16-YEAR-OLD DODSON EDGES SMITH FOR SPRINT WIN; KRISTYAK’S 2ND BIG-BLOCK WIN IS MOD WIN #101; SMOKER FIRST TO REPEAT IN SPORTSMAN; FIRST FOR THOMPSON IN STOCKS; BISH, SR. DOES IT AGAIN IN STRICTLY STOCKS AT MERCER

By Mike Leone

May 22, 2004

Mercer, PA…Mercer Raceway Park completed its seventh show in nine tries Saturday night despite Mother Nature putting on another lightning show. Celebrating in the McClung Auto Body victory lane with wins were Cameron Dodson-Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars, Tommy Kristyak-Campbell-Peterson Trail & Turf Big-Block Modifieds, Gary Smoker-Tire Express Sportsman Modifieds, Andy Thompson-Stock Cars, and Curt Bish, Sr.-Strictly Stocks.

Fresh off his first career Sprint Car win last Sunday night in the debut of the Mid-American Sprint Series at Indiana’s Tri-State Speedway, 16-year-old Cameron Dodson backed up his performance with an impressive run to hold off Mercer “hot shoe” Jamie Smith to win the 20-lap Luxaire Heating & Cooling event.

“That was an excellent race,” exclaimed the pumped Greenfield, Indiana racer. “There’s a lot of good competition. I saw the nose of somebody coming there on the last lap and I went low to try to get under the lapped car. I was getting nervous. The Hoosier Tires came in great. Troy put an awesome setup on it, my parents, and I thank the fans for coming out- couldn’t do it without them. We just try to put on a great show.”

Chad Levingston raced into the lead at the start, while fifth starting Dodson worked his way to runner-up past Jason Dolick. One lap later, Arnie Kent dropped Dolick back to fourth. Dodson ran down Levingston and was all over the Ohio driver on lap four. Dodson made the winning move on lap five in lapped traffic on the backstretch. A three-car race ensued on lap eight with Dodson, Levingston, and Kent battling for the lead through traffic. Kent was able to get past Levingston at that time for second.

A caution for a spin by Bill Underwood and the slowing Rod George brought out the caution with eight laps completed. With a lapped car separating Kent from Dodson on the restart, Dodson was able to open up a sizable lead. By the halfway point, Dodson’s lead grew to a near straightaway. Jamie Smith, who started 11th, quietly progressed to the front and entered the picture on lap 14 when he raced by Levingston for third. Levingston’s best career run ended when he looped his mount in turn four bringing out the caution with 14 laps scored. When racing resumed, Smith drove under Kent off turn two for second and set his sights on Dodson.

Smith closed in ever so closely with each additional lap. On the final lap, Smith used his typical low groove style to get a nose under Dodson coming off turn two. Dodson had enough momentum down the backstretch to close the door going into turn three and raced under the lapped car of Jerry Yoder to barely edge Smith in an exciting finish. Smith’s runner-up combined with mechanical woes by George propelled him into the point lead.

Dodson became the second 16-year-old driver to win a sprint car feature in four years at Mercer as Brian Woodhall did the feat in 2001. Dodson’s #37 is owned by his mother Cindy and is sponsored by Joie Seating, Simpson, NGK Spark Plugs, and Penske Shocks.

Gary Kriess, Jr. came on strong at the end of the race to pass Kent for third on lap 19. Kent dropped to fourth as Rob Eyler was fifth. Sixth through tenth were Jason Dolick, Jeff Banyas, Charlie Holben, Chris Shuttleworth, and Levingston. Heat winners over the 25-car field were Kriess, Kent, and Levingston.

Dolick of Coshocton, Ohio was the highest finishing 360 and earned the $150 bonus. Dolick continues to lead the Moore CDL Driving Academy “Pegasus” 360 point standings. Also earning 360 bonus monies were Shuttleworth, Vaughn Nystrom and Jeremy Cook.

