MCCOLLUM UPSETS SPRINTS FOR FIRST EVER MERCER WIN & FIRST CAREER 410 WIN; KRISTYAK TALLIES #3 IN MODIFIEDS; ANOTHER LAST LAP PAS
Sat, Jul 26, 2003 -- Saturday Night Live
Written by: Mike Leone
Mercer Raceway Park completed another action-packed night of racing on Saturday night as the month of July was concluded. Scoring exciting wins and celebrating in victory lane were Gary McCollum-Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars, Tommy Kristyak-Campbell-Peterson Trail & Turf Big-Block Modifieds, Andy Paden-New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modifieds, and Rusty Moore-Butterfield’s Pub Stock Cars. Ed Bordt of Sewickley, Pa. was victorious in the G&G Auto Outlet “Gladiator Series” Demolition Derby for the second time this year.
It was “Kidz Dayz 3” as over $5,000 of valuable children’s prizes were given away compliments of Armstrong. The Sprint Car drivers signed autographs for Grove City Auto Mall “Meet Your Heroes” Night, and the Aut Mori Grotto Clowns entertained the kids throughout the night.
Gary McCollum scored a major upset win by claiming the 20-lap Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Car feature for a very popular first career Mercer Raceway Park win. The 39-year racing veteran’s first career 410 win came over a star-studded top five. “It’s been a long eight years since my last feature win,” recalled the Ravenna, Ohio driver, who last won in a 360 Sprint Car at Hickory Speedway in 1995. “Troy (Preston) woke me up when he stuck his nose underneath me. The boys had this thing hooked. This thing was great! We may not have the most powerful motor, but Mike gets the very best out of it.”
McCollum started from the outside pole and raced past Randy Kriegisch on the start. Fourth and fifth place starters, Jeff Banyas and Troy Preston, were able to pass Chris Matthews and Kriegisch on the opening lap for second and third. On lap three, Preston went under Banyas in turn three for second and began to set his sights on McCollum. Arnie Kent, who started 11th, made his way through the field and entered the picture on lap four when he took fourth spot away from Kriegisch.
Preston caught McCollum and was all over the leader just before the caution was displayed for Jeremy Cook with six laps completed. When racing resumed, Preston was able to get under McCollum in turn three, but McCollum got a great run off the outside of turn four to power back around to lead lap seven. Kent continued to move his way to the front dropping Banyas back to fourth on lap eight with an inside move.
By the halfway mark, McCollum began to open up some ground as Kent and Preston became locked in a duel for second. Action was halted for the final time with 12 laps completed when Joe Sanger took a nasty flip in turns one and two. He was okay, but done for the night.
When racing resumed, Rod George, who started 10th, moved ahead of Banyas for fourth. As the laps ticked off, McCollum continued to maintain his lead, while George caught Kent and Preston. Those three raced hard for second right down to the checkered, while McCollum drove a steady, smooth race to capture a real “feel good” victory to become the ninth different winner of the season.
After taking a month off, McCollum has returned stronger than ever with a third place, a ninth and a tenth at last week’s winged/wingless show, and now a victory, which came in his Tognotti, Montigney’s Hardware/Expression of Yours/Coastal Coating Services/Hover Racing-sponsored #17. McCollum said with the extra money the last few weeks he was able to put on a brand new Hoosier Tire.
Kent drove around point leader Preston off turn four at the checkered to grab second and close within two points of Preston. George was a close fourth. Jamie Smith came all the way from 22nd to place fifth. Rounding out the top 10 were Banyas, Ralph Spithaler, Jr., Chris Shuttleworth, Jason Dolick, and Jamie Martin in his first 410 start of the year. Heat winners over the 23-car field were Banyas, Preston, and Mark Murphy.
Jeff Banyas of North Olmsted, Ohio was the highest finishing 360 for the fourth time this year and earned the $150 bonus. New York’s Shuttleworth and central Ohio drivers Dolick and Martin also received bonus monies.
