Kent’s first Sprint worth an extra $900; Kristyak earns milestone 40th career Mercer Big-Block win

Sat, Jul 13, 2002 -- Saturday Night Live

Written by: Mike Leone

Mercer Raceway Park completed action on Saturday night as the entire four-division program was run off in three hours with two new winners. Scoring wins and celebrating in the Moore’s Auto Body victory lane were Arnie Kent-Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars, Tommy Kristyak-Big-Block Modifieds, Chad Reitz-New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modifieds, and Andy Buckley-Butterfield’s Pub Stock Cars.

“The Iron Horseman” provided live entertainment prior to racing as part of 95.1 The Cat’s Jamboree in Valley. It was Fox 17/62 Kids Club Night as all members could purchase a family pass for just $15 and a huge toy basket was given away. The Big-Block Modifieds signed autographs behind the grandstands prior to racing as part of Grove City Auto Mall’s “Meet Your Heroes” Night.

Arnie Kent picked the right night to win his first 20-lap Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Car feature of the year. The New Castle, Pa. driver was selected earlier in the night as the Eracers “Cash Chaser”. By winning, Kent earned an extra $900 bringing his night’s winnings to $2,200.

“I’ve got to really thank Eracers,” said the jubilant Kent. “That’s really nice what they do. They have a nice facility down there (Butler, Pa.). You guys have to go down there and ride those go-karts and spend your money. They help us; we’ve got to participate and help them out.”

Paul Kapuchuck took off at the start and led the first two laps before runner-up Gregg McCandless slowed to bring out the first and only caution of the event. This moved Brian Woodhall into second with Ralph Spithaler, Jr. and Mark Murphy trailing.

When racing resumed, Woodhall drove by Kapuchuck in turn one for the lead. On lap four, Spithaler, Troy Preston, and Mark Murphy all moved ahead of Kapuchuck for positions two through four. Kent, who started seventh, cracked the top five when he passed Kapuchuck then drove by Murphy for fourth on lap six. Woodhall continued to set the pace up front, but Spithaler and Preston began to close the gap on lap seven.

By lap eight, an excellent four-car race developed for the lead that kept the fans on the edge of their seats. Preston made a nice move on Spithaler for second in turn two on lap nine. Woodhall got bogged down in traffic on lap 10, which allowed Preston and Spithaler to blast by on the outside of turns three and four.

While point leader Preston was looking for his second win, Kent began to make his move. He dropped Woodhall back to fourth on lap 13 then one lap later passed Spithaler for second. Kent was all over Preston and made the winning move on lap 17 with an inside pass. Kent drove his Equipment Rental Options/Dr. Martello Dentistry-sponsored #18 to his fifth career Mercer win. Kent became the ninth different driver to win a Sprint Car race in ten races!

“This motor runs really good,” stated Kent. “We picked it up and my dad helped me out with that. It takes a lot of people to do this. I’ve got to start running some (wins) off; it’s getting late in the season.”

Preston came from tenth to place second as he has finished in the top five all season long. Spithaler was a season best third over Woodhall and Scott Bonnell. Sixth through tenth were Murphy, Kevin Andrusky, Rob Eyler, Todd Bauer, and Chris Matthews. Heat winners over the 22-car field were Eyler and Kent.

Spithaler of Evans City earned the $150 bonus in the Byron West-owned #55S for being the highest finishing 360 Sprint Car for the first time this year. Also receiving bonus monies were Bonnell, Bauer, and Matthews. Bauer continues to lead the Gardner Competition Engines points.

After losing the lead last week on the final lap, Tommy Kristyak returned to victory lane in the 20-lap Big-Block Modified feature for his milestone 40th career Mercer big-block win. “I found out that attitude has a lot to do with what people think and say about you,” stated the Stoneboro, Pa. resident. “I’m doing my darndest to do the right things.”

Frank Guidace jumped out into the lead from the pole position at the start of the event with Dean Pearson and Kristyak, who started sixth, trailing. Kristyak wasted little time getting to the front as he drove under Pearson for second in turn one on lap two. Tim Doran began to march to the front from his ninth starting spot when he drove around Rodney Beltz and Carl Murdick for fourth on lap five.

With the laps ticking off, Guidace had opened up a straightaway lead on Kristyak at the halfway mark. But the second and final caution erased Guidace’s lead with 14 laps completed. Guidace continued to lead following the restart, but Kristyak was all over the leader on lap 15. Kristyak made the winning move on lap 17 going under Guidace in turn two. Once in front, Kristyak pulled away for his second win of the year in his #26z.

Guidace held on to tie a career best big-block finish in second. Rick Hall made a late charge to finish third after getting by Doran on lap 15 then Pearson on lap 17. Point leader Doran was fourth as Pearson dropped to fifth. Completing the top 10 were Chetter Johnson, Jeremiah Shingledecker, Murdick, Rodney Beltz, and Jeff Schaffer. Heat winners over the 26-car field were Les Myers, Hall, and Kristyak.

Former Micro Sprint standout, Chad Reitz, drove a flawless race to win his first career feature in a full-size car winning the 20-lap New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modified event. “This is really awesome,” said the excited Franklin, Pa. driver. “I’ve tried a couple different things every week- finally found it this week. My dad built me a hell of a motor, and this is for all the Ford fans out there.”

