VETERANS SMITH & DORAN TURN LUCK AROUND WITH MERCER SPRINT & MODIFIED WINS; REITZ AGAIN IN SPORTSMAN; THOMPSON SCORES FIRST CAREER STOCK WIN
By Mike Leone
June 7, 2003 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mercer, PA…Mercer Raceway Park was back in action on Saturday night as four new drivers picked up their first wins of the year. Celebrating in victory lane were Jamie Smith-Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars, Tim Doran-Campbell-Peterson Trail & Turf Big-Block Modifieds, Chad Reitz-New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modifieds, Andy Thompson-Butterfield’s Pub Stocks Cars, and Bill Clepper-Yellow Fever Bus Rush School Buses. A season-high 129 cars filled the pit area.
The inaugural “Great School Escape” was held presented by Pepsi. Children in grades kindergarten through six at Mercer, Greenville, Laurel, and Wilmington school districts received free admission and their parents were admitted for half-price. Laurel drove in the most kids and will receive a $500 donation to their library. One lucky child won the computer giveaway. Hundreds of tickets were given away to Erie SeaWolves Baseball, Waldameer Park, and Eracers Go-Kart Park.
Jamie Smith ended a dry spell and turned his luck around by winning his first feature since July 20 of last season to become the sixth different winner in seven races in the 20-lap Luxaire Heating Cooling Sprint Car feature. “I’ve been close quite a few times this year,” said the Sewickley, Pa. winner. “We’ve been struggling to get to victory lane. I’m hoping this maybe breaks the ice for us.”
Gary Kriess, Jr. jumped out to a big advantage from the pole position. Ralph Spithaler, Jr. quickly made his way to the front passing Pup and Vaughn Nystrom for third on lap four, then raced around Dwight Kingry on the outside for second on the fifth lap.
Kriess caught the back markers on lap six, while seventh starting Smith moved into third past Kingry. Kingry’s career best run ended when he flipped off turn two with seven laps completed. Jeff Banyas’ night came to an end on lap 11 when he got upside down bringing out the final stoppage of the event.
When racing resumed, it was a three-car race for the lead with Kriess holding off Spithaler and Smith. Smith was all over Spithaler for the ensuing five laps before making the pass for runner-up on lap 16. This occurred just before Spithaler tagged the wall, which allowed Rob Eyler to take over third.
Smith caught Kriess and made the winning move in turns one and two on lap 17. Smith went on for his 23rd career win in his G.B.G., Inc./Alternative Power Sources/Agip Oil/Brunner Excavating/Auto Parts Exchange/IAC-sponsored #5G. “It’s definitely sticky out there,” stated Smith. “The bottom slicked off a little; the top was really thick and heavy. I could run both places, which is tough to find a setup to do that. I could really barrel into the corners, which was what really paid off in traffic.”
Eyler got around Kriess in turn two on lap 18 to finish second. Kriess dropped to third over Spithaler and Troy Preston. Rounding out the top 10 were Brian Ellenberger, Todd Bauer, Pup Nystrom, Vaughn Nystrom, and Deana Barbara. Heat winners over the 24-car field were Ellenberger, Preston, and Kriess.
Pup Nystrom of Kane, Pa. earned the $150 bonus for being the highest finishing 360 over his brother Vaughn. Also receiving 360 bonus money were New York’s Chris Shuttleworth and Chris Matthews.
Like Jamie Smith, Tim Doran turned his year around by capitalizing on Dean Pearson’s mechanical woes for his first victory of the season and first since August 10 of last year in the 20-lap Campbell-Peterson Trail & Turf Big-Block Modified feature. “We got lucky tonight because it was Dean Pearson’s race,” revealed the New Castle, Pa. winner. “I felt bad for Dean- he’s my buddy and I hate to see that happen. It’s great to be back in the winner’s circle. I can’t thank everyone enough. We were struggling after the heat races and made a lot of changes and it helped.”
Pearson raced ahead of Jeremiah Shingledecker on the start for the early lead, while Tommy Kristyak moved ahead of Carl Murdick for third. On lap five, Kristyak and Doran both went ahead of Shingledecker for second and third.
Kristyak was all over Pearson as the two ran side-by-side for the most of the duration of the race with Pearson running high and Kristyak low. The two put on an exciting duel racing through lapped traffic keeping the fans on their edge of their seats. By lap 16, Pearson, Kristyak, Doran, and Frank Guidace cleared lapped traffic and battled for the win. Two cautions with 17 laps completed slowed action.
