Eyler and Doran end bad luck with first Mercer Sprint and Modified wins

By Mike Leone

June 30, 2001

Mercer (PA)...For the second consecutive Saturday night, Mother Nature threw all she had at Mercer Raceway Park. Despite three rain showers and thunderstorms all around, the entire program was run off in three hours after nearly a two hour delay. Picking up wins and celebrating in the Moore’s Auto Body victory lane were Rob Eyler-Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars, Tim Doran-Bolland Machine Big-Block Modifieds, Steve Young-New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modifieds, and Dave Ferringer-Butterfield’s Pub Stock Cars. Pizza Joe’s and Walt’s of Mercer Plaza sponsored the fireworks display that followed the races. For the second consecutive year, all veterans of war were admitted free.

After leading numerous features over the past two seasons only to either crash, have mechanical problems, or finish second, Rob Eyler finally scored his first ever Mercer win in the non-stop 20-lap Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Car feature. "We just couldn’t get it together, but tonight it worked and it feels good," said the jubilant Franklin, Pa. racer. "I was just waiting for something to break and was just hoping I didn’t screw up tonight. I’m happy the way it turned out."

Eyler quickly raced into the lead at the start with Tommy Burns, Jr. and Troy Preston in tow. By lap eight action really heated up. Preston raced by Burns for second, while Tom Quarterson blew around Jimmy Hawley and Jack Sodeman, Jr. to crack the top five. Quarterson and Hawley both disposed of Mike Kekich for fourth and fifth respectively on lap 11.

Eyler continued to lead by a straightaway over Preston. Quarterson moved into third on lap 14 when he got around Burns and immediately closed on Preston. Lap 16 saw Quarterson pass Preston in turn two for runner-up. Two laps later, Hawley dropped Preston back another spot on the backstretch.

But out in front it was all Eyler, who drove on for the non-stop win timed in 5:05.70 in his Bahama Breeze Tanning/Griffin Excavating-sponsored #5. Point leader Quarterson was second after starting 11th. Third through fifth were Hawley, Preston, and Burns. Completing the top 10 were Mike Kekich, Arnie Kent, Jack Sodeman, Jr., Jason Jacoby, and Gary Kriess, Jr. Heat winners were Kekich and Kriess.

Tim Doran raced from the 21st starting spot to collect his first 20-lap Bolland Machine Big-Block Modified feature win of the year. "I screwed up really bad in the heat race," revealed the New Castle, Pa. driver. "I thought the race was over and I pulled in. If I didn’t win tonight, I was really going to hear it from my dad. We were either going to win or wreck it."

From the pole position, J.R. McGinley jumped out in front and led the first nine laps. Adam Siegel passed Chetter Johnson for second on lap three then took over the point from McGinley on lap 10. McGinley and Carl Murdick then got together bringing out the caution with 13 laps completed.

The restart order saw Siegel ahead of Rob Curtis, Doran, Lonny Riggs, and Johnson. Doran edged Curtis for second at the start-finish line of lap 14. On lap 18, Doran made the winning move driving around Siegel in turn two. Curtis got sideways on lap 19 allowing Riggs and Jeff Schaffer by for third and fourth. Then Rob Kristyak, Don McKnight, Rodney Beltz, Les Myers, and Murdick tangled bringing out the final caution with 19 laps completed.

When racing was set to resume, Siegel came to a rest moving Riggs up to second and Schaffer to third. Doran though was able to hold on for the final lap to record his first win since June 3, 2000 in his Richard Smith Construction/Mitchelltree Bros. Logging & Lumber-sponsored #12. "Billy Pauch has helped me out with this Pauch Tobias," said the happy victor following his 12th career Mercer win. "We’ve been fast other nights, but I either wrecked it or had mechanical problems."

Riggs, who started 10th, held off 26th place starter Jeff Schaffer for second. Point leader Dean Pearson was fourth over a career best Mercer finish by Johnson. Rounding out the top 10 were Curtis, Dave Murdick, Steve Young, Frank Guidace, and Lou Gentile. Heat victors over the 28-car field were Carl Murdick, Riggs, and Myers.

