Mercer Raceway Park Press Releases

LYNCH A MERCER SPRINT WINNER FOR THE 1ST TIME IN 3 SEASONS; CAREER 1ST WINS FOR MARTIN & ESCHRICH IN MODS & E-MODS; BLAIR CHARGE

Sat, Apr 10, 2010 -- "Saturday Night Live"
Written by: Mike Leone

After snow showers the night prior, sunshine and warmer temperatures returned on Saturday allowing Mercer Raceway Park to complete the third straight event of the new season. Celebrating in the Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic victory lane were Ed Lynch, Jr.-Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars, Dustin Martin-Approved Toilet Rentals Modifieds, Max Blair-4 Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Models, Mike Eschrich-E-Mods, and Jamey Lee-M&D Paving Mini Stocks.

Ed Lynch, Jr. avoided a spinning Charlie Holben and outdueled Carl Bowser to win the 20-lap Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Car feature. The $1,500 victory ended a Mercer winless drought that dated back to September 8, 2007 for the western Pa. legend. “We were really, really close, but gave each other room” explained the Apollo, Pa. driver when asked about his side-by-side battle with Bowser. “He was really good on the outside, but I felt like I could inch up to him as my tires were really locking down.”

After winning two of the last three Sprint Car races to end 2009, Bowser was looking to return to prominence in 2010 as he raced by New Jersey’s Jack Helget into the lead. Holben got a great start as he used the outside to pass both Lynch and Helget for second. Holben looked strong as he closed on Bowser, but on lap three got into turn four too hard. In effort to avoid running over Bowser, Holben got on the brakes, but couldn’t keep the car from spinning. Holben was able to do a 360 as somehow the entire field was able to miss him.

Lynch closed on Bowser on lap six and challenged the 23-year-old for the lead. The duo put on a great side-by-side battle on laps seven and eight as Bowser ran high and Lynch low. Bowser continued to have the momentum off the top side until Lynch finally got a strong enough run into turn three on lap eight and was able to put the classic slide job on Bowser to make the pass stick in turn four.

Russ Sansosti, who was making his season debut after practicing at the track on Wednesday, was very impressive. Sansosti passed Helget early on for fourth and somehow missed the spinning Holben to inherit third. Sansosti slowly closed on Bowser and appeared like he had a shot at overtaking the second position when the caution was displayed for Helget with 11 laps completed.

The last nine laps clicked off green-to-checkered as Lynch wasn’t challenged for his 14th career Mercer win in the Howard Concrete Pumping/Commercial Truck & Trailer/Mosites Motorsports/BP Trucking-sponsored #2L. “That was a really, really racey race track,” described Lynch. “It’s nice to see everyone come together to keep Mercer going. Vicki (Emig) tried really hard and certainly wants to keep it going. I’m glad Bill (Altman) stepped up to the plate. It’s a joy to come here and race a race track that you can have high, low, and middle to get around. It’s good for all the fans.”

Bowser was second. Sansosti was able to hold on for third easily topping his prior best finish at Mercer of ninth and was his best finish anywhere since his all-time career best second at Sharon on August 11, 2007. A great battle took place for positions four through seven as Bob Felmlee was able to edge Rod George, 12th starting Mike Lutz, and Danny Holtgraver. Jack Sodeman, Jr., Dan Kuriger, and Jason Dolick were eighth, ninth, and tenth. Heat winners were Holtgraver and George.

Dustin Martin had never finished in the top five before Saturday night. In fact, last week he matched a career best sixth place effort. That all changed Saturday night as the second year racer ran the race of his life leading all 20 non-stop laps of the Approved Toilet Modified feature. “My knees are still shaking,” expressed the 28-year-old Evans City, Pa. driver. “My heart was beating right out of my suit. I have to thank my mom, dad, and especially my brother; all my crew- Jeremy. I couldn’t do it without any of them.”

Martin drew the pole position and took off at the start with Jeff Schaffer, who was subbing for Clyde Gumpp, in tow. Kyle Fink passed Chris Dye for third on the opening lap. It was a three-car race for second with Schaffer trying to fend off Fink and Dye.

Frank Guidace, who started ninth, was on the charge on the outside. Guidace entered the fray on lap five when he drove around Fink for second. Two laps later Guidace charged under Schaffer in turn four to grab second. With Guidace now in second, Martin had a straightaway lead. Sixth starting Jimmy Holden and 10th starting Lonny Riggs moved past Schaffer for third and fourth on laps 10 and 12 respectively.

