MERCER, Pa. (EYT) – The long, cold winter came to a close Sunday evening at Mercer Raceway Park when race cars filled the pit area for the area’s first regular racing program of 2017.
(Photo: AJ Flick in victory lane. Photo by Rick Rarer)
With warmer weather forecasted, Mercer Raceway moved their Saturday program to Sunday evening and took advantage of the 70-degree temps. Racers and fans enjoyed a well-run show under the direction of new race organizer and former racer Eric Williams.
Williams has taken over controls of the weekly operations at Mercer Raceway Park for the 2017 season and has promised fans and racers a better product week in and week out. More efficiently run shows, more promotions and entertainment, along with better purses and incentives for racers and fans should make it an exciting year at the Park and help boost car counts.
The 410 sprint cars took to the track first Sunday evening and found former Lernerville Speedway champion AJ Flick get the “Mercer Monkey” off his back as he scored his first career Mercer win after several seasons of trying. He bested former Mercer ace Rod George who returns this season after sitting out the past few seasons.
Flick of Apollo has been towing his car east to race at Port Royal Speedway the past month competing against the strong central Pennsylvania sprint car circuit and sharpening his skills. It looked like the extra laps paid off as Flick had his car dialed in on the tricky Mercer oval. Clarion’s Michael Bauer was fast all night setting quick time in qualifying, winning his heat and running second to Flick until an altercation in the feature ended his run.
Jimmy Holden of Tiona dominated the 358 modified feature holding off the duo of J.R. McGinley and Kyle Fink. Andy Priest of New Castle did the same thing in the 305 sprint car feature dominating the 20-lap event. Racing veteran Alan Dellinger was victorious in the mod lite feature while Tim Callahan closed out the evening winning the mini stock main.
Jimmy Holden
Mercer Raceway Park will return to action this Saturday when the ULMS super late models will invade the raceway. They will be joined by the 358 modifieds, 305 sprint cars and open stock cars who will also join the card. The 410 sprint cars will have the night off from action as will the mini stocks.
In less than two weeks both Sharon Speedway and Lernerville Speedway will both get their seasons underway, normally a Saturday night track Sharon will open their season on a Friday when the Lucas Oil Super Late Model Series invades the track April 21st. It is the first time this premier series has visited the track and features some of the biggest late model drivers in the country.
Lernerville Speedway will also open their 2017 season on Friday, April 21st. But with the late models being showcased at Sharon the 410 sprint cars, big block modifieds, and stock cars will be joined by the RUSH crate modifieds for the season lid lifter.
Andy Priest
Tony Stewart’s All-Star Circuit of Champion sprint car series will invade Attica Raceway Park in central Ohio this weekend. Look for several western Pennsylvania teams to make the trip west Friday and Saturday with no sprint car racing in the area this coming weekend.
This Saturday Sharon Speedway will hold an open practice for all divisions starting at 4 p.m. with free grandstand admission for any fans that want to attend. Lernerville Speedway will also have an open practice on Tuesday, April 18 from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m.
About Rick
Rick Rarer, a Franklin resident, is the owner of Racestud.com and SprintCarNews.com. He has been covering racing for 18 years, taking racing photos for 13 years, and has covered races at over 100 tracks in 15 states. Most recently, Rick won the Bill Steinbach Media Award at the Lernerville Speedway Annual Awards Banquet.
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