature this season.
Two-time winner Mike Lutz came from 12th to finish sixth. Ralph Spithaler, Jr. was seventh in his first Mercer start since August 6, 2006. Brandon Spithaler was eighth in his debut and earned a certificate for a Goodyear Tire for being the last car on the lead lap. Todd Bauer was ninth in his first Mercer race of 2010 and Best completed the top 10. Random Goodyear Tire certificate winners were Charlie Holben and Andy Paden. Bowser and George won the heats.
Lonny Riggs has quickly established himself as the driver to beat in the Modified division thus far in 2010. Riggs became the first driver to repeat this season and took over the point lead after his victory in the 20-lap Approved Toilet Rentals feature.
"That was a lot of fun," expressed the Volant, Pa. winner. "The track was beautiful, smooth. We did a lot of work because we didn't like how the car handled the last couple weeks. I was just waiting to get to the outside. I like to wait a few laps to let the fuel burn off to get out there."
J.R. McGinley, who making his first Mercer start since August 16, 2008 and first ever in the "358" division, quickly raced to the early lead. Riggs started third and moved ahead of Eric Gabany on lap one. Riggs got alongside McGinley and the two raced side-by-side for the first two laps, but McGinley found the outside to his liking and stretched out his lead.
McGinley looked strong until the event's first and only caution was display when newcomer Jerry Twentier, Sr. spun and brought out the caution with six laps completed. McGinley chose the inside on the restart and that worked to Riggs' liking as he blasted around the cushion in turns one and two into the lead.
By the halfway mark, it was a four-car race for the lead with Gabany and 10th starting Jeff Schaffer entering the mix. McGinley tried making the inside work as he nosed alongside Riggs on lap 12. The two again raced side-by-side, but Riggs had too much momentum off the top. Riggs opened up some ground on lap 16 and went on for his 12th career win in the division and milestone 25th overall at the track in the Merle Black-owned, Pitt Stop Pub/Iron Bridge Inn-sponsored #58.
McGinley turned in his career best Mercer effort in second. Gabany was third in his season debut. Jeff Schaffer came home fourth in his first start in his brother Jerry's #14. Holden was fifth. Completing the top 10 were Matt Reeher, Chris Dye, Frank Guidace, Dave Shook, and Dustin Martin. Heat victors were Holden and Guidace.
After matching his career best FASTRAK Late Model effort in third at Dog Hollow Speedway on Friday night, Tyler Dietz scored the upset, career first win in the 20-lap 4 Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Model feature.
"This is unbelievable," explained the jubilated Saxonburg, Pa. driver. "I've been dreaming about this forever since I was a little kid at Lernerville. I can't believe I finally got one. I led 10 laps last night and the car kind of went away. I didn't start on the front row once last season and this weekend I started on the front row both times and finally got one. My last lap was probably my slowest because I just held the bottom knowing it's hard to pass on the top with the crates. It was a lot of hard work last year and a lot of hard work from a lot of good guys Josh is my only pit crew- I'm always at the track by myself."
Sean Puz raced to the lead from the pole position with Dietz and Rusty Cade in tow. Dietz made his winning move on lap two going to the outside of Puz in turn four. The event's only two cautions slowed action with four and nine laps completed respectively.
Point leader Kyle Zimmerman, who started eighth, cracked the top five on lap 12 when he passed Frank Guidace. Puz, who was running the race of his life, got sideways coming off turn four on lap 13 allowing Cade, Matt Cobb, and Zimmerman by for second through fourth respectively. By now, Dietz had a half-straightaway lead on Cade. Zimmerman snuck under Cobb in turn one for third on lap 16 then used the bottom in turn three to take second from Cade on lap 18.
Zimmerman would run out of time as the last 11 laps went green-to-checkered as Dietz was too much driving a flawless race in his 2003 Rocket Chassis sponsored by Great Clips/S&S Chassis #10. Zimmerman's second was his third runner-up in four races! What a run by Cade in third in just his second night out in 2010. Cade easily topped his career best ninth, which came in last year's non-winners show. Cobb was fourth in his first ever Mercer appearance as Puz held on to fifth. Sixth through tenth were Bob Vogt, Jr., Ben Black, Garrett Mott, Dwayne Pond, and Chad Myers. Heat winners were Michael Mitchell and Dwayne Pond.
The last time the Stock Cars ran, Shaun Hooks broke while leading handing the lead and win to point leader Steve D'Apolito. Saturday night, D'Apolito got caught up in an accident and it was Hooks returning to victory lane for the first time since July 4, 2009 in the 15-lap Big Daddy's Speed Center Stock Cars.
"Gears," stated the New Castle, Pa. driver when asked what made the difference. "We took all of the gear out of the car and it made a world of a difference. The tires slow the big motors down so you've got to take all the gear out."
