Hawley returns to victory lane in Sprints; Myers wins first of 2002 in Modifieds at Mercer
Sat, Jun 22, 2002 -- Saturday Night Live
Written by: Mike Leone
Mercer Raceway Park returned to action on a hot Saturday night with two drivers scoring their first wins of 2002. Taking the checkered flag first and celebrating in the Moore’s Auto Body victory lane were Jimmy Hawley-Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars, Les Myers-Big-Block Modifieds, Bill Adams-New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modifieds, and Andy Buckley-Butterfield’s Pub Stock Cars.
It was Jr. Fan Night. The Nickelodeon “Rugrats” of Chuckie, Tommy, and Angelica made a return appearance to the track to meet the kids. Bike Races were held on the speedway for the kids. It was another Grove City Auto Mall “Meet Your Heroes” Night as the Sportsman Modifieds signed autographs behind the grandstands prior to racing.
Jimmy Hawley racked up win number two of the year after an impressive run in the 20-lap Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Car feature. “Hats off to Vicki (Emig) and Frank (Benic) tonight,” said the West Middlesex, Pa. winner. “They had a real nice race track for all the hot weather we had. Definitely hats off to my guys. We’ve been struggling with this car even though we’ve been in contention to win. Right now I think we’re going in the right direction.”
Pup Nystrom took the initial lead at the start of the event. Gregg McCandless followed in second, while Kevin Andrusky passed Todd Bauer for third. Andrusky moved into second on lap two dropping McCandless to third. The only caution of the event was displayed with two laps completed when Dave Wagner slowed and Rob Eyler made hard contact as Wagner was trying to pull into the infield.
Andrusky took charge of the event when racing resumed by passing Nystrom in turn two. Hawley, who started ninth, was on the move driving by both McCandless and Nystrom for second on lap four. Point leader Troy Preston entered the mix when he assumed third from Nystrom on lap five.
Hawley ran down Andrusky and was right on him between laps four through six. However, Andrusky opened up some ground in the following laps through lapped traffic. But on lap 12, Hawley caught back up to Andrusky and made the winning move in turn four with the help of the lapped car of Chris Matthews.
Andrusky would remain within striking distance in the final laps; however, Hawley was able to drive on for his 31st career Mercer win, which came aboard the Billy Shearer-owned, Maximum Tool & Die/Chevron East/Young’s 24-Hour Towing/Applewood Refinishing-sponsored #25. “We tried something we ran last night (Lernerville Speedway) that we were pretty decent with and I think we’re on to something,” said Hawley. “We’ve got a real nice race car with J&J and Don Ott plus my owners and all my sponsors to get me back racing again. This is a learning situation on both of our parts. It’s a one shot deal for me with Mike (Shearer) being back in the race car next year. They gave me a great opportunity to race after what happened in the winter.”
Andrusky was a season best second. Tom Quarterson, who started seventh, passed Preston on the final lap for third. Preston dropped to fourth over Arnie Kent, who was the final car on the lead lap. The Byron West-owned team cars of Ralph Spithaler, Jr. and Pup Nystrom were sixth and seventh. McCandless, Randy Kriegisch, and Chris Matthews completed the top ten as all drivers in positions sixth through tenth recorded their best finishes of the year. Heat winners were Quarterson and Hawley over the 22-car field.
Kent of New Castle, Pa. was the highest finishing 360 of the year in fifth and earned the $150 bonus. Spithaler, Nystrom, and Matthews also received bonus monies for being the second through fourth highest finishing 360s. Bauer continues to lead the Gardner Competition Racing Engines point standings.
Les Myers picked up his first win of 2002 in a highly-contested 20-lap Big-Block Modified feature. “I’m glad to be back here,” said the Reno, Pa. driver. “The track was good on the inside and that’s where I had to be. “I’m trying a lot of new stuff on the race car and it worked real well tonight.”
Myers took off on the start from the pole with Chetter Johnson and Jeremiah Shingledecker in tow. Myers got sideways in turn three on lap two allowing Johnson and Shingledecker by for first and second. Following a restart with two laps completed, Myers retook Shingledecker for second. Myers battled with Johnson for the next nine laps before retaking the lead on lap 12.
Tim Doran, who started 12th, made his presence known on lap 15 when he drove by Shingledecker and Johnson for second. Two cautions, one with 15 laps completed and the other with 18 laps completed, allowed Doran to restart alongside Myers. Doran, who would earn an extra $600 for being the Eracers “Cash Chaser” if he could win, tried all he could to pass Myers on his typical high groove. Doran drove hard into turns three and four on the final lap, but looped his mount as Myers recorded his 15th career Mercer big-block win in the Gale Ruth-owned, Pennewell Sandblasting & Painting/Les Frickshun Products-sponsored #x3.
Shingledecker moved up to second for his best career big-block finish. Johnson was third for the second time in a row. Bob Dorman became the new point leader by finishing fourth ahead off Jeff Schaffer. Rounding out the top 10 were Dean Pearson, Jerry Bickel, Rick Hall, Rodney Beltz, and Nick Ritchey. Scoring heat wins over the 26-car field were Hall, Tommy Kristyak, and Dorman.