As the laps ticked off Martin continued to hit his marks and was able to maintain a comfortable lead. Guidace slowly began to reel in the leader though as with five laps to go he had cut the margin in half. With each successive lap, Guidace chewed into Martin’s lead. On the final lap, Martin had lapped cars in sight, but he was able to hold off the defending three-time champion for a popular win in his Bowers Garage Auto & Truck Repair-sponsored #29D in a race that went non-stop in five minutes and 51 seconds.

Holden had another strong run after last week’s runner-up to take third. Riggs, who won last week, was fourth with Fink completing the top five in his debut. Schaffer and Dye dropped to sixth and seventh with Gary Smoker, Tom Holden, and New York’s Joe Kubiniec rounded out the top 10. Heat winners were Riggs and Holden.

Max Blair made it two-for-two as he raced from the 12th starting spot to beat Kyle Zimmerman for the second straight week in the 4 Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Model feature. “I said it last week that the track couldn’t get in any nicer,” stated the 20-year-old Centerville, Pa. driver. “I was wrong. You could race from the infield clean to two inches from the wall and I’m worn out. That was a lot of fun racing with Kyle Zimmerman. We’re real good buddies. We live close to one another and help each other out a lot.”

Leigh Wheeler grabbed the early leader with Damian Bidwell moving from fourth to second on the opening lap. Zimmerman passed pole-sitter Garrett Mott for third on lap two and it was a three-car race for the lead. Following a restart for a caution by Mott with five laps completed, a wild scramble took place on lap six with Zimmerman and Shane Bambarger taking over the top two spots.

Blair entered the battle when he drove by Wheeler for third on lap eight. Blair then took over second from Bambarger on lap 10 following a restart for a spin by Justin Tatlow. Blair was all over Zimmerman and the duo raced side-by-side for the lead on laps 12-14; meanwhile right behind them, Bambarger and Lacki also raced side-by-side for third with Lacki getting the spot on lap 13. Blair then would make the winning move on lap 14 racing out of turn four as he snuck around Zimmerman on the outside.

One more caution was all that slowed Blair from his division-leading ninth career Mercer win in his #111. Zimmerman was second. Lacki had a solid run in third after starting 10th and held off a late charge by Joe Martin. Mike Blose was fifth. Sixth through 10th were Dwayne Pond, Tatlow, Bambarger, Mike Anderson, Jr., and Wheeler. Heat winners were Blair and Blose.

Mike Eschrich joined Dustin Martin as first career winners on Saturday night. Eschrich’s first ever win came in the 15-lap E-Mod feature and like Martin led every lap. “The car was setup perfect,” acknowledged the Mt. Jewett, Pa. driver. “It was awesome! I love racing here.”

Eschrich was never seriously challenged despite four restarts. Veteran Bob McCann may have been able to give Eschrich a run for the money as he came from sixth to pass both Shane Crotty and Dave Atkinson for second on lap three. McCann’s bid ended when he went up in smoke on lap 10. Eschrich’s victory came in his Keystone Wireline/Northern Tire Inc./Dallas Moms Drilling/RCA Body Works/Kemp Race Engines/Penn Air Notch-sponsored #9E. Crotty, Jordan Eck, Leonard Enos, and Atkinson completed the top five. Eschrich and Eck won the heat races.

Defending track champion and nine time 2009 Mini Stock winner Jamey Lee returned to victory lane for the first time in 2010 to become the fourth different winner in as many races in the 12-lap M&D Paving feature. “The car was getting hot,” acknowledged the Fairmount City, Pa. racer. “After that many laps they heat up.”

Tim Callahan raced to the early lead with Jordan Ehrenberg in pursuit. Lee, who started 10th, and seventh starting Wally Stearns, Jr. both passed Max Smoker for second on lap two. Ehrenberg then drove under Callahan for second in turn two. The two made contact with Ehrenberg taking the lead and Lee following in second.

