Popular Mercer Sprint

and Modified Wins to

Hawley and Blaney

by Mike Leone

June 12, 1999

Mercer (PA)...Highlighting action on the seventh night of racing Saturday evening at Mercer Raceway Park saw area stars Jimmy Hawley (Waste Management Sprint Cars) and Lou Blaney (MercerPros.com DIRT Modifieds) record wins. Other winners were Carl Weatherby (Miller Lite/Amsoil Six-Cylinder Modifieds), Don McKnight (Quaker Steak & Lube West-Penn Limited Modifieds), and Bill Hanna (Butterfield’s Pub Pure Stocks).

Less than 24 hours after losing an All Star race at Lernerville due to an engine problem, Jimmy Hawley rebounded to win his third 20-lap Waste Management Sprint Car win of the year. "We hurt our good motor last night. We were planning to go to Pittsburgh (All Star Speedweek) tonight, but when the guys were checking out the motor they found a broken lifter. We’re happy to be here," said the West Middlesex, Pa. driver from the winner’s circle. The only major incident of the race occurred on lap two when the first three cars of Dave Wagner, Gary McCollum, and Gary Edwards tangled with Edwards turning over. Edwards was okay, but done for the night. This gave the lead to Tommy Burns, Jr. up from fifth and placed Hawley, who started eighth, in runner-up with only one lap in. When racing resumed, Hawley chased Burns for four laps before making his move on the sixth circuit. Hawley drove by Burns coming off turn two for the lead and checked out.

A couple of the Vintage Race Cars attending the exhibit

on June 12, 1999 -- Mercer Raceway Park...

-- © Jim Balentine Photo

"The only major incident of the race occurred on lap two when the first three cars of Dave Wagner, Gary McCollum, and Gary Edwards tangled, with Edwards turning over. "

-- © Jim Balentine Photo

Troy Preston was on the move from his 12th starting spot as he passed Terry Young on lap nine coming off four for third. Preston ran down Burns and the two battled to the checkers, while Hawley drove off for the win in the John and Deb Crawford owned, Dr. John Crawford Family Practice/Mihalcak Motorsports #cIII. "You’ve got to give Vicki (Emig) all the credit in the world for what she’s doing to this track. It’s been a lot more racy and hopefully everybody is starting to see a good show," concluded Hawley. Burns edged Preston for his third runner-up of the year. Tom Quarterson was a season-best fourth over Mike Kekich. Sixth through tenth were Staple Nash, Jim Chappel, Tim Kern, Terry Young, and Kent. Nash and Hawley won the heats.

Taking advice from car owner and builder Dave Blaney, Lou Blaney stayed home and scored his second consecutive 20-lap MercerPros.com DIRT Modified win. "I’d like to race tomorrow night (Sharon Speedway) and I’d also like to see him (Dave) run. But he said there will be a lot more so I’ll get tonight and tomorrow I hope. And I hope he does good too," said the smiling Hartford, Ohio native from the winner’s circle. Rick Hall, Lonny Riggs, and Rodney Beltz moved by Rob McClimans on the start for the first three positions. By lap four, Blaney had already worked into the top five from his 11th starting spot. One lap later, Blaney moved to fourth passing McClimans. Beltz and Blaney got by Riggs for second and third on laps six and nine respectively as a great battle for the lead developed.

On lap 10, Blaney passed Beltz for second as Beltz lost the handle and spun to bring out the caution. When green flag racing resumed, Blaney drove by Hall on the outside of turns one and two for the lead. Blaney then cruised the win in the Carpenter’s Towing/Troy-Alan Chevrolet #10. To the approval of the cheering crowd, Blaney said, "I appreciate all of you. The Mercer fans are the best in the country." Hall was second. Guy Griffin was third after Riggs spun on the 19th lap. Steve Young was fourth tying Carl Murdick, who finished fifth, for the point lead. Completing the top ten were McClimans, Beltz, Michigan’s Don Whitney, Jerry Bickel, and Riggs. Heats were won by Griffin and Tim Doran.

Carl Weatherby won his third straight Miller Lite/Amsoil Six-Cylinder Modified Feature and did so by coming from last to win the $100 bonus in honor of the late Bill Emig. Weatherby even brought out a caution with one lap in and restarted on the tail for the second time, while Bill Adams and Jim Bickel led the early laps. Kenny Hardy took over the lead from Bickel on lap five. On lap eight, Weatherby passed both Randy Ferguson and Bickel to move into second. Hardy and Weatherby pulled away from the field.

Weatherby’s winning move came on the lap 14 restart as the Volant, Pa. was able to hold off Hardy for his fourth win of the year and 32nd of his career at

Mercer in his #919. Bickel was third for his third straight top five. Ferguson and Frank Guidace were fourth and fifth. Weatherby and Gentile were heat victors.

