Mercer Raceway Park Press Releases

GUIDACE SWEEPS “LITTLE GUY NAT’S” FOR MODS ; MARTZ & FENNO SPLIT STOCK FEATURES; HOLTGRAVER WINS 1ST EVER IN FASTRAK; BAKER & KI

Sat, Oct 10, 2009 -- "Little Guy Nationals" Night 2
Written by: Mike Leone

After a two-week delay, Mercer Raceway Park concluded the 10th annual “Little Guy Nationals” presented by American Racer/Lias Tire on Saturday night with 139 cars filling the pit area. Capturing wins were Frank Guidace-Approved Toilet Rentals 358 Modifieds, Rusty Martz-Stock Car 1, Greg Fenno-Stock Car 2, Joe Kot-Stock Car Non-Qualifiers Consolation, Josh Holtgraver-4 Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Models, Dave Baker-Strictly Stocks, and Cory Kilgore-M&D Paving Mini Stocks.

For awhile it looked like Frank Guidace may go winless in 2009 after a career best season in 2008, which saw him win seven features and two track championships in the 358 Modifieds and FASTRAK Late Models. On August 29, Guidace finally reached victory lane in the final regular show of the season to capture the Modified championship. Guidace then came back on September 25 to open the “Little Guy Nationals” with a win and two weeks later closed out the “Little Guy Nationals” with his third win in his last four Modified starts!

For Guidace his win was his second straight “Little Guy Nationals” championship and third in the past four season and came in the 30-lap Approved Toilet Rentals 358 Modified feature, which was worth $2,000, holding off staunch challenges by Jimmy Holden and Gary Smoker. “Yee haw,” expressed the happy Mercer, Pa. winner. “That’s how it was tonight! It was definitely a yee haw night! That was pretty exciting. The track was rough off the corner and Jimmy Holden and I collided. I don’t know how we held on.“

Guidace drew the number two starting spot and took off in the lead over Tom Holden and Steve Young. Young drove by Holden for second on the backstretch and by now had a straightaway lead over Young. Following a caution for Ron Cartwright, Jr., 10th starting Jimmy Holden quickly moved into contention passing Lonny Riggs and his uncle Tom with Riggs taking fourth.

Lapped traffic came into play for Guidace on lap nine, while Holden slopped under Yong for second. Two laps later Young exited the event moving Riggs to third. On lap 13, 12th starting Gary Smoker entered the picture getting around Tom Holden. Smoker was able to get by Riggs for third on lap 22. It was a three-car race for the lead the last five laps. Jimmy Holden was all over Guidace and got into the leader in turn four on lap 25, but let Guidace straighten his car out and maintain the lead.

Guidace held on for his 11th career “358” win and 22nd of his career overall at Mercer in his G&G Auto Outlet #1G. Jimmy Holden edged Smoker for runner-up. Riggs was fourth over a solid season best run by Steve Barr in fifth after starting 11th. Eric Gabany came from 20th to place sixth. After starting 19th, Brad Rapp had worked his way into the top five only to suffer a flat tire, but he came back to record a seventh over New York’s Ray Bliss, Jr., Rich Whitney, and Mike Stine. Guidace and Holden won the heats over the 21-car field.

Last year, Rusty Martz opened the “Little Guy Nationals” with the preliminary $1,000 win; this year, Martz won Night 2 of the “Little Guy Nationals” by winning the 30-lap Stock Car feature one, which was worth $1,500. Martz came out on top of an exciting, hard fought duel with Greg Fenno.

“That was something else,” stated the Brookville, Pa. driver “Those last three laps, I just wanted to get in. It was a wild ride. The track was tacky and everyone’s fast. This feels real good. Last year we had a shot at winning them both, but this is the first we’ve finished this race and we won. I’d like to thank all the fans and everyone that came out to support me and all my sponsors.”

Fenno jumped out to the early lead. Sixth starting Dave Ferringer passed Chris Withers for third on lap two and then Eric Baun for second on lap six. Ferringer caught Fenno on lap 12 and the battle was on for the lead; meanwhile, Martz was working his way forward from ninth as he took fourth from Brent Johnson and then inherited third when Baun exited the race on lap 12.

After a caution for a spin by Shaun Fawcett, Martz and Johnson passed Ferringer for second and third on the restart. Martz closed on Fenno on lap 14. The duo ran side-by-side lap after lap with a straightaway advantage over Johnson until a caution for Bobby Whitling with 20 laps completed. On the restart, Martz would lead his first lap on lap 21. Ferringer and Johnson battled for third swapping the spot until Ferringer broke on lap 27.

