“This is one of our favorite events on the season,” expressed ninth year owner Vicki Emig. “Each year we tweak the event with minor changes and additions. The one great thing about the Little Guy Nationals is complete shows each day unlike some tracks that hold qualifying one day and features the second day. In years past we’ve always generally had to fight the weather with usually cold conditions, but this year the weather looks great with sunshine and temps around 70 both days! This year’s line-up should be the best ever from both the driver and fan perspectives and with the weather conditions make the experience even better!”

The Stock Car portion of the Little Guy Nationals is western Pennsylvania's crown-jewel of Stock Car events. The Tire Express Stock Cars will be featured in two complete shows both Friday and Saturday. On Friday night, the 25-lap feature will pay $1,000 to-win, $70 to take the green flag. Then on Saturday, Stock Cars will hit the track for 40 laps paying $2,000 to-win, $140 to-start. Along with the big $2,000 to-win feature on Saturday for the Stock Cars, the next 48 non-qualifiers will again be given an opportunity to run a feature. The first 24 non-qualifiers will race in the 15-lap B feature paying $300 to-win, while the next 24 non-qualifiers will run in the 12-lap C feature paying $200 to-win.

New on Saturday is tech inspector Randy Myers’ Northeast Stock Car Championship. The event will pit the first and second place point drivers from Mercer, Lernerville, Raceway 7, Sharon, Tri-City, Eriez, and Stateline Speedways together for 15 laps paying $1,000 to-win! The top five positions will pay cash and the remaining positions will receive contingency awards. Various bonus dollars are also available.

Past winners of the Little Guy Nationals include Matt Lux (2000), Ken Drake (2001), Tony Hersh (2002), Bobby Whitling (2003), Shaun Hooks (2004), and Rusty Wheeler (2005 & 2006).

For the first time ever, the American Racer/Lias Tire Modifieds will participate in both days of action. Friday will be the July 4 make-up feature paying $1,500 to-win for the 25-lap event. The feature will be run after the completion of all of Friday’s heat races. Any other modifieds not qualified for Friday’s feature are welcome to hot lap during the modified hot laps and then a special six-lap hot lap session will be held prior to the night’s regular features. The feature field for Friday night is set from July 4’s qualifying events with T3’s Ray Bliss, Jr. on the pole alongside Mercer regular Gary Smoker. The event will be the final night of points for Mercer’s Modifieds.

The T3 All-Star Series will return on Saturday for a complete show. Their 30-lap feature will pay $2,000 to-win, $150 to-start. The first three events went to invaders Ricky Richner of New York, Mike Stine of central Pa., and Rick Hoctor of New York. In 2005, Lonny Riggs of Volant, Pa. became the first driver to repeat backing up his 2003 win. Gary Smoker of Mercer won the 2004 event, while Frank Guidace gave the locals four straight wins.

The event always attracts a large contingent of New York cars from the Ransomville/Merrittville and Black Rock/Woodhull circuits. Brothers Billy and Curt VanPelt, who have dominated action in New York, will lead the Series to town. For more info on the T3 Series, check out their website at www.t3allstarseries.com.

The Mod Lites have been part of the weekly program at Mercer for the first time ever in 2007. Due to their great support in past Little Guy Nationals and throughout the season, the Big Daddy’s Speed Center Mod Lites will be featured in both days of competition for the first time ever! Friday night’s event will be sanctioned by the STAR’s Championship Tour with a 20-lap $500 to-win feature. Then on Saturday, the Mod Lites will go 25 laps for $1,000 to-win, $100 to-start. A new addition to this year is a 10-lap non-qualifiers race paying $150 to-win for the first 24 drivers that failed to qualify for a feature both days. Sponsors for Saturday’s program include M.L.G. Land Development, Northeast Modified Lites, and Bruce Mason. Past winners of the Little Guy Nationals include Tracy Fritter (2002 & 2003), Eric McKinney (2004), and Steve White (2005 & 2006).

The Micro Sprints will run in their only event of the season in a 20-lap $750 to-win feature on Friday. This event is always well supported locally as well attracting drivers from Ohio, New York, and central and eastern Pennsylvania. Past winners include Jim Young (2001), Karlin Miller (2002), Terry Schaeffer (2003), Steve Dunmire (2004), and Jay Groves (2005 & 2006).

The Mini Stocks will return to the Little Guy Nationals for the second consecutive year. The M&D Paving Mini Stocks were also part of the weekly program at Mercer during the 2007 season and grew as the season went on. The Mini Stocks will run a complete show on Friday night highlighted by a 15-lap $150 to-win feature that will pay the entire field. Teenager Tim Bish was last year’s winner.

Saturday's event will be topped off by a huge Demo Derby. The top three spots will pay $500, $250, $150. If 50 or more cars participate, positions four through ten will pay $50.

On Friday, pit gates open at 3 p.m. and the grandstands at 4:30 p.m. Hot laps will begin at 6:15 p.m. with racing at 7 p.m. Then on Saturday, pit gates open at 11 a.m. and the grandstands at 1:30 p.m. Hot laps will begin at 3:15 p.m. only for cars that did not participate Friday with racing at 4 p.m.

Adult admission is $13 on Friday and $15 on Saturday. The Family Pass is $33 on Friday and $35 on Saturday. Students 6-15 are $7 both days and children five and under are always free. Pit passes are $30 both days.

Mercer Raceway Park is 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 late March through September. The office in New Bedford, Pa. is open year-round late mornings and after 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information call the office at 724-964-9300 or the track on race day at 724-662-1310. Check out our website at www.mercerracewaypark.com for the latest.