Saturday Night Live! Starts New Chapter at Mercer Raceway Park on April 2
Story By:LOU LONG /MERCER RACEWAY MEDIA Photos By:TOMMY HEIN / RACERSGUIDE.COM
MERCER, PA – April 1, 2016- In just a few short days, Mercer Raceway Park will debut its new and exciting format for Saturday Night Live! racing events. On April 2, the super seven division program will kick off at 5:30 with three “small car” classes. Then, at 7:00, the customary starting time, the four principal classes will take to the track.
Defending track champion Jack Sodeman, Jr. will lead the way in the 4 Your Car Connection 410 Sprint Cars. The fast and furious winged Sprints will be the nightcap on this historic night. Joining the 410 Sprints will be the Approved Toilet Rentals 358 Modifieds. The kingpin, Jimmy Holden, passed up last week’s Chiller Thriller won by Big Block star Rex King, Jr., but Holden is expected to complete this weekend.
The Bonnell’s Rod Shop Outlaw Sprint Warriors will compete, and Cody Bova will be the standard bearer. Brent Johnson, triumphant last week in the Precise Racing Products Open Stocks, will be gunning for his second victory of this young season.
The new twist on things will be the first stage events. Fans will get a glimpse of the next generation of dirt trackers, as the Elder Tractor Sales and Service Junior Sprints will make their first appearance as a staple of the Saturday Night Live! program. These cars, driven by youngsters wanting to earn their bones, raced for the first time in the 2015 Little Guy Nationals.
Following them will be the Mini Stocks, presented by Eperthener’s Auto Wrecking and Ray’s Racing Collectibles. Todd Gabriel steered Tyler Fulton’s mount to the win in the Snowflake 25 two weeks ago. Who will it be this time? And Mark Marcucci will appear in the Rock Concrete Modified Lites. He was nearly unstoppable last year. Can he repeat the feat?
Pit gates will open at 4 p.m. and the grandstand gates will open at 4:30, so there are no changes there.
But, racing will start at 5:30, not at 7 p.m., as before. The first rounds will be for those “small cars,” and their part of the program will be completed before the 7 p.m. start of the four primary classes.
“Fans who only want to see those main classes can stroll in later, see their favorites, and head for home at a reasonable hour,” said track owner and promoter Bill Altman. “This change in approach is intended to complete the racing earlier in the evening, so we can be better neighbors,” he explained.
The ticket price will be just $13 for adults, $11 for seniors (ages 60 and up), and $5 for students (ages 8 to 15). Children (ages 8 and under) are free, as always. The popular Family Pass will be available only $28, and that will benefit two adults and up to four minors of any age. Pit Passes will be $30.
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.
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.
