Jacoby upsets Mercer Sprints for first career win; Doran win first in Modifieds
by Mike Leone
June 3, 2000
Mercer (PA)...Mercer Raceway Park completed its sixth program of the 2000 racing season on Saturday night. Carry the checkered flag to the Autobody Products Inc. victory lane were Jason Jacoby-Axa Advisors 410 Sprint Cars, Tim Doran-Bolland Machine Big-Block Modifieds, Lou Gentile-Miller Lite Six-Cylinder Modifieds, Andy Priest-New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modifieds, and Matt Lux-Butterfields Pub Stock Cars.
Jason Jacoby of Franklin, Pa. won a thrilling battle with Rob Eyler to win his first career 410 Sprint Car Feature almost one year to the day, June 5, 1999, after getting passed on the last lap by Bob Felmlee. "Its been a long time coming," said the second-generation racer. "We were racing hard. I didnt know what was going to happen. It looked like Rob got in a little hot and I got back under him and thats the same thing that happened to me in (turns) three and four when he got under me."
Jacoby was handicapped to the pole positions and immediately raced into the lead at the start of the 20-lap Axa Advisors race. Eyler, who started fifth, made a nice move to take third on the first lap to get by Jamie Smith and Brad Ellenberger racing off turn two. Eyler caught the runner-up car of Doug Kekich. The two would battle hard for second place running side-by-side. Finally on lap 10, Eyler got under Kekich in turn three for the spot.
By the time Eyler, got around Kekich, Jacoby had built up a half-straightaway advantage. Ellenberger also got around Kekich for third on lap 12 as the two made contact at the start-finish line. The contact was enough to slow down Kekich enough that allowed Smith to take fourth.
As the laps ticked off, Jacoby maintained his advantage, but trouble was lurking ahead as he was about to catch the back-markers. With less than five laps to go, Jacoby got hung up behind Gary Kriess, Jr. and Randy Johnson, who were battling for position. As the white flag was waving, Eyler made the pass coming off turn four in lap traffic giving the second-year sprint driver the lap 19 lead. But in turn two on the final lap, Eyler got in the turn a little too hard allowing Jacoby to get back by. Eyler tried one more move in turn four going to the inside, but got a little sideways giving Jacoby a clear path to the checkers in a race that went non-stop in 5:08.99. It was actually the first top 10 of the season for Jacoby in his North Street Auto Supply-sponsored #4J.
Eyler held on for a career best Mercer finish in second. Ellenberger raced home for a season-best third ahead of Smith and Kevin Andrusky. Sixth through tenth were Kekich, Jarod Larson, Brian Ellenberger, Jarod Larson, Arnie Kent, and Ralph Spithaler, Jr., who was subbing for an injured Troy Preston. Winning the heats were Larson and Eyler.
Tim Doran erased a his early season bad luck at Mercer by capturing his first 20-lap Bolland Machine Big-Block Modified Feature win of the season. "We really got the car running good tonight. The McCreary tires made all of the difference. It really hooked this car up," said the New Castle, Pa. driver. "We hadnt finished here yet this season. I screwed up a couple times, but Im glad to win one here again."
Doran jumped into the lead at the start from the pole position. Rodney Beltz passed Rob Kristyak for second, as Dean Pearson did the same from his fifth starting spot on the first lap. Tommy Kristyak, who started 11th, raced into the top five on lap four passing J.R. McGinley. On lap eight, Lonny Riggs and Kristyak both got around Pearson for third and fourth. Lou Blaney, who started 12th, dropped Pearson back another spot when he got by on lap nine for fifth.
Following the restart for Don McKnighta spin with nine laps completed, Kristyak and Blaney moved up two more spot when they got around Riggs and Beltz. After another restart for Rich Fergusons spin with 14 laps completed, Blaney made the move for second passing Kristyak.
Doran ran a solid race holding off Blaney and Kristyak for another restart to take his seventh career Mercer win in his Richard Smith Construction-sponsored #12. Blaney, the current point leader, has finished in the top two spots all six races this season. Behind Doran, Blaney, and Kristyak were Riggs and Beltz. Rounding out the top 10 were Carl Murdick, Dave Murdick, Kevin Bolland, Rob Curtis, and Carl Weatherby. Scoring heat wins over the 27-car field were Weatherby, Dave Murdick, and Doran.
Lou Gentile of Youngstown, Ohio made it three-in-a-row and four out of five the 15-lap Miller Lite Six-Cylinder Modified Feature. Jim Bickel looked strong early on passing Rick Kress for second on the first lap and taking the lead on lap three from Harold Michaels. Frank Guidace followed Bickel by passing Kress, then Michaels for second on lap four. Meanwhile, Gentile, who started ninth, tracked down the top two, first passing Guidace on lap six for runner-up. Bickel held the top spot until lap 12 when Gentile got around him in turn three. Gentile went on for his 11th win in the last 15 races in the Emig #1 as the money was donated to the Case Elementary School Autistic class in Sharon, Pa. The race went non-stop in 4:30.65. Bickel recorded his first top five of the season in second and was trailed by Guidace, Randy Ferguson, and Bill Adams. Adams and Guidace won the heats over the season-high 13-car field.
