MERCER CHANGES TO PILL DRAW LINE-UP FORMAT; SPRINT PURSE RESTRUCTURED WITH $175 TO START

MERCER CHANGES TO PILL DRAW LINE-UP FORMAT; SPRINT PURSE RESTRUCTURED WITH $175 TO START
By Mike Leone

June 12, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Mercer, PA)…When racing action resumes this Saturday night, June 14 at Mercer Raceway Park drivers in the 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 will experience a change in format and Sprint Car drivers will see a change in payoff.
Effective this Saturday night, June 14, Mercer Raceway Park will utilize a pill draw format to determine the first 12 starting spots of all of the feature line-ups. The standard initial draw for heat race line ups will remain unchanged. New drivers will not be penalized in any manner. Beginning with the next event, the previous week’s feature winner or the next time the driver returns, will start 12th. This rule will not apply to special events.
“This is one of the hardest decisions that I have had to make since I purchased the speedway almost 10 years ago,” expressed owner Vicki Emig. “We have always believed in the handicap line-up system as it has given many racers the ability to win features that otherwise may not have, and we know there are a lot of racers that believe in the system and will hate to see it go; however, today is a different time. There aren’t as many racers competing in the region and we really can’t afford to deter anyone. This will be a simple system that everyone can understand. Now everyone will be on equal footing when they pull through the gate.”
The second change will take place in the Sprint Car division. The top two spots will now pay $1,100 and $800 rather than $1,300 and $850; however, positions 7th through 24th have been increased with the biggest change being $175 to take the green rather than $125. The entire 24-car field purse has actually been increased.
“We sent letters to all of the Sprint Car drivers and talked to many of them, and have taken into consideration what they have had to say,” explained Emig. “Most are in favor of spreading the money out instead of so much on top. Hopefully this 40% increase will help racers that need the money the most and give these racers some extra incentive to come. We want to be able to preserve the tradition of Sprint Car racing at Mercer Raceway Park into the future. By going to the pill draw and making this purse adjustment, hopefully that’s a step in the right direction.”
Saturday night is Free Crawford County Night presented by the Oncology Wellness Institute of Meadville Medical Center and Armstrong along with $10 Family Night presented by Auto Service Express and Armstrong and $5 Bike Night presented by Renegade Classics Outlet Store. Pit gates open at 3:30 p.m. and grandstand gates open at 4:30. Warm ups begin at 6:15 and racing begins at 7.
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