"RACING FOR A CURE" WITH FREE ADMISSION FOR CANCER SURVIVORS & NEW CASTLE RESIDENTS SATURDAY AT MERCER

By Mike Leone

June 18, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


(Mercer, PA).Mercer Raceway Park will resume action this Saturday night, June 21 with another five-division racing card of Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars, Tire Express Modifieds, McElwain Motors FASTRAK Late Models, Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites, and the M&D Paving Mini Stocks with racing beginning at 7 p.m. It's UPMC Horizon Corp. Night.

Saturday is the inaugural "Racing for a Cure" - American Cancer Society Benefit Event held in conjunction with the Mercer County Relay for Life. All cancer survivors will be admitted free into the grandstands. Every competing race car has the ability to race in memory of support of cancer victim for $50 and raise $10 sponsorships with all the monies going to the American Cancer Society. Currently all of the divisions, the features, heat races, scoreboard, victory lane, and flags used by Todd Beichner have been sponsored. The proceeds of the 50/50 benefit will also go to the American Cancer Society.

FASTRAK Late Model driver Mike Anderson, Jr. (over $600), Modified driver Matt Howsare (over $500), and Mini Stock racer Ed Haylett (over $400) have gone above and beyond the call with their fundraising efforts. Ed will of course be racing for his son, Leland, who passed away last week.

The Rhodes Family led by Famous and Christian are putting up $1,000 in various sponsorships in memory of the great Paul Rhodes and his Cloud-9 racer, who was the 1981 and 1982 Semi-Late champion. The Rhodes Family will be sponsoring all five divisions, lap nine of all five features, the two FASTRAK Late Model heat races, and the set of flags.

Cathy Fox, owner of Foxy Cuts & Curls, and Sheila Beck, owner of Beck's Mirror Image, will be on hand for the Locks of Love program. Anyone wishing to participate can go to our website at www.mercerracewaypark.com for more information.

"The response has been overwhelming for this event," acknowledged 10th year owner Vicki Emig. "The Mercer County Relay for Life contacted me in the winter about donations for their Chinese Auction and a few conversations later this night was put together and announced at our banquet in January. Our goal is to raise $7,500 for the American Cancer Society in fighting this disease that has effected so many loved ones. Even though we mentioned Anderson, Howsare, Haylett, and the Rhodes Family, in no way do we want to diminish the efforts of everyone that is participating no matter what amount for the cause. This just goes to show how great the racing community is. I would like to see this program be used as a template for other area speedways."

Eventually all of the sponsorships will be posted on our website so everyone's efforts will be made available to view.

Saturday is also the first "Hey Neighbor" C'mon Over night as all New Castle, Pa. residents will be admitted free into the grandstands presented by new marketing partner Augustine's Italian Village along with Froggy 95. New Castle residents must simply show a valid ID and all accompanying children 15 and under will also be admitted at no charge.

"New Castle is a good area for us," acknowledged Emig. "It encompasses a pretty big area outside of the city including Neshannock, Union, and Hickory Township residents and is just a short drive to the Park. We've never done a promotion in Lawrence County so we're looking forward to the response. We're now serving the popular Augustine's Pizza in our concessions and they were good enough to get involved in this promotion. Augustine's is very popular in the New Castle area."

After missing June 7 due to the wedding for his son, Rod George returned to capture his first Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Car feature win of the season last Saturday night. George trails New Castle driver Arnie Kent by 30 points. Kent would love to get his first win of the season Saturday on New Castle night and extend his point lead in search of his first championship.

Last Saturday was a big night for Mercer's own Frank Guidace, who for the first time in his career won two features in one night. Guidace's win in the 20-lap Tire Express Modified feature was his first of the season in that division and pulled him within six of point leader Lonny Riggs of Volant, Pa.

Guidace's FASTRAK Late Model victory was his third in the McElwain Motors-sponsored division, but only leads three-time Stock Car champion, Brian Booher, by just nine markers.

Fifteen-year-old Alan Knepper became the youngest Mod Lite winner in the history of Mercer with his victory in last Saturday's 15-lap Big Daddy's Speed Center feature. Knepper sits third in points one-point behind fellow 15-year-old Bud Watson. Both youngsters trail Warren, Ohio's Todd Canter, who hasn't finished worse than sixth all year.

Pit gates open at 3:30 p.m. and grandstand gates open at 4:30. Warm ups begin at 6:15 and racing is at 7. For all others, adult admission is $11, students 6-15 are $5, the Family Pass is $25, and kids five and under are free. Pit passes are $25.

Mercer Raceway Park is located just minutes from both Interstates 79 & 80 just off Route 19 at 555 Fairground Road, Mercer, PA. For more information, check out www.mercerracewaypark.com or call the office at 724-964-9300. For information on race day, call the track at 724-662-1310