5/12/2007 Mercer,PA ROD GEORGE (Crawford 4)
by Mike Leone
Mercer Raceway Park presented the fourth straight five-division Saturday Night Live program of the season on Saturday night.
Celebrating in the Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic victory lane was Rod George-Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars. It was $10 Family Night presented by Armstrong and the first kids bike races as Ray's Racing Collectibles, Dean Dairy, and Grove City Eat 'n Park all awarded prizes to participants and winners.
George held off two separate thrilling charges by Rob Eyler one from tenth and the second from the rear to win the Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Car feature for the second time on a fast track.
"That was a great race," expressed the Kittanning winner. "I'll tell you what, hats off to Frank (Benic) and his crew; that track was good top, bottom, anywhere. I kind of got together there with Rob (Eyler) on the frontstretch when it was three-wide. I hate for that to happen. We're pretty good friends. He came back and we had a good race there at the end. That was a super, fun race and it's a testament to how nice the track is. It's the best prepped track in western Pennsylvania."
Brent Matus took the advantage on the start, while Mike Dehner, Danny Holtgraver, and ninth starting George raced past rookie Cole Duncan on the opening lap. George made quick work of Holtgraver as he raced under the two-time winner for third on lap three before Holtgraver broke and brought out the caution. This moved Eyler to fourth for the restart.
When racing resumed, it was a three-car race for second with Dehner trying to hold off George and Eyler. In turn four on lap five, George went under Dehner and Eyler made a bonsai move around the top. It was three-wide coming off the turn and just as George and Eyler cleared Dehner the two made slight contact with Eyler spinning across the frontstretch and thankfully avoiding contact with the wall and other cars.
When green replaced yellow, Matus led lap six before George pulled alongside him on lap seven and then made what turned out to be the winning move with a slider in turn four. Meanwhile, all eyes turned to Eyler as he passed Aaron Shaffer to get back into the top five on lap eight. Eyler ran down Bryan Grove and took fourth on lap 12 and one lap later put a slider on Dehner in turn four to take third. A caution for a spin by 16-year-old Ohio rookie and newcomer Travis Philo bunched up the field with 13 laps completed.
Back under green, Eyler then put a slider on Matus in turn four to take second. At this point he was a half-straightaway behind George and slowly closed in the ensuing laps. Philo then spun off the track in turn three; Holtgraver didn't see the caution and jumped Davey Jones sending him flipping to where Philo was spun. Thankfully there was minimal contact with the two as both drivers were okay.
On the restart with two laps to go, Eyler drove as hard as ever pulling alongside George, but George had just enough to hold off Eyler, who missed the previous two weeks to motor woes. For George it was his ninth career win in the Dr. John Crawford III/Notary Express 4. Matus turned in a career best Mercer finish in third over a strong run by Ohio's Grove as Dehner dropped to fifth.
Upcoming Events:
5/19 Wingless Sprints ($1500), Mods, Stocks, Mod Lites, and Mini Stocks. Free general admission for all Crawford County residents presented by Armstrong.
5/26 Sprints, Mods, Stocks, Mod Lites, and Mini Stocks. Pack the Track/Fan Appreciation Night ($5 adult, $12 family, $2 student admission) & 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.
5/27 All-American Spring Nationals World Championship Pulling Event. Big Rig Semis, Smoker Tractors, Street Diesel 4x4 Trucks, & Street Semis. Pulling begins at 6:30pm.
6/02 Jeff Hoffman Memorial presented by Hoffman Door Co. Mods ($2000), Sprints ($1500), Stocks ($500), Mod Lites, & Mini Stocks.
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. For the latest, check out our website at www.mercerracewaypark.com.
Luxaire Heating & Cooling Heat 1) Rod George
Luxaire Heating & Cooling Heat 2) Bryan Grove
A-main (20 laps) 1 Rod George 4, 2 Rob Eyler, 3 Brent Matus, 4 Bryan Grove, 5 Mike Dehner, 6 Arnie Kent, 7 Aaron Shaffer, 8 Davey Jones, 9 Cole Duncan, 10 Justin Paris, 11 Travis Philo, 12 Danny Holtgraver, 13 Joe Butera. DNS Mike Lutz. 410w