Martz was able to hold off Fenno for his first win of the season and fourth of his career at Mercer in his St. Marys Chevrolet/Brocious Lumber/Cypress Gift Shop/Redline Performance/Faster Chassis #16M. Fenno’s run was amazing considering he had a broken ball joint and shock on the left front. Johnson was third over 12th starting Bob Connor and 17th starting Tim Deutsch. Completing the top 10 were Tim Burns, Russ Byler, Bill Lanigan, Ferringer, Joe Kelley.

The second Stock Car feature removed all drivers that had won five or more features in 2009 or had won two or more prior “Little Guy Nationals” wins and inverted the eligible finishing cars on the lead lap of the first feature and filled the remainder of the line-up by eligible alternates.

After coming up just shy in the first feature, Fenno rebounded not only to win the second feature, but to come from the back in 13 laps after getting in an accident while leading. The victory was worth $1,000 for his 25-lap effort and brought his winnings for the night to $1,800. “I can’t thank everyone in the pits for getting this back together,” explained the Corry, Pa. driver. “What a job they did. I applaud them a bunch. I had a little mishap there and it happened to be one of my best friends. We just a got a little tangled up there and had to start over. It’s forgotten and we move on from here.”

Brent Johnson led the first seven laps before his car went up in smoke handing the lead to fifth starting Fenno. Fenno would lead the next five until getting caught up in an eight-car pileup in turns one and two following a restart taking out most of the top runners.

When racing resumed, Gary Little was the new race leader with Chad Stevenson second. In three laps, Fenno was all the way back to third passing Jeff Walters and one lap later passed Stevenson for second. Fenno then caught Little on lap 18 before the event’s final caution. On the restart, Fenno regained the lead from Little- all which occurred in just six laps. Fenno then led the last seven non-stop laps without a challenge in his #68 winning in just his second career ever Mercer appearance.

Little was second after starting 14th. Rod Laskey had a great run coming from 21st to finish third over Walters. A call goes out to Russ Coyne, who qualified for his first ever “Little Guy Nationals” and did it in his GM 602 crate engine as he finished 16th in the first feature and a very respectable fifth in the second feature after starting 11th. Sixth through tenth were Paul Schreckengost, Deutsch, Chris Withers, Steve D’Apolito, and Jim Byers.

Joe Kot ended the Stock Car portion of the “Little Guy Nationals” with a victory in the non-qualifiers consolation feature. Kot’s 15-lap victory was worth $300 and came in his first ever Mercer appearance. Kot started third and inherited second on lap three when Steve Burns, Jr. brought out the caution. Tim Bish led the first 10 laps before Kot made the winning move on the lap 11 restart. Kot and Bish ran side-by-side on laps 11 and 12, but Kot had just enough to hold off Bish for the win in his #37. Jamie Scharba was third. Burns came back to finish fourth over Tony Bruno.

Stock Car heat winners were Fenno, Rob Bates, Withers, Ferringer, Schreckengost, and Martz. The B mains were won by Dellinger, Duritsky, and Shaun Fawcett. Sixty-four cars were on hand with 87 different cars over the two nights of the “Little Guy Nationals” as the format change was deemed a success. A special call goes out to Bobby Whitling, Shaun Hooks, Tony Bruno, and brothers Mike and Willie Aley, who have competed in all 10 “Little Guy Nationals”! Also, Whitling has qualified for 9 of the 10 main events and won the consolation feature the other time!

Fresh off a ninth place effort the week prior against the Super Late Models, Josh Holtgraver returned to Mercer on Saturday night to capture his career first Mercer win in the 25-lap 4 Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Model feature that was only open to FASTRAK drivers that have not won a FASTRAK feature in 2009. “This car seems to be pretty good here,” stated the Pittsburgh, Pa. driver. “We ran here last week with the Supers. We were a FASTRAK member this year, but didn’t travel much. Next year we will though.”

Jason Rider led the first seven laps before Ben Black took over on lap eight. Tyler Dietz and Holtgraver were able to pass Rider for second and third on lap nine. Black’s lead only last three laps as Holtgraver made the winning move on a restart on lap 11. Holtgraver survived a handful of cautions for the victory in the Troy Holtgraver-owned, D&T Auto Body/Weaver Auto Spies #00.

