Mercer, PA…Mercer Raceway Park closed out the 2007 season Saturday night with the 17th consecutive event in day two of the eighth annual “Little Guy Nationals. Celebrating in the Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic victory lane were Billy VanPelt-T3 All-Star Series American Racer/Lias Tire Modifieds, Alan Dellinger-Tire Express Stock Cars, Rod Jones-Big Daddy’s Speed Center Mod Lites. Rob Bates and Bill Heffner won the Stock Car B and C consolation feature respectively, while Ken Zimmer won the Northeast Stock Car Championship. Alan Knepper won the non-qualifier race for Mod Lites, and Greg Ferlin of Jackson Center, Pa. won the $500 Demo Derby.

Billy VanPelt has won a lot of races over his career and big ones at that, but on Saturday night VanPelt added the prestigious “Little Guy Nationals” to his resume with a convincing victory in the 30-lap $2,000 to-win T3 All-Star Modified Series feature.

“Man what a ride- I just won the Little Guy Nationals,” expressed the Westfield, Pa. veteran. “I had a great time last night too. The track had a lot of bite in it. What a facility! I love coming down here and racing with these people. I have to thank my crew chief Duane Groover. He put an awesome setup underneath me tonight. We did the right choice on tire. I want to thank all of the serviceman overseas fighting for our freedom so we can do this and all of the fans for the support. I hope they saw a good show.”

Last year’s winner Frank Guidace took off from the pole position with Steve Barr and VanPelt trailing. Trying to run the top around Guidace, Barr looped his car bringing out the caution with two laps completed and moved VanPelt to second. When racing resumed, VanPelt made the winning move getting by Guidace. VanPelt survived the caution-plagued event and some bouts in lapped traffic for the dominating victory. During a 16-lap non-stop green flag period between laps 4-20, VanPelt opened up nearly a one-half lap lead. Guidace had lost second to Jimmy Holden, then got tangled up on a lap 20 restart melee ending his night. Holden’s fine run ended on lap 27 when he slowed allowing Ron Eperthener, Jr. to fly by for second. Holden would bring out the event’s final caution with 27 laps in the books.

When racing resumed, VanPelt pulled away with lapped traffic separating himself from Eperthener cruising to his third career Mercer win in the Ted White-owned #2. Eperthener’s second was his best finish in the event and earned himself $1,000. Bryan Terwilliger charged from the 19th starting spot to finish a close third. Mike Stine was fourth ahead of 14th starting Jeremiah Shingledecker. Sixth through tenth were Holden, Eric Gabany, Dale Welty, Garrett Krummert, and Ron White. Topping the heats over the season-high 39-car field were Barr, Krummert, Guidace, and Jeff Schaffer subbing for Rapp. Welty and Ray Bliss, Jr. won the two B mains.

Friday night, Alan Dellinger competed at McKean County Raceway earning the inaugural FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Championship. On Saturday, Dellinger jumped in the Dave McLaughlin #115 and drove a smooth, calculated race to pick up the 40-lap Tire Express Stock Car feature worth $2,000. It was Dellinger’s first victory in the event.

“I’ve never had any luck in this event,” acknowledged the Hermitage, Pa. racer. “Dave and I talked and decided I’d hang around the first half of the race and be there at the end not taking any chances and it paid off.”

September 8 winner and Thunder Mountain Speedway Champion Rusty Martz led the first 14 laps before Dan Smeal finally worked his way past. Dellinger, who started back in eight, had passed newcomer Jason Peters for third on lap nine and then moved ahead of Martz for second on lap 17. Dellinger ran down Smeal on lap 21, while Jason Reagle took third from Martz. With an extended period of green-flag action, lapped traffic came into play on lap 28, which played to Dellinger’s advantage. Dellinger worked his way by Smeal in traffic on lap 29 for the lead. Reagle had a tire go down on lap 31 moving Brian Booher into third. Booher got past Smeal on lap 32 only to see Smeal take back second one lap later. The two made contact, which ended Booher’s night as he pulled to the infield.

