First career Sprint win for Murphy; Young also wins first in Mercer Modifieds
By Mike Leone
August 26, 2000
Mercer (PA)...The final night of points and the 19th racing event of the 2000 season were put in the record books on Saturday night at Mercer Raceway Park. Celebrating in the Autobody Products Inc. victory lane were Mark Murphy-Axa Advisors 410 Sprint Cars, Steve Young-Bolland Machine Big-Block Modifieds, Kenny Hardy-Miller Lite Six-Cylinder Modifieds, Andy Priest-New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modifieds, and Brian Miller-Butterfield’s Pub Stock Cars.
Mark Murphy became the latest driver to score an upset career first win in the 20-lap Axa Advisors 410 Sprint Car Feature. "My dad, brother, and I build our own frames and motors," said the Norton, Ohio driver. "It’s right in the family, and in the garage-no sponsors, just the three of us."
Murphy and pole-sitter, Jim Chappel, raced side-by-side for the first lap with Murphy getting a good run off the top of turn four to take the lead. Terry Young and Tom Quarterson got around Joe McEwen for third and fourth. Quarterson then took the third position away from Young.
The top four remained in order until traffic became a factor. Murphy encountered a gaggle of cars on lap seven, which nearly cost him the race. Racing off turn two, Murphy got into Mike Marano II on the backstretch, but was able to keep his momentum without losing a position miraculously. Later that lap, Young and seventh starter, Kevin Andrusky, drove past Quarterson for third and fourth.
The leaders finally cleared the heavy traffic at the midway point. This allowed Young to run down Chappel and make the pass at the start-finish line for second. Two laps later, Andrusky drove under Chappel for third racing off turn four.
With five laps to go it was a five-car race for the win as three of five drivers were looking for their first wins. Last week’s winner, Tom Quarterson, and Arnie Kent dropped Chappel back two more spots on laps 16 and 17 respectively. With two laps to go, Young really began to close in on Murphy, who was running the extreme top side of the speedway lapping cars.
On the last lap, Young tried once last ditch effort to try to get his first career Sprint Car win, but jumped the cushion in turn three allowing Murphy no challenge to the checkers. It was just Murphy’s fifth race of the season in the Al & Marty Murphy-owned and un-sponsored #98M. His best finish of the season had been an 11th. Murphy became the 12th different winner in 17 races this season. "I just wanted to win one before I turned 50," said the 46-year-old winner. "We’ve been running so bad lately that I brought my mother here tonight. We need all of the help we can get."
Young nearly lost second, but held off Andrusky for his best finish since replacing Quarterson in the John Sloss #00. Quarterson and Kent were a close fourth and fifth. Sixth through tenth were Chappel, McEwen, point champion Jamie Smith, Gary Edwards from 21st, and Rob Eyler. Heat winners over the 22-car field were Murphy and Andrusky.
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The 2000 season has been an up and down one for Steve Young splitting his time between his own #67 and the Robert Eaton-owned #2. On Saturday night, Young won his first of the year in the 20-lap Bolland Machine Big-Block Modified Feature driving the Bashlin Industries/Say’s Auto Electric-sponsored #2 with the big-block motor from his #67. "I was getting scared with all of the restarts at the end, but it worked out," said the Grove City, Pa. driver. "We took the for sale sign off the car because it was bad luck. I think were going to run the car the rest of the year."
Young took the lead at the start as scheduled pole-sitter, Dave Murdick, was unable to start. Don McKnight passed J.R. McGinley on the first lap. McGinley lost third to Dean Pearson on lap two and fourth to eighth starter, Carl Weatherby, on lap four. McKnight, a rookie big-block driver, looked good early on until getting crossed up with the lapped car of George Davis on lap nine and slammed the wall. McKnight was able to continue, but lost second and third to Pearson and Weatherby.
At the halfway point, Young had a near straightaway lead on second and third. Point champion, Lou Blaney, was slowly making his way up into contention. Blaney got around McKnight for fourth on lap 13. Three cautions between lap 16 and 19 slowed action. The lap 19 restart saw Weatherby move around Pearson for runner-up.
Young was still able to hold off Weatherby on the final restart for his third career Mercer big-block win. The win also propelled Young from 15th in points to a top 10 at the awards banquet. Blaney edged Pearson at the finish for third. Tim Doran came from 14th to place fifth. Sixth through tenth were Jim Rasey, Tommy Kristyak, Andy Priest, McKnight, and Dave Schrader. Heat victors were Frank Guidace, Weatherby, and Rodney Beltz over the 24-car field.
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Kenny Hardy led all 15 laps of the Miller Lite Six-Cylinder Modified Feature. The Wampum, Pa. driver started from the pole to capture his fourth win. Point champion, Lou Gentile, started 11th and took third from Jim Bickel on lap six. Gentile then moved into second on lap nine passing Harold Michaels. Gentile had two chances to restart alongside Hardy, but Hardy was able to hold on for his track leading 41st win since the track reopened in 1994 in the Hardy Trucking #85B. Gentile’s second gave him his first Mercer Six-Cylinder Modified Championship. Randy Ferguson was third over Mark McEwen and Bickel. Winning the heats were Hardy and Michaels.