Black was second with 11th starting Bryan Salisbury coming home third. Rider dropped to fourth over 16-year-old Josh Double in his first ever Mercer start. West Virginia’s Shawn Jett started 19th and crossed the finish line in fifth, but was docked two spots for going under the cone on the restart. It was still good enough to earn him the $100 Kinzua Water Services “Fast Mover” Award. Mike Anderson, Sr., Rusty Cade, and Garrett Mott completed the top 10. Heat winners were Double, Black, and Rider over the 25-car field.

Dave Baker was credited the victory in the 15-lap Strictly Stock feature after apparent winner Patrick Fielding was disqualified in post-race tech for roller rockers. The victory was worth a record $300 to the Titusville, Pa. driver after Kinzua Water Services put up a $100 bonus to the winner.

Fielding started from third and immediately grabbed the lead passing Jim Boring and Kylie Hamilton. Baker meanwhile started in fifth and moved to third on the opening lap. Baker set himself up for victory when he passed Hamilton for second on lap two. Baker chased Fielding the remainder of the way and was handed the victory after the disqualification of Fielding. Baker, who won his career first race on June 28 at Tri-City Speedway, was driving his A&J Auto Sales/H&R Block/Tom’s Auto Service/Aul’s Vinyl Graphics-sponsored #94B. Jim Gullace, Jr. came from 11th to finish second over Jeff Manners, Alan Perry, and Boring. September 25 winner Brian McKinney and female racer Kylie Hamilton were heat race winners.

The M&D Paving Mini Stocks had their final tune-up before the October 31 “Warlock 30” PA State Mini Stock Championship and it was Cory Kilgore being credited with his first win of the season after apparent winner Shawn Hadden was disqualified in post-race tech for illegal tires.

Hadden started from the pole and all that slowed his efforts were one caution for debris. Kilgore meanwhile started fifth and moved to second on lap seven when he passed Pete Blazczak. Kilgore followed Hadden home to the finish and wound up with his fourth career win subbing for Kevin Kilgore in the Smith’s Auto Sales-sponsored #0 after the Hadden disqualification. Kilgore became the 10th different winner of the season in the Mini Stocks. Blazczak, Cody Colwell, Bill Fuchs, and Mike McConnell were second through fifth. Kilgore and Brad Shaffer were heat race winners.

Approved Toilet Rentals 358 Modifieds (30 laps, $2,000 to-win): 1. FRANK GUIDACE (1G) 2. Jimmy Holden (28H) 3. Gary Smoker (516) 4. Lonny Riggs (Black 58) 5. Steve Barr (25B) 6. Eric Gabany (3E) 7. Brad Rapp (11R) 8. Ray Bliss (27z) 9. Rich Whitney (19W) 10. Mike Stine (7s) 11. John Buchanan (93) 12. Greg Unrue, Jr. (5) 13. Mark Frankhouser (03) 14. Rick Kress (222) 15. Tom Holden (15H) 16. Joe Gibson (119) 17. Chris Myers (c1) 18. Dillon Barr (15B) 19. Steve Young (11T) 20. Dave Shook (17s) 21. Ron Cartwright, Jr. (2B).

Stock Car 1 (30 laps, $1,500 to-win): 1. RUSTY MARTZ (16M) 2. Greg Fenno (68) 3. Brent Johnson (Lindemuth 22) 4. Bob Connor (6c) 5. Tim Deutsch (11D) 6. Tim Burns (66) 7. Russ Byler (06R) 8. Bill Lanigan (142) 9. Dave Ferringer (02) 10. Joe Kelley (Trice 27J) 11. Chris Withers (21W) 12. Shaun Hooks (Janovick 65) 13. Nick Goss (80) 14. Paul Schreckengost (9x) 15. Shaun Fawcett (224) 16. Russ Coyne (8c) 17. Bobby Whitling (7w) 18. Mike Duritsky (90) 19. Eric Baun (99x) 20. Gary Little (2*) 21. Rob Bates (99B) 22. Frank Guidace (Utsinger 23) 23. Alan Dellinger (Burns 19B) 24. Don Kramer (95)-DSQ (light)