When racing resumed, Doran got under Kristyak in turns one and two for second. Pearson now appeared primed for his first win in over two years, but on the 19th lap his car slowed with mechanical problems and was forced to the infield. This handed the lead to Doran, who would take the checkered flag first for his 23rd career win in his Richard Smith Construction-sponsored #12.
Kristyak was second. Shingledecker got by Guidace on lap 19 for third for his best finish of the year. Dave Murdick passed Guidace on the final lap for fourth. Completing the top 10 were Andy Priest, point leader Lonny Riggs, Rodney Beltz, Carl Murdick, and Rick Hall. Heat victors over the season-high 32-car field were Hall, Priest, and Jimmy Weller III. Riggs won the B main.
Chad Reitz stole a career first win away from Andy Paden and became the track’s first three-time winner in 2003 by collecting the 20-lap New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modified feature win. “That wasn’t a gimme,” explained the Franklin, Pa. winner. “I had to work for that one. If there wasn’t a restart, Andy (Paden) would have beaten me- he was faster.”
From the pole position, Paden quickly shot out into the early lead with Jim Rombold, Jr. in tow. Bill Adams passed Rich Ferguson for third on lap six. By the halfway mark, Paden had opened up a straightaway lead on Rombold. Adams and 13th starting Reitz both got past Rombold for second and third on lap 14. The following lap saw Reitz dispose of Adams for second. Two cautions, one with 16 laps completed and the second with 18 laps completed, would keep Paden from victory. On the second restart, Reitz was able to assume command and went on for his sixth career win in his World of Wheels/Schwab Ford/Moore’s Auto Body-sponsored #9.
“It was a really nice race track for what we started with and all the rain,” stated Reitz. “You could race anywhere just not jump the cushion and hit the wall. There was quite a bit of bite on the cushion and I tried to put the right rear on it and I got a hold of it.”
Paden got high on lap 19, which allowed Gary Smoker to move past for second. Paden dropped to third. Adams was fourth for the third time in the past four events. Point leader Jerry Schaffer was fifth. Scoring heat wins over the 26-car field were Paden, Smoker, and Ron Eperthener, Jr.
After many years of trying, hometown driver, Andy Thompson, finally scored his first career win and became the seventh different winner in as many races this season in the 15-lap Butterfield’s Pub Stock Car feature. “It’s been a long time,” said the happy Mercer, Pa. winner. “I’ve been looking for this. We really love coming here. I like this track and I’d like to thank Vicki (Emig) for keeping it open and running tonight.”
Front-row drivers Tim Zuschlag and Rick Norco got together on the opening lap allowing third starting Thompson to sneak by for the lead with Brian Booher trailing. Rusty Moore passed John Reiser on lap two for third. Thompson had to keep Booher at bay for the duration of the event, while Moore was holding off Reiser for the third spot. No changes were made up front as Thompson took the win in his Oakes & McClelland-sponsored #5. Booher was a close second over Moore, Reiser, and point leader Doug Iorio. Taking heat race wins over the season-high 35-car field were Gary Norman, Bobby Whitling, and Iorio. Rick Lanigan won the B main.
Bill Clepper will go down in the record books as the first driver to ever win a School Bus race at Mercer Raceway Park. The Freeport, Pa. driver was victorious in the inaugural “Yellow Fever Bus Rush” 10-lap feature event. Bill Clepper passed Bob Clepper to take over the top spot on lap four. Bob Egley moved through the field from his fifth starting spot past Mike McNeish on lap four for third and ahead of Bob Clepper for second on lap nine. However, time would run out for Egley as Clepper took the $500 win in his Valley Lines/Ohio Diesel/Zacherls/Baker Gas Co./Tim Smith Signs-sponsored #99. Bob Clepper was third over Harold Girardat and McNeish. Heat winners over the 12-bus field were Bob and Bill Clepper.
Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars: 1. JAMIE SMITH 2. Rob Eyler 3. Gary Kriess, Jr. 4. Ralph Spithaler, Jr. 5. Troy Preston 6. Brian Ellenberger 7. Todd Bauer 8. Pup Nystrom 9. Vaughn Nystrom 10. Deana Barbara 11. Chris Shuttleworth 12. Chris Matthews 13. Butch Beasley 14. Charlie Holben 15. Kevin Andrusky 16. Scott Groves 17. Paul Kish 18. Gary McCollum 19. Jeff Banyas 20. Leonard Ripper, Jr. 21. Dwight Kingry 22. Arnie Kent 23. Scott Bonnell 24. Randy Kriegisch.
Campbell-Peterson Trail & Turf Big-Block Modifieds: 1. TIM DORAN 2. Tommy Kristyak 3. Jeremiah Shingledecker 4. Dave Murdick 5. Frank Guidace 6. Andy Priest 7. Lonny Riggs 8. Rodney Beltz 9. Carl Murdick 10. Rick Hall 11. Steve Young 12. Rob Kristyak 13. Dean Pearson 14. Jeremy Paup 15. Steve Barr 16. Joe Crawford 17. Brian Swartzlander 18. Guy Griffin 19. Kyle Ripper 20. Conny Allen 21. John Boyer, Jr. 22. Greg Unrue 23. Jimmy Weller III 24. Josh Skarzenski DNQ-Jeff Baker, Rick Kress, Bill Thompson, Lee Miller, Bob Dorman, Chris Dye, Alan Dellinger, Dana Gearhart.
New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modifieds: 1. CHAD REITZ 2. Gary Smoker 3. Andy Paden 4. Bill Adams 5. Jerry Schaffer 6. Les Myers 7. Jim Rombold, Jr. 8. Jeff Schaffer 9. Ron Eperthener, Jr. 10. Rick Hall 11. Curt Matthews 12. Rich Ferguson 13. Kevin Green 14. Rick Ryder 15. Dave Cogswell 16. Morgan Sasse 17. Mike Gibson 18. Jim Thompson 19. Matt Reeher 20. Todd Daniels 21. Jerry O’Rock, Jr. 22. Kevin Thompson 23. Randy Rodemoyer 24. Zack Moran 25. Rich Whitney-DNS 26. Matt Gibson-DNS.
Butterfield’s Pub Stock Cars: 1. ANDY THOMPSON 2. Brian Booher 3. Rusty Moore 4. John Reiser 5. Doug Iorio 6. Dave Ferringer 7. Gary Laurie 8. Mike Aley 9. Andy Buckley 10. Gary Robinson 11. Rod Laskey 12. Terry Wheeler 13. Shaun Hooks 14. Bobby Whitling 15. Lonnie O’Brien 16. Tim Deutsch 17. Terry Kroner 18. Gary Sullivan 19. Gary Norman 20. Tim Zuschlag 21. Rick Lanigan 22. Scott Myers 23. Clyde Roberts 24. Rick Norco DNQ-Mike Mathieson, Bill Exley, Jr., Bret McCarthy, William Smiley, Willie Aley, Mark Sanders, Gary Miller, Jr., Ed Cornell, Duane Grinnell, Scott Malone, Bill Schall, Jr.
School Buses: 1. BILL CLEPPER 2. Bob Egley 3. Bob Clepper 4. Harold Girardat 5. Mike McNeish 6. Ben Clepper 7. John Choffel 8. Kevin Orndorff 9. Dick Beers 10. Doug Fairfield 11. Bill Gordon 12. Gary Egli-DNS.
Upcoming Events:
6/14 “The Main Event” presented by Yoder’s Amish Shoppe featuring “The Big Three” Late Models, Sprints, & Big-Block Mods plus Sportsman Mods. 100 Pro Football Hall of Fame ticket giveaways plus a Pro Football Hall of Fame Festival Package including 2 tickets to the Enshrinement Ceremony & 2 tickets to the AFC-NFC Hall of Fame Game.
6/21 Sprints, Big-Block Mods, Sportsman Mods, & Stocks. “Calypso”- A Caribbean-themed event with Jimmy Buffett music, concert tickets, pool party and jacuzzi suite giveaways, limbo, and other parrot head gimmicks.
Mercer Raceway Park is located minutes from both Interstate 79 and 80 just off Route 19 on Fairground Road in Mercer, Pa. Dirt track racing and quality family entertainment are presented weekly April through October. The office in New Bedford, Pa. is open year-round after 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information call the office at 724-964-9300 or the track on race day at 724-662-1310. Check out our website at www.mercerracewaypark.com for the latest.