Tommy Kristyak continues to chip away at 100, as the veteran driver scored Mercer win #98 in the 20-lap Campbell-Peterson Trail & Turf Big-Block Modified feature. “I didn’t think I was ever going to get here again,” remarked the Stoneboro, Pa. driver. “I think you jinxed me trying to get to 100. We’re going to eat some more hot dogs so we make sure we make weight. I have to thank Jeff and Carlin Hine for a great Teo Chassis and good motor, Fred Elder Excavating, MeMe’s Italian Restaurant, Hot Diggity Dogs, and Chris and Larry McCool for doing a great job lettering my car.”
Bob Dorman raced into the early lead past pole-sitter Chris Dye on the initial lap. On lap two, Dye got sideways, which allowed Tim Doran, Rodney Beltz, and 10th starting Kristyak move into second through fourth. Those three raced hard over the next five laps swapping the spots, while Dorman opened up a near straightaway lead before the caution was displayed for Ed Alcorn with 11 laps completed.
When action resumed, Frank Guidace shot around Kristyak, Beltz, and Doran for second. The next lap, positions continued to swap as Kristyak passed all three to take over second and Doran moved back ahead of Guidace for third. Dave Murdick, who started seventh, was on the move and made his presence known by getting around Beltz for fourth. Murdick then got by Doran on the inside for third on lap 15.
Carl Weatherby and Beltz brought out the caution with 16 laps completed. When racing resumed, it was nearly three-wide for the lead between Dorman, Kristyak, and Murdick. The three made contact with Dorman spinning and he collected five other cars causing the caution.
The last four laps went green-to-checkered with Kristyak winning his third of the year and 45th of his career in the big blocks at Mercer in his #26z. Murdick and Doran battled hard for second. Doran was able to get by on lap 18 on the outside, but Murdick powered back on the inside one lap later to regain runner-up. Murdick’s best finish of the year came after his first win at Lernerville Speedway Friday night. Doran held on to third over a late charge by 20th starter Dean Pearson. Steve Young was fifth and took over the point lead. Jeremiah Shingledecker, newcomers Weatherby and Tom Mattocks, Carl Murdick, and Lonny Riggs completed the top 10. Scoring heat wins over the 25-car field were Dorman, Guidace, and Young.
After getting passed on the last lap last week by Gary Smoker, Andy Paden redeemed himself by passing Ron Eperthener, Jr. on the last lap to score another exciting down-to-the-wire Sportsman Modified win in the 20-lap New Castle School of Trades feature.
“That was a great race last week with Gary Smoker and this week with Ron Eperthener,” stated the Greenville, Pa. victor. “I watched him (Eperthener) here when I was little and I always wanted to race with him. I was able to run the outside. I got momentum built up. It was fun racing Eperthener, Schaffer, and those guys. This win is for the fans”
Todd Daniels set the pace for the first five circuits until fifth starter, Curt Matthews, took over. Eperthener, who started ninth, quickly moved through the field and grabbed second from Daniels on lap seven. Paden, who started alongside Eperthener in 10th, followed taking Daniels one lap later for third. Matthews lost the lead when he spun on lap 12 handing the lead to Eperthener with Paden second and Jerry Schaffer third.
On the restart, Paden took control of the event with a pass in turn two. Following a restart for Rich Ferguson with 16 laps completed, Eperthener returned the favor reclaiming the top spot in turn one on the outside. Three cautions with 18 laps completed brought action to a halt.
The final restart saw Eperthener take charge and lead the 19th lap. On the final lap, coming off turn two Eperthener, Paden, and Schaffer were three-wide for the lead. Paden had enough run to power by for the lead and held on to capture his third win in the past six events (two of them came on the final lap) in the Kidd’s Jewelry-sponsored, Bill Paden-owned #24.
Eperthener was second for the third time this year. Jerry Schaffer added to his point lead with a third place. Bill Adams and Jeff Schaffer were fourth and fifth. Heat winners over the 26-car field were Paden, Eperthener, and Schaffer.
