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Mike Leone
MERCER, Penn. (September 12) - After rain postponed Saturday's Western PA Sprint Championship/BRP Mod Tour doubleheader, sunshine returned on Sunday allowing the Ehrlich Your Local Pest Control Experts event to be completed. Celebrating in the Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic victory lane were Brian Ellenberger-DIRTcar Challenge Series for the Luxaire Heating & Cooling 410 Sprint Cars, Rex King-Rock Concrete BRP Modified Tour, Max Blair-4 Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Models, Steve D'Apolito-Big Daddy's Speed Center Stock Cars, and Tim Callahan-M&D Paving Mini Stocks. A total of 121 cars competed over the two days.
Max Blair took another big step toward the $10,000 FASTRAK National Weekly Series Championship with his sixth Mercer win of the season. Once in front, Blair left his competition behind winning by one-half of a lap in the 20-lap 4 Your Car Connection Late Model event.
"When you're racecar drives as good as that does…wow…that's the best I think I've ever felt in a racecar since I started racing," expressed the 20-year-old Centerville, Pa. driver. "You couldn't find a rut in that race track if you looked all night, which is part of it too. Without dad I couldn't do anything. It's a dream come true when I can race against him. I have to thank all my sponsors and everyone that helps out on the car. This FASTRAK deal is a good thing and I just hope it keeps on growing and growing."
Sean Puz raced to the lead from the pole position, while Kyle Zimmerman passed Leigh Wheeler and Tyler Barris for second on the first lap. Sixth starting Blair made a great move on lap two to get by both Tyler Barris and Leigh Wheeler for third. Blair followed that up one lap later with an even better move as he split Zimmerman and Puz racing off turn two for the lead.
With the last 18 laps going green-to-checkered, Blair pulled away every lap and took the checkered flag by a margin of victory by eight seconds in the Specialty Products/4 Your Car Connection/Moody & Son Welding/Bossard's Sales & Service-sponsored #111 for his all-time leading 13th win at the track.
Puz and Zimmerman battled the final 18 laps for second with Puz getting the runner-up nod for his career best finish. Zimmerman's third was his ninth top five in 11 races this season, which easily earned him his first ever track championship. Zimmerman's only two finishes out of the top five were a sixth and an 11th, which came in the $6,000 to-win National event on July 3. Bud Watson came from ninth to place fourth as his strong runs continue as the new driver of the John and Janet Powell #100. Dan Karalagas was fifth in his first appearance of 2010. Completing the top 10 were Josh Double, Barris, Josh Holtgraver, Wheeler, and Garrett Mott. Winning the heat races were Blair and Watson over the 15-car field.
4 Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Models (20 laps, $600 to-win): 1. MAX BLAIR (111) 2. Sean Puz (33) 3. Kyle Zimmerman (z17) 4. Bud Watson (Powell 100) 5. Dan Karalagas (G1) 6. Josh Double (38) 7. Tyler Barris (32B) 8. Josh Holtgraver (00) 9. Leigh Wheeler (Smith 717) 10. Garrett Mott (43x) 11. Mike Anderson, Jr. (72) 12. Rusty Cade (47) 13. Justin Kreider (29) 14. Rod Laskey (1R)-DNS 15. Ben Black (27B)-DNS.
21st Annual Western PA Championship Luxaire Heating & Cooling (410) DIRTcar Sprint Car Challenge Series (25 laps, $2,500 to-win): 1. BRIAN ELLENBERGER (22) 2. Jack Sodeman, Jr. (Rudzik 94) 3. Danny Holtgraver (D4) 4. Mike Lutz (Chappel 8) 5. Bob Felmlee (6) 6. Rod George (4) 7. Eric Williams (7) 8. Ralph Spithaler, Jr. (56) 9. Brent Matus (33) 10. Chris Pochiro (24) 11. Russ Sansosti (23s) 12. Brandon Matus (13) 13. Chris Best (66) 14. Dean Ruth (7x) 15. Gale Ruth (1R) 16. Jack Whitmore (21) 17. Dan Kuriger (08) 18. Andy McKisson (0) 19. Carl Bowser (10) 20. Todd Bauer (45) 21. Nate Stein (93) 22. Arnie Kent (Dionise 15) 23. Ed Lynch, Jr. (2L) 24. John McCracken, Sr. (63) Did not return: Jason Dolick (D12), Chris Shuttleworth (11), Aaron Shaffer (97s), Brandon Spithaler (Burkey 57B), Robert VanTassel (69x).
