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CHANCE OF A LIFETIME!!!

GEORGE WINS 2ND IN WILD SPRINT FEATURE AT MERCER; SCHAFFER INHERITS 1ST MOD WIN; #4 FOR GUIDACE IN LATE MODELS; JONES & KNEPPER SPLIT MOD LITES; KINESTON & MYERS SHARE MINI STOCK WINS

By Mike Leone

July 19, 2008

Mercer, PA. For the 17th straight week, Mother Nature scattered showers around Mercer Raceway Park on Saturday night, but only a few sprinkles fell as the entire program was completed. Celebrating in the Hoosier Tire victory lane were Rod George-Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars, Jeff Schaffer-Tire Express Modifieds, Frank Guidace-McElwain Motors FASTRAK Late Models, Rod Jones & Alan Knepper-Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites, and Dillon Kineston & Chris Myers-M&D Paving Mini Stocks. A regular show season-high of 93 cars were on hand and the entire program including the two July 12 make-up features was completed in three and half hours. It was Free Ohio Night presented by Sports Obsession (Eastwood Mall).

On April 19, Brian Ellenberger stole a win away from Rod George in turn four on the last lap. On Saturday night, Ellenberger towed back after an All Star rainout in Michigan to have the tables turned on him as George squeaked by in turn four with the white flag waving to win his second straight 20-lap Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Car feature and Ellenberger's three-race win streak.

"I'll tell you what, the track was a little rough tonight but you could race anywhere- up or down," explained the Kittanning, Pa. driver. "I think you could see that from all the racing out there and it was a nice field of cars and an awesome job by the track crew. The lapped cars played into, but all those guys did a great job. A few months back Brian got me on the last lap. Sometimes it's better to be in second in the last couple laps- just great racing."

Ellenberger blasted into the lead from the pole position with Gale Ruth, Jr. and Chris Shuttleworth trailing. George, who started sixth, passed Eric Williams and Lindsay Enscoe on the first lap for fourth. On lap three, George moved past Shuttleworth for third, while 12th starter Arnie Kent made a nice move to pass both Troy Little and Shuttleworth. Ellenberger caught lapped traffic on lap seven allowing Ruth, George, and point leader Kent to close in. Ruth was all over Ellenberger on lap eight trying to make a pass for the lead, but brushed the wall trying to avoid the slowing Brian Steinman, who brought would bring out the caution.

When racing resumed, Ellenberger continued to set the pace with Ruth, George, and Kent in tow. George took over runner-up on lap 13 racing off turn four and set his sights on Ellenberger. George remained within striking distance as the laps ticked off, but it appeared Ellenberger was going to make it four-for-four. Then came lapped traffic on laps 18 and 19 as George quickly closed on the leader. Ellenberger had a swarm of lapped cars to deal as headed down the backstretch on lap 19. John McCracken slowed as he exited the track and Ellenberger was on the binders entering turn three with cars everywhere. George drove hard up and under Ellenberger off turn four to lead lap 19, while Ellenberger made contact with Lindsay Enscoe at the start-finish line, but able to keep going.

Ellenberger drove hard on the final lap, but was unable to get back by George as George captured his 17th career Mercer win in his Dr. John Crawford III/Pro Shot Directional Boring/Max Weiss/Suzanne Stivason-sponsored #4. Ruth held on to third. Australian Troy Little was able to pass Kent on the final lap to finish fourth in his first Mercer start of the season and second ever. Kent dropped to fifth. Completing the top 10 were Mike Lutz, Scott Bonnell, Shuttleworth, Dan Kuriger, and Bryan Grove. Heat winners over the season-high 22-car field were Little, Ellenberger, and George.

It was a heartbreaking loss for Gary Smoker, but a gift first win for Jeff Schaffer in the 20-lap Tire Express Modified feature as Smoker got tangled up in a turn four last lap accident. "We had our Schaffer family reunion today and I had people from Texas, California, and Chicago all here tonight," expressed the Fombell, Pa. victor. "It's a special day and if we can do it next week (Bill Emig Memorial) we'll have it made."