Rusty Moore won his second of the season in the 15-lap Butterfield’s Pub Stock Car feature and continued to keep pace in the heated point race battle. “Everybody is real close up here,” expressed the New Castle, Pa. winner. “I’ve been racing 15 or 16 years and this is the closest point race I’ve ever been in. I’d like to thank K&K. They put a good motor together and it’s a fresh one tonight.”
The first lap saw Clyde Roberts, Ron Iorio, Terry Wheeler, and John Reiser race four-wide for the lead with Roberts edging ahead to lead the lap. On lap two, Iorio got past Roberts for the lead. Roberts would spin with three laps completed and this moved Wheeler up to second. Wheeler and Iorio battled with Wheeler edging ahead to lead lap four. On the fifth lap, the two tangled putting ninth starter Rusty Moore into the lead.
Bobby Whitling, who started 10th, took over third from Reiser on lap nine then inherited second when Andy Thompson was sent off for having his trunk dragging on lap 13. Moore was able to hold off point leader Whitling to score his seventh career win in his Rich & Freed Auto Parts-sponsored #17. After pitting early on, Hooks returned to capture third over 19th starter, Andy Buckley. Reiser dropped to fifth at the finish. Winning the heat races were Iorio, Brian Booher, and Thompson over the 27-car field. Buckley won the B main.
Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars: 1. GARY MCCOLLUM 2. Arnie Kent 3. Troy Preston 4. Rod George 5. Jamie Smith 6. Jeff Banyas 7. Ralph Spithaler, Jr. 8. Chris Shuttleworth 9. Jason Dolick 10. Jamie Martin 11. Chris Matthews 12. Vaughn Nystrom 13. Charlie Holben 14. Jeremy Cook 15. Butch Beasley 16. Randy Kriegisch 17. Bill Jones 18. Joe Sanger 19. Dwight Kingry 20. Chad Levingston 21. Gary Rankin 22. Pup Nystrom 23. Mark Murphy.
Campbell-Peterson Trail & Turf Big-Block Modifieds: 1. TOMMY KRISTYAK 2. Dave Murdick 3. Tim Doran 4. Dean Pearson 5. Steve Young 6. Jeremiah Shingledecker 7. Carl Weatherby 8. Tom Mattocks 9. Carl Murdick 10. Lonny Riggs 11. Frank Guidace 12. Rick Hall 13. Chris Dye 14. Ed Alcorn 15. Tom Shaffer 16. Bob Dorman 17. Rodney Beltz 18. Randy Snider 19. Adam Kozar 20. Brian Fink 21. Lee Miller 22. Greg Unrue, Jr. 23. Andy Priest 24. Travis Shingledecker 25. Rick Kress-DNS.
New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modifieds: 1. ANDY PADEN 2. Ron Eperthener, Jr. 3. Jerry Schaffer 4. Bill Adams 5. Jeff Schaffer 6. Jim Rombold, Jr. 7. Curt Matthews 8. Gary Smoker 9. Rick Ryder 10. Dave Cogswell 11. Zack Moran 12. Jay Priest 13. Fred Sasse 14. Jerry O’Rock, Jr. 15. Kristin Jordan 16. Todd Daniels 17. Rich Ferguson 18. Chad Reitz 19. Morgan Sasse 20. Joe Gibson 21. Steve Toth 22. Kevin Green 23. Mike Gibson 24. Rob Russell 25. Rick Hall-DNS 26. Matt Reeher-DNS.
Butterfield’s Pub Stock Cars: 1. RUSTY MOORE 2. Bobby Whitling 3. Shaun Hooks 4. Andy Buckley 5. John Reiser 6. Terry Wheeler 7. Doug Iorio 8. Phil Kaufman 9. Andy Thompson 10. Bill Banick, Jr. 11. Brian Booher 12. Don Greenlee 13. Carmen DePinto 14. Terry Kroner 15. Rick Norco 16. Erick Cwynar 17. William Smiley 18. Shaun McElhinny 19. Clyde Roberts 20. Gary Norman 21. Bill Lanigan 22. Jarrot Moore 23. Tim Zuschlag 24. Ron Iorio DNQ: Bill Schall, Jr., Carl Ealy, Tim Balach.