JONES SAILS TO FIRST EVER MERCER LATE MODEL WIN; KRIESS TOPS SMITH IN SPRINTS AGAIN; KRISTYAK WINS FOR 4TH STRAIGHT WEEK IN MODS
Sat, Jun 12, 2004 -- "The Main Event"
Written by: Mike Leone
Mercer Raceway Park hosted “The Main Event” on Saturday night presented by Yoder’s Amish Shoppe as “Big 3”- Late Models, Sprint Cars, and Big-Block Modifieds competed on the same night for the only time of the season. Picking up wins and celebrating in the McClung Auto Body victory lane were Nick Jones-Late Models, Gary Kriess, Jr.-Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars, Tommy Kristyak-Campbell-Peterson Trail & Turf Big-Block Modifieds, Gary Smoker-Tire Express Sportsman Modifieds, and Curt Bish, Jr.-Maurer’s Trading Post Strictly Stocks.
Former Lernerville Speedway Champion, Nick Jones, captured his first ever Mercer win in the 25-lap Late Model feature and added his name to an impressive list of winners. “This feels good to get one here at Mercer,” said the happy Pittsburgh, Pa. victor. “Vicki (Emig) runs a first class operation here. I wish she’d let us run here every week. We have a good time here. You don’t have mirrors so you’re out there running for your life. We’re glad we had them covered tonight.”
Mickey Wright led the opening circuit from the pole position before Jones took over on the second go-around. All eyes were on Bob Wearing, Jr. as he made his way to the front from the ninth starting spot. Wearing passed Ryan Markham for fourth on lap eight then the tandem caught Jeff Henry on lap 10 to make it a three-car race for third. The trio battled hard between laps 10-16. Finally on lap 16, Markham was able to break free as he passed both Wearing and Henry for third.
Up front, Jones began working lapped traffic on lap 18 and with five to go traffic allowed Wright and Markham to close in. Markham had just passed Wright for runner-up on lap 23 when Bobby Bertges spun to bring out the caution setting up a three-lap dash to the checkered.
Markham was able to get by Wright for second with an inside move off turn three on lap 24, but would run out of time as Jones’ #15 took the checkered flag first for the $1,500 win. Wright was third over 11th starting Chris Hackett. The top four finishers all recorded their career best Mercer finishes. Matt Lux was fifth after starting 13th. Rounding out the top 10 were Henry, Stephen Hollabaugh, Tom Tuite, Bertges, and Bobby Hoffman. Heat winners over the 19-car field were Spanky Dougherty and Alan Dellinger.
For the second straight race, Gary Kriess, Jr. topped Jamie Smith to win the 25-lap $1,500 to-win Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Car feature. “It’s coming together,” stated the Butler, Pa. resident. “We’re starting to get the car figured out for me and not Troy (Preston). The crew does a good job- Richard, Roger, Troy, the Hine boys, and all my family.”
Kriess was able to get the advantage on the start with Mike Shearer in tow. Though Kriess would lead every lap, it was far from easy. Smith started sixth and cracked the top five on the initial lap. Lap two saw Smith move ahead of Mark Murphy for fourth before Murphy spun to bring out the caution with three laps completed. Following the restart, Smith got a bite off the bottom to race by Ralph Spithaler, Jr. for third.
Kriess caught the back-markers on lap eight and dealt with traffic through lap 13 when the second and final caution was displayed for Dan McEwen who hit the backstretch fence. On the restart, Smith again got great traction off the inside of the speedway to move into second ahead of Shearer. Kriess had a clear track until five laps to go, which allowed Smith to narrow the margin.
Kriess though was too much for Smith as his fourth career win came in the McClung Auto Body/Flynn Tire Group/Barris Supply/Jones Performance/Atwell & Perrine Excavating-sponsored, Preston America-owned, Hine Racing Equipment-powered #1P. Smith added to his point lead with his third consecutive second place finish. Shearer held on to third for his best finish since his first win on June 21, 2003. Spithaler was fourth ahead of Gary Edwards. Sixth through tenth were Rob Eyler, Arnie Kent, Jeff Banyas, Chris Shuttleworth, and Jason Dolick. Scoring heat race wins were Smith, Kriess, and Shearer over the 29-car field. Dolick won the B main.