After going 20 years without a win until June 8, Bill Adams of Hermitage, Pa. made it two in a row in the 20-lap New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modified feature. Jim Schaffer was in command of the event early on from the pole position in search of his first career Mercer win, while Les Myers was looking to make it two wins on the night. Myers was all over Schaffer until lap 10 when Adams, who started 10th, got by for second. Then on lap 11, Adams would make the winning move getting past Schaffer as Myers followed. Adams was able to hold off Myers for the remaining laps for the win in the Doug Updyke-owned, D&D Redline Racing/Marsh Farms-sponsored #33. Curt Matthews tied a career best finish in third in just his third start of the year. Jerry Schaffer took over the point lead by finishing fourth ahead of Andy Paden. Heat victors over the season high 30-car field were Jim Schaffer, Adams, and Jerry Schaffer. Chad Reitz won the B main.
After suffering carburetor problems in his heat race, Andy Buckley came through the B main and charged from the 20th starting spot to win his first 15-lap Butterfield’s Pub Stock Car feature of the year. The first eight laps of the event were hard-fought, non-stop action with Chuck Kerr leading the way. Bob McCann came from fifth to take second from Scott Peterson on lap five then made the pass for the lead on lap eight before the first yellow was displayed.
The last seven laps of the event were a different story as seven cautions delayed action. After Kerr was involved in a spin, Bobby Whitling, Doug Iorio, and Buckley all passed Brian Miller for positions two through four on lap nine. Buckley moved ahead of Whitling for second one lap later. The Stoneboro, Pa. driver made the winning move on lap 12 when he edged ahead of McCann at the start-finish line. Buckley held on for his ninth career Mercer win in his Atwell & Perrine Excavating/Hapeman Electronics-sponsored #965. Whitling edged out Iorio at the line for second. McCann was a season best fourth. Jim Brunson was fifth for the second straight race. Terry Kroner, Brunson, and Miller won the heat events over the 34-car field. Rusty Moore won the B main.
Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars: 1. JIMMY HAWLEY 2. Kevin Andrusky 3. Tom Quarterson 4. Troy Preston 5. Arnie Kent 6. Ralph Spithaler, Jr. 7. Pup Nystrom 8. Gregg McCandless 9. Randy Kriegisch 10. Chris Matthews 11. Denny Mellott 12. Paul Kapuchuck 13. Brian Hartzell 14. Gale Ruth 15. Butch Beasley 16. Paul Kish 17. Jeff Kasbee 18. Todd Bauer 19. Mark Murphy 20. Mike Dehner 21. Dave Wagner 22. Rob Eyler
Big-Block Modifieds: 1. LES MYERS 2. Jeremiah Shingledecker 3. Chetter Johnson 4. Bob Dorman 5. Jeff Schaffer 6. Dean Pearson 7. Jerry Bickel 8. Rick Hall 9. Rodney Beltz 10. Nick Ritchey 11. Steve Barr 12. Jim Bickel 13. Tim Doran 14. J.R. McGinley 15. Carl Murdick 16. Adam Kozar 17. Howard Duff 18. Tommy Kristyak 19. Chanda Reitz 20. Lee Miller 21. Jeff Baker 22. Greg Unrue 23. Ed Alcorn 24. Rick Kress 25. Rich Ferguson 26. Frank Guidace-DNS.
New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modifieds: 1. BILL ADAMS 2. Les Myers 3. Curt Matthews 4. Jerry Schaffer 5. Andy Paden 6. Rick Hall 7. Chad Reitz 8. Leroy Johnson, Jr. 9. Randy Rodemoyer 10. Dave Cogswell 11. Ron Eperthener, Jr. 12. Steve Toth 13. Gary Bollinger 14. Mike Mathieson 15. Jim Rombold, Jr. 16. John Jones 17. Kevin Latshaw 18. Shane McElhaney 19. Al Priester 20. Mike Gibson 21. Gary Smoker 22. Jim Schaffer 23. Steve Young 24. Barry Bulfone DNQ-Morgan Sasse, Jim Thompson, Matt Reeher, Brian Booher, Bill Baptiste, Zack Moran.
Butterfield’s Pub Stock Cars: 1. ANDY BUCKLEY 2. Bobby Whitling 3. Doug Iorio 4. Bob McCann 5. Jim Brunson 6. Terry Kroner 7. Mike Aley 8. Brian Miller 9. Duane Grinnell 10. Chuck Kerr 11. Lester Bates 12. Gary Norman 13. Rick Anthony 14. Willie Aley 15. Scott Peterson 16. Scott Hooks 17. Rusty Moore 18. Rick Norco 19. John Iorio 20. Andy Thompson 21. Tim Deutsch 22. Bob Sloss 23. Tim Zuschlag 24. Shaun Hooks DNQ-Clyde Roberts, Rich Chess, Sr., William George, Sr., Bill Schall, Jr., Ray Bailey, Jr., Robert Caszatt, Jr., Phil Kaufman, Joe Updegraff, Mark Sanders, Kevin Thompson.