Spithaler wins first in Mercer Sprints; Blaney now 8 of 10 in Modifieds
By Mike Leone
July 8, 2000
Mercer (PA)...A huge crowd witnessed race event #12 of the 2000 season at Mercer Raceway Park. Celebrating in the Autobody Products Inc. victory lane were Ralph Spithaler, Jr.-Axa Advisors 410 Sprint Cars, Lou Blaney-Bolland Machine Big-Block Modifieds, Randy Ferguson-Miller Lite Six-Cylinder Modifieds, John Buchanan-New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modifieds, and Gary Robinson-Butterfield’s Pub Stock Cars.
It only took Ralph Spithaler, Jr. four weeks of subbing for Troy Preston to win his first-ever Mercer Raceway Park 410 Sprint Car Feature win. "I screwed up and tried to give it away a few times," said the Evans City, Pa. driver after a dominating performance. "The car was fast, but with five laps to go the left rear of the car seemed like it was sagging more than the first part of the race. I was concerned we had a stop loose up in the back end of the car."
Rob Eyler drove by pole-sitter Gary McCollum on the backstretch for the lead on the opening lap. Cautions for a Dave Penezich, Jr. spin and an flip by Jim Chappel slowed action twice with one lap completed. Penezich continued, but Chappel was done for the night.
When racing resumed, Spithaler, who started third, passed McCollum for runner-up, and Gary Edwards followed dropping McCollum back to fourth. Spithaler ran down Eyler and made quite a move to take the lead. Spithaler ran on the top edge of the track and drove around Eyler going into turn three getting help from the lap car of Mel Straley.
Once in front, Spithaler quickly opened up a big advantage. A five-car battle raged for second between Eyler, Edwards, Kevin Andrusky, Arnie Kent, and Ed Lynch, Jr. Kent and Lynch passed Andrusky on lap 13, then tangled with each other off turn four the following lap bringing out the yellow.
When green replaced yellow, Spithaler immediately pulled away, while Edwards got past Eyler for second on the restart. Edwards had nothing for Spithaler, who drove off for the win in Troy Preston-owned, Flynn’s Tire/McClung Auto Body-sponsored #1P by more than a straightaway over Edwards, who recorded his best finish since a second on August 22, 1998. Eyler held off Andrusky and a late charge by Tommy Burns, Jr. for third. Sixth through tenth were Kent, Jamie Smith, Todd Bauer, Mike Kekich, and McCollum. Winning the heats over the 21-car field were Lynch and Andrusky.
Lou Blaney won his fourth straight 20-lap Bolland Machine Big-Block Modified Feature and made it eight out of 10 for the year. "I had a little help," said the veteran Hartford, Ohio driver. "Andy was leading it and had a flat tire and that was a shame, but we’re glad to win."
Carl Murdick took the lead from the pole position at the start. Fifth starter, Andy Priest, quickly moved to the front. Priest passed Don McKnight and Rob Kristyak on the opening lap for the lead, then got by Jerry Bickel for second coming off turn four on the second lap. Priest caught Murdick and the two raced side-by-side on lap three with Priest edging ahead to lead the lap.
Dean Pearson, who started seventh, and 10th starter, Tim Doran, made their way through the field. Pearson passed Bickel for third on lap three as Doran followed. Doran then got by Pearson on lap six for the third position. The top four remained the same over the next six laps. Then on lap 12, Doran got high and hit the wall bringing out the caution. Under caution, Priest had a tire go down handing the lead back to Murdick with Pearson second and Blaney up third from his 11th starting spot.
When the green was displayed, Blaney got around Pearson for runner-up in turn three on lap 13. Murdick did a good job holding off Blaney, but on lap 17 Blaney had enough momentum off turn two to power by on the backstretch for the lead. One more caution slowed Blaney from his 14th overall win of 2000 in the Carpenter’s Towing/Colonial Metal Products/Troy-Alan Chevrolet-sponsored #10. "We were on gas tonight getting ready for the 200 lapper next week," said Blaney in victory lane. "I was concerned about it for awhile, but I think we’ll be okay."
Murdick’s second was his best finish of the season. After pitting early in the event, Tommy Kristyak came from the tail to edge Pearson for third at the checkers. Lonny Riggs was fifth. Sixth through tenth were Carl Weatherby, Rodney Beltz, J.R. McGinley, Rob Kristyak, and Steve Young. Heat victors over the 26-car field were Kristyak, Doran, and Priest.
Randy Ferguson of Mercer, Pa. won the 15-lap Miller Lite Six-Cylinder Modified Feature for his first win since May 1, 1999. Ferguson started eighth and was up to second on lap one. His winning move came on lap two passing Bill Adams. Ferguson withstood four cautions for his third career Mercer Six-Cylinder win in the 84 Lumber/Leak Detection Systems-sponsored #02. Jim Bickel was second after passing Frank Guidace for the spot on lap 14. Kenny Hardy came from the rear after spinning with seven laps in to finish third. Guidace and Adams were fourth and fifth. Guidace won the heat over the 12-car field.
