Hawley blasts to #5 in Sprints; Priest doubles in Mercer Big-Block and Sportsman Modifieds
By Mike Leone
July 22, 2000
Mercer (PA)...The 14th show of the 2000 season was put in the record books on a cool Saturday night at Mercer Raceway Park. Recording wins were Jimmy Hawley-Axa Advisors 410 Sprint Cars, Andy Priest-Bolland Machine Big-Block Modifieds, Kenny Hardy-Miller Lite Six-Cylinder Modifieds, Andy Priest-New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modifieds, and Matt Lux-Butterfield’s Pub Stock Cars.
Jimmy Hawley put on another driving clinic coming from 12th to win the 20-lap Axa Advisors 410 Sprint Car Feature. "My guys did a great job again," said the West Middlesex, Pa. driver after his fifth straight non-sanctioned Mercer win. "We were a little bit loose until the American Racer tires got some heat into them. Once they took off we were fine."
Terry Young raced into the lead at the start with Doug Kekich and Brad Ellenberger in tow. Kekich made a nice move to take the lead from Young racing off turn four on lap two. Ellenberger then began to put heavy pressure on Young for second. But on lap four, Ellenberger got in a little too hard in turn four and looped his mount bringing out the first caution. Two laps later, the race would be stopped for the final time when Chad Hill slowed.
When racing resumed, Hawley’s tires began to kick in as he raced by Burns, then took Jarod Larson to crack the top five on lap nine. The next lap saw Hawley make a daring move passing both Ralph Spithaler, Jr. and Jason Jacoby on the inside of turns three and four for third place. At this point there appeared to be no stopping Hawley. He ran down Young and drove by him for second on the backstretch of lap 12.
Hawley now set his sights on Kekich, who was looking for his first career Sprint Car win. Kekich did a good job holding off Hawley for about two laps. Coming down the front-stretch for the five-to-go signal, Hawley made a slingshot move going into turn one for the winning pass. The rest was history as Hawley drove off to the near 1/2-lap win in the Dr. John and Debi Crawford-owned, Mihalcak Motorsports/Choice Chassis-sponsored #cIII for his 12th overall win of 2000.
Young was able to get by Kekich for second coming off turn four on lap 16 for his best career Mercer finish. Kekich appeared to be off the pace as Jacoby, Spithaler, and Burns got by to round out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Arnie Kent, Kevin Andrusky, Jamie Smith, Larson, and Kekich. Heat victories over the 23-car field were taken by Spithaler, Burns, and Ellenberger.
Andy Priest showed it can be done coming from the back as he raced from his 20th starting spot to win on a last lap pass of Mike Sutton for his second 20-lap Bolland Machine Big-Block Modified Feature win. "This place is really fast," said the New Castle, Pa. driver. "I like racing here and I thank all of the fans and especially my dad, because without him I wouldn’t be here."
Five different drivers were able to lead laps as Sutton took command early on. On lap three, Rob Curtis nosed ahead to take the lead. Steve Young, who started fourth, and Tommy Kristyak, who started sixth, raced by Sutton for second and third on laps seven and eight.
The mid-point of the race saw Curtis and Young go at it hard for the top spot racing side-by-side. Curtis was driving the race of his life, but looped his mount in turn four on lap 11 giving the lead to Young. When green replaced yellow, Kristyak charged by Young off turn four for the lead as the veteran driver was looking for his first win.
Sutton, who dropped back as far as fifth at one point, joined back in the battle as he and Tim Doran moved by Young for second and third on the lap 12 restart. Sutton then made a bold mold driving around Kristyak coming out of turn two on lap 16 for the lead. All of sudden Priest came out of nowhere racing by Young, then just blasted by Doran and Kristyak on the inside of lap 16 for second.
The battle now raged for the lead between a pair of #21s. Sutton rim ridded the cushion looking for his first career Mercer win, while Priest stayed on the bottom. Coming down for the white flag, Sutton got a little sideways off turn four allowing Priest to apply heavy pressure on the final lap. Coming off turn four, Priest made a clean slide job to take the win in his WAR-FAB-sponsored #21N.
Sutton had to settle for a disappointing second over Doran, Young, and 22nd starter, J.R. McGinley, who recorded his first-ever Mercer top five. Rounding out the second five were Carl Murdick, Rick Hall, Kristyak, Bob Dorman, and Don McKnight. Of note, point leader Lou Blaney missed action for the first time this year attending a wedding in North Carolina. Taking heat wins over the 25-car field were Lonny Riggs, Doran, and Dean Pearson.
Kenny Hardy of Wampum, Pa. raced to his third 15-lap Miller Lite Six-Cylinder Modified Feature win of the season and unprecedented 40th win since the track reopened in 1994. Jerry Schaffer passed Jim Reagle on the opening lap and held down the top spot for the first seven laps. Hardy, who started seventh, passed Reagle for second on lap seven, then got by Schaffer for the winning move later that lap. Hardy was never challenged the rest of the way in the non-stop event in the Hardy Trucking #85B. Randy Ferguson, Frank Guidace, and Lou Gentile all got by Schaffer on lap eight to finish second through fourth respectively. Schaffer dropped to fifth for his best finish of the year. Guidace and Hardy won the heats over the 14-car field.