John Confer raced into the lead on the opening lap as Reitz passed Gary Smoker and rookie Steve Toth for second. Reitz drove by Confer for the lead on the backstretch of lap two. Smoker passed Toth for third on lap three then got Confer for second following a restart on lap eight.

Steve Young quietly worked his way to the front from his ninth starting spot. Young passed Confer for third on lap eight then moved ahead of Smoker at the start-finish line of lap 12. A caution with 12 laps completed for Dave Cogswell put Young alongside Reitz for the restart. The last eight laps went green-to-checkered, but Young had nothing for the young Reitz, who took the checkereds first in his Lite Craft Manufacturing/Venango Glass/Oakland Products-sponsored #9. Point leader Jerry Schaffer passed Smoker for third on lap 17. Smoker was fourth ahead of Bill Adams. Scoring heat wins over the 32-car field were Toth, Andy Paden, and Reitz. Brian Booher won the B main.

One year ago, Andy Buckley celebrated the birth of his son Dalton by winning the make-up Butterfield’s Pub Stock Car feature, which propelled him to his first track championship. The Stoneboro, Pa. driver backed that up Saturday night winning a day before Dalton’s first birthday to regain the point lead.

From the pole position, Tim Deutsch grabbed the early lead. Deutsch, Kevin Thompson, and Mike Aley held down the first three positions for the first six non-stop laps. On lap seven, Buckley who started 11th, and Ron Iorio moved by Aley for third and fourth before the first caution with seven laps completed slowed action. Buckley got by Thompson on the restart for second before another caution bunched up the field with eight laps completed.

When racing resumed, Buckley moved ahead of Deutsch for the lead. Iorio passed Thompson for third on lap 10 then with his brother Doug following, the two passed Deutsch for second and third on lap 11. Shaun Hooks followed in fourth as a four-race race ensued to the finish. But Buckley was able to fend off the charges from the Iorios and Hooks for his second win and 10th of his career at Mercer in his Hapeman Electronics/Atwell Perrine Excavating-sponsored #965. Ron edged Doug Iorio for second. Hooks was fourth for the third straight week. Deutsch was a career best fifth. Doug Iorio, Buckley, and Hooks won the heats over the 28-car field. Willie Aley won the B main.

Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars: 1. ARNIE KENT ($2,200) 2. Troy Preston 3. Ralph Spithaler, Jr. 4. Brian Woodhall 5. Scott Bonnell 6. Mark Murphy 7. Kevin Andrusky 8. Rob Eyler 9. Todd Bauer 10. Chris Matthews 11. Paul Kapuchuck 12. Pup Nystrom 13. Jeff Kasbee 14. Jeff Banyas 15. Charlie Cornelius 16. Paul Kish 17. Butch Beasley 18. Randy Kriegisch 19. Mel Straley 20. Brian Hartzell 21. Gregg McCandless 22. Dave Wagner.

Big-Block Modifieds: 1. TOMMY KRISTYAK 2. Frank Guidace 3. Rick Hall 4. Tim Doran 5. Dean Pearson 6. Chetter Johnson 7. Jeremiah Shingledecker 8. Carl Murdick 9. Rodney Beltz 10. Jeff Schaffer 11. Bob Dorman 12. Jim Bickel 13. Randy Ferguson 14. Steve Barr 15. Randy Chronister 16. Jeff Baker 17. Lee Miller 18. Nick Ritchey 19. Chanda Reitz 20. Dave Schrader 21. Les Myers 22. Rick Kress 23. Rich Ferguson 24. Ed Alcorn 25. Jerry Bickel-DNS 26. Greg Unrue-DNS.

New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modifieds: 1. CHAD REITZ 2. Steve Young 3. Jerry Schaffer 4. Gary Smoker 5. Bill Adams 6. Andy Paden 7. Les Myers 8. Jim Rombold, Jr. 9. John Confer 10. Rick Hall 11. Ron Eperthener, Jr. 12. Jim Schaffer 13. Randy Rodemoyer 14. Al Priester 15. Leroy Johnson, Jr. 16. Steve Toth 17. Shane McElhaney 18. Dave Cogswell 19. Morgan Sasse 20. Fred Sasse 21. John Jones 22. Brian Booher 23. Mike Mathieson 24. Curt Matthews 25. Barry Bulfone-DNS DNQ-Jim Thompson, Matt Reeher, Zack Moran, Fred Maxwell, Kevin Latshaw, David Myers, Mike Gibson.

Butterfield’s Pub Stock Cars: 1. ANDY BUCKLEY 2. Ron Iorio 3. Doug Iorio 4. Shaun Hooks 5. Tim Deutsch 6. Gary Norman 7. Terry Kroner 8. Mike Aley 9. Kevin Thompson 10. Bobby Whitling 11. Scott Peterson 12. Duane Grinnell 13. Rusty Moore 14. Phil Kaufman 15. Rick Anthony 16. Bill Schall, Jr. 17. Mark Sanders 18. Clyde Roberts 19. Tim Zuschlag 20. Bob Sloss 21. Bob McCann 22. Willie Aley 23. Brian Miller 24. Chuck Kerr DNQ-Scott Hooks, Rick Norco, Rich Chess, Sr., Lester Bates.