Lutz and Blaney highlight opening night Mercer winners
by Mike Leone
April 15, 2000
Mercer (PA)...A big crowd turned out as racing resumed at Mercer Raceway Park on Saturday night for the first time in 2000. Recording the first wins of the year were Mike Lutz-Axa Advisors 410 Sprint Cars, Lou Blaney-Bolland Machine Big-Block Modifieds, Lou Gentile-Miller Lite Six-Cylinder Modifieds, Dave Schrader-New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modifieds, and Leigh Wheeler-Butterfield’s Pub Stock Cars. "This feels so good," said a jubilant Mike Lutz after climbing out of his winning car following the 20-lap Axa Advisors 410 Sprint Car Feature. Lutz took the lead from Scott Bonnell on lap eight and went on for the win. "I’m thankful the Powell’s gave me chance. I think this still proves I can do it," said the Hermitage, Pa. driver. Flying the Sherwin Williams colors, the "Fairview Flyer," Scott Bonnell used the pole position to set the early pace. Gary Edwards, who started second, yielded the spot to Lutz on the opening lap as Jamie Smith, Scott Young, and Jimmy Hawley also got by. Hawley moved up one more spot to fourth on lap four when he drove by Young. Bonnell caught the back markers on lap five as Lutz and Smith closed in. The lap car of Mike Roxberry blocked Bonnell on the eight circuit allowing Lutz to make the winning move on the back stretch. Bonnell faded to fourth when Smith got around on lap eight and Hawley on lap 11. Lutz opened up a straightaway advantage on Smith and Hawley with five to go. Lutz’s lead was erased when the only caution of the event was displayed for Bonnell, who broke a torque tube with 18 laps completed. The last two laps went green to checker with Lutz taking the R&R Engine Rebuilders-sponsored, Robert and Richard Powell-owned #27 to victory lane. The win was Lutz’s first at Mercer since August 9, 1997 when he drove the Chuck Steinbrick #92 to the win. It was the Powell Brothers first Mercer win since a victory by Tom Quarterson on August 22, 1998. The race for second kept the crowd on the edge of its seat as Smith and Hawley put on a fierce battle through lap traffic the last nine laps with Smith on the bottom and Hawley on the extreme outside. Smith was able to edge Hawley for runner-up at the checkers. Gary Kriess, Jr. had a strong run coming from 12th to take fourth over Troy Preston. Wisconsin’s Scott Young made his first-ever Mercer appearance and came home sixth as Mike Kekich, Edwards, Rob Eyler, and Andy McKisson completed the top five. Bonnell, Hawley, and Preston were heat winners over the 25-car field.
Lou Blaney just keeps on winning. The Hartford, Ohio driver recorded his first overall win of 2000 in the 20-lap Bolland Machine Big-Block Modified Feature. "It’s always nice to win; especially the first one here at Mercer," said Blaney. "These fans don’t know how much I appreciate them." Despite starting on the pole, it was far from an easy win for the veteran Blaney. Andy Priest would pass Carl Murdick, Rob Kristyak Jim Rasey, and Lonny Riggs from his sixth starting spot all on the first lap to move into second. Blaney, Priest, and Rasey pulled away from the field as they caught lap traffic on lap seven. Priest applied heavy pressure on the inside, while Blaney stayed on his typical outside lane. On lap nine, Priest made a thrilling four-wide move on the back stretch to take the lead as he and Blaney split the lap cars of Mark Sevin and Doug Duncan At the half-way point, Priest and Blaney distanced themselves from the field until a caution for the lap cars of Sevin and Duncan. Following another caution for Bill Dorman, racing resumed on lap 13. It was here when Priest got just enough sideways to allow Blaney to retake the lead. Blaney survived another caution and went on for his 21st Mercer victory since 1994 by a half of a straightaway over Priest. Blaney has now won four of the last five big-block features at Mercer dating back to last season in his Troy-Alan Chevrolet/Carpenter’s Towing/Colonial Metals-sponsored #10. Jim Rasey had a career-best Mercer run in site, but allowed 11th starter, Tommy Kristyak, to get by on lap 16 for third. Then Rasey lost fourth and fifth to 12th starter, Rodney Beltz, and Murdick. Rasey fell to sixth at the checkers with Lonny Riggs, Steve Young, Chris Schiffer, and Kevin Bolland completing the top 10. Heat victors over the 26-car field were Riggs, Blaney, and Murdick.
Lou Gentile captured the 15-lap Miller Lite Six-Cylinder Modified Feature. The Youngstown, Ohio driver came from sixth to take the lead from Frank Guidace on the third circuit and never looked back for his 28th Mercer win since 1994. Gentile has now won eight of the last 11 six-cylinder features dating back to last season in the Emig #1. Guidace, the only other car on the lead lap, was a distant second. Conny Allen was the lone finisher in third, one lap down. Randy Ferguson and Kenny Hardy were credited with fourth and fifth. Guidace won the heat over the eight car field.