Opening night winner Tommy Kristyak returned to victory lane to become the first repeat winner in the Big-Block Modifieds by winning the 20-lap Campbell-Peterson Trail & Turf event. “It was a good race- a lot of restarts,” said the Stoneboro, Pa. legend. “I was a little worried about the weight, but we made it and that’s good. I knew I was pretty good on the restarts and if I could keep the 99 (Frank Guidace) at bay, I knew I had everybody else covered.”

Frank Guidace took over the top spot on the opening lap from big-block rookie Andy Paden. Guidace’s lead lasted only one lap as fifth starting Kristyak quickly came to the front edging Guidace at the start-finish line for the top spot. The caution-plagued event saw the battle rage for second between Guidace, Andy Priest, Tim Doran, Lonny Riggs, and Tommy Marshall III. Those five went at swapping positions and running side-by-side in a pack for the duration of the event.

Only cautions slowed Kristyak from his 48th career big-block win and 101st of his career at Mercer in his Kristyak’s Korner/Fred Elder Excavating/M&D Paving/McCool Signs & Graphics-sponsored, Hine Racing Equipment-powered #26z. Guidace edged 11th starting Priest for second. Marshall was a close fourth ahead of 16th starting Rodney Beltz. Completing the top 10 were Riggs, Paden, Carl Murdick, Jeremy Paup, and Doran. Scoring heat race wins over the 27-car field were Guidace, Marshall, and Rick Hall. Dave Reges won the B main.

Like Kristyak, opening night winner Gary Smoker became the first repeat Sportsman Modified winner scoring the win in the 20-lap Tire Express event. “It’s been awhile,” expressed the Mercer, Pa. winner. “I have to thank Jesus. He puts me in this position. We thank Him first for all we do. It was a good time and we had a good car tonight. I was told to run the bottom and we made it work tonight.”

Rich Ferguson assumed the early lead from the pole while Jeff Walters moved past Kevin Green for second on the opening lap. Smoker, who started seventh, entered the battle taking third from Jay Priest on lap four. Ferguson held the top spot until getting sideways on lap five allowing Walters and Smoker by for first and second. Smoker used the bottom to drive by Walters for the lead off turn four on lap six.

Smoker then survived five cautions between laps 7-15 for the easy win in the David Smoker-owned, MBMR Inc./Mito Insulations-sponsored #516. Smoker’s 24th career win moves him within two of Andy Priest’s all-time mark for the division. Rick Hall, who started 11th, was second after getting past Jeff Schaffer on lap 15. Ron Eperthener, Jr. came from the tail after an early spin to claim third by passing Schaffer on lap 18. Schaffer dropped to fourth, but maintained his point lead and his perfect string of six top 5s in as many starts. Ferguson was fifth for his best finish since the 1996 season. Topping the heats were Eperthener and Smoker over the 22-car field.

Andy Thompson drove a great race recording his first win of the season in the 15-lap Stock Car feature. “It’s real good to be here again,” stated the jubilant Mercer, Pa. victor. “We had a couple problems with the car and figured them out. Thanks to the pit crew and Domhoffs for building me a darn good motor to get me up here. I have to thank Vicki (Emig) for a nice facility that allows us to put a race on every week and the fans.”

Brian Booher went from his fourth starting spot into the lead by the first lap. Seventh starting Terry Kroner raced to the front and took over second from Bill Schall, Jr. on lap three with Rick Norco trailing. Schall then took a nasty barrel-roll in the air careening off the backstretch billboard on lap four. He was okay.

When racing resumed, ninth starting Thompson came alive getting by John Reiser for third then worked his way into second past Kroner on lap eight. One lap later, Thompson drove to the inside of Booher off turn four and had the lead at the start-finish line. Thompson pulled away over the last four laps to win by a one-half straightaway for his second career win in his #5 and took back the point lead. Booher held off Kroner and Doug Iorio for his best finish of the year in second. Norco was a season-best fifth. Heat victors were Booher, Gary Norman, and Clyde Roberts over the 27-car field.

