Holden, Gomola, Hurrelbrink, Webb, Hanlon, and Methenyey also Succeed
Story By: LOU LONG / MERCER SPEEDWAY MEDIA Photos By:TOMMY HEIN / RACERSGUIDE.COM
Mercer, PA – April 26,2016- Brandon Spithaler, from nearby Evans City, PA, got his second win of the weekend at Mercer Raceway Park. After dominating the action the night before at Lernerville Speedway, Spithaler did the double. Ironically, those were the only two races that he has finished this season.
Defending champion Jimmy Holden made it two wins in a row in the Approved Toilet Rentals 358 Modifieds. Jacob Gomola earned his first career win at Mercer Raceway Park in the Bonnell’s Rod Shop Outlaw Sprint Warriors. William Hurrelbrink prevailed in the Precise Racing Products Open Stocks.
The earlybird features went to Shane Webb in the Rock Concrete Supply Modified Lites, Todd Hanlon in the Eperthener’s Auto Wrecking and Ray’s Racing Collectibles Mini Stocks, and Chase Metheney in the Elder’s Tractor Sales and Service Junior Sprints.
“If we can keep this going well, we will be in good shape,” said an excited Spithaler in victory lane. His recent success may be a matter of the pieces to the puzzle coming together. He switched chassis brands and has a new shock package. But, the real catalyst seems to be the help that he got with the engine and fueling system. His engine builder, Charlie Fisher, and fellow competitor, Chad Kemenah, corrected some issues that have been hampering him for the past three seasons.
Eric Williams got out to an early lead in the 4 Your Car Connection 410 Sprints. Jack Sodeman, Jr. raced in second, but the man with a plan was Brandon Spithaler. He swooped into the lead on lap seven, and never looked back. Meanwhile, Williams and Sodeman put on a spirited duel for second, with Williams eventually coming out on top.
Brandon Matus raced home in the fourth position. A.J. Flick came across the line in fifth. Michael Bauer had the advantage over Scott Priester, Davey Jones, Brent Matus, and Alex Paden at the conclusion of the contest.
The pair of preliminaries went to Brandon Matus and Spithaler. There was no B Main.
In the Approved Toilet Rentals 358 Modifieds, Jimmy Holden found the bite in the top of the track. He used the outside groove to rocket from fourth to second following the first restart. Then, he rode the cushion to take the lead from Kyle Fink after the next interruption of the action.
“We weren’t overly happy with the way it handled last week, and we came into this week and weren’t real happy with the car in the heat again. But, we made some changes.” Still, Holden was unsure what he had when the feature began, but he soon found out just how good the new car was, especially on the high side of the track.
“I kinda ended up on the top on a restart and I remembered how I did good up there on the initial start, so I just brought it in a little harder, sat on it a little harder, and stood on it, and it stuck.”
Fink maintained the second position to the finish. Lonnie Riggs climbed up to third. Michael Maresco outpaced J.R. McGinley for fourth. Jeff Schaffer, Jr. was scored in sixth, ahead of Frank Guidace, Tommy Kristyak, Kevin Green, and Sid Unverzagt, Jr.
The two heat winners were McGinley and Fink. There was no B Main.
In the Bonnel’s Rod Shop Outlaw Sprint Warriors feature, Jacob Gomola regained the lead when
George Hobaugh pitted under caution following a skirmish with Vincent Daugherty in turn four under the yellow. Daugherty had spun on lap 15 to bring out a yellow, but Hobaugh was unable to squeeze by. Hobaugh had survived another incident in turn two several laps before. While battling for second, Mike Marano, II spun and Hobaugh clipped him as he went by. It did not slow him at all, as he was able to chase down Gomola before the misfortune in turn four.
Gomola led all but a couple of laps in the middle of this contest. Ralph Engel, Jr. was second, with Gregg McCandless getting third after a decade out of the sport. Darin Gallagher and Greg Dobrosky were fourth and fifth. Gary Kriess, Devin Litwiler, Andrew Fescemyer, Eric L. Williams, and C.J. Jones had the next five positions at the checkers.
Marano and Gomola copped their heats. There was no B Main. Andy Priest, last week’s winner, was uninjured when he took a tumble in turn two on the opening lap of the feature.
