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Mike Leone
MERCER, Penn. (July 17) - After a sunny start, thunderstorms and heavy rain developed just south of the Mercer Raceway Park Saturday evening. In fact, severe thunderstorm and flash flood warnings were posted for Mercer County; however, despite quite a lightning show and some ominous clouds hanging over the courthouse, nary a drop of rain fell as the sixth straight show was completed after five rainouts in a span of seven races.
With two other big races going on in the region, Max Blair chose Mercer and the decision paid off as he captured his fourth win of the season in the 20-lap 4 Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Model feature. Despite being sent to the back for rough driving, Blair charged back through the pack for his 15th FASTRAK victory of the season in the region.
"There was a real big paying race about 40 minutes from my house- that's where a lot of the cars are at, but I decided to come support this place anyways," explained the 20-year-old Centerville, Pa. driver. "I really like this place. I don't always agree with everything that happens, but I do support this place 100% and that's why I'm here tonight."
Josh Double looked strong early on racing to the early lead with Rusty Cade and Mike Anderson, Sr. in tow. Anderson and Brian Booher both passed Cade for second on lap two. While Double pulled away, a great four-car race was going on for second between Anderson, Booher, Cade, and Blair. Blair made contact with Anderson sending Anderson spinning with Blair being sent to the rear.
When racing resumed on lap five, Booher used the outside to power around Double while Rocky Kugel took third from Cade. On lap seven, Cade hit the frontstretch wall bringing out the caution. When green replaced yellow, Kugel moved ahead of Double for second, but on lap nine both Blair and Double got past Kugel for second and third respectively.
Booher had a half-straightaway lead built up when Blair made it to second. But on lap 11, Booher pushed hard in turn four allowing Blair to slide under and lead lap 12. Booher stuck right with Blair through the remainder of the event, but Blair was too strong in his Specialty Products/4 Your Car Connection/Moody & Son Welding/Bossard's Sales & Service-sponsored #111. The victory was Blair's 11th of his career at Mercer, which is tops in the division.
Kugel was able to get back by Double on lap 16 to finish a Mercer career best third. Double dropped to fourth over point leader Kyle Zimmerman. Anderson, Justin Kreider, Jason Stanke, Leigh Wheeler, and Cade were sixth through 10th. Blair and Double won the heat races.
4 Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Models (20 laps): 1. MAX BLAIR (111) 2. Brian Booher (Hoover 00H) 3. Rocky Kugel (7KRT) 4. Josh Double (38) 5. Kyle Zimmerman (z17) 6. Mike Anderson, Sr. (72) 7. Justin Kreider (29) 8. Jason Stanke (44) 9. Leigh Wheeler (Smith 717) 10. Rusty Cade (47) 11. Rod Laskey (1R)-DNS.
Luxaire Heating & Cooling (410) Sprint Cars (20 laps, $1,500 to-win): 1. BRANDON SPITHALER (22) 2. Danny Holtgraver (D4) 3. Bob Felmlee 4. Mike Lutz (Chappel 8) 5. Arnie Kent (Dionise 15) 6. Todd Bauer (45) 7. Jeff Taylor (17T) 8. Jack Helget (Taylor 71c) 9. Chris Best (66) 10. Brian Steinman (24s) 11. Lindsay Enscoe (96) 12. Davey Jones (76) 13. Francis Sesco (2s) 14. John McCracken, Sr. (63) 15. Pete Miller III (3) 16. Dan Kuriger (08)-DNS 17. John McCracken, Jr. (79)-DNS.
Approved Toilet Rentals (358) Modifieds (20 laps): 1. JEFF SCHAFFER (14) 2. Jimmy Holden (28H) 3. Ron Cartwright, Jr. (2B) 4. Mike Stine (7s) 5. Dustin Martin (29D) 6. Greg Unrue, Jr. (5) 7. Matt Reeher (711) 8. Clyde Gumpp (51) 9. Rod Artman (97) 10. Chris Dye (23D) 11. Dillion McElrath (7) 12. Brian Fingado (13F) 13. Kevin Green (74) 14. Rick Hall (B2) 15. Jerry Twentier, Sr. (6) 16. Rick Kress (222) 17. Steve Barr (Hinkle 77) 18. Burt Fingado (4F) 19. Dave Shook (17s) 20. Lonny Riggs (Black 58) 21. Brian May (11) 22. Frank Guidace (1G)-DNS 23. Joe Gibson (119)-DNS 24. Steve Young (Schaffer 10)-DNS.
Big Daddy's Speed Center Stock Cars (15 laps): 1. CHRIS HAINES (35H) 2. Dwight Boice (528) 3. Steve D'Apolito (84) 4. Russ Byler (06R) 5. Terry Wheeler (2W) 6. Bryan Wagner (56) 7. Ryan Moyer (Walters 35) 8. Shaun Hooks (Janovick 65) 9. Charlie McMillen (61M) 10. Brandon Johnston (14J) 11. Travis Walsh (1) 12. Clay Ruffo (14R) 13. Matt Wagner (12).
M&D Paving Mini Stocks (12 laps): 1. WALLY STEARNS, JR. (33) 2. Tim Callahan (54) 3. Mike McConnell (31) 4. Ryan Beatty (16) 5. E.J. Rarer (3J) 6. Jeff Little (42) 7. Buck Buchanan, Jr. (93) 8. Jeremy Double (83) 9. Joe Romanko (Kress 62) 10. Josh Ehrenberg (3T1) 11. Pete Blazczak (77) 12. Rudolph Troples III (28) 13. Jordan Ehrenberg (JD57)-DNS.
"KABOOM 100" Enduro (100 laps, $1,000 to-win): 1. TIM GILLETTE (5) 2. Randy Shaffer (16) 3. Joe Yakich (29) 4. Brian Rydbom (2) 5. Joseph Philip (15) 6. Harry Wolfe (41) 7. Eelyn Wickham (25) 8. Tyler Wickham (26) 9. Josh Huff (20) 10. Bob Stroup (19) 11. Justin Bailey (14) 12. Shawn Watkins (1) 13. Tim Callahan (24) 14. Gary Miller, Jr. (36) 15. Tyrell Beary (31) 16. Troy Norman (Miller 37) 17. Randy Thompson (35) 18. John Confer (7) 19. George Davis (21) 20. Brian Doyle (32) 21. Donnie Mulig (30) 22. Todd Geer (6) 23. John Larkin (10) 24. Brad Shaffer (17) 25. Luke Rubin (39) 26. Brad Murdock (22) 27. Curt Bish, Sr. (33) 28. Tim Miller (11) 29. Brian Kimmel (38) 30. Matt Cross (34) 31. Ben Kuntz (4) 32. Garrett Schreffler (28) 33. Dakota Papsun (13) 34. Wally Naletko (3) 35. Nick Steiger (27) 36. Steve Blazczak (8) 37. Don Vernier (23) 38. Aaron Hill (18) 39. Ed Papsun (12)-DSQ 40. Pete Blazczak (9)-DSQ.
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