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Andy Priest of New Castle, Pa. collected his sixth 20-lap New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modified Feature. Allen Ferry took charge of the race from his pole starting spot, while Priest, who started eighth, grabbed third from Gary Bollinger on lap seven. Priest then took runner-up from Greg Unrue on lap nine. At this point, Ferry had about a straightaway lead as the event remainded caution-free until debris slowed action with 11 laps completed. Ferry held on for one more lap in search of a career first Mercer win, but Priest had too much power as he drove the MPR Lumber/Griffin-sponsored, Ted Hull-owned #41 past Ferry on lap 13. Once in front, Priest went on for his ninth overall Mercer win of the season. Ferry’s second was a Mercer-best. Tom Mattocks was third ahead of a season best finish by Greg Unrue and Gary Bollinger completed the top five. Rick Hall’s sixth place finish was good enough to win his first Sportsman Modified Championship. Heat victors were Tommy Kristyak and Chanda Reitz over the 23-car field.
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Brian Miller of New Wilmington, Pa. has had a lock on the Stock Car Championship, but was able to add his second 15-lap Butterfield’s Pub Feature win to it on Saturday night. It didn’t appear Miller had any chance of winning the event for most of the race. Brian Booher passed Ray Bailey, Jr. and Ed Lombardo for the lead on the opening lap. Eighth starter, Leigh Wheeler, was on the charge racing into second by lap two. Wheeler caught teammate Booher and the two battled from lap six to the checkers. Wheeler was able to take the lead on lap nine. Booher then lost second to Andy Buckley on lap 10 and third to Gary Robinson on lap 12. Buckley spun with 13 laps completed moving Robinson to second and Booher to third for the restart. With the white flag waving, Wheeler, Booher, and Robinson were three-wide coming off turn four. The three made slight contact and it was just enough to allow Miller, who started 12th, to sneak under on the bottom for the lead and the win in the Terry Hover-owned #99. Robinson was able to get second. Gary Miller, Jr. and Jeff Buccella, who started 18th, were able to pass Booher and Wheeler for third and fourth. Booher dropped to fifth. Scoring heat wins were Buckley, Mike Aley, and Brian Miller over the 34-car field. Kevin Thompson won the B main.
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Axa Advisors 410 Sprint Car Feature Finish: 1. MARK MURPHY 2. Terry Young 3. Kevin Andrusky 4. Tom Quarterson 5. Arnie Kent 6. Jim Chappel 7. Joe McEwen 8. Jamie Smith 9. Gary Edwards 10. Rob Eyler 11. Gary McCollum 12. Mike Kekich 13. Brent Matus 14. Jason Jacoby 15. Buddy Cochran 16. Nathan Hines 17. John Toth III 18. Tommy Burns, Jr. 19. Ben Bassinger 20. Gary Stallard 21. Troy Preston 22. Mike Marano II.
Bolland Machine Big-Block Modified Feature Finish: 1. STEVE YOUNG 2. Carl Weatherby 3. Lou Blaney 4. Dean Pearson 5. Tim Doran 6. Jim Rasey 7. Tommy Kristyak 8. Andy Priest 9. Don McKnight 10. Dave Schrader 11. Carl Murdick 12. Rob Curtis 13. Rodney Beltz 14. Tommy Marshall III 15. Rick Hall 16. Frank Guidace 17. J.R. McGinley 18. George Davis 19. Rich Ferguson 20. Dean Ruth 21. Steve Barr 22. Dave Murdick-DNS 23. Bill Dorman-DNS 24. Gary Smoker-DNS.
Miller Lite Six-Cylinder Modified Feature Finish: 1. KENNY HARDY 2. Lou Gentile 3. Randy Ferguson 4. Mark McEwen 5. Jim Bickel 6. Conny Allen 7. Jerry Bowser 8. Joe Kane 9.Rick Kress 10. Troy Willoughby 11. Harold Michaels 12. Jim Reagle-DNS.
New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modified Feature Finish: 1. ANDY PRIEST 2. Allen Ferry 3. Tom Mattocks 4. Greg Unrue 5. Gary Bollinger 6. Rick Hall 7. Randy Rodemoyer 8. Tommy Kristyak 9. Chanda Reitz 10. Jason Longwell 11. Bill Adams 12. Bob Young 13. Buck Buchanan 14. Fred Sasse 15. Andy Paden 16. Darrell Combs 17. Bill Thompson 18. Dave Coggswell 19. Mike Mathieson 20. Rick Ryder 21. Leroy Johnson, Jr. 22. Curt Matthews 23. John Buchanan-DNS.
Butterfield’s Pub Stock Car Feature Finish: 1. BRIAN MILLER 2. Gary Robinson 3. Gary Miller, Jr. 4. Jeff Buccella 5. Brian Booher 6. Kevin Thompson 7. Leigh Wheeler 8. Jeff Kravec 9. Bob Sloss 10. Rick Norco 11. Dave Ferringer 12. Willie Aley 13. Ed Hays 14. Andy Buckley 15. Rick Anthony 16. Ray Bailey, Jr. 17. Dan Fedorchak 18. Bill Kirschner, Sr. 19. Jim Brunson 20. Matt Lux 21. Ed Lombardo 22. Tim Zuschlag 23. John Reiser 24. Mike Aley DNQ-Jerry Ryder, Bobby Wagner, Kevin Miller, Bill Haas, Bill Fox, Don Greenlee, Dan Michaud, Jim Davis, Chuck Kerr, J.R. Ziegler.