Orange is indeed the hot color for the Precise Racing Products Open Stocks. William Hurrelbrink continued the trend, steering his machine to victory. Hurrelbrink took command on lap two and led the rest of the way. Andy Buckley charged through the field, coming from fifteenth to second. Pat Fielding, Curt Bish, and Gary Fisher were bunched together for positions in the top five. Terry Wheeler, Garrett Calvert, Bryan Wagner, Joe Stajnrajh, and Dave McMannus rounded out the top ten. The heat victories went to Bish and Hurrelbrink. There was no B Main.
Shane Webb took advantage of his pole starting position in the Rock Concrete Supply Modified Lites. Although he led every lap, he had pressure throughout from former champion and opening night winner Shane Pfeuffer. Webb’s margin of victory in the non-stop affair was a scant 0.178 seconds. Doug Jones was third, Levi Spinneweber fourth, and Jacob Bova fifth. Positions six through ten belonged to Jason Johnson, Kurt Eckstrom, Vivian Jones, Josh Christopher, and Dusty Frantz. The heats belonged to Doug Jones and Pfeuffer. There was no B Main.
Todd Hanlon also went green to checkers in the Mini Stocks presented by Eperthener’s Auto Wrecking and Ray’s Racing Collectibles. Tyler Fulton chased him home. Shane Shook was a close third. Isaac Paden and Steve Longwell, Sr. completed the top five. Ed Haylett topped Tyler Young for sixth. Matthew Rubright, Mike Barr, and Jacob Rice were next to finish. Heat winners Fulton and Hanlon. There was no B Main.
In the Elder Tractor Sales and Service Junior Sprints, Chase Metheney passed early leader Ayden Cipriano with just two laps remaining and went on to victory. Cipriano was second, with Jodan Simmons, Austin Cavanaugh, and Roman Jones finishing in the top five. Alivia Bish was sixth. Metheney also won the heat race. There was no B Main.
Next week will be Pittsburgh Circle Track Club Night. Courtesy of Elder Tractor Sales and Service, all club members in good standing will be admitted free to the stands. It will be a Saturday Night Live! event, with earlybird racing at 5:30. The headliners will appear at 7 p.m.
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.
4 Your Car Connection 410 Sprints: Brandon Spithaler, Eric Williams, Jack Sodeman, Jr., Brandon Matus, A.J. Flick, Michael Bauer, Scott Priester, Davey Jones, Brent Matus, Alex Paden, Mike Miller, Jim Morris, Gale Ruth, Sr., John Garvin, Jr.
Approved Toilet Rentals 358 Modifieds: Jimmy Holden, Kyle Fink, Lonnie Riggs, Michael Maresco, J.R. McGinley, Jeff Schaffer, Jr., Frank Guidace, Tommy Kristyak, Kevin Green, Sid Unverzagt, Jr., Richard Whitney.
Bonnell’s Rod Shop Outlaw Sprint Warriors: Jacob Gomola, Ralph Engel, Jr., Gregg McCandless, Darin Gallagher, Greg Dobrosky, Gary Kriess, Devin Litwiler, Andrew Fescemyer, Eric L. Williams, C.J. Jones, George Hobaugh, Vincent Daugherty, Mike Marano, II, Rod Jones, Andy Priest.
Precise Racing Products Open Stocks: William Hurrelbrink, Andy Buckley, Pat Fielding, Curt Bish, Gary Fisher, Terry Wheeler, Garrett Clavert, Bryan Wagner, Joe Stajnrajh, Dave McMannus, David Baker, Mark Sanders, Ryan Moyer, Richard Chess, Mike Case, Shawn Smith (DNS).
Rock Concrete Supply Modified Lites: Shane Webb, Shane Pfeuffer, Doug Jones, Levi Spinneweber, Jacob Bova, Jason Johnson, Kurt Eckstrom, Vivian Jones, Josh Christopher, Dusty Frantz, Keith Smith, Bill Stivason (DNS).
Eperthener’s Auto Wrecking/Ray’s Racing Collectibles Mini Stocks: Todd Hanlon, Tyler Fulton, Shane Shook, Isaac Paden, Steve Longwell, Sr., Ed Haylett, Tyler Young, Matthew Rubright, Mike Barr, Jacob Rice, William Haylett, Pat Hanlon, Tim Callahan, Roger Wigton (DNS).
Elder’s Tractor Sales and Service Junior Sprints: Chase Metheney, Ayden Cipriano, Jodan Simmons, Austin Cavanaugh, Roman Jones, Alivia Bish, Sam Darby (DNS).