Andy Priest picked up his second win of the night in the 20-lap New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modified Feature. "Wow, this is the first time I ever won two races in one night," said Priest. This one was much easier as Priest took the lead from Allen Ferry on the start and led every lap for his fourth win in the Ted Hull-owned, MPR Lumber/Griffin #41. John Buchanan continued his strong finishes the last month. Buchanan came from 12th and passed Tom Mattocks for second on lap 15. Buchanan was all over Priest in the closing laps, but was denied his third win in four weeks. Third through fifth were Mattocks, Gary Bollinger, and Andy Paden. Picking up heat wins were Buchanan, Mattocks, and Priest over the 24-car field.
Matt Lux is really starting to like Mercer Raceway Park. The Franklin, Pa. driver won his fourth 15-lap Butterfield’s Pub Stock Car Feature in just his ninth start of the season. Kevin Thompson was able to lead the first four laps until fourth starter, Jim Brunson, edged ahead on lap five. Gary Robinson then got by Thompson for second two laps later. Lux began to enter the picture on lap eight when he passed Thompson for third, then got second on the ninth circuit when Robinson slipped high. Lux’s winning move came on lap 11 following a restart. Once in charge, Lux cruised to the win his Dulaney’s Garage-sponsored #21. Coming off turn four on the last lap, both Brunson and Thompson spun without contact. This enabled John Reiser to record his best finish since a win on June 5, 1999. Moving up into third through fifth were Gary Miller, Jr., Leigh Wheeler, and point leader Brian Miller. Miller, Miller, and Wheeler won the heats over the 35-car field. Brian Booher won the B main.
Axa Advisors 410 Sprint Car Feature Finish: 1. JIMMY HAWLEY 2. Terry Young 3. Jason Jacoby 4. Ralph Spithaler, Jr. 5. Tommy Burns, Jr. 6. Arnie Kent 7. Kevin Andrusky 8. Jamie Smith 9. Jarod Larson 10. Doug Kekich 11. Gary Edwards 12. Brad Ellenberger 13. Dave Penezich, Jr. 14. Mike Kekich 15. Gary McCollum 16. Buddy Cochran 17. Doug Anderson 18. Craig Rankin 19. Goob Schuller 20. Ralph Engel, Jr. 21. Chad Hill 22. Joe McEwen-DNS 23. Rob Eyler-DNS.
Bolland Machine Big-Block Modified Feature Finish: 1. ANDY PRIEST 2. Mike Sutton 3. Tim Doran 4. Steve Young 5. J.R. McGinley 6. Carl Murdick 7. Rick Hall 8. Tommy Kristyak 9. Bob Dorman 10. Don McKnight 11. Dave Schrader 12. Steve Barr 13. Rob McClimans 14. Rodney Beltz 15. Jerry Bickel 16. Lee Miller 17. Rob Curtis 18. Jim Rombold, Jr. 19. Rob Kristyak 20. George Davis 21. Dean Pearson 22. Jeff Schaffer-DSQ 23. Lonny Riggs-DNS 24. John Braymer-DNS 25. Carl Weatherby-DNS.
Miller Lite Six-Cylinder Modified Feature Finish: 1. KENNY HARDY 2. Randy Ferguson 3. Frank Guidace 4. Lou Gentile 5. Jerry Schaffer 6. Jim Reagle 7. Conny Allen 8. Bill Adams 9. Jim Bickel 10. Harold Michaels 11. Joe Kane 12. Dustin Kress 13. Rick Kress 14. Mark McEwen-DNS.
New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modified Feature Finish: 1. ANDY PRIEST 2. John Buchanan 3. Tom Mattocks 4. Gary Bollinger 5. Andy Paden 6. Rick Ryder 7. Jason Longwell 8. Chanda Reitz 9. D.J. Schrader 10. J.D. Whitman 11. Greg Unrue 12. Bill Thompson 13. Fred Sasse 14. Zack Moran 15. Dave Cogswell 16. Mike Mathieson 17. Doug Updyke 18. Rick Hall 19. Brad Watson 20. Allen Ferry 21. Randy Rodemoyer 22. Dean Pearson 23. Buck Buchanan-DNS 24. Gary Smoker-DNS.
Butterfield’s Pub Stock Car Feature Finish: 1. MATT LUX 2. John Reiser 3. Gary Miller, Jr. 4. Leigh Wheeler 5. Brian Miller 6. Dave Ferringer 7. Tony Bruno 8. Terry Kroner 9. Todd Titus 10. Andy Buckley 11. Rick Ryder 12. Ed Hays 13. Jeff Kravec 14. Ray Bailey, Jr. 15. Kevin Thompson 16. Jim Brunson 17. Rick Anthony 18. Tim Zuschlag 19. Gary Robinson 20. Mike Aley 21. Shaun Hooks 22. Jeff Buccella 23. Gary Johns 24. Brian Booher 25. Lynn Hostetler-DNS DNQ-Bill Banick, Jr., Randy Riffe, Ed Cornell, Dan Fedorchak, Andy Thompson, Adam Aley, Willie Aley, Ed Lombardo, John Fox, Don Greenlee.