5/5/2007 Mercer,PA DANNY HOLTGRAVER D4
by Mike Leone
Mercer Raceway Park presented the third straight five-division Saturday Night Live program. It was "Dollar Dayz" presented by Coca-Cola as all students 6-15 were admitted for $1 and hot dogs, fries, popcorn, and soda were just $1 for everyone.
On opening night, 17-year old Danny Holtgraver held off western PA great Rod George for his first career Sprint Car win. Last week saw Holtgraver take a nasty series of flips in turn three getting upside down for the first time in Sprint Car. Fast forward to Saturday night and it was Holtgraver once again holding off a hard-charging George with no power steering to celebrate in the Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic victory lane.
"Wow! I'm surprised," expressed the Pittsburgh racer. "The power steering went out on lap five. My arms are about to fall off. I was almost stopping in the corners just to get through. That was my first flip and I was a little nervous about coming back, but I just tried to hold on and race the same away I always have."
With teenage rookie Cole Duncan choosing to start on the tail, Holtgraver moved to the outside pole and was able to have just enough momentum off the topside of the speedway to take the lead from Brent Matus. George started seventh and made his way to fourth on the opening lap. The laps ticked off caution-free as Holtgraver maintained a comfortable lead over Matus.
At the halfway point, Bryan Grove and George closed on Matus to make it a three-car race. One lap later, Arnie Kent entered the fray as the foursome put on a good race for second. Duncan spun and brought out the only caution with 14 laps completed. George finally was able to work his way under and past Grove for third on lap 16, while Kent followed one lap later taking fourth. George then caught and quickly disposed of Matus for second with a slider in turn four.
George stormed around the 3/8-mile oval on the final lap quickly cutting Holtgraver's lead from more than a one-half straightaway as he was right on the youngster at the finish, but ran out of time for the second time this year. George now has a win and two seconds. Kent passed Matus on the last lap for third.
Holtgraver's third career Mercer win came in his West View Motors/Martin Auto/Kargo Sales & Storage Blackshear-powered D4.
Mercer Raceway Park is located minutes from both Interstate 79 and 80 just off Route 19 on Fairground Road in Mercer. Dirt track racing and quality family entertainment are presented weekly late March through early October. The office in New Bedford is open year-round after 1pm 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.
Upcoming Events:
May 12) Sprints, Mods, Stocks, Mod Lites, and Mini Stocks plus kids bike races. Bring the family for $10 presented by Armstrong
May 19) Wingless Sprints ($1500), Mods, Stocks, Mod Lites, and Mini Stocks. Free general admission for all Crawford County residents presented by Armstrong
May 26) Sprints, Mods, Stocks, Mod Lites, and Mini Stocks. Pack the Track/Fan Appreciation Night ($5 adult, $12 family, $2 student) Meet Your Heroes Autograph Night presented by Froggy 95.1
Gates open at 4:30 with hot laps at 6:15 and racing at 7pm.
Luxaire Heating & Cooling Heat 1) Arnie Kent
Luxaire Heating & Cooling Heat 2) Rod George
A-main (20 laps) 1 Danny Holtgraver D4, 2 Rod George 4, 3 Arnie Kent, 4 Brent Matus, 5 Bryan Grove, 6 Mike Dehner, 7 Davey Jones, 8 Cole Duncan, 9 Joe Butera, 10 Richard Reinhart. 410w