Stock Car 2 (25 laps, $1,000 to-win): 1.GREG FENNO (68) 2. Gary Little (2*) 3. Rod Laskey (1R) 4. Jeff Walters (35) 5. Russ Coyne (8c) 6. Paul Schreckengost (9x) 7. Tim Deutsch (11D) 8. Chris Withers (21W) 9. Steve D’Apolito (84) 10. Jim Byers (36) 11. Shaun Fawcett (224) 12. Willie Aley (9) 13. Ed Bolyard (Patrick 05) 14. Chad Stevenson (21c) 15. Mike Duritsky (90) 16. Brett McDonald (25) 17. Don Kramer (95) 18. Shaun Hooks (Janovick 65) 19. Mike Kinney (33) 20. Bill Lanigan (142) 21. Brent Johnson (Lindemuth 22) 22. Rob Kristyak (Root 22x) 23. Russ Byler (06R) 24. Dave Ferringer (02) 25. Bobby Whitling (7W)-DNS 26. Eric Baun (99X)-DNS 27. Rob Bates (99B)-DNS 28. Frank Guidace (Utsinger 23)-DNS.

Stock Car Non-Qualifiers Consolation (15 laps, $300 to-win): 1. JOE KOT (37) 2. Tim Bish (1B) 3. Jamie Scharba (00S) 4. Steve Burns, Jr. (70B) 5. Tony Bruno (97) 6. Mike Aley (99) 7. Bobby Robinson (54R) 8. Dan Fedorchak (67) 9. Barry Farris (3c) 10. Jamie Duncan (67J) 11. Jim Brunson (1-17) 12. Tony Fonzo (71w) 13. Jake Simmons (Rich 68X) 14. Tyson Harmon (25) 15. Josh Seippel (84) 16. Chris Schneider (55)-DNS 17. Matt Wagner (12)-DNS 18. Dan Colwell (54J)-DNS 19. Jim McFadden (96)-DNS 20. Mike Harmon (09JR)-DNS 21. John Coughlin (43)-DNS 22. Andy Buckley (965)-DNS 23. Chuck Sarver (87)-DNS. DNQ: Bob McCann (Fornataro 77), Chip Walsh (36W), Matt Beck (5), Bob Sloss (44s), Terry Kroner (Roberts 65), Dave Wagner (35), Chris Edwards (037).

4 Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Models (25 laps, $800 to-win): 1. JOSH HOLTGRAVER (00) 2. Ben Black (27B) 3. Bryan Salisbury (26) 4. Jason Rider (Johnson 2J) 5. Mike Laughard (38L) 6. Kirby Tucker (LeComte 53) 7. Shawn Jett (1J) 8. Mike Anderson, Sr. (1) 9. Rusty Cade (47) 10. Garrett Mott (43X) 11. Gary Miller, Jr. (1M) 12. Tyler Dietz (D10) 13. Les Lyon (45) 14. Rocky Kugel (7KRT) 15. Tommy Dembowski (79) 16. Tyler Barris (32B) 17. Steve Hollabaugh (3H) 18. Dan Karalagas (1R) 19. Josh Double (38) 20. Jackson Humanic (Iorio 28) 21. Tom Copeland (98) 22. Mike Anderson, Jr. (72) 23. Justin Kreider (29) 24. Andrew Wylie (84)-DNS 25. Leigh Wheeler (Smith 717)-DNS.

Strictly Stocks (15 laps, $300 to-win): 1. DAVE BAKER (94B) 2. Jim Gullace, Jr. (00) 3. Jeff Manners (16) 4. Alan Perry (35) 5. Jim Boring (45) 6. Kylie Hamilton (27) 7. Brian McKinney (5) 8. Jace Ferringer (02) 9. Charlie McMillen (61M) 10. Blane Krott (72) 11. Jennifer Barker (Huchko 33) 12. Patrick Fielding (23)-DSQ (roller rockers).

M&D Paving Mini Stocks (15 laps, $150 to-win): 1. CORY KILGORE (0) 2. Pete Blazczak (77) 3. Cody Colwell (67R) 4. Bill Fuchs (10) 5. Mike McConnell (31) 6. Mike Scharba (30M) 7. Rudolph Troples III (28) 8. Ricky Steigerwald (4) 9. Rick Kress (62) 10. Doug Fairfield (02) 11. Buck Buchanan, Jr. (93) 12. Brad Shaffer (17) 13. Kris Anderson (3D) 14. Shawn Hadden (3H)-DSQ (tires) 15. Zack Hawk (47)-DNS 16. Jordan Ehrenberg (JD57)-DNS 17. Frank Brosius (12)-DSQ (illegal).