Michaels Mercer raceway completes 25th annual little guy nationals with 12 different winners in 13 features

By Jim Balentine

(Mercer, Pa)

Ransomville NY invader Erick Rudolph traveled south to Michaels Mercer raceway and went back home with $3500 as he dominated the small block modified class winning both nights in the 25th annual little guy nationals. Rudolph was the only repeat winner of the weekend.

Jeremy Kornbau and Ace Pruitt won the Racesaver 305 sprint events; Josh Sieppel and Joey Zambotti took the Pro stock mains; Garrett Krummert and Gage Priester won the 602 crate modified features; Andy Thompson and Josh Frantz won in mini stocks; Brendan Warner won the economod feature; Nate Young took the UMP modified feature; John Garvin was the crate sprint winner. There were 137 cars in 6 divisions Friday night and 139 cars in 7 divisions Saturday.

In the small block modifieds Friday Erick Rudolph took the lead from Rex King Jr on lap 5 and Saturday also on lap 5 from Hayden Holden to dominate the weekend picking up $3500 in winnings.

In the Racesaver 305 sprints rookie 19 year old Ace Pruitt pulled the upset Friday night leading all 20 laps for $900 and former track champion Jeremy Kornbau won his 10th career Mercer 305 sprint feature worth $1000.

The pro stocks had Josh Sieppel lead flag to flag Friday night for $900 to win and Joey Zambotti won his 1st career Mercer pro stock feature Saturday worth $1000 leading flag to flag.

The 602 crate modifieds had the highest car count of the weekend with 33 cars fri night and 29 sat. Garrett Krummert won his 12th career crate mod feature worth $900 fri passing Ayden Cipriano on lap 16 then on Saturday Gage Priester won $1200 passing Kole Holden with 3 laps to go.

The mini stocks had 30 year veteran Andy Thompson winning his 20th career mini stock win Friday worth $600 and on Saturday Josh Frantz picked up $1000.

In the Economods Friday night Brendan Warner won $800 leading flag to flag over Dennis Lunger.

Nate Young continued his dominance of 2024 winning his 13th UMP modified feature of the season Saturday by 3.7 seconds over Garrett Calvert.

John Mollick won his 10th crate non wing sprint feature of 2024 Saturday collecting $800 by 2.7 seconds over Blaze Myers.

Chuck Davis won the mini stock “never have I ever” won a feature and Amanda Smith won the ladies powder puff race.

This concluded the 2024 season at Michaels Mercer raceway.