Kristyak wins over $3,500

in Mercer DIRT Mods;

Gentile wins Special

Six-Cylinder Main

by Mike Leone

July 3, 1999

Mercer (PA)...Tommy Kristyak (MercerPros.com DIRT Modifieds) was the big winner on the Bill Emig Memorial Night Saturday evening at Mercer Raceway Park. Other winners were Lou Gentile (Miller Lite/Amsoil Six-Cylinder Modifieds) and Gary Robinson (Butterfield’s Pub Pure Stock Cars).

Tommy Kristyak topped a stellar field of 43 DIRT Modifieds to win his first race at Mercer since opening night in the 35-lap Bill Emig Memorial. The Stoneboro, Pa. driver benefited from a Lou Blaney spin and mechanical problems on Brian Swartzlander car to capture the big win. "Everything felt great. I’m glad the fastest two cars broke. Sometimes you don’t have to be the fastest car to win," said Kristyak. "I just want to thank everyone. Give me the money and I’m out of here," said the driver of the #26z from victory lane.

Kristyak jumped into the lead at the drop of the green. Swartzlander, who started fourth, passed Chris Schiffer on the opening lap and disposed of Kevin Bolland for second on lap two coming off turn two on the bottom. After four cautions on laps four and five, Lou Blaney, who started 12th, got by both Schiffer and Bolland to take over third. Then on the lap five restart for Jim Rasey, Swartzlander drove by Kristyak to take command. It was lap seven when Blaney drove to the inside of Kristyak on the backstretch for runner-up. Blaney ran down the 1998 northeast’s winningest big-block driver and pressured him during laps 10-13. Blaney was unable to make the move, but closed back in on lap 16, when action heated up. Swartzlander was in traffic and slowed considerably going into turns one and two to try to avoid the slower cars. Blaney slid into Swartzlander spinning the #10 and brought out the caution.

Just when Swartzlander appeared to be headed to his first Mercer win, the fan came off and took out the radiator on lap 22 ending his fine run, but did garner $475 in lap money. This gave the lead to Kristyak and he drove off to the win as the last 14 laps went non-stop. The victory was worth $3,000 plus $525 in lap money out of the $14,995 total purse for the division. The last 10 laps was a heated battle for second after Kristyak pulled away. Bolland and Schiffer both moved by Jeff Hoffman on the lap 22 restart for second and third and the three battled until Blaney made his way back through the field to enter the mix. The four cars could have been covered by a blanket in the final 10 laps. On the final lap, Blaney charged to the outside passing Schiffer and then Bolland coming off turn four to finish second. Bolland held off Schiffer and Hoffman for third. Sixth through tenth were Tim Doran, Les Myers in the Bob Rial #68, Carl Murdick, Scott Gurdak, and Mike Sutton. Blaney, Hoffman, Steve Young, and Jim Weller won the heats. Skip Deane and Gurdak won the two B mains.

In the 10-lap "Legacy" race, Brian Swartzlander was able to lead all 10 laps of the 10-car event featuring the top two point cars from Lernerville, Mercer, Sportsman’s, Sharon, and Tri-City. The Leechburg, Pa. driver pulled the #1 pill and had no problem holding off the top drivers in his Ferrante Oldsmobile /McCutcheon Enterprises #83. The win was worth $600 after Tri-City co-promoter Mike Graham added $100. None of the top four starters elected to start scratch for a chance at winning $1,000. Rex King was second after passing Rick Hall on the start. Hall was third with Weller fourth. Blaney came from 10th to finish fifth. Sixth though tenth were Young, Hoffman, Gurdak, Schiffer, and Rasey.

Lou Gentile was the winner of an emotional 25-lap Bill Emig Memorial Six-Cylinder Modified Feature. The Youngstown, Ohio driver won his third straight and fourth of the year worth $1,000 driver the Emig #1. "I put the gear to it tonight and it really worked. I turned it up a little," said the 60-year-old veteran. "This means a lot on Bill’s (Emig) night. I’m glad for Bill, Vicki (Emig’s daughter), Jody (Emig’s daughter), and the little one here (Bill’s granddaughter Morgan)," said Gentile who’s winning’s went to the American Cancer society. Frank Guidace, Kenny Hardy, and Gentile all worked their way to the front from the 10th, 11th, and 13th starting positions receptively to take first, second, and third on lap six passing rookie Dana Gearhart. On lap seven, Gentile edged Hardy for second at the line. On lap 10, Guidace slipped high on the backstretch allowing Gentile, Hardy, and Carl Weatherby to go by.