Steve Young evened Andy Priest for the top win mark this year at the track by winning his third 20-lap New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modified feature win. The Grove City, Pa. driver started 12th and passed Randy Rodemoyer for third on lap five then used the inside line to get by Rick Ryder for second one lap later. Allen Ferry set the pace for the first six laps before Young made his winning move on the inside groove of the seventh circuit. Once in front, Young was never threatened in the J.R. Greer-owned, Montgomery Truss & Panel-sponsored #11t. John Buchanan, who started ninth, passed both Andy Priest and Ferry to on lap 11 to place second. Priest was third over Rodemoyer and Ryder. Winning the heats over the 23-car field were Buchanan and D.J. Schrader.

Dave Ferringer made it nine different winners in nine races by capturing the 15-lap Butterfield’s Pub Stock Car feature. The Cochranton, Pa. driver took the helm on the opening lap when he passed Phil Kaufman and Lonnie O’Brien. Bill Hanna would be Ferringer’s only real threat in the race, which saw only one caution. Hanna passed Kaufman for third on lap three then got around Brian Miller on lap six to take second. Hanna remained in striking distance throughout the event and was right on Ferringer on the last lap, but Ferringer was able to hold on for his fifth career Mercer win. Ferringer’s win followed his Friday night win at Sharon Speedway in his Lowery Auto Body/Maloney Tool & Mold-sponsored #02. Ron Iorio had a strong run coming from 11th to place third. Point leader Andy Buckley was fourth ahead of Miller. Taking heat wins over the 39-car field were Miller, Mike Aley, Hanna, and Shaun Hooks. Gary Norman and Tony Bruno won the two B mains.

Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars: 1. ROB EYLER 2. Tom Quarterson 3. Jimmy Hawley 4. Troy Preston 5. Tommy Burns, Jr. 6. Mike Kekich 7. Arnie Kent 8. Jack Sodeman, Jr. 9. Jason Jacoby 10. Gary Kriess, Jr. 11. Andy Priest 12. Nathan Hines 13. Gary Edwards 14. Gregg McCandless 15. Gary McCollum 16. Michael Markey 17. Brian Woodhall 18. Buddy Cochran 19. Butch Beasley.

Bolland Machine Big-Block Modifieds: 1. TIM DORAN 2. Lonny Riggs 3. Jeff Schaffer 4. Dean Pearson 5. Chetter Johnson 6. Rob Curtis 7. Dave Murdick 8. Steve Young 9. Frank Guidace 10. Lou Gentile 11. Red Fordyce 12. Don McKnight 13. Les Myers 14. Rodney Beltz 15. Carl Murdick 16. Rob Kristyak 17. Nick Ritchey 18. Mark Sevin 19. J.R. McGinley 20. Bob Dorman 21. Jeff Hoffman 22. Lee Miller 23. Joe Crawford 24. Lou Blaney 25. Rick Kress 26. Adam Siegel 27. Guy Griffin-DNS 28. Dana Gearhart-DNS.

New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modifieds: 1. STEVE YOUNG 2. John Buchanan 3. Andy Priest 4. Randy Rodemoyer 5. Rick Ryder 6. Curt Matthews 7. Bill Adams 8. Rick Hall 9. Chanda Reitz 10. Greg Unrue 11. Dave Cogswell 12. Al Priester 13. Bill Baptiste 14. Morgan Sasse 15. John Jones 16. Allen Ferry 17. Andy Paden 18. Jerry Schaffer 19. Gary Bollinger 20. D.J. Schrader 21. Brad Watson 22. Buck Buchanan 23. Leroy Johnson, Jr.-DNS.

Butterfield’s Pub Stock Cars: 1. DAVE FERRINGER 2. Bill Hanna 3. Ron Iorio 4. Andy Buckley 5. Brian Miller 6. Shaun Hooks 7. Willie Aley 8. Rick Norco 9. Gary Norman 10. Greg Beach 11. Jim Brunson 12. Gary Robinson 13. Bob Sloss 14. Mike Aley 15. Jarrot Moore 16. Phil Kaufman 17. Tony Bruno 18. Lonnie O’Brien 19. Dan Fedorchak 20. Keith Nagy 21. Mark Felicetty 22. Terry Kroner 23. Erick Cwynar 24. Jim Miller DNQ-Rick Anthony, Adam Reseigh, Jeff Kravec, Ray Bailey, Jr., Tim Zuschlag, Adam Aley, Ed Hays, Bob Hays, William George, Sr., Steve Guthrie, Bill Kirschner, Robert Caszatt, Jr., Andy Thompson, Duane Grinnell, Tim Deutsch.