Up front, it was clean sailing for Dellinger who pulled away for his 31st career Mercer Stock Car win and 39th overall at the track. Smeal held on for second, which was worth $1,000. Butch Lambert advanced from 14th to place third. Bobby Whitling was fourth and has now qualified for seven of the eight Little Guy National features and won the B feature the only other year. Chris Haines ended his first full season of racing with a strong fifth. Completing the top 10 were Randy Zechman, Andy Buckley, Gary Little, Jamie Barber, and Rusty Wheeler, whose bid for three straight Little Guy National wins ended. Heat winners over the season-high 74 car field were Martz, Reagle, Dellinger, Peters, Gary Robinson, Tim Deutsch, Smeal, and Haines. Wheeler, Buckley, Barber, and Doug Iorio won the B mains. A total of 80 different Stock Cars competed over the two days.

Rob Bates won the 15-lap Stock Car B consolation feature for the first 24 non-qualifiers and earned $300. The Waterford, Pa. driver led the first 10 laps before being overtaken by Dave Ferringer on lap 11. Bates fought back and regained the lead making a nice move in turn four on lap 13. Bates went on for the win in his #99B over Ferringer, Mike Pegher, Jr., Bill Philips, Jr., and Randy Wyant.

Making his first ever appearance, Bill Heffner captured the Stock Car C consolation feature for the next group of 24 non-qualifiers. The Huntingdon, Pa. driver overtook pole-sitter Pat Adams on the opening lap and went on for the $200 victory in his #59. Rick Hemphill came from 10th to place second. Tim Bish, Adams, and Gary Fisher completed the top five.

Tech inspector Randy Myers put on the inaugural Northeast Championship for the Stock Cars pitting the top two point drivers from Mercer, Sharon, Lernerville, Tri-City, Raceway 7, Stateline, and Eriez Speedways. Nine of the 14 eligible racers competed and it was Ken Zimmer scoring the upset victory in the 15-lap race. Representing Raceway 7, the Fairview, Pa. driver led all 15 laps for the $1,000 payday in his father Ron’s #62. Bates passed Andy Buckley on lap four and challenged Zimmer but was unable to get by. Bates earned $500 to go with his $300 B feature win. Third through fifth were Pegher, Buckley, and Booher.

Rod Jones capped off a stellar championship season winning for the 10th time at Mercer in the 25-lap $1,000 to-win Big Daddy’s Speed Center Mod Lite feature giving him a $1,500 sweep of the weekend. Jones was fresh off a two-day sweep of racing earlier this month at Merrittville Speedway, where he won some $3,000 in Canada money.

The West Middlesex, Pa. driver started sixth and passed Bud Watson for the lead on lap two. Jones survived numerous cautions for his 12th career Mercer win in the Jones Performance-sponsored, Dave Jones-owned #820. Watson, who is just 15 years old, was very impressive holding on to a career best second. Pole-sitter Mikey Hay was third over the team cars of Kenny Meadows and Todd Canter, who started 21st. Heat winners over the season-high 44-car field were Doug Stanley, Mark Marcucci, Meadows, and Steve White. The two B mains were won by Canter and Tom Klein. A total of 50 different cars competed over the two days.

Alan Knepper won the 10-lap non-qualifiers race for drivers that failed to qualify for the feature both days. The Somerset, Pa. 14-year-old driver passed Ron Debolt on lap three and held him off for the $150 victory. Knepper’s win came in his dad Lynn’s #1, which is powered by just a 600cc engine. Completing the field were Ray Gregory, Wilbur Juillerat, Mark Brighton, and Jamie Gilbert.

T3 All-Star Series American Racer/Lias Tire Modifieds (30 laps): 1. BILLY VANPELT ($2,000) 2. Ron Eperthener, Jr. 3. Bryan Terwilliger 4. Mike Stine 5. Jeremiah Shingledecker 6. Jimmy Holden 7. Eric Gabany 8. Dale Welty 9. Garrett Krummert 10. Ron White 11. Rodney Beltz 12. Mark Frankhouser 13. Kenny Peoples, Jr. 14. Dylan DeWert 15. Ray Bliss, Jr. 16. Gary Smoker 17. Kevin Green 18. Ray Dann 19. Frank Guidace 20. Steve Toth 21. Brad Rapp 22. Matt Reeher 23. Ricky Richner 24. Steve Barr 25. Lonny Riggs 26. Kevin Hoffman DNQ: Tom Holden, Derek Rodkey, Matt Howsare, Marvin Williams, Rick Hall, Rich Whitney, Jr. Baker, Ben Porter, Ryan Haney, Tim Guild, Rod Artman, Curt VanPelt, Jeff Walters.

