SMOKER DEFENDS MERCER HOME TURF WITH BIGGEST CAREER WIN IN 358 MODS; HOOKS DOES THE SAME WITH HIS $2,000 WIN OVER 95 STOCKS; HESS, JR. MAKES FIRST EVER APPEARANCE & WINS SMODA E-MODS; 189 RACE CARS JAM THE PIT AREA
By Mike Leone
October 2, 2004
Mercer, PA…Mercer Raceway Park brought down the curtain on the 2004 racing season Saturday night with the completion of night two of the fifth annual “Little Guy Nationals” presented by Hover Racing, Inc./Hoosier Tire Ohio Valley. Collecting big wins and celebrating in the McClung Auto Body victory lane were Gary Smoker-358 Modifieds, Shaun Hooks-Stock Car A Feature, Willie Aley-Stock Car B Feature, Bill Lanigan-Stock Car C Feature, and Dave Hess, Jr.-SMODA E-Mods. Ed Bordt of Sewickley, Pa. won the $500 to-win Demo Derby, while Andy Bordt was crowned the “Gladiator Series” Champion. One-hundred eighty-nine race cars plus more than 30 demo derby cars maxed out all facets of the pit area.
Gary Smoker capped off a career year and a magical three-week run by winning his milestone 30th career Mercer win in the 30-lap $2,000 to-win 358 Modified feature. Two weeks ago Smoker won his first ever open 358 four-barrel event at Mercer, then had a strong second last week at Central Pa. Speedway’s biggest event of the season against the open 358 modifieds, and backed that up with his most impressive win of his career on Saturday.
“All I have to say is my Lord Jesus Christ,” following the Mercer driver’s roof dance in victory lane. “He puts me here. I carry him in my back pocket. You carry him and you can go anywhere and do anything. This is the sportsman motor we ran all year with the exception of the four-barrel and it still has the seals on it.”
Steve Toth jumped out into the early lead from the pole position with New Yorker Dylan DeWert in tow. Last year’s winner, Lonny Riggs, passed Ron Eperthener, Jr. on the opening lap for third then took second away from DeWert on lap three. Smoker, who started back in 10th, quickly found the front and cracked third on lap eight then got a break when the yellow was displayed for Bryan Terwilliger and Dean Pearson with eight laps completed. One more caution slowed action when Eperthener, Brian Swartzlander, Mike Anderson, and Ricky Richner tangled still with eight laps completed.
The remaining 22 laps would go non-stop. Riggs used the outside to sneak past Toth for the lead on lap nine. One lap later, Smoker followed in second. Riggs and Smoker then put on a great show between laps 13 through 15 with Smoker on the bottom and Riggs on the top. Smoker made a nice move with a slider coming off the inside of turn four on lap 15 for the lead.
Once in front, Smoker drove a great race through lapped traffic and pulled away to win by more than a straightaway. The win was Smoker’s second in open 358 competition and a career high nine on the season in the David Smoker-owned, MBMR Inc./Mito Insulations-sponsored, Domhoff-powered #516. “We’re going to Syracuse this week to race with the sportsman and this will give us the money to do it,” revealed the winner.
Riggs was second and earned $1,000. Toth turned in a great performance to finish third. Tommy Kristyak came home fourth subbing for Kevin Thompson and gave locals a clean sweep of the first four positions. DeWert dropped to fifth. Andy Priest came back from an early accident to finish sixth. New York’s Ron Cartwright, Jr. edged fellow New Yorker Robbie Krull for seventh. Krull started last and won the third B main to transfer to the back of the feature after getting to the track late. Canada’s Todd Gordon was ninth ahead of New York’s Dale Welty. Topping the heat races over the 54-car field were Mike Jackson, Riggs, Priest, Toth, Smoker, and DeWert. Cartwright, J.R. Crouse, and Krull won the B mains.
Like Smoker, Shaun Hooks fended off the invaders and defended his home turf with his biggest career victory in the 40-lap $2,000 to-win Stock Car feature. Hooks ended a career year by more than doubling his career win total with his fifth victory of the season. “Oh this is awesome,” said the emotional and almost speechless New Castle, Pa. 2002 track champion. “I have to thank everybody- Bob Covelli, Bob McCann, my brother Scott, Jimmy, and Rick, just everybody. Last night was the first night I ever ran the big tires and we got it dialed in. It’s ready!”
Hooks started on the pole, but the win was far from easy. Hooks and Andy Buckley put some distance between themselves and the rest of the field until the first caution was displayed for Charlie Beck and Doug Iorio, Jr. with seven laps completed. Sixth starter Scott Stein worked his way to third taking the position from Brian Booher on lap eight. Stein and Buckley resumed their battle for the night before as they raced side-by-side again before Stein got by for good on lap 15. Booher moved into third past Buckley on lap 19.