Andy Priest of New Castle, Pa. recorded his second 20-lap New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modified Feature win of the season. Priest started sixth and moved into the top three on lap two taking the position away from Bob Young. Scott Kay continued to lead, while Priest made it to runner-up on lap four when rookie Doug Updyke slipped high. Priests winning move came on the sixth circuit when he drove by Kay on the backstretch for the lead. Priest went on for his 14th career Mercer Sportsman Modified win in the Ted Hull-owned MPR Lumber/Griffin-sponsored #41. Chanda Reitz, who started eighth, passed Rick Hall for third on lap 16, then made a nice pass to take second from Kay on lap 17 at the start-finish line. Kay held off point leader Rick Hall for third. Rookie J.R. Greer recorded his best career finish as he completed the top five. Heat winners over the season-high 31-car field were Andy Paden, Priest, and Kay. Ron Eperthener, Jr. won the B main.
Stock Car standout Matt Lux added Mercer Raceway Park to his list of wins as the Reno, Pa. driver chalked up his first win at the 3/8-mile speedplant. Lux drove a superb race coming from the seventh starting spot to take the win. On lap six, Lux cracked the top three when he got by John Reiser. On lap eight, Gary Robinson slipped high allowing Lux to get by for second. Then on lap 10, Lux got under Leigh Wheeler, who had lead since lap four, for the lead, while Robinson followed in second. Lux had to hold off Robinson, who was all over the Dulaneys Garage-sponsored #21, for the win. Brian Booher came from 11th to finish third after passing teammate Wheeler on lap 13. Wheeler dropped to fourth over Gary Miller, Jr. Heat victors over the season-high 35-car field were Booher, Robinson, and Lux. Ed Hays won the B main.
Axa Advisors 410 Sprint Car Feature Finish: 1. JASON JACOBY 2. Rob Eyler 3. Brad Ellenberger 4. Jamie Smith 5. Kevin Andrusky 6. Doug Kekich 7. Jarod Larson 8. Brian Ellenberger 9. Arnie Kent 10. Ralph Spithaler, Jr. 11. Tom Quarterson 12. Gary Edwards 13. Terry Young 14. Gary Kriess, Jr. 15. Randy Johnson 16. Gary McCollum 17. Scott Bonnell 18. Glenn Noland 19. Dave Wagner-DNS.
Bolland Machine Big-Block Modified Feature Finish: 1. TIM DORAN 2. Lou Blaney 3. Tommy Kristyak 4. Lonny Riggs 5. Rodney Beltz 6. Carl Murdick 7. Dave Murdick 8. Kevin Bolland 9. Rob Curtis 10. Carl Weatherby 11. Don McKnight 12. Bob Dorman 13. Jim Rombold, Jr. 14. Rick Hall 15. Steve Barr 16. Adam Siegel 17. J.R. McGinley 18. Dean Pearson 19. Rob Kristyak 20. Dick Rankin 21. Greg Davis 22. Rich Ferguson 23. Dave Harbaugh 24. Jeff Hoffman 25. Jerry Bickel-DNS 26. George Davis-DNS 27. Lee Miller-DNS.
Miller Lite Six-Cylinder Modified Feature Finish: 1. LOU GENTILE 2. Jim Bickel 3. Frank Guidace 4. Randy Ferguson 5. Bill Adams 6. Conny Allen 7. Jim Reagle 8. Harold Michaels 9. Jerry Schaffer 10. Rick Kress 11. Joe Kane 12. Kenny Hardy-DNS 13. Dustin Kress-DNS.
New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modifieds: 1. ANDY PRIEST 2. Chanda Reitz 3. Scott Kay 4. Rick Hall 5. J.R. Greer 6. Dean Pearson 7. John Buchanan 8. Bob Young 9. Jason Longwell 10. Rod Artman 11. Doug Updyke 12. David Myers 13. Leroy Johnson, Jr. 14. Ron Sasse 15. Darrell Combs 16. Ron Eperthener, Jr. 17. Zack Moran 18. Barry Bulfone 19. Tom Mattocks 20. Gary Bollinger 21. Rick Ryder 22. Randy Rodemoyer 23. Andy Paden 24. Kevin Latshaw-DNS DNQ-Dave Scharder, Jim Thompson, Mike Mathieson, Mike Kelley, Gary Smoker, Kevin Thompson, Allen Ferry.
Butterfields Pub Stock Car Feature Finish: 1. MATT LUX 2. Gary Robinson 3. Brian Booher 4. Leigh Wheeler 5. Gary Miller, Jr. 6. Jim Brunson 7. John Reiser 8. Dave Ferringer 9. Brian Miller 10. Albert Hays 11. Tim Zuschlag 12. Dan Fedorchak 13. Jesse Umstead 14. J.R. Ziegler 15. Ray Bailey, Jr. 16. Rick Anthony 17. Ed Hays 18. Skip Reseigh 19. Bob Kitchen 20. Willie Aley 21. Mike Aley 22. Bob Bean 23. Bill Schall, Jr. 24. Jeff Kravec-DSQ 25. Dan Lewis-DNS DNQ-Adam Aley, Kevin Bailey, Vince Felicetty, Bill Banick, Jr., Mike Turner, Bill Greenlea, Jim Riffenberrick, Frank Burdette, Terry Kroner, Andy Buckley