Mercer, PA)…Mercer Raceway Park will return to action this Saturday night, May 19 in hopes of completing the fifth straight night of action and sixth of the season. While the weekly five divisions, the Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars, American Racer/Lias Tire Modifieds, Tire Express Stock Cars, Big Daddy’s Speed Center Mod Lites, and the M&D Paving Mini Stocks will all be action, one twist to the night will be that the Sprint Cars will race wingless! It’s free Crawford County Night presented by Armstrong with racing starting at 7 p.m.
Sprint Car racing has long been associated with Mercer Raceway Park and other than a few All Star races in the 70s, traditional wingless Sprint Car acing was the norm until the 80s. On Saturday night, the wings will be coming off for the first of two times this season highlighted by a $1,500 to-win feature. The second wingless event will take place on Saturday, August 18.
Since 1989, nine wingless events have been run. Four-time track champion, Jamie Smith leads the way with three wins totaling $7,300. Other winners include 2002 and 2003 champion Troy Preston, who won the 1989 event, wingless standout racers Todd Kane (1997), Rob Chaney (2000), and USAC star Mat Neely (2006), and track regulars Rob Eyler (2004) and Doug Stanley (2005).
“We always enjoy having wingless events at Mercer Raceway Park,” explained ninth year owner Vicki Emig. “The fans seem to enjoy it plus it always tightens the competition by adding a new twist. The best thing this year is that there will be no increase in admission and fans from Crawford County can enjoy the show at no charge!”
The second free county night takes place Saturday night as all residents who reside in Crawford County will be admitted at no charge. Fans can simply show their ID with a Crawford County city listed and they will be admitted into the grandstands for general admission. All accompanying children will also be free.
“Last year’s Crawford County night was huge,” stated Emig. “We have to thank our great marketing partner Armstrong Cable for helping us to promote the event. If the weather is nice we expect another great turnout.”
Current point leaders heading into Saturday night are Kittanning’s Rod George (Sprint Cars), Grove City’s Steve Young (Modifieds), Sandy Lake’s Brian Booher (Stock Cars), West Middlesex’s Rod Jones (Mod Lites), and Elkton, Ohio’s Lucas Sprouse (Mini Stocks).
Brian Booher has been on a tear winning three of the four point races in the Stock Cars. If Booher wins the feature Saturday night he can make a little history by recording his 24th career win, which would put him on top of the Stock Car win list since the track reopened in 1994. He is currently tied with nemesis, Andy Buckley, who has one victory this season.
After a 25-year absence, the Mini Stock division is back weekly. Just one car showed for opening night, but last week the car count rose to nine for this affordable, amateur division, and we expect more cars in the coming weeks.
Regular admission prices are in effect Saturday with adults just $11, students 6-15 $5, children five and under free, family passes $25, and pit passes $25. Pit gates open at 3:30 p.m. with grandstands at 4:30, hot laps at 6:15, and racing at 7.
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 after 1:00 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.
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