Don McKnight is not letting the sophomore season jinx bother him. The Jamestown, Pa. driver won his third 20-lap Quaker Steak & Lube West-Penn Limited Modified Feature of the season. Gary Smoker appeared to be on his way to victory after passing Skinny Hall for the lead on lap two. But on lap 13, Smoker broke giving the lead back to Hall. Then on lap 14, Hall was racing through traffic and the slow car of Mike Kelley spun taking him out. This gave the lead to tenth starting McKnight. The last seven laps was a great five-car battle with point leader McKnight holding off Scott Kay, Tom Mattocks, Rick Hall, and Marty Kristyak for his second-straight win in his #67. Kristyak, Gary Bollinger, and McKnight won the heats.

The 1994 and 1995 Mercer Champion, Bill Hanna, returned to victory lane in the 15-lap Butterfield’s Pub Pure Stock Feature for the first time since September 27, 1997. Leigh Wheeler passed Brian Miller for the lead on lap four. Hanna was making his way to the front from his 12th starting spot as he took runner-up from Miller on lap 12. The winning move came on lap 14 as Hanna got by for the win in the Gordon’s Auto Sales/Doug Smith Orthodontist #*21. Wheeler was second for the second-straight week. Lynn Hostetler, Miller, and Rick Anthony were second through fifth. Heat wins were taken by Gary Robinson, Mailliard, and Hostetler. Albert Hays won the B main.

Waste Management Sprint Car Feature Finish:

1. JIMMY HAWLEY

2. Tommy Burns, Jr. 3. Troy Preston 4. Tom Quarterson 5. Mike Kekich 6. Staple Nash 7. Jim Chappel 8. Tim Kern 9. Terry Young 10. Arnie Kent 11. Mike Latsch 12. Gary McCollum 13. Brent Covell 14. Troy Cochran 15. Dave Wagner 16. Gary Edwards 17. Jason Jacoby-DNS 18. Joe McEwen-DNS.

MercerPros.com DIRT Modified Feature Finish:

1. LOU BLANEY

2. Rick Hall 3.Guy Griffin 4. Steve Young 5. Carl Murdick 6. Rob McClimans 7. Rodney Beltz 8. Don Whitney 9. Jerry Bickel 10. Lonny Riggs 11. Jim Reagle 12. Chris Schiffer 13. Tim Doran 14. Troy Schaffer 15. Tom Armstrong 16. Scott Rodgers 17. Mark Sevin 18. Todd Schaffer 19. Bill Dorman 20. Kenny Hardy 21. Andy Priest.

Miller Lite/AMSOIL Six-Cylinder Modified Feature Finish:

1. CARL WEATHERBY

2. Kenny Hardy 3. Jim Bickel 4. Randy Ferguson 5. Frank Guidace 6. Bill

Adams 7. Mark Welsh 8. Rick Kress 9. Stan Bell 10. Conny Allen 11.Gregg

McCandless 12. Harold Michaels 13. Lou Gentile 14. Dustin Kress 15. Steve Barr 16. Jerry Schaffer 17. Dana Gearhart-DNS.

Quaker Steak & Lube West-Penn Limited Modified Feature:

1.DON MCKNIGHT

2.Scott Kay 3. Tom Mattocks 4. Rick Hall 5. Marty Kristyak 6. Gary Bollinger 7. John Buchanan 8. Rick Ryder 9. Buck Buchanan 10. Doug Upton 11. Skinny Hall 12. Randy Rodemoyer 13. Bob Young 14. Jeremiah Shingledecker 15. Joe Walsh, Jr. 16. Mike Kelley 17. Ron Sasse 18. Jeff Miller 19. Bill Thompson 20. Boyd Johnston, Jr. 21. Gary Smoker 22. Shon Derr 23. Rob Kristyak 24. Kevin Thompson 25. Ron Eperthener, Jr.-DNS.

Butterfield’s Pub Pure Stock Feature Finish:

1. BILL HANNA

2. Leigh Wheeler 3. Lynn Hostetler 4. Brian Miller 5. Rick Anthony 6. Chuck Kerr 7. Bill Banick, Jr. 8. Jeff Kravec 9. Shon Derr 10. Ray Bailey 11. Albert Hays 12. Steve Reed 13. Gary Robinson 14. Pat Hile 15. Mike Aley 16. Buck Sevin 17. Charlie Baptiste 18. Lisa Whitehouse 19. George Davis 20. Todd Titus 21. Jim Brunson 22. Tim Mailliard 23. Brian Mathieson 24. Jim Riffenberrick DNQ-Tony Spaghetti, Mike Metelsky, Willie Aley, John Reiser, Brian Booher, Dan Fedorchak, Mark Covert, Jim Peska, Jr., Randy Snider.