Chris Shuttleworth of Wellsville, Ny. was the highest finishing 360 Sprint Car for the third time earning the $150 bonus and continues to lead the Moore CDL Driving Academy “Pegasus Series” points. Central Ohio drivers Dolick, Jamie Martin, and newcomer Duffy Smith also receive bonus monies.
Tommy Kristyak added another milestone to his unbelievable season. Kristyak won his 40th Big-Block Modified feature since the track reopened in 1994 after winning for the fourth straight week in the 25-lap Campbell-Peterson Trail & Turf Big-Block Modified feature. “I love restarts at the end,” expressed the jubilant Stoneboro, Pa. winner. “I seem to dial my car in a little bit better with all the things I get to play with. What a beautiful ending!”
From the pole position, Frank Guidace jumped out into the early lead. Tim Doran moved ahead of Les Myers for second on lap two. Kristyak, who started seventh, made his way to third and raced side-by-side with Doran for runner-up on laps 8-10. While racing side-by-side, the duo ran down Guidace to make it a three-car race for the lead on lap 11. Doran was all over Guidace on lap 15 just before a caution bunched up the field.
On lap 18, Doran took charge of the race getting by Guidace with an outside move in turns one and two. Kristyak followed on the inside for second nearly sandwiching Guidace in the middle. A caution for Rob Curtis with 20 laps completed set up a five-lap shootout. On the restart, Kristyak stuck his mount on the bottom and had enough to get past Doran for the lead on lap 21.
Once in front, Kristyak pulled away for his fifth win of the season, 51st big-block win of his career, and 104th career Mercer win in his Kristyak’s Korner/Fred Elder Excavating/M&D Paving/McCool Signs & Graphics-sponsored, Hine Racing Equipment-powered #26z.
“I had a little trouble at the beginning there,” explained Kristyak following the $1,500 win. “My car is one of these cars that really likes the clean air. Sometimes following these boys is really rough on me. I was just lucky to have a restart there at the end. Timmy (Doran) took off, but must have checked up because I couldn’t believe I walked away from him like I did.”
Guidace was able to get back by Doran for second on lap 22. Doran dropped to third over 13th starting Tommy Marshall III and Rodney Beltz, who came from the tail after pitting early on. Completing the top 10 were Dave Schrader, Mike Stine, John Buchanan, Carl Murdick, and Rick Hall. Picking up heat race wins were Curtis, Dave Murdick, and Doran over the 27-car field.
An oil soaked Gary Smoker emerged the victor in the 20-lap $600 to-win Tire Express Sportsman Modified feature becoming the division’s first three-time winner. “I was hoping to restart the race quick before I ran out of oil,” stressed the Mercer, Pa. winner. “That’s motor oil all over. I only had about 10 to 20 pounds of oil pressure left. Just by the nick of luck we got through- it must be the Lord ridding with me.”
Jerry Schaffer took off the from the pole position for the early lead with Rich Ferguson and Jim Rombold, Jr. following. Rombold and Jeff Schaffer both passed Ferguson for second and third on lap seven. Two laps later, Smoker, who started 12th, and Jeff Schaffer disposed of Rombold for second and third.
Smoker’s winning move came off the inside of turn two on lap 12. Smoker led the rest of the way in the David Smoker-owned, MBMR Inc./Mito Insulations-sponsored #516 surviving two late restarts for his 25th career win moving him within one of Andy Priest’s all-time mark of 26. Point leader Jeff Schaffer was able to get by his brother and car owner Jerry Schaffer for second to keep his perfect streak of top five finishes intact. Steve Toth was fourth over Frank Guidace. Heat winners over the 25-car field were Jeff Schaffer, Rick Hall, and Kevin Green. Green, in just his second year of racing, won his first ever race last week in the B main and came back this week to win a heat race.