BRP Modified Tour (30 laps, $1,500 to-win): 1. REX KING (65) 2. Dave Murdick (61) 3. Brad Rapp (11R) 4. Chad Homan (91) 5. Frank Guidace (1G) 6. Jimmy Holden (28H) 7. Eric Gabany (3E) 8. Skip Moore (17M) 9. Del Rougeux, Jr. (20D) 10. Andy Priest (Hull 41) 11. Jeremy Paup (X) 12. Mike Turner (96) 13. Jeff Schaffer (10) 14. Mark Frankhouser (03) 15. Gary Smoker (516) 16. Tommy Kristyak (26z) 17. J.R. McGinley (66) 18. Lonny Riggs (Black 58) 19. Rex King, Jr. (165) 20. Kevin Hoffman (17H) 21. Dean Pearson (8J) 22. Kyle Fink (66F) 23. Jeremiah Shingledecker (37MD) 24. Steve Barr (25B) 25. Steve Feder (45) 26. Tom Mattocks (69) DNQ: Rick Ryder (Snider 189), Carl Murdick (6), Don Brown (71B), Rod Jones (820), Rich Whitney (19W), Tom Shaffer (34), Dillon Barr (15B), Jeff Miller (75), Shawn Fleeger (88), Boyd MacTavish (21), Greg Unrue, Jr. (5), Chris Haines (35H), Ron Cartwright, Jr. (2B), Ted Ryan (76), Kevin Green (74), Clyde Gumpp (51).
Big Daddy's Speed Center Stock Cars (15 laps, $300 to-win): 1. STEVE D'APOLITO (84) 2. Clyde Roberts (Snyder 65E) 3. Russ Byler (06R) 4. Bryan Wagner (56) 5. Shaun Hooks (Janovick 65) 6. Clay Ruffo (14R) 7. Dwight Boice (528) 8. Brandon Johnston (14J) 9. Jeff Walters (35) 10. Bill Banick, Jr. (07) 11. Tony Bruno (97) 12. Travis Walsh (1) 13. Keith Walsh, Jr. (44JR) 14. Chris Haines (35H)-DNS 15. Terry Wheeler (2W)-DNS 16. Chip Walsh (36)-DNS.
M&D Paving Mini Stocks (15 laps, $250 to-win): 1. TIM CALLAHAN (54) 2. John Shannon (14) 3. Bill Fuchs (10) 4. Wally Stearns, Jr. (33) 5. Mike McConnell (31) 6. John Ford (34) 7. Rudolph Troples III (28) 8. Steve Longwell, Jr. (17K) 9. Ed Haylett (8-ball) 10. Jeremy Double (83) 11. Elmer Brown (313) 12. Brad Shaffer (17) 13. Jeff Little (42) 14. Merle Black (76) 15. Tim Klingensmith, Jr. (11) 16. Max Smoker (409) 17. Jordan Ehrenberg (JD57) 18. Clay Wansor (197) 19. E.J. Rarer (3J).
Upcoming Events:
09/15 Open Practice from 4 PM til dark.
09/24-25 "Little Guy Nationals" presented by American Racer/Lias Tire. Racing begins at 7 PM on Friday and 4 PM Saturday. Rain date is September 26.
10/02 "Fall Brawl" featuring Night 1 of the FASTRAK Late Model Grand Nationals, Super Late Models ($2,000), United E-Mod Series ($2,000), & Mini Stocks. Racing begins at 6 PM.
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