Making a return after an 11-year hiatus, Dave Schrader returned to racing Saturday night and made it profitable by winning the 20-lap New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modified Feature. The Endeavor, Pa. driver started 11th and moved by Ron Eperthener, Jr. for third on lap three and took runner-up from Rick Ryder on lap six. Chanda Reitz was trying to become the second female in the history of Mercer Raceway Park to score a win as she took the lead on lap two, but gave up the top spot to Schrader in lap traffic on the back stretch on lap eight. Schrader drove a smooth and consistent line as he cruised to the win by a straightaway over Reitz in his familiar #6PACK sponsored by Hickory Creek Beverage and Cornerstone Lounge. Third through fifth were Ryder, Andy Paden, and Randy Rodemoyer. John Buchanan and Ron Eperthener, Jr. were heat winners over the 19-car field.
Leigh Wheeler won an action-filled 15-lap Butterfield’s Pub Stock Car Feature for his third career Mercer win. The Stoneboro, Pa. driver started second and passed teammate Brian Booher on the opening lap. Brian Miller, who started fourth, and Matt Lux, who started fifth, quickly qualified themselves as contenders. Miller passed Booher for second on the first lap, and Lux grabbed third from Booher on the fourth go-around. On lap eight, Wheeler slipped too high coming off turn four allowing Miller to take over. Wheeler didn’t give up though as he used the outside to make the winning move on lap 11. Wheeler edged Miller by a car length in his #2W at the checkers just-in-time as he had a rear right flat and left rear losing air in victory lane. Lux was a close third for his best career Mercer finish. Dan Lewis came from ninth to take fourth over Gary Robinson. Taking heat wins over the 30-car field were Miller, Lewis, and Robinson. Ray Yuran won the B main.
Axa Advisors 410 Sprint Car Feature Finish: 1. MIKE LUTZ 2. Jamie Smith 3. Jimmy Hawley 4. Gary Kriess, Jr. 5. Troy Preston 6. Scott Young 7. Mike Kekich 8. Gary Edwards 9. Rob Eyler 10. Andy McKisson 11. Jason Jacoby 12. Scott Priester 13. Jarod Larson 14. Kevin Andrusky 15. Mike Roxberry 16. Gary McCann 17. Scott Bonnell 18. Dan Shetler 19. Brad Miller 20. Jim Bailey 21. Mel Straley 22. Gary McCollum 23. Goob Schuller 24. Mike Marano II 25. Arnie Kent-DNS.
Bolland Machine Big-Block Modified Feature Finish: 1. LOU BLANEY 2. Andy Priest 3. Tommy Kristyak 4. Rodney Beltz 5. Carl Murdick 6. Jim Rasey 7. Lonny Riggs 8. Steve Young 9. Chris Schiffer 10. Kevin Bolland 11. Rick Hall 12. Bill Dorman 13. Gary Risch, Jr. 14. Rob Kristyak 15. Mark Sevin 16. Tim Doran 17. Dean Pearson 18. Carl Weatherby 19. Dave Murdick 20. Jeremiah Shingledecker 21. Randy Myers 22. Don McKnight 23. Doug Duncan 24. Todd Schaffer 25. Gerry Bruce 26. Jim Reagle-DNS.
Miller Lite Six-Cylinder Modified Feature Finish: 1. LOU GENTILE 2. Frank Guidace 3. Conny Allen 4. Randy Ferguson 5. Kenny Hardy 6. Jim Bickel 7. Rick Kress 8. Harold Michaels.
New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modified Feature Finish: 1. DAVE SCHRADER 2. Chanda Reitz 3. Rick Ryder 4. Andy Paden 5. Randy Rodemoyer 6. Skinny Hall 7. Ron Eperthener, Jr. 8. Buck Buchanan 9. J.R. Greer 10. Fred Sasse 11. Gary Bollinger 12. Brian Sadler 13. Doug Updyke 14. Barry Bulfone 15. James Thompson 16. Mike Kelley 17. Zack Moran 18. John Buchanan 19. Mike Mathieson-DNS.
Butterfield’s Pub Stock Car Feature Finish: 1. LEIGH WHEELER 2. Brian Miller 3. Matt Lux 4. Dan Lewis 5. Gary Robinson 6. Brian Booher 7. Albert Hays 8. Dave Ferringer 9. Jim Brunson 10. John Reiser 11. Gary Johns 12. Jeff Kravec 13. Rick Anthony 14. Bill Schall, Jr. 15. Mike Aley 16. Dan Fedorchak 17. Tommy Dembowski 18. Ray Yuran 19. Tom Vincent 20. Willie Aley 21. Gary Miller, Jr. 22. Tim Zuschlag 23. Chuck Kerr 24. Ed Hays DNQ-Jesse Umstead, Kevin Bailey, Ray Bailey, Todd Titus, Kevin Thompson, Andy Buckley.