Tim Doran makes it two in a row in Mercer Modifieds before rain washes out the rest of the night
By Mike Leone
July 7, 2001
Mercer (PA)...Mercer Raceway Park fought with Mother Nature on Saturday night for the fourth straight week. Off an on showers throughout the evening did not stop Tim Doran from being victorious in the Bolland Machine Big-Block Modifieds. Thunderstorms then came and washed out the remainder of the program.
It was the rescheduled Summer Fun Kickoff as 200 tickets were given away to Sandcastle and Idlewild parks. Kennywood’s Garfield made an appearance. It was McElwain Family of Dealerships "Meet Your Hero Night" for the Big-Block Modifieds as the they signed autographs before the event. McElwains gave out a four-pack of tickets to the new PNC Park in Pittsburgh for an upcoming Pirate game. It was also McElwains Corporate Night.
After going more than a year without a win, Tim Doran made it two in a row by capturing the Bolland Machine Big-Block Modified feature event. The win gave the New Castle, Pa. driver 13 career Mercer wins.
Bob Dorman led the first two laps before Joe Crawford blasted around the outside to take the lead on lap three at the start-finish line. Crawford would bring out the first caution when he made contact with two lapped cars and hit the wall. This gave the lead back to Dorman with fifth place starter, Steve Young, in second.
Rodney Beltz got around Young for second on lap six then one lap later drove around Dorman for the lead. The second caution was displayed for Rob Curtis, who hit the wall with nine laps completed. When racing resumed on lap 10, Young exited the race in second, while Doran passed Dorman for runner-up.
Doran, who started seventh, made the winning move on the backstretch of lap 11 taking over the lead from Beltz. Point leader Dean Pearson, who started 10th, passed Dorman for third on lap 12. A caution for Frank Guidace with 13 laps completed, one for Dorman with 19 laps completed, and then the rains came with 19 laps completed made it an official win for Doran in his Richard Smith Construction/Mitchelltree Bros. Logging & Lumber-sponsored #12.
Beltz held off Pearson for second. Lou Blaney and eleventh starter, Jeff Schaffer, were fourth and fifth. Sixth through tenth were Carl Murdick, Lonny Riggs, Don McKnight, rookie Nick Ritchey, and J.R. McGinley. Heat winners over the 26-car field were Riggs, Schaffer, and Doran.
The remaining three features will be made up in the coming weeks. Check out www.mercerracewaypark.com for the latest or call the office during the week at 724-964-9300. Heats for the 22-car field of Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars went to Rob Eyler and Jason Jacoby. Andy Priest and Steve Young won the heats for the 24 New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modifieds. In the 36-car Butterfield’s Pub Stock Car heats it was Bobby Whitling, Jim Miller, Dave Ferringer, and Gary Miller, Jr. winning the events. Rick Norco and Jeff Kravec won the two B mains.
Bolland Machine Big-Block Modifieds: 1. TIM DORAN 2. Rodney Beltz 3. Dean Pearson 4. Lou Blaney 5. Jeff Schaffer 6. Carl Murdick 7. Lonny Riggs 8. Don McKnight 9. Nick Ritchey 10. J.R. McGinley 11. Rich Ferguson 12. Mark Sevin 13. Howard Duff 14. John Boyer, Jr. 15. Guy Griffin 16. Frank Guidace 17. Les Myers 18. Rick Kress 19. Steve Young 20. Rob Curtis 21. Dustin Blank 22. Dana Gearhart 23. Joe Crawford 24. Bob Dorman 25. Randy Ferguson-DNS 26. Chetter Johnson-DNS.
Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars:
Heat #1: Rob Eyler, Arnie Kent, Tom Quarterson, Troy Preston, Andy Priest, Mike Kekich, Jimmy Hawley, Gary Kriess, Jr., Dave Wagner, Goob Schuller, Rick Byerly.
Heat #2: Jason Jacoby, Gary Edwards, Doug Stanley, Brian Woodhall, Nathan Hines, Dick Byerly, John Toth III, Ricky Ferkel, Gregg McCandless, Jeff Banyas, Butch Beasley.
New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modifieds:
Heat #1: Andy Priest, Les Myers, Gary Smoker, Jerry Schaffer, John Buchanan, Bill Adams, Dave Cogswell, Chanda Reitz, Bill Baptiste, John Jones, Curt Matthews.
Heat #2: Steve Young, Andy Paden, Randy Rodemoyer, Gary Bollinger, Allen Ferry, D.J. Schrader, Buck Buchanan, Al Priester, Rick Hall, Greg Unrue, Morgan Sasse, Brad Watson.
Butterfield’s Pub Stock Cars:
Heat #1: Bobby Whitling, Ron Iorio, Bill Hanna, Shaun Hooks, Rick Norco, Greg Beach, Bob Hays, Steve Anderson, Mike Work.
Heat #2: Jim Miller, Matt Lux, Dan Fedorchak, Terry Kroner, Rick Anthony, Phil Kaufman, Corey Ruffo, Pat Wilcox, Mark Bee.
Heat #3: Dave Ferringer, Brian Miller, Andy Buckley, Mike Aley, Jeff Kravec, Ray Bailey, Jr., Tim Deutsch, Don Greenlee, Duane Grinnell.
Heat #4: Gary Miller, Jr., Gary Robinson, Willie Aley, Lonnie O’Brien, Lynn Hostetler, Ed Hays, Tim Zuschlag, Robert Caszatt, Jr., Adam Aley.
B main #1: Norco, Beach, Work, Ruffo, Wilcox, B. Hays, Anderson, Anthony, Kaufman, Bee.
B main #2: Kravec, Zuschlag, Bailey, Grinnell, A. Aley, Caszatt, Greenlee, Hostetler, E. Hays, Deutsch.