Ehrenberg and Lee raced side-by-side for the lead on laps seven and eight as Ehrenberg was looking for his first career win as well. Lee made the winning move racing off turn four on lap eight. It was a three-car race right down to the finish with Lee holding off Ehrenberg (career best finish) and Callahan. Lee’s victory was the 10th of his career in his Thomas Elliot Insurance-sponsored #44J. Stearns was fourth ahead of rookie Zach Hawk’s best effort. Callahan and Kevin Kilgore won the heats.

Luxaire Heating & Cooling (410) Sprint Cars (20 laps, $1,500 to-win): 1. ED LYNCH, JR. (2L) 2. Carl Bowser (10) 3. Russ Sansosti (23s) 4. Bob Felmlee (6) 5. Rod George (4) 6. Mike Lutz (Chappel 8) 7. Danny Holtgraver (D4) 8. Jack Sodeman, Jr. (23Jr) 9. Dan Kuriger (08) 10. Jason Dolick (D12) 11. Brad Knab (38) 12. Eric Williams (7) 13. Pete Miller III (3) 14. Charlie Holben (Dionise 15) 15. Chris Shuttleworth (11) 16. Brent Matus (33) 17. Joe McEwen (Paden 11W) 18. Jack Helget (Taylor 71c) 19. Jeff Taylor (17T) 20. Brandon Matus (13).

Approved Toilet Rentals (358) Modifieds (20 laps): 1. DUSTIN MARTIN (29D) 2. Frank Guidace (1G) 3. Jimmy Holden (28H) 4. Lonny Riggs (Black 58) 5. Kyle Fink (66F) 6. Jeff Schaffer (Gumpp 51) 7. Chris Dye (23D) 8. Gary Smoker (516) 9. Tom Holden (15H) 10. Joe Kubiniec (19) 11. Greg Unrue, Jr. (5) 12. Chris Myers (1c).

4 Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Models (20 laps): 1. MAX BLAIR (111) 2. Kyle Zimmerman (z17) 3. John Lacki (7) 4. Joe Martin (55) 5. Mike Blose (5) 6. Dwayne Pond (Bidwell B1D) 7. Justin Tatlow (81) 8. Shane Bambarger (68B) 9. Mike Anderson, Jr. (72) 10. Leigh Wheeler (Smith 717) 11. Damian Bidwell (1/2-Pint) 12. Justin Kreider (29) 13. Jason Stanke (44) 14. Sean Puz (33) 15. Roger Laughlin (53) 16. Garrett Mott (43x).

E-Mods (15 laps): 1. MIKE ESCHRICH (9E) 2. Shane Crotty (4) 3. T.J. Downs (03) 4. Leonard Enos (27) 5. Dave Atkinson (30) 6. Howard Fraley (17) 7. Bob McCann (Fornataro USA 1) 8. Dan Davies (71D) 9. Jordan Eck (20) 10. Jimmy Plance (Simmons 4J)-DNS.

M&D Paving Mini Stocks (12 laps): 1. JAMEY LEE (4J) 2. Jordan Ehrenberg (JD57) 3. Tim Callahan (54) 4. Wally Stearns, Jr. (33) 5. Zach Hawk (47) 6. Pete Blazczak (77) 7. Lucas Sprouse (24s) 8. Josh Bowser (4) 9. Jerry Batcher (Blazczak 77) 10. Mike McConnell (31) 11. Rudolph Troples III (28) 12. Randy Sprouse (23s) 13. Troy Lehnortt (46) 14. Max Smoker (409) 15. Ed Haylett (8-ball) 16. Matt McNany (141) 17. Byron Kress (62) 18. Kevin Kilgore (0).

Upcoming Events:
4/17 Sprints, Mods, FASTRAK Late Models, E-Mods, Stocks, & Mini Stocks.
4/24 Sprints, Mods, FASTRAK Late Models, Stocks, & Mini Stocks. 2 for $20 Adult Admission. Twin-State & PCTC Club Nights.
5/01 Sprints, Mods, FASTRAK Late Models, Stocks, & Mini Stocks. Free general admission for all Shenango Valley residents presented by Flynn’s Tire & Auto Service. Mahoning Valley Scrappers Night with 1,000 ticket giveaways.
Pits open at 3:30 PM. Grandstands at 4:30. Hot laps at 6:15. Racing at 7.

Mercer Raceway Park is a 3/8-mile dirt track 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. Go to www.twitter.com/mercerraceway or Mercer Raceway Park at www.facebook.com/mercerracewaypark to stay up to date.

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