Fan favorites Hawley and Blaney highlight Mercer Sprint and Modified action
by Mike Leone
May 6, 2000
Mercer (PA)...The third night of racing was completed on a warm Saturday evening at Mercer Raceway Park. The following drivers posed in the Autobody Products, Inc. victory lane: Jimmy Hawley-Axa Advisors 410 Sprint Cars, Lou Blaney-Bolland Machine Big-Block Modifieds, Lou Gentile-Miller Lite Six-Cylinder Modifieds, Steve Young-New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modifieds, and Brian Booher-Butterfield’s Pub Stock Cars.
Jimmy Hawley won his second 410 Sprint Car win of the weekend (also won at Sharon Speedway on Friday night) in the first Bonus Buck Weekend earning a minimum $1,500 bonus. "I just can’t say enough about my crew," said the West Middlesex, Pa. driving following the 20-lap Axa Advisors Feature. "We weren’t that good in the heat race. They (crew) changed everything, and I just thank God that I’m fortunate enough to be here."
Arnie Kent took the early lead from the pole position, while Troy Preston fell into second. Gary Edwards joined the battle for the lead as he passed Jarod Larson for third on the first lap. The first three cars broke away until a spin by Brad Ellenberger brought out the caution with five laps completed. On the restart, Andy McKisson got high in turn one and took a nasty series of tumbles. McKisson was okay.
When racing resumed, Preston and Kent raced side-by-side on lap six, and on lap seven Preston took over the lead. Kevin Andrusky passed Larson, then moved by Edwards for third on lap eight. Meanwhile, Hawley was working his way to the front from his handicapped 12th starting spot. Hawley passed Edwards for fourth on lap 10, and two laps later cracked the top three with a pass of Andrusky while racing the lapped car of Randy Kriegisch.
Hawley reeled in Kent and Preston in traffic. On lap 16, Hawley drove under Kent going into turn one making the pass stick for second. The winning move came on lap 17 when Hawley blasted by Preston for the lead. Hawley pulled away to win by a straightaway for his second straight Mercer win in the Dr. John and Debi Crawford-owned #cIII.
The race was on for positions two through sixth. Mike Lutz charged from the 11th starting spot to pass Andrusky, who had just passed Kent, for third on lap 18. One lap later, Lutz put a flyer on Preston coming out of turn four to finish second. Preston fell to third over another strong run by Andrusky, who gave Mercer County drivers a sweep of the top four spots. Edwards followed his fifth at Sharon with another fifth place finish. Kent, Larson, Jamie Smith, Tommy Burns, Jr., and Rob Eyler completed the top ten. Eden, New York’s Mike Woodring made his second straight appearance and finished 11th. Central Pa. regular, Josh Wells, made his first-ever Mercer appearance and was 19th. Winning the heats were Eyler, Burns, and Edwards over the 26-car field.
Lou Blaney won his second win taking the 20-lap Bolland Machine Big-Block Modified Feature. "The race track was great," said the Hartford, Ohio legend. "You could run inside or outside. The inside was best for me tonight."
Rookie big-block driver, Carl Weatherby, came from third to pass Randy Myers and Don McKnight, another rookie big-block driver, on lap one for the lead. Fifth and eight-place starter, Kevin Bolland and Jeff Hoffman were on the move. Bolland passed Myers on lap two for second, while Hoffman followed passing Myers on the subsequent lap. Following a restart for a Rich Ferguson spin, Bolland moved into second taking Carl Murdick for the position on lap four. Hoffman again followed Bolland passing Murdick on the same lap for third.
After a spin by last week’s winner Andy Priest, Bolland took the lead from Weatherby on the restart. Tommy Kristyak, who started seventh, came out of nowhere to move into second on lap eight with a move on Weatherby. Three separate cautions on lap eight slowed action.
When action resumed, Hoffman continued his march to the front using the inside to drive by Weatherby for third on lap nine, and Kristyak for second on lap 10. Blaney, who started 11th, didn’t enter the picture until after the half-way point. Blaney disposed of Weatherby for fourth, then cracked the top three on lap 10 passing Kristyak. On lap 11, Hoffman slipped high allowing Blaney to take runner-up.
The winning move came on lap 13 when the veteran Blaney passed Bolland coming off turn two. Blaney pulled away to win by a 1/2-straightaway in the Troy-Alan Chevrolet/Carpenter’s Towing/Colonial Metal Products-sponsored #10. Blaney has finished no worse than second in any heat or feature this season. A good battle ensued for positions two through four. Hoffman got by Bolland for second off turn four also on lap 13, and Kristyak would come in third after also getting around Bolland on lap 18. Bolland fell to fourth at the checkers followed by Weatherby’s first career big-block top five. Completing the top ten were Jim Rasey, Rob Kristyak, Priest, J.R. McGinley, and Dick Rankin. Heat victors were Bolland, Murdick, and Rodney Beltz over the 24-car field.
Lou Gentile won his second 15-lap Miller Lite Six-Cylinder Modified Feature of the season. Gentile started his charge to the front from ninth. The Youngstown, Ohio driver moved into third passing Jim Bickel on lap five, and took runner-up from Randy Ferguson on lap six. Harold Michaels led the first six laps. Gentile caught Michaels and the two made contact in turn one, but Gentile came through as the leader. Gentile went on for his ninth win in the past 13 six-cylinder races dating back to last season in the Emig #1. Ferguson, Kenny Hardy, and Conny Allen all got by Michaels, who dropped to fifth with a flat tire. Ferguson and Hardy were heat race winners.