John Buchanan took off from the pole position with Jimmy Holden in hot pursuit. The two raced side-by-side on laps two and three, but Holden drove in too hard in turns one and two on lap three and looped his mount moving Smoker to second. Following a quick caution for a slowing Lonny Riggs, Smoker and Schaffer moved past Buchanan on the restart for first and second. Seventh starting Garrett Krummert and Buchanan put on a great race running side-by-side lap after lap for third with Krummert high and Buchanan low until Krummert finally got by off turn four on lap 13.

It appeared the final 18 laps were going green-to-checkered as Schaffer didn't have anything for Smoker. Then disaster struck for Smoker. In turn four on the final lap, Dave Cogswell and Jr. Baker tangled. Smoker was entering turn three and slowed, but was unable to avoid the accident as it was a heartbreaking end for a great run by the 2005 champion.

When racing resumed, Schaffer was able to hold off Krummert on the final lap for his first win of the season, fifth of his career in the division, and 12th overall at Mercer in the Jerry Schaffer-owned, Approved Toilet Rentals/DontBeADog.com-sponsored #4. Schaffer became the sixth different winner in seven races in the ultra-competitive division. Buchanan recorded his third straight top five finish, but best effort since a third on June 1, 2002. Frank Guidace was fourth over Rick Hall. Rounding out the top 10 were Steve Barr, Holden, Eric Gabany, Matt Reeher, and Smoker. Winning the heats over the 17-car field were Holden and rookie Dillon McElrath.

Frank Guidace continued his dominance of the FASTRAK Late Models with his fourth win in seven tries in the 20-lap McElwain Motors-sponsored feature. "The track has been different every week since they changed the surface," acknowledged the Mercer, Pa. winner. "Tonight it was bitey and had a big cushion to it. It's been a challenge. I have to thank Lazer Chassis and Shadow Shocks once again. The Goodyear 45 has been excellent all year."

Guidace drew the pole position and survived six cautions and challenges first by Butch Lambert then Steve Hollabaugh for his fifth win at the track in 2008 and 17th of his career in his #1G. Lambert started sixth and worked his way to second on lap two when he passed Brian Booher and Ben Black. Lambert got under Guidace on lap 14, but his night ended that lap when the rack broke in his mount. Hollabaugh then inherited second and stayed right with Guidace coming up only two car lengths shy at the finish for his third runner-up finish of the year. Rusty Moore was fourth. Ben Black crossed the finish in fifth, but was disqualified when he failed to report to tech moving Tyler Dietz to a career best fifth. Sixth through tenth were Mike Anderson (Jr.), Chris Haines, Scott Jones, Lambert, and Paul Reiser. Heats were won by Guidace and Lambert.

Rod Jones of West Middlesex, Pa. opened the night by winning the 15-lap Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lite feature for the fourth time of the season. Terry Young led the first two laps before J.J. Metheney took over. Jones started 10th and moved to third on lap four passing Kenny Meadows. On lap five, it was three-wide for second with Jones and Meadows getting by Brian Woodhall. Jones made what turned out to be the winning move going to the inside of Metheney in turn four on lap eight and came out with the lead. After falling back as far as fourth, Woodhall charged back to second and got a great run in turn four on the final lap to come up two car lengths shy for his best finish of the season in second. The victory was Jones' 14th of his career in the division and 16th overall at the track in the Jones Performance-sponsored #820. Third through fifth were Meadows, 14th starting Todd Canter, and Alan Knepper.

Fifteen-year-old Alan Knepper fought off a late charge by Rod Jones to hold on and win his second feature of the season in the night's regular 15-lap Mod Lite event. "I didn't know if Rod (Jones) was going to get me," stated the Somerset, Pa. winner. "I knew he was going to be there so I was just trying to keep it low."

Knepper started on the pole and raced out the lead. The caution-filled event allowed 12th starting Jones to stay in the hunt. Jones passed point leader Todd Canter on lap seven and then Mark Marcucci following a restart on lap nine. After going single file with six laps completed, the final seven laps ran off caution-free as Knepper was able to hold off Jones by a car-length at the checkered flag in the Lynn Knepper-owned, Knepper Repair/Bill's Auto-sponsored #1. Another 15-year-old Bud Watson was third. Mark Marcucci was a season-best fourth over Meadows.

