Grand Opening Saturday At Michael’s Mercer Raceway

(Mercer, PA April 24, 2019): Following up on a highly successful Chiller Thriller held two weeks ago, Michaels Mercer Raceway will celebrate its grand opening this Saturday, April 27. This will be the first time that the Fast Five will be contending for championship points, so all of the competitors will be raring to go!

“The front is supposed to move through Friday, so we should have another great night of racing Saturday,” said new owner Edward Michaels. “We had lots of excited race fans and tremendous support from the competitors for the Chiller Thriller, and I expect nothing less this time around,” he added.

Rex King, Jr., winner of the Chiller Thriller for the third time in his career, will be looking to add his name to the regular season win list at Mercer for the first time. All of his prior victories have come against the BRP Modified Tour. With a number of track championships under his belt, along with Modified Tour crowns, King Jr. is rapidly becoming one of the top drivers