WOODRING TOPS 41 CARS TO CAPTURE $2,500 IN URC 360 SPRINTS AT MERCER; PRIEST AND WHITLING WIN #2 IN MODIFIEDS & STOCKS

By Admin on Monday, July 07, 2003 - 10:50 am: Edit Post

By Mike Leone

July 5, 2003 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mercer, PA…Mercer Raceway Park completed action on Saturday night as the second annual “Wheelman” URC 360 Summer Nationals was held. Scoring wins were Mike Woodring-Advance Auto Parts URC 360 Sprint Cars, Andy Priest-Campbell-Peterson Trail & Turf Big-Block Modifieds, and Bobby Whitling-Butterfield’s Pub Stock Cars. Female driver Robin Merrell captured her first G&G Auto Outlet “Gladiator Series” Demolition Derby.

Presenting event sponsor, Armstrong Zoom Cable Internet Service showed the event live to over 200,000 cable subscribers in western Pennsylvania and gave out numerous prizes to the fans throughout the night.

Mike Woodring made a surprise appearance and used the outside lane to perfection snatching the $2,500 top prize away from United Racing Club’s best in the 25-lap 360 Sprint Car main event. “The bottom of the track dried out a little and I just worked the top and eventually it came my way,” described the elated Eden, New York driver in victory lane. “I have to commend Vicki (Emig)- they did a hell of job on the track tonight. You could race from the bottom to the top.”

A field of 26 cars took the green flag with URC point leader, Curt Michael, jumping out into the lead with Kramer Williamson trailing. Dave Ely and last year’s last lap winner, Chris Coyle, moved ahead of Woodring for third and fourth on lap one. Woodring then raced back ahead of Coyle for fourth on lap four. Erin Crocker cracked the top five when she passed Coyle for fifth on lap eight.

Cautions with 12 and 17 laps completed slowed action without any change up front. The combination of the caution period and the final eight non-stop laps played right into Woodring’s hand. Woodring went to the outside of Ely on lap 19 to take over the third position. Woodring ran down Williamson and snuck by the cagey veteran off turn four on lap 20.

You could now sense Woodring had found the winning groove. With Michael planted on the bottom, Woodring got a great run off the top of turn two on lap 21 and blew past the race-long leader on the backstretch for the lead. Woodring went on for his second career Mercer win and second career URC victory in his Upstate Kenworth-sponsored #19.

The battle raged on for second with Michael, Williamson, and Ely going at. The three swapped positions with Williamson finally getting by Michael on the outside on lap 24. Williamson came home second and earned $1,500. Michael dropped to third for $1,050. Ely exited the race on the final lap, which moved Crocker to fourth at the finish in the second Woodring racing entry. Bill Brian, Jr. was fifth. Rounding out the top 10 were Doug Emery, Coyle, Kevin Welsh, Dave McGough, and Ed Aikin. Heat winners were Brian Seidel, Randy West, Doug Stanley, Midge Miller, and Mike Haggenbottom. Scott Pursell won the C main and George Prosser was victorious in the B main. The 41-car field included twenty-two URC cars, eight Mercer cars, six Wayne County (Ohio) Speedway cars, four ESS cars, and one other Ohio car.

Female racer, Erin Crocker, who recently graduated from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, established a new 360 Sprint Car standard in qualifications. The Wilbraham, Massachusetts driver ran a blistering lap of 14.376 breaking Ralph Spithaler, Jr.’s mark from one year ago of 14.631. Fast time was worth $225. Mike Woodring and Erin Crocker stopped back at Mercer after competing in a two-day show at Hartford, Michigan Thursday and Friday, where she finished third on Friday night.

After using a 358 small-block to power to victory on April 26, Andy Priest used his big-block on Saturday night and came out on top of the 25-lap $1,500 to-win Campbell-Peterson Trail & Turf Big-Block Modified feature. “Finally we got one with the big-block,” expressed the relieved New Castle, Pa. winner. “I was starting to wonder if I knew how to drive it. We ran well with the small-block and we struggled with this car, but the last couple weeks we’ve been working and on it and not giving up. We’ve got it going pretty good now. I think we got it set up for Mercer bound.”

Tommy Kristyak raced ahead of Rodney Beltz on the start of the main event. Priest moved ahead of Dean Pearson and Steve Young on the opening lap for third. Priest then used turn three to pass Beltz for second on lap two. Jeremiah Shingledecker slowed to bring out the caution with six laps completed after running in the fourth position.

When racing resumed, Priest drove by Kristyak on the backstretch to take the lead. Three separate cautions slowed action with seven laps completed. When green replaced yellow, Kristyak didn’t give up as he edged ahead of Priest to lead lap eight. The two raced side-by-side for the next three laps before the caution was displayed with 11 laps completed.

The lead would change just like the two previous restarts. This time Priest regained the top spot as he moved back ahead of Kristyak in turn four on lap 12. Frank Guidace, who started 11th, entered the mix on lap 12 when he raced by Young for third. Guidace ran down Kristyak and drove around the veteran off turn four to edge ahead on lap 15. Guidace though would get high the next time by handing second back to Kristyak. Lap 17 saw Guidace snatch second back.

While Guidace and Kristyak battled for second, Priest opened up a half-straightaway lead. Priest raced by three lapped cars in the final laps and took the checkered flag first for his eighth career big-block win in his Speed Palace, Mac Tools/Priest Speed Equipment-sponsored #21N. “It was a good race with Tommy (Kristyak),” described Priest. “I’d get him off turn two and he’d get me off turn four. We’re here to put on a good show for the fans and keep them coming back.”