Dwight Boice charged from the fourth starting spot into the lead on the opening lap past John Kinsey, Brandon Johnston, and Earl Snyder. Hooks, who started sixth, followed Boice and was in second after the completion of lap one. Ninth starting Chris Haines found his way to the front and was in third on lap three when he passed Kinsey. Hooks made his winning move on lap five slinging under Boice in turns one and two and out-dragged him down the backstretch.
Boice had a slow restart following a caution with nine laps completed and slipped out of the top five allowing Haines to move into second. Haines stuck right with Hooks, but Hooks was too much in the Richard Janovick-owned #65 as he went on for his 14th career win at the track. Fourteen-year-old rookie Clay Ruffo came from seventh to finish third in just his third race. Bob McCann raced from 12th to finish fourth over Bryan Wagner. Heat winners were D'Apolito and Hooks.
4 Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Models (20 laps): 1. TYLER DIETZ (10) 2. Kyle Zimmerman (z17) 3. Rusty Cade (47) 4. Matt Cobb (75) 5. Sean Puz (33) 6. Bob Vogt, Jr. (30) 7. Ben Black (27B) 8. Garrett Mott (43x) 9. Dwayne Pond (Bidwell B1D) 10. Chad Myers (01) 11. Tyler Barris (32B) 12. Frank Guidace (Utsinger 23) 13. Chris Austin (Law 14) 14. Michael Mitchell (19) 15. Mike Anderson, Jr. (72) 16. Justin Kreider (29) 17. Damian Bidwell (1/2-Pt) 18. Leigh Wheeler (Smith 717)-DNS.
Luxaire Heating & Cooling (410) Sprint Cars (20 laps, $1,500 to-win): 1. DANNY HOLTGRAVER (D4) 2. Ed Lynch, Jr. (2L) 3. Rod George (4) 4. Carl Bowser (10) 5. Bob Felmlee (6) 6. Mike Lutz (Chappel 8) 7. Ralph Spithaler, Jr. (56) 8. Brandon Spithaler (Burkey 57B) 9. Todd Bauer (45) 10. Chris Best (66) 11. Lindsay Enscoe (96) 12. Charlie Holben (Dionise 15) 13. Andy Paden (11W) 14. Pete Miller III (3) 15. Dan Kuriger (08)-DNS 16. John McCracken, Jr. (79)-DNS.
Approved Toilet Rentals (358) Modifieds (20 laps): 1. LONNY RIGGS (Black 58) 2. J.R. McGinley (66) 3. Eric Gabany (3E) 4. Jeff Schaffer (14) 5. Jimmy Holden (28H) 6. Matt Reeher (711) 7. Chris Dye (23D) 8. Frank Guidace (1G) 9. Dave Shook (17s) 10. Dustin Martin (29D) 11. Chris Myers (1c) 12. Greg Unrue, Jr. (5) 13. Jerry Twentier, Sr. (6) 14. Burt Fingado (13F) 15. Jim Thompson (99)-DNS 16. Rick Hall (B2)-DNS 17. Brian Fingado (4F)-DNS.
Big Daddy's Speed Center Stock Cars (15 laps): 1. SHAUN HOOKS (Janovick 65) 2. Chris Haines (35H) 3. Clay Ruffo (14R) 4. Bob McCann (Fornataro 77) 5. Bryan Wagner (56) 6. Dwight Boice (528) 7. Brandon Johnston (14J) 8. Charlie McMillen (61M) 9. John Kinsey (27J) 10. Earl Snyder, Jr. (Roberts 19) 11. Matt Wagner (12) 12. Steve D'Apolito (84) 13. Russ Byler (06R).
M&D Paving Mini Stocks (12 laps): 1. LEE LEHNERD (71) 2. Mike McConnell (31) 3. Tim Callahan (54) 4. Josh Bowser (4) 5. Wally Stearns, Jr. (33) 6. Rudolph Troples III (28) 7. Merle Black (76) 8. Byron Kress (62) 9. Ed Haylett (8-ball) 10. Randy Shaffer (17R) 11. Jordan Ehrenberg (JD57) 12. Pete Blazczak (77) 13. Josh Verrill (13) 14. Doug Ehrenberg (D57) 15. Brad Shaffer (17) 16. Matt McNany (141) 17. Kris Anderson (3D) 18. Zack Hawk (47) 19. Buck Buchanan, Jr. (93).
Upcoming Events:
5/22 Sprints, Mods, FASTRAK Late Models, Stocks, & Mini Stocks. Free Crawford County Night presented by Spanky's Tobacco World & Armstrong. Pits open at 3:30 PM. Grandstands at 4:30. Hot laps at 6:15. Racing at 7.
5/29 All-American "Spring Nationals" World Championship Pulling Event presented by Fallsway Equipment Co. featuring Big Rig Semis presented by Fox & James Freightliner, Smoker Tractor Series presented by Watson Inc., Hot Diesel 4x4 Trucks presented by Hovis Auto & Truck Supply, & Pro Street 4x4 Trucks presented by Hovis Auto & Truck Supply. Gates open at 4 p.m. with pulling at 6:30. Rain date 5/30 at 5 p.m.
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