Curt Bish, Jr. returned to victory lane for the third time in the 12-lap Strictly Stock feature keeping the Bishs a perfect nine-for-nine in the Maurer’s Trading Post “Redneck Racers Shotgun Series”. The Oil City driver came from fourth to the lead on the opening lap and held off his dad, Curt Bish, Sr., for the win in his Dennis Baker Construction/Gravett Painting/Deet’s Sugar House-sponsored #00X. Robby Switzer recorded his best finish in third as Wearne Cook and Lauren Simmons completed the first five.
Late Models (25 laps): 1. NICK JONES ($1,500) 2. Ryan Markham 3. Mickey Wright 4. Chris Hackett 5. Matt Lux 6. Jeff Henry 7. Stephen Hollabaugh 8. Tom Tuite 9. Bobby Bertges 10. Bobby Hoffman 11. Rick Armstrong 12. Bob Wearing, Jr. 13. Eric Myers 14. Tom Bateman 15. John Mollick 16. Chuck Kennedy 17. Spanky Dougherty 18. Alan Dellinger 19. Lou Gentile.
Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars (25 laps): 1. GARY KRIESS, JR. ($1,500) 2. Jamie Smith 3. Mike Shearer 4. Ralph Spithaler, Jr. 5. Gary Edwards 6. Rob Eyler 7. Arnie Kent 8. Jeff Banyas 9. Chris Shuttleworth 10. Jason Dolick 11. Jamie Martin 12. Duffy Smith 13. Doug Stanley 14. Scott Bonnell 15. Chris Matthews 16. Chad Levingston 17. Vaughn Nystrom 18. Jimmy Barill 19. Skip Dougherty 20. Jeremy Cook 21. Dan McEwen 22. Mark Murphy 23. Rod George 24. Andy Priest 25. Butch Beasley-DNS DNQ: Todd McQuillen, Bill Jones, Mike Lutz, Jerry Yoder.
Campbell-Peterson Trail & Turf Big-Block Modifieds (25 laps): 1. TOMMY KRISTYAK ($1,500) 2. Frank Guidace 3. Tim Doran 4. Tommy Marshall III 5. Rodney Beltz 6. Dave Schrader 7. Mike Stine 8. John Buchanan 9. Carl Murdick 10. Rick Hall 11. Rob Curtis 12. Brian Fink 13. Zack Moran 14. Les Myers 15. Andy Paden 16. Dave Murdick 17. Jeremy Paup 18. Ed Alcorn 19. Scott Kay 20. Adam Kozar 21. Kenny Hardy 22. Lee Miller 23. Garrett Krummert 24. Rick Kress 25. Terry Young-DNS 26. Andy Priest-DNS 27. Carl Weatherby-DNS.
Tire Express Sportsman Modifieds (20 laps): 1. GARY SMOKER ($600) 2. Jeff Schaffer 3. Jerry Schaffer 4. Steve Toth 5. Frank Guidace 6. Jim Rombold, Jr. 7. Kevin Green 8. Rich Ferguson 9. Fred Sasse 10. Leroy Johnson, Jr. 11. Jeff Walters 12. Alex Anderson 13. Jay Priest 14. Brad Watson 15. Mike Kelley 16. Rich Whitney 17. Kristin Jordan 18. Rick Hall 19. Matt Reeher 20. Mike Turner 21. Jim Thompson 22. Mike Anderson 23. Kevin Thompson 24. Jerry Twentier, Sr.-DNS 25. Kevin Latshaw-DNS.
Maurer’s Trading Post Strictly Stocks: 1. CURT BISH, JR. 2. Curt Bish. Sr. 3. Robby Switzer 4. Wearne Cook 5. Lauren Simmons 6. Bryan Shaffer 7. Randy Ealy 8. Earl Snyder 9. Paul Reiser-DNS.