Tire Express Stock Car A feature (40 laps): 1. ALAN DELLINGER ($2,000) 2. Dan Smeal 3. Butch Lambert 4. Bobby Whitling 5. Chris Haines 6. Randy Zechman 7. Andy Buckley 8. Gary Little 9. Jamie Barber 10. Rusty Wheeler 11. Rod Laskey 12. Tony Bruno 13. Jason Peters 14. Brian Booher 15. Jason Reagle 16. Tim Deutsch 17. Matt Wagner 18. Rusty Martz 19. Doug Iorio 20. Ed Cornell 21. Gary Robinson 22. Chad O’Brien 23. Ken Zimmer 24. Bill Henney.

Stock Car B consolation feature (15 laps): 1. ROB BATES ($300) 2. Dave Ferringer 3. Mike Pegher, Jr. 4. Bill Phillips, Jr. 5. Randy Wyant 6. Bobby Heim 7. Jason Fosnaught 8. Jeff Sweeney 9. Mike Aley 10. Terry Wheeler 11. Tim Burns 12. Bob Schwartzmiller 13. Brian Bush 14. Rusty Wheeler 15. Matt Keith 16. Tim Thompson 17. Charles Beck 18. Jim Fosnaught 19. Danny Rich 20. Cory Webb 21. Jamie Duncan 22. Russ Coyne 23. Shaun Hooks 24. John Ramsey-DNS.

Stock Car C consolation feature (12 laps): 1. BILL HEFFNER ($200) 2. Rick Hemphill 3. Tim Bish 4. Pat Adams 5. Gary Fisher 6. Willie Aley 7. Sid Haas 8. Brandon Johnston 9. Ryan Hills 10. Jamey Swank 11. Bob Sloss 12. Tommy Dembowski 13. Bruce Redman-DNS 14. Bob Connor-DNS 15. Eric Baun-DNS 16. Corey Ruffo-DNS 17. Ray Reynolds-DNS 18. Shaun Fawcett-DNS 19. Tim Folmer-DNS. DNQ: Dan Lewis, Chris Schneider, Paul Reiser, Bob Rosman, Jake Simmons, Bruce Large, Edwards Snyder

Stock Car Northeast Championship (15 laps): 1. KEN ZIMMER ($1,000) 2. Rob Bates 3. Mike Pegher, Jr. 4. Andy Buckley 5. Brian Booher 6. Mike Aley 7. Jason Fosnaught 8. Rusty Wheeler 9. Dave Ferringer.

Big Daddy’s Speed Center Mod Lites (25 laps): 1. ROD JONES ($1,000) 2. Bud Watson 3. Mikey Hay 4. Kenny Meadows 5. Todd Canter 6. Angie Grzelak 7. Kevin Spencer 8. Steve White 9. Jeremy Adamik 10. Dave Jones 11. Mark Marcucci 12. Mike Evans 13. Levi Spinneweber 14. Adam Murphy 15. Jay Dye 16. Kevin Nicolino 17. Brian Woodhall 18. Doug Stanley 19. Lynn Knepper 20. Tyler Reno 21. Frank Dunkle, Jr. 22. Adam Leslie 23. Tom Klein 24. Jerry Cushing

Mod Lites Non-Qualifiers Race (10 laps): 1. ALAN KNEPPER ($150) 2. Ron Debolt 3. Ray Gregory 4. Wilbur Juillerat 5. Mark Brighton 6. Charles Campbell DNQ: George Englert, Dave Russell, Shawn Sliter, Anthony Gillespie, Tony Tatgenhorst, James Watson, Garrett Krummert, Mark Williams, Daniel Russell, Tony Swierz, Bill Stivason, Jamie Gilbert, Jay Groves, Kotie Kirkbride.

Upcoming Events:

1/12/07 2007 Awards Banquet at the Normandy Banquet Center/Hickory VFW

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 Monday through Friday late mornings and after 1:30 p.m. 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.