John Buchanan of Mercer, Pa. won his second 20-lap New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modified Feature in three weeks. Randy Rodemoyer took the early lead from Ron Eperthener, Jr. at the start. Tom Mattocks followed Rodemoyer into second on the first lap passing Rick Hall and Eperthener. Hall got back by Mattocks for runner-up on lap eight. The first 13 laps went non-stop. Buchanan, who started fifth, passed Mattocks for third, then got Hall for second on the lap 15 restart. Buchanan made the winning move on Rodemoyer going down the backstretch on lap 17. Once in front, Buchanan pulled away for his fourth career win in the McCool’s Signs & Graphics/Mercer Bowl-sponsored #93. Rodemoyer’s second was his best career finish. Hall was third and regained the point lead. Gary Smoker and Mattocks were fourth and fifth. Heat victors over the 27-car field were Rodemoyer, Buchanan, and Pearson.
After winning eight of the 18 features in 1999, it took Gary Robinson 12 weeks in 2000 to win his first 15-lap Butterfield’s Pub Stock Car Feature. Leigh Wheeler passed Jim Riffenberrick, Rick Anthony, and Jim Brunson to lead the first lap. Wheeler held the lead until lap four when Brunson and Robinson got by on the outside. Brunson’s lead last only a lap when Robinson made the winning move on lap six. The Greenville, Pa. driver went on for his second overall win of 2000 in the Cresswell’s Auto Align/Speir Homes-sponsored #44R. Gary Miller, Jr., who started ninth, passed Wheeler and Brunson to finish runner-up. Wheeler dropped to third over Matt Lux and Brunson. Scoring heat wins over the season-high 38-car field were Brian Miller, Robinson, and Gary Miller, Jr. Winning the B mains were Willie Aley and Bill Fox.
On a tragic note, stock car driver, Albert Hays, lost his life when his car fell off the jacks at his home in North Lima, Ohio. Hays was 31. He entered the night 11th in points with one top five and three 10s in his #1. Hays had competed in the past 26 consecutive events at Mercer. Drivers went through the stands and collected $2,417.94 for his family.
Axa Advisors 410 Sprint Car Feature Finish: 1. RALPH SPITHALER, JR. 2. Gary Edwards 3. Rob Eyler 4. Kevin Andrusky 5. Tommy Burns, Jr. 6. Arnie Kent 7. Jamie Smith 8. Todd Bauer 9. Mike Kekich 10. Gary McCollum 11. Jason Jacoby 12. Chad Hill 13. Randy Johnson 14. Dave Penezich, Jr. 15. Mel Straley 16. Ed Lynch, Jr. 17. Nathan Hines 18. Jim Chappel 19. Buddy Cochran 20. Mark Murphy-DNS 21. Terry Young-DNS.
Bolland Machine Big-Block Modified Feature Finish: 1. LOU BLANEY 2. Carl Murdick 3. Tommy Kristyak 4. Dean Pearson 5. Lonny Riggs 6. Carl Weatherby 7. Rodney Beltz 8. J.R. McGinley 9. Ron Kristyak 10. Steve Young 11. Dave Schrader 12. Don McKnight 13. Rick Hall 14. Andy Priest 15. Jerry Bickel 16. Tommy Mason, Jr. 17. Jim Rombold, Jr. 18. Brian Sadler 19. George Davis 20. Lee Miller 21. Tim Doran 22. Howard Duff 23. Ken Schaffer 24. Steve Barr 25. Bill Dorman-DNS 26. Kevin Bolland-DNS.
Miller Lite Six-Cylinder Modified Feature Finish: 1. RANDY FERGUSON 2. Jim Bickel 3. Kenny Hardy 4. Frank Guidace 5. Bill Adams 6. Joe Kane 7. Mark McEwen 8. Rick Kress 9. Conny Allen 10. Harold Michaels-DSQ 11. Dustin Kress-DSQ 12. Lou Gentile-DNS.
New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modified Feature Finish: 1. JOHN BUCHANAN 2. Randy Rodemoyer 3. Rick Hall 4. Gary Smoker 5. Tom Mattocks 6. Kenny Hardy 7. Dean Pearson 8. Jason Longwell 9. Fred Sasse 10. Andy Paden 11. J.R. Greer 12. Greg Unrue 13. Chanda Reitz 14. Randy Ferguson 15. Mike Mathieson 16. Zack Moran 17. Jim Thompson 18. Dave Cogswell 19. Leroy Johnson, Jr. 20. Buck Buchanan 21. Doug Updyke 22. Rick Ryder 23. Ron Eperthener, Jr. 24. Brad Watson-DSQ 25. Bob Young-DNS 26. Andy Priest-DNS 27. Barry Bulfone-DNS.
Butterfield’s Pub Stock Car Feature Finish: 1. GARY ROBINSON 2. Gary Miller, Jr. 3. Leigh Wheeler 4. Matt Lux 5. Jim Brunson 6. Brian Booher 7. Brian Miller 8. Andy Thompson 9. Todd Titus 10. Rick Anthony 11. Mike Aley 12. Dan Fedorchak 13. Tim Zuschlag 14. Bill Fox 15. Jerry Ryder 16. Bill Kirschner, Sr. 17. Willie Aley 18. Ray Bailey, Jr. 19. Andy Buckley 20. Bob Sloss 21. Dave Ferringer 22. Ray Yuran 23. Jeff Kravec 24. Jim Riffenberrick 25. Ed Lombardo-DNS 26. Adam Aley-DNS 27. Mike Turner-DNS DNQ-Ray Gregory, Randy Riffe, William George, Sr., Kevin Bailey, Ed Cornell, Bill Haas, Bill Agnone, Jr., Kevin Thompson, John Reiser, Ed Hays, Bob Kitchen.