FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 19, 2010

FREE CRAWFORD COUNTY NIGHT SATURDAY AT MERCER ALONG WITH RESCHEDULED $10 SINGLE PARENT NIGHT

By Mike Leone
(Mercer, PA)…After a tremendous night of racing last Saturday night that saw four new winners including a career first, Mercer Raceway Park looks forward to returning to action this Saturday night, May 22 featuring the Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars for $1,500 to-win, Approved Toilet Rentals Modifieds, 4 Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Models, Big Daddy’s Speed Center Stock Cars, and the M&D Paving Mini Stocks. Race time is 7 p.m.

Residents of Crawford County will be admitted FREE into the grandstands simply by showing valid ID with a Crawford County City! And all children 15 and under accompanied by a Crawford County adult will be also be admitted free! New marketing partner Spanky’s Tobacco World and Armstrong are presenting and promoting this great event!

Saturday is also the May 8 rained out $10 Single Parent Night presented by Klingensmith’s Drugstore. Mom OR dad and as many kids 15 and under will be admitted for just $10!

“The Free Crawford County has always been a tremendous night for us,” stated marketing director Vicki Emig. “Not only are there a lot of race fans from Crawford County, but considering it’s just a short drive down Route 19 or Interstate 79, we’re able to attract a lot of new people to The Park that probably otherwise would have never came. And we didn’t want to lose our $10 Single Parent Night promotion as this was highly requested in years past. We want to allow those individuals with children to be able to come to the races on their own special night for just $10.”

If you missed last Saturday’s Sprint Car feature…then shame on you, but don’t make that mistake again this week! Danny Holtgraver ended a three-year winless drought with popular win holding off Ed Lynch, Jr., Rod George, and Carl Bowser as the foursome put on quite a show that fans won’t soon forget. Mercer has been attracting all of the top talent with the region-high $1,500 to-win cash prize plus a Goodyear Tire certificate. Lynch’s runner-up catapulted him into the point lead as the Apollo, Pa. driver has never won a Mercer championship.

Lonny Riggs has established himself as the driver to beat in the Modifieds as he’s come out of the gates fast every night. Last Saturday’s win was his second in four tries and milestone 25th of his career at The Park. The Volant, Pa. driver is the current point leader in search of his first track championship.

Tyler Dietz scored one for the little guys last Saturday as he won his career first feature in his season debut at The Park in the FASTRAK Late Model feature. Kyle Zimmerman continues to knock on the door for his first Mercer win as the Albion, Pa. driver has finished runner-up three out of four races this year and has a commanding lead in the points.

Mercer’s Stock Car division continues to grow in numbers as the count rose to 13 last Saturday night after just six on opening night and 11 in week two. A total of 16 different drivers have now competed in three events. Former track champion Shaun Hooks returned to victory lane last Saturday beating Chris Haines, who has now taken over the point lead for the first time in his career.

The competitiveness of the Mini Stock division is top notch. Last Saturday, Lee Lehnerd became the sixth different winner in as many races in 2010! Ironically, point leader Jordan Ehrenberg of New Castle, Pa. is still searching for his first win.

“I was so thrilled with the racing last Saturday night,” expressed owner Bill Altman. “Every single race was a good one and it’s always great to have new winners; and how special it was to see Tyler Dietz get that unforgettable career first win! There were only a couple cautions in each of the features and the entire show was done in just over three hours. I look forward to all the residents of Crawford County coming out and enjoying a night of racing on us.”

Saturday’s four Shaffer’s Auto Service & Towing “In the Spotlight” drivers are Dan Kuriger, a two-time 2009 Sprint Car winner, FASTRAK Late Model driver Brian Booher, who is a three-time Stock Car Champion, 14-year-old rookie Clay Ruffo, who finished third last Saturday night, and 15-year-old Mini Stock racer Brad Shaffer, the son of Randy Shaffer who operates Shaffer’s Auto. The first 300 fans will receive a custom, color autograph card of these four racers. Fans will be able to meet these racers and see their cars in the midway from 5:30 until 6:30 p.m.

Pit gates open at 3:30 p.m. with grandstands at 4:30. Hot laps begin at 6:15 and the first green flag waves at 7.

Adult admission is $12. Mom and dad can bring up to four kids 15 and under for just a buck with the $25 family pass. Students 6-15 are just $5 and kids five and under are always free. Pits passes are $25. Fans can take advantage of the “SPEEDPASS” by upgrading their admission ticket to the pit area at intermission for just $5 or $10 for the entire family.

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.