Curt Bish, Sr. of Oil City, Pa. continued his winning ways making it five of six in the 12-lap “Redneck Racers Shotgun Series” feature for the Strictly Stocks. Jesse DeLoe set the pace for the first two laps before Joe Blake took over the helm on lap three. Bish, who started 10th, passed both Ronnie Boyd and DeLoe for second on lap three. Bish chased Blake and made the winning move off turn four on lap six and went on for the victory in his Dennis Baker Construction/Gravett Painting-sponsored #00. Curt Bish, Jr. was second after starting ninth. Boyd, Carl Feely, Jr., and Wearne Cook were third through fifth. Twelve cars were on hand matching the season high.

Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars: 1. CAMERON DODSON 2. Jamie Smith 3. Gary Kriess, Jr. 4. Arnie Kent 5. Rob Eyler 6. Jason Dolick 7. Jeff Banyas 8. Charlie Holben 9. Chris Shuttleworth 10. Chad Levingston 11. Vaughn Nystrom 12. Jeremy Cook 13. Gale Ruth 14. Jerry Yoder 15. Butch Beasley 16. Kyle Moffit 17. Scott Bonnell 18. Rod George 19. Bill Underwood 20. Jeff Hirt 21. Paul Kapuchuck 22. Chris Matthews 23. Gary Edwards-DNS 24. Jeff Rudzik-DNS 25. Dan McEwen-DNS.

Campbell-Peterson Trail & Turf Big-Block Modifieds: 1. TOMMY KRISTYAK 2. Frank Guidace 3. Andy Priest 4. Tommy Marshall III 5. Rodney Beltz 6. Lonny Riggs 7. Andy Paden 8. Carl Murdick 9. Jeremy Paup 10. Tim Doran 11. Randy Chronister 12. John Buchanan 13. Brian Fink 14. Jeff Baker 15. Steve Barr 16. Rick Kress 17. Garrett Krummert 18. Carl Weatherby 19. Dave Reges 20. Lee Miller 21. Rick Hall 22. Dave Murdick 23. Travis Shingledecker 24. Jeremiah Shingledecker-DNS DNQ: Ed Alcorn, Zack Moran, Terry Young.

Tire Express Sportsman Modifieds: 1. GARY SMOKER 2. Rick Hall 3. Ron Eperthener, Jr. 4. Jeff Schaffer 5. Rich Ferguson 6. Jerry Schaffer 7. Frank Guidace 8. Kevin Thompson 9. Jim Rombold, Jr. 10. Jay Priest 11. Matt Reeher 12. Steve Toth 13. Mike Anderson 14. Kevin Green 15. Jerry O’Rock, Jr. 16. Branden Porter 17. Kristin Jordan 18. Bill Thompson 19. Alex Anderson 20. Leroy Johnson, Jr. 21. Rich Whitney 22. Jeff Walters.

Stock Cars: 1. ANDY THOMPSON 2. Brian Booher 3. Terry Kroner 4. Doug Iorio 5. Rick Norco 6. Tim Deutsch 7. Cody Smith 8. Terry Wheeler 9. Gary Johns 10. Gary Sullivan 11. Tim Zuschlag 12. Chris Brown 13. Carl Ealy 14. Erick Cwynar 15. Ryan Moyer 16. Matt Cwynar 17. Gary Norman 18. Clyde Roberts 19. John Reiser 20. Andy Buckley 21. Bill Schall, Jr. 22. Shaun Hooks 23. Tim Balach 24. John Pakulski 25. Bobby Whitling-DNS 26. Rusty Moore-DNS 27. Doug Iorio, Jr.-DNS.

Strictly Stocks: 1. CURT BISH, SR. 2. Curt Bish, Jr. 3. Ronnie Boyd 4. Carl Feely, Jr. 5. Wearne Cook 6. Don Blake, Jr. 7. Bryan Shaffer 8. Lauren Simmons 9. Jon Mabry 10. Joe Blake 11. Randy Ealy 12. Jesse DeLoe.