Following a win last Sunday at Sportsman’s Speedway, Steve Young jumped back into the J.R. Greer #11t Sportsman Modified and made it two-for-two. Scott Kay led the first seven laps, before Gary Smoker took control on lap eight. Smoker’s lead would only last one lap as Young took over for good on lap nine and never looked back in the 20-lap New Castle School of Trades Feature. It was the Grove City driver’s first Mercer Sportsman Modified win since September 6, 1997 the year he was champion. Dean Pearson, who finished second to Young at Sportsman’s, passed Smoker on lap 12 to finish second to Young again. Smoker got high on the final lap allowing Tom Mattocks, who started 13th, to take third dropping Smoker to fourth ahead of Rick Hall. Hall, Smoker, and Pearson nabbed heat wins over the 28-car field. Brian Sadler won the B main.
Brian Booher of Sandy Lake, Pa. recorded his first 15-lap Butterfield’s Pub Stock Car Feature win of the season. Jim Brunson looked good early on coming from fourth to take the lead on lap two from Andy Buckley. Booher raced into second on lap eight passing Gary Miller, Jr. Brunson continued to lead up until two separate cautions with eight laps completed. The restart cost Brunson of a chance at his first career win. When racing resumed, Brunson got a little high allowing Booher and Brian Miller to take the top two spots. Booher survived another restart to win his fourth career race in his Stake Specialties #2B. Point leader Miller was second. Albert Hays passed Brunson for third on lap 14 for his best finish of the season. Brunson fell to fourth holding off Matt Lux. Scoring heat wins were Dan Lewis, Booher, and Miller over the 27-car field. John Reiser won the B main.
Axa Advisors 410 Sprint Car Feature Finish: 1. JIMMY HAWLEY 2. Mike Lutz 3. Troy Preston 4. Kevin Andrusky 5. Gary Edwards 6. Arnie Kent 7. Jarod Larson 8. Jamie Smith 9. Tommy Burns, Jr. 10. Rob Eyler 11. Mike Woodring 12. Jamie McKinney 13. Jack Sodeman, Jr. 14. Jason Jacoby 15. Gary McCollum 16. Doug Kekich 17. Gary Kriess, Jr. 18. Brad Ellenberger 19. Josh Wells 20. Goob Schuller 21. Randy Kriegisch 22. Randy Johnson 23. Craig Rankin 24. Andy McKisson 25. Dave Wagner 26. Scott Bonnell-DNS.
Bolland Machine Big-Block Modified Feature Finish: 1. LOU BLANEY 2. Jeff Hoffman 3. Tommy Kristyak 4. Kevin Bolland 5. Carl Weatherby 6. Jim Rasey 7. Rob Kristyak 8. Andy Priest 9. J.R. McGinley 10. Dick Rankin 11. Rob Curtis 12. Rick Hall 13. Rodney Beltz 14. Dave Harbaugh 15. Jerry Bickel 16. Mark Sevin 17. Steve Barr 18. Randy Myers 19. Dean Pearson 20. Carl Murdick 21. Don McKnight 22. Rich Ferguson 23. George Davis-DNS 24. Bob Dorman-DNS.
Miller Lite Six-Cylinder Modified Feature Finish: 1. LOU GENTILE 2. Randy Ferguson 3. Kenny Hardy 4. Conny Allen 5. Harold Michaels 6. Bill Adams 7. Frank Guidace 8. Rick Kress 9. Mark McEwen 10. Jim Bickel 11. Dustin Kress 12. Jim Reagle-DNS.
New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modified Feature Finish: 1. STEVE YOUNG 2. Dean Pearson 3. Tom Mattocks 4. Gary Smoker 5. Rick Hall 6. Ron Eperthener, Jr. 7. Rick Ryder 8. Andy Paden 9. Gary Bollinger 10. Chanda Reitz 11. Buck Buchanan 12. Kevin Latshaw 13. Doug Updyke 14. Greg Unrue 15. Leroy Johnson, Jr. 16. Brian Sadler 17. Bill Thompson 18. Mike Kelley 19. Randy Rodemoyer 20. Scott Kay 21. Barry Bulfone 22. Dave Schrader 23. Darrell Combs 24. Mike Mathieson 25. Bob Young-DNS DNQ-Bill Baptiste, Andy Priest.
Butterfield’s Pub Stock Car Feature Finish: 1. BRIAN BOOHER 2. Brian Miller 3. Albert Hays 4. Jim Brunson 5. Matt Lux 6. Dave Ferringer 7. John Reiser 8. Willie Aley 9. Rusty Moore 10. Rick Anthony 11. Jeff Kravec 12. Todd Titus 13. Gary Miller, Jr. 14. Terry Kroner 15. Mike Aley 16. Ray Bailey 17. Ed Hays 18. Mike Zuschlag 19. Kevin Thompson 20. Leigh Wheeler 21. Dan Lewis 22. Gary Robinson 23. Tommy Dembowski 24. Andy Buckley DNQ-Adam Aley, Dan Fedorchak, Chuck Kerr.