Cautions with 27 and 28 laps completed were the final two that would slow action as the last 12 laps went green-to-checkered. Stein pressured Hooks on numerous occasions running the low line, but just didn’t have enough to make a pass. In the final laps, Hooks pulled away to the popular victory and celebrated by doing donuts in turns three and four. Hook’s ninth career win came in his Rich & Freed Auto Parts/Benny Lombardo Auto Repair/Jim Hooks Auto Repair-sponsored #65.
After tangling with Buckley last night running second, Stein brought the Chad Covatch-owned #418, which won last year’s $1,000 preliminary event with Tom Snyder, Jr. driving, home in second for the $1,000 payday. Booher was a strong third over Buckley. Mike Pegher, Jr., who started 18th, was fifth and was the only driver to finish in the top five both nights. Sixth through tenth were Bobby Whitling, Denny Fenton, Dave Ferringer, Jim Sayler, and Ashley Barrett. Whitling and Gary Miller, Jr., who finished 13th, are the only two drivers to have made all five Little Guy Nationals features. Heat winners over the season-high 95-car field were Rusty Moore, Booher, Barrett, Hooks, John Reiser, Stein, Buckley, and Fenton. Mike Beck, Pegher, Sayler, and Pat McGuire won the B mains. Hooks had a perfect night as he won the dash as well.
Willie Aley drove an impeccable race to win the 15-lap $300 to-win Stock Car B consolation feature. The Fredonia, Pa. racer, who doesn’t have any Mercer wins to his credit, started third and was up to second before losing second and third to Rick Norco and Tim Deutsch on laps five and eight. Aley didn’t give up as one lap later got back by Deutsch and Norco for runner-up. It was then three-wide for the lead on lap 11 as race-long leader Gerry Bruce tried to hold off the challengers. One lap later, Aley slipped under Bruce and raced on to the victory in his #9. Deutsch, Doug Iorio, Travis Calhoun, and Sam Fisher completed the top five.
Like Aley, Bill Lanigan, who doesn’t have any wins, drove the best race of his life to win the 12-lap $200 to-win Stock Car C consolation feature. The Sandy Lake, Pa. started all the way back in 16th, but had the lead on lap three from Willie Aley’s brother, Mike. Lanigan drove off to the victory in his #142. Jason Reagle drove the Bill Exley, Jr. #69w and was second as Danny Rich, Gary Norman, and Gary Sullivan rounded out the top five.
Dave Hess, Jr. made his first ever Mercer appearance a successful one as he collected the 30-lap SMODA E-Mod feature win and became the fourth different winner in as many years of the Mel Myers Memorial. Hess’ $1,000 win came after a stirring race-long duel with Russ Dunn in an attrition-filled event that saw only eight of the 25 starters finish.
“I wanted the outside, but Russ (Dunn) got out there and all I could do was the bottom,” described the young Waterford, Pa. winner. “We ran 10 laps side-by-side and I didn’t know what was going to happen. It was great racing.”
Hess started clear back in 16th and charged all the way up to third on lap seven. Hess went around Dunn on a lap nine restart for second and set his sights on race-long leader Matt Lux. Lux, who was the inaugural Little Guy Nationals Stock Car winner, had his night end prematurely as he exited the race on lap 13, while Dunn got back by Hess which turned out to be for the lead.
The remainder of the race saw the two race hard and clean side-by-side for the lead swapping the top spot numerous times as Hess ran the bottom and Dunn the top. Hess regained the lead on lap 22, but Dunn took it back on lap 24. The next three laps saw the two trade the lead every lap before Hess got by for good on lap 27. This time, Hess got by far enough that he could switch to the top of the track and took Dunn’s line away from him. Hess then raced on to his 14th overall E-Mod victory of the season in his #44H. Dunn was second over Jim Frontz, who came from 23rd to finish third. Larry Kugel and Carl McKinney were fourth and fifth. Heat races were won by Randy Hall, Jeff Rudrick, Shawn Shingledecker, and Kugel over the 40-car field. Ron Roncaglione and Shawn Domhoff won the two B mains.