Guidace was second for the third time this year and maintained his slim point lead. Kristyak was third over Young. Beltz came back after pitting with a flat tire and restarting last to finish fifth. Sixth through tenth were Dave Murdick, Bob Dorman, Rick Hall, Pearson, and Tim Doran. Scoring heat race wins were Brian Swartzlander, Guy Griffin, and Kristyak. Carl Murdick won the B main.

Bobby Whitling returned to victory lane for the second time this year and recorded his biggest career Mercer win in the 20-lap $600 to-win Butterfield’s Pub Stock Car feature. “I tried to hold a good low line and it worked out for me,” explained the Franklin, Pa. winner. “The car worked good high and had a lot of bite on the bottom too. It pretty much worked anywhere.”

Andy Buckley jumped out past Dave Ferringer to an early lead. Brian Booher and ninth starter, Gary Norman, moved into second and third on lap two. Booher used the inside to take the top spot away from Buckley on lap three at the line. Norman then moved ahead of Buckley for second on lap four. The two traded second back and forth over the next three laps with Norman getting the spot for good on lap seven.

Whitling, who started 11th, joined the fray, when he raced past Buckley for third on lap eight. By lap 10, it was a five-car battle for the lead with Doug Iorio joining the mix. It was three-wide for the lead on lap 11 as Norman went to the outside to take the lead. Buckley spun in third and brought out the caution with 11 laps completed. On lap 15, Whitling made his move taking both Booher and Norman to take command of the event.

Whitling raced on for his sixth career win in his Ted Karns Specialty Construction/Jim’s Doors & Windows/Ledderhead Graphics-sponsored #7W. Norman was second. Point leader, Iorio, passed Booher on lap 17 to place third. Booher dropped to fourth ahead of Andy Thompson, who came all the way from the 20th starting spot. Willie Aley, Rusty Moore, and Whitling won the heat races over the 30-car field. Terry Wheeler won the B main.

Advance Auto Parts URC 360 Sprint Cars (25 laps): 1. MIKE WOODRING (#2,500) 2. Kramer Williamson 3. Curt Michael 4. Erin Crocker 5. Bill Brian, Jr. 6. Doug Emery 7. Chris Coyle 8. Kevin Welsh 9. Dave McGough 10. Ed Aikin 11. Arnie Kent 12. Jason Dolick 13. Randy West 14. Mike Haggenbottom 15. Tim Hogue 16. Dave Ely 17. Scott Bonnell 18. Justin Collett 19. Scott Pursell 20. Brian Seidel 21. Midge Miller 22. Mike Lutz 23. Doug Stanley 24. George Prosser 25. Jason Clauss 26. Pup Nystrom DNQ-Jeff VanDusen, Trevor Lewis, Josh Weller, Chris Shuttleworth, Nick Mulheim, Danny Massey, Jamie Martin, Heath Henley, Jeff Banyas, Ashley Parlett, Bryan Grove, Vaughn Nystrom, Paul Kish, Chris Matthews, Dustin Dinan.

Campbell-Peterson Trail & Turf Big-Block Modifieds (25 laps): 1. ANDY PRIEST ($1,500) 2. Frank Guidace 3. Tommy Kristyak 4. Steve Young 5. Rodney Beltz 6. Dave Murdick 7. Bob Dorman 8. Rick Hall 9. Dean Pearson 10. Tim Doran 11. Brian Swartzlander 12. Greg Unrue 13. Conny Allen 14. Jeremy Paup 15. Doug Fleeger 16. Adam Kozar 17. Rick Kress 18. Guy Griffin 19. Chris Dye 20. Lou Gentile 21. Carl Murdick 22. Randy Snider 23. Travis Shingledecker 24. Jeremiah Shingledecker DNQ-Shawn Kozar, Lee Miller, Brian Fink, Rick Hoctor.

Butterfield’s Pub Stock Cars (20 laps): 1. BOBBY WHITLING ($600) 2. Gary Norman 3. Doug Iorio 4. Brian Booher 5. Andy Thompson 6. Ron Iorio 7. Dave Ferringer 8. Bill Lanigan 9. Clyde Roberts 10. Andy Buckley 11. Stacy Neubecker 12. Terry Kroner 13. Bill Schall, Jr. 14. Willie Aley 15. Rusty Moore 16. Rick Lanigan 17. Don Greenlee 18. Rick Norco 19. Mike Aley 20. Shaun Hooks 21. Terry Wheeler 22. Gary Sullivan 23. Lonnie O’Brien 24. Anthony Lombardo 25. Duane Grinnell-DNS 26. Mark Felicetty-DNS DNQ-William Smiley, Lester Bates, Pat Wilcox, Ray Bailey, Jr.

Upcoming Events:

7/12 Sprints, Big-Block Mods, Sportsman Mods, & Stocks. “SpongeBob SquarePants” Photo Splash presented by Ray’s Racing Collectibles & Armstrong Zoom Cable Internet Service. Kids bike races. Grove City Auto Mall “Meet Your Heroes”/Stocks.

7/19 “Wingless – The Return/Part III Plus” presented by Chevron East. Winged and Wingless Sprint Cars and ARDC Midget Cars plus Sportsman Mods ($600) and Stocks ($600). 100 Pro Football Hall of Fame admission ticket giveaways.

7/26 Sprints, Big-Block Mods, Sportsman Mods, & Stocks. “Kidz Dayz 3” presented by Armstrong. Over $5,000 in children’s giveaways. Aut Mori Grotto Clowns. Grove City Auto Mall “Meet Your Heroes”/Sprints.