SMALL CAR NATIONAL OPEN COMING FRIDAY AT MERCER; $7 ADULT & $18 FAMILY
ADMISSION FOR RACING PLUS "KABOOM 150" ENDURO
By Mike Leone
June 30, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mercer, PA.A new event will debut this Friday night, July 4 at Mercer
Raceway Park. The "Small Car National Open" will be presented by Truk Rodz
by Jones Performance and include the STAR's Championship Tour for Mod
Lites, 270 Micro Sprints, the INEX Legend Cars, Mini Stocks, and the "KABOOM
150" Enduro. Racing begins early at 6 p.m. and the rain date is Saturday
and Sunday. Admission is just $7 for adults, families are only $18, and
students 6-15 just $3.
The Big Daddy's Speed Center Mod Lites will be competing in the second of
three STAR's Championship Tour events held this season at the Park. The
20-lap feature will pay $600 to-win and a strong field of cars is
expected. Todd Canter of Warren, Ohio is the current point leader at
Mercer looking for his first win of the season. Defending track champion,
Rod Jones, is the division's all-time winner at Mercer with 12 wins
including two this season.
The 270 Micro Sprints will make their first of two appearances of the
season before returning for the Little Guy Nationals on September 26. The
20-lap feature will pay $500 to-win. There is no entry fee for the Micro
Sprints. There have been an amazing 17 different winners in the 20 Micro
Sprint races held all-time at Mercer. Only Jim Young, Steve Dunmire, and
Jay Groves have been able to repeat. Single winners include Rod Jones,
Maria Mayerchak, Kevin Schaeffer, Matt Wingard, Karlin Miller, Terry
Schaeffer, Mike Himes, Danny Holtgraver, J.J. Metheney, George Hobaugh
(Jr.), Sean McAndrew, Mikey Schall, Todd Reusser, and Brian Kishbaugh.
Making their first ever appearance will be the Legend Cars in an INEX-sanctioned
National Touring/Regional Qualifier event. Forty-seven events make up
their 2008 schedule of events, which include stops in California,
Tennessee, Virginia, Arizona, Nevada, Texas, Florida, Indiana, Washington,
North Carolina, Oregon, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Idaho, Montana,
Wisconsin, Minnesota, Maine, Oklahoma, New York, Georgia, Nebraska,
Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, as well as Saskatoon, Canada, and
Castle Donnington, UK. For more information, go to www.600racing.
com.
Rounding out the racing card will be Mercer's own M&D Paving Mini Stocks
with an increased purse.
After the successful "Jack Frost 150" Enduro held last January, Mercer
Raceway Park decided to add a second enduro titled the "KABOOM 150. The "KABOOM
150" will be 150 laps with $1,000 going to the winner and paying down five
positions. The event will follow the completion of the racing action. As
of Monday, 69 cars were pre-entered. Those still wishing to register can
go to www.mercerracewaypa
rk.com, click
on rules, and then the Enduro link. The entry fee is now $100, which still
includes drivers' pit pass and grandstand admission for their scorer.
Entries will be accepted on race day.
The inaugural "Jack Frost 150" drew 118 cars and was won by former Stock
Car racer Leigh Wheeler. The "Jack Frost 150" will return on Saturday,
January 3, 2009.
"We're always looking at trying new things," explained Vicki Emig. "People
have always asked us to do enduros so after the successful Jack Frost one,
we decided to give one a shot in the summertime. We figured we'd actually
try racing with this one. The Micro Sprints are always wanting to race at
Mercer so this is a good date that doesn't conflict with any other tracks.
The Mod Lites always support the STAR's shows and it'll be the first ever
appearance by the Legends Cars. We've cut admission prices and we just
want everyone to have fun and kickoff the Independence Day holiday with
us."
Pit gates open at 2:30 p.m. and grandstands at 3:30, hot laps are at 5:15,
and racing begins at 6. Adult admission is $7. Students 6-15 are $3.
Children five and under are always free. The family pass, which admits
mom, dad, and up to four kids, is $18. Pit passes are $30.
Truk Rodz by Jones Performance is located at 1 Jones Way, West Middlesex,
PA. For more information, check out their website at www.jonesperformanc
e.com
or call 1-800-451-1600.
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 or e-mail
to
webmaster@mercerracewaypark.com.
Check out our website at www.mercerracewaypa
rk.com
for the latest.