358 Modified Feature (30 laps): 1. GARY SMOKER ($2,000) 2. Lonny Riggs 3. Steve Toth 4. Tommy Kristyak 5. Dylan DeWert 6. Andy Priest 7. Ron Cartwright, Jr. 8. Robbie Krull 9. Todd Gordon 10. Dale Welty 11. Steve Young 12. Dave Murdick 13. Brian Swartzlander 14. Ricky Richner 15. Steve Hartman, Sr. 16. J.R. Crouse 17. Mike Stine 18. Mike Turner 19. Steve Hartman, Jr. 20. Dean Pearson 21. Mike Anderson 22. Ron Eperthener, Jr. 23. Bryan Terwilliger 24. Mike Jackson 25. Jimmy Holden-DNS DNQ: Garrett Krummert, Paul Kline, Matt Reeher, Mark Frankhouser, Steve Barr, Jeff Stuchel, Chuck Kennison, Nick Ritchey, Leroy Johnson, Jr., Joe Kubiniec, Tom Holden, Lee Miller, Rick Kress, Rick Hoctor, Jerry O’Rock, Jr., Pud Welsh, Brian Fink, Chad Reitz, Dave Dubois, Kevin Green, Kevin Hoffman, Jim Rombold, Jr., Chris Dye, Joe Gibson, Tommy Marshall III, Justin Broerman, Lonnie McConahy, Leonard Baker, Jr., Scott Kay.
Stock Car A Feature (40 laps): 1. SHAUN HOOKS ($2,000) 2. Scott Stein 3. Brian Booher 4. Andy Buckley 5. Mike Pegher, Jr. 6. Bobby Whitling 7. Denny Fenton 8. Dave Ferringer 9. Jim Sayler 10. Ashley Barrett 11. John Reiser 12. Pat Carfley 13. Gary Miller, Jr. 14. Charlie Beck 15. Joe Kelley 16. Jason Fosnaught 17. Mike Beck 18. Pat McGuire 19. Jim Myers 20. Rusty Wheeler 21. Mike Laughard 22. Nick Reges 23. Rusty Moore 24. Doug Iorio, Jr.
Stock Car B Feature (15 laps): 1. WILLIE ALEY ($300) 2. Tim Deutsch 3. Doug Iorio 4. Travis Calhoun 5. Sam Fisher 6. Scott Myers 7. Rory Reed 8. Craig Kamicker 9. Mike Turner 10. Jason Stetson 11. Charlie Kremer, Jr. 12. Tim Mann 13. Tony Spaghetti 14. Tim Zuschlag 15. Gerry Bruce 16. Rick Norco 17. Rich Howell 18. Jim McFadden 19. Mark Thompson, Jr. 20. Jeff Shank 21. Terry Kroner 22. Joe Drusko 23. Ryan Moyer 24. John Williams
Stock Car C Feature (12 laps): 1. BILL LANIGAN ($200) 2. Jason Reagle 3. Danny Rich 4. Gary Norman 5. Gary Sullivan 6. Bob Bean 7. Jason Dobson 8. Brian Melewski 9. Joe Betz 10. Steve Yancek 11. Nick Kocuba 12. Randy Bohan 13. Ben Porter 14. Gary Johns 15. Rusty Kellogg 16. Cody Snyder 17. Tony Hersh 18. Mike Aley 19. Jake Simmons 20. Shawn Wassan 21. Brian Johnson 22. Duane Getty 23. Chad Stevenson-DNS 24. Robert Ayers-DNS
Did not qualify for any of the three features: Ron Hebner, Harold Reges, Ken Zimmer, Bob Egley, Barry Wilson, Andy Thompson, Terry Wheeler, Chris Brown, Jeff Walters, Greg Brown, Jamie Duncan, Clyde Roberts, Mike Smith, Jamie Price, Matt Keith, Todd Matthews, Curt Hager, Bruce Gabriel, Jr., Bobby Heim, Ryan Herb, Mark Hopkins, Bill Cramer, Larry Root.
Mel Myers Memorial SMODA E-Mods (30 laps): 1. DAVE HESS, JR. 2. Russ Dunn 3. Jim Frontz 4. Larry Kugel 5. Carl McKinney 6. Dale Charlier 7. Jeff Rudrick 8. Rich Logan 9. Shawn Shingledecker 10. Bill Thomas 11. Matt Lux 12. Doug Glessner 13. Dale Applebee 14. Ron Roncaglione 15. Wayne Tessean 16. Bob Williams 17. Jeff Sharp 18. Jeff Haefke 19. Tom Rhoades 20. Bob McCann 21. Randy Hall 22. Howard Fraley 23. Jim Bertges 24. Kevin Decker 25. Shawn Domhoff DNQ: Jim White, Jr., Mike Anderson, Jeff Walters, Arlan Coy, Al Crocker, Ken Smith, Bob Diver, Noah Stark, Bob Williamson, Ed Wilson, Jeremy Kosicek, Bruce Dreistadt, Steve Haefke, Herm Myers, Chuck Kennedy.