ULMS Late Models Invade Mercer Raceway Park
Story By: LOU LONG / MERCER RACEWAY Photos By: TOMMY HEIN / RACERSGUIDE.COM
Mercer, PA – June 17 , 2016- Mercer Raceway Park will host the ULMS Late Models, and more, on Saturday, June 18. “The extended forecast looks favorable, so we are looking forward to a great night of racing,” said track owner Bill Altman. “The fans do not get many opportunities to see these powerful Late Models on a track like this, so it should be exciting,” he added.
The ULMS Late Models trace their roots to modified passenger cars. Make no mistake, though, these racers are highly sophisticated machines, specially built to blast around dirt tracks like Mercer Raceway Park. And, these cars have lots of brute horsepower to broadslide through the corners.
The United Late Model Series is a regional sanctioning organization run by Chris Zuver. “He has had a lot of experience presenting some of the best shows around,” Altman noted. The ULMS took a few steps back when it came under the umbrella of Kennedy Motorsports, but Zuver is at the helm again and he is guiding things back to familiar territory.
The thirty-lapper at Mercer Raceway Park will pay a hefty $3,000 to the winner. It will be just the second stop on the ULMS tour in 2016. The first round was the Earl Hill Memorial, held at the Tyler County Speedway, in West Virginia, and that race was won by “the Show Stopper,” Tim Dohm. Dohm and his fellow Mountaineers dominated the results that night, and it will be interesting to see how many of them take the ride up I-79 to get to the tricky Mercer oval.
But, even if Dohm and his southern cohorts pass up this show, there should be plenty of northern tier drivers to thrill the fans. Greg Oakes, Dave Hess, Jr., John Volpe, Charlie Powell, and Bobby Rohrer are just a few who raced at Tyler County, so they are expected for this one. Other regional stars like Max Blair, Jared Miley, Keith Barbara, and Russell King, have raced with ULMS successfully in the past, and they may drop in as well. “This has the makings of a highly competitive field,” Altman explained.
And, the Mercer race is the lead-in to another ULMS biggie, the annual “Dick Litz Memorial,” to be held at Eriez Speedway on June 19, so plenty of top drivers are expected for this weekend’s activity.
Joining the ULMS Late Models on June 18 at Mercer will be the Bonnell’s Rod Shop Outlaw Sprint Warriors, the Approved Toilet Rentals 358 Modifieds, the Precise Racing Products Open Stock Cars, the Rock Concrete Supply Modified Lites, the Eperthener’s Auto Wrecking and Ray’s Racing Collectibles Mini Stocks, and the Elder Tractor Sales & Service Junior Sprints. “With all of these classes, there will be something for everybody to enjoy,” Altman concluded.
Because this is a Late Model special race, the 4 Your Car Connection 410 Sprints will have the weekend off.
It will be a fun-filled night of racing for just $15 for the adult fans. Senior admission, for those 60 and over, will be $13. Students (9-15) will be admitted for $7, while the younger set (8 and under) will be admitted for free. The Family Pass for this event will be $35, and that will apply to two parents and up to four minors of any age. The Pit Passes will be $30.
Gates will open at 3 for the racers, and at 4 for the fans. Racing will begin at 5:30 for the Mod Lites, Mini Stocks, and Junior Sprints. The remaining classes will roll onto the track at 7 p.m.
If you cannot make it to mercer raceway Park this Saturday, plan to attend on June 25, which will be the popular Fireworks Night. The extra excitement will be provided courtesy of Pizza Joe’s. The racing will be a Saturday Night Live! card.
Also, coming up on July 2 will be a night that all fans of winged Sprint Cars will want to enjoy. That will be the Auto Racers for Kids Night, with the proceeds going to help children’s charities in the northwestern PA area. There will be three, yes three, classes of Sprints in action, with the 360 Patriot Sprint Tour joining the track’s regular 4 Your Car Connection 410 Sprints and the Bonnell’s Rod Shop Outlaw Sprint Warriors. To the casual observer, these three types of Sprints may all look alike, but, under the hoods will be different sizes of powerplants. This will be a can’t miss event!
Remember that you can get alerts regarding the cancellation of any racing event at Mercer Raceway Park sent directly to your smartphone or other electronic device. To register, please go to the track’s website, www.mercerracewaypark.com, click on the icon for RainedOut.com, and follow the easy steps.
Marketing partners of Mercer Raceway Park include Hovis Auto & Truck Supply, Mercer Hardware, Schaeffer’s Specialized Lubricants, Scheidemantle Motors, Greenhill Farms Equipment, Inc., the Normandy Banquet Center of Hickory VFW Post 6166, Flynn’s Tire & Auto Service, Pizza Joe’s, Sharon Auto Wrecking, Inc., AMSOIL, Noga Ambulance Service, Inc., Pyrotechnico, Watson’s, Inc., Big Dog Indoor Racing & Hobby, Ritenour Equipment Co., Herr’s Foods, the American Cancer Society, Sunburst Environmental, and Lias Tires.
About Mercer Raceway Park: 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 from late March through late September. For more information, check out www.mercerracewaypark.com, www.twitter.com/mercerraceway, or www.facebook.com/mercerracewaypark.