Hardy pitted on lap 13 moving Weatherby to second and Guidace to third. The last 12 laps saw Weatherby all over Gentile as the two diced through lap traffic, but it was Gentile, who put on a driving clinic coming out on top for the popular win. The race went non-stop in 7:43.47. Behind Gentile and Weatherby were Guidace, point leader Randy Ferguson and Harold Michaels. Sixth through tenth were a career-best finish by Mark McEwen, Bill Adams in the Stan Bell #42, Conny Allen, Jim Bickel, and Mark Welsh. Heat winners were Gentile and Weatherby. Weatherby also won the four-car, four-lap dash worth $100 for the top four point cars.

Gary Robinson continued his dominance of the Pure Stocks with his third straight win and fifth of the season. The Greenville, Pa. driver passed Tim Mailliard for third on lap six and moved into second one lap later passing Pat Hile. Meanwhile, Andy Buckley was out in front looking for a career first win. Robinson ran him down on lap nine and benefited from a caution for Randy Snider with 12 laps completed. On the restart, Robinson pulled ahead and went on for the win in his Cresswell’s Auto Align/Speir Homes #44R. Buckley was second over 11th starter Lynn Hostetler, Mailliard, and Anthony. Heat winners were Robinson, Jeff Buccella, and Shaun Hooks. Pat McMenamin won the B main.

Waste Management Sprint Car Feature Finish:

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MercerPros.com DIRT Modified Feature Finish:

(dollar amount won in parenthesis indicates total money won for all events)

1. TOMMY KRISTYAK ($3,535)

2. Lou Blaney ($1,550)

3. Kevin Bolland ($910)

4. Chris Schiffer ($735)

5. Jeff Hoffman ($550)

6. Tim Doran ($415)

7. Les Myers ($375)

8. Carl Murdick ($350)

9. Scott Gurdak ($350)

10. Mike Sutton ($305)

11. Rich Ferguson ($205)

12. Jerry Bickel ($195)

13. Brian Swartzlander ($1,275)

14. Mark Sevin ($185)

15. Jim Rasey ($210)

16. Tommy Mason ($180)

17. Rex King ($420)

18. Bill Dorman ($180)

19. Guy Griffin ($175)

20. Jim Weller ($230)

21. Rodney Beltz ($165)

22. Steve Young ($200)

23. Skip Deane ($150)

24. Rob McClimans ($150)

DNQ-Troy Schaffer ($100), Shane McElhaney ($100), Greg Davis ($100), Skip Moore ($100), Scott Rodgers ($100), Steve Barr ($100), Randy Myers ($100), Rick Hall ($200), Lonny Riggs ($100), Don Blaney ($100), Jim Reagle ($100), Jeff Schaffer ($100), Tom Glenn ($100), Tom Smith ($100), Bob Dorman ($100), Tom Armstrong ($100), Skinny Hall ($100), Arnie Kent ($100), Andy Priest ($100).

Miller Lite/AMSOIL Six-Cylinder Modified Feature Finish:

1. LOU GENTILE

2. Carl Weatherby 3. Frank Guidace 4. Randy Ferguson 5. Harold Michaels 6. Mark McEwen 7. Bill Adams 8. Conny Allen 9. Jim Bickel 10. Mark Welsh 11. Dana Gearhart 12. Jim Siferd 13. Joe Kane 14. Rick Kress 15. Kenny Hardy 16. Troy Willoughby 17. Dustin Kress 18. Jerry Schaffer.

Quaker Steak & Lube West-Penn Limited Modified Feature Finish:

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Butterfield’s Pub Pure Stock Feature Finish:

1. GARY ROBINSON

2. Andy Buckley 3. Lynn Hostetler 4. Tim Mailliard 5. Rick Anthony 6. Pat Hile 7. Brian Miller 8. Shaun Hooks 9. Chuck Kerr 10. Jim Riffenberrick 11. Tony Spaghetti 12. Terry Wheeler 13. John Reiser 14. Albert Hays 15. Charlie Baptiste 16. Terry Kroner 17. George Davis 18. Willie Aley 19. Jeff Buccella 20. Randy Snider 21. Pat McMenamin 22. Lisa Whitehouse 23. Jim Brunson 24. Bill Banick, Jr.