The youth movement continued in the Mini Stocks as 14-year-old Dillon Kineston won the July 12 M&D Paving make-up and 15-year-old Chris Myers won for the fourth time in the night's regular 12-lap event. Kineston started on the pole and led from green-to-checkered in the non-stop event timed in four minutes and 50 seconds ironically holding off Myers. The rookie Kineston's win came in the David Kineston-owned #19. Newcomer Kyle Colwell was third over Stephen Laslo and Jamie Colwell.

"I'd like to thank my mom, dad, and grandpa and all my sponsors for supporting me and keeping my car on the track," expressed the New Castle, Pa. driver." My grandpa (former racer Carl Wager) is probably dancing around down there. I was a little nervous and just kept my head straight like grandpa said and don't worry about it."

Despite starting 10th, Myers wasn't to be denied in the night's regular 12-lap feature. The Knox, Pa. racer inherited the lead on lap eight when Kyle Colwell slowed and raced on to his fourth win of the season in the Les Myers-owned, Eric's Auto Service-sponsored #c1. Myers win was worth an extra $100 from division sponsor M&D Paving. Newcomer Cody Colwell was second after starting seventh with Kineston, Bill Fuchs, and Wally Stearns, Jr. completing the top five. Myers, Kineston, and Kyle Colwell were heat winners over the season high 24-car field.

Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars (20 laps): 1. ROD GEORGE (4) 2. Brian Ellenberger (20E) 3. Gale Ruth, Jr. (5x) 4. Troy Little (20AU) 5. Arnie Kent (18) 6. Mike Lutz (Chappel 8) 7. Scott Bonnell (3B) 8. Chris Shuttleworth (11) 9. Dan Kuriger (08) 10. Bryan Grove (45) 11. Jeremy Cook (5L) 12. Joe Butera (Matus 3J) 13. Paul Kish (Clark 4c) 14. Eric Williams (76) 15. Brent Matus (33) 16. Gale Ruth, Sr. (1R) 17. Paul Kapuchuck (10) 18. Lindsay Enscoe (96) 19. John McCracken (63) 20. Carl Bowser (10) 21. Nate Stein (93) 22. Brian Steinman (24s).

Tire Express 358 Modifieds (20 laps): 1. JEFF SCHAFFER (4) 2. Garrett Krummert (29) 3. John Buchanan (93) 4. Frank Guidace (1G) 5. Rick Hall (B2) 6. Steve Barr (25B) 7. Jimmy Holden (28H) 8. Eric Gabany (3E) 9. Matt Reeher (711) 10. Gary Smoker (516) 11. Dillon McElrath (7) 12. Dave Cogswell (8) 13. Jr. Baker (359) 14. Kevin Green (74) 15. Fred Sasse (0) 16. Mark Bailey (14B) 17. Lonny Riggs (Black 58).

McElwain Motors FASTRAK Late Models (20 laps): 1. FRANK GUIDACE (1G) 2. Steve Hollabaugh (3H) 3. Brian Booher (Hoover 00H) 4. Rusty Moore (17M) 5. Tyler Dietz (10) 6. Mike Anderson, Jr. (72) 7. Chris Haines (35H) 8. Jason Stanke (44) 9. Butch Lambert (27) 10. Paul Reiser (293) 11. Dave Airgood, Jr. (42JR) 12. Ben Black (27B)-DSQ (did not report to tech) 13. Dan Karalagas (G1)-DNS.

Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lite July 12 Make-up (15 laps): 1. ROD JONES (820) 2. Brian Woodhall (8B) 3. Kenny Meadows (Teague 10T) 4. J.J. Metheney (31c) 5. Todd Canter (Teague 9T) 6. Alan Knepper (1) 7. Bud Watson (15) 8. George Englert (11x) 9. John Gerula, Jr. (54) 10. Steve Young (Yeager 7) 11. Terry Young (98) 12. Bill Stivason (116) 13. Kotie Kirkbride (97N) 14. Mark Marcucci (8M) 15. Levi Spinneweber (10s) 16. Dave Snow (34) 17. Bryan Martin-DNS (did not return).

Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites (15 laps): 1. ALAN KNEPPER (1) 2. Rod Jones (820) 3. Bud Watson (15) 4. Mark Marcucci (8M) 5. Kenny Meadows (Teague 10T) 6. Todd Canter (Teague 9T) 7. Levi Spinneweber (10s) 8. Steve Young (Yeager 7) 9. Terry Young (98) 10. George Englert (11x) 11. Shane Pfeuffer (Lawson 40L) 12. John Gerula, Jr. (54) 13. Bill Stivason (116) 14. Kotie Kirkbride (97N) 15. Dave Jones (82) 16. J.J. Metheney (31c) 17. Brian Woodhall (8B) 18. Matt Snow (34)-DNS.

M&D Paving Mini Stock July 12 Make-up (12 laps): 1. DILLON KINESTON (19) 2. Chris Myers (c1) 3. Kyle Colwell (80JR) 4. Stephen Laslo (55) 5. Jamie Colwell (54J) 6. Mike Mathieson (72) 7. Dan McEwen (44) 8. Ed Haylett (8-ball) 9. Wally Stearns, Jr. (33) 10. Bill Fuchs (10) 11. Tyler Powell (36) 12. Jordan Gentile-Preston (1P) 13. Dillon Barr (15) 14. Scott Gilliland (27) 15. Pete Blazczak (77) 16. Rudolph Troples (28) 17. Matt Cwynar (21c) 18. Kyle Crawford (14c) 19. Sam Kloos (62K) 20. Jordan Ehrenberg (JD57) 21. Cody Colwell (67) 22. Cory Eckels (124)-DNS (did not return) 23. Ryan Beatty (78)-DNS (did not return).

M&D Paving Mini Stocks (12 laps): 1. CHRIS MYERS (c1) 2. Cody Colwell (67) 3. Dillon Kineston (19) 4. Bill Fuchs (10) 5. Wally Stearns, Jr. (33) 6. Tyler Powell (36) 7. Ed Haylett (8-ball) 8. Dillon Barr (15) 9. Kyle Crawford (14c) 10. Erick Cwynar (21c) 11. Rudolph Troples (28) 12. Dan McEwen (44) 13. Kyle Colwell (80JR) 14. Scott Gilliland (27) 15. Curtis Brown (67) 16. Dan Nagy (17B) 17. Jordan Gentile-Preston (1P) 18. Stephen Laslo (55) 19. Mike Mathieson (72) 20. Sam Kloos (62K)-DNS 21. Jordan Ehrenberg (JD57)-DNS 22. Pete Blazczak (77)-DNS 23. Jamie Colwell (54J)-DNS 24. Tim Callahan (26T)-DSQ (illegal).

Upcoming Events:

7/26 "Open Wheel Shootout" presented by FireDEX of Butler. Bill Emig Modified Memorial ($1,500), 410 Sprint Cars ($1,500), PA 305 Sprints, Limited Sprints, Mod Lites ($300), & Mini Stocks. Anderson Bros. Tool Corp. Night.

8/02 Sprints, Mods, FASTRAK Late Models, Mod Lites, & Mini Stocks plus July 12 Sprint make-up feature. "Meet Your Heroes Autograph Night" presented by Duke Whiting for PA State Rep. 17th District. "Racing for a Cure" - An American Cancer Society Benefit Night. All cancer survivors admitted free. Free Shenango Valley Night (Sharon, Hermitage, West Middlesex, Sharpsville, Farrell, Wheatland) presented by Three Rivers Aggregates. Trinity Living Center of Grove City Corp. Night.

Gates open at 4:30 p.m. with hot laps at 6:30 and racing at 7.

Mercer Raceway Park is located minutes from both Interstate 79 and 80 just off Route 19 on Fairground Road in Mercer, Pa. Dirt track racing and quality family entertainment are presented weekly late March through early October. The office in New Bedford, Pa. is open year-round late mornings and after 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information call the office at 724-964-9300 or the track on race day at 724-662-1310. Check out our website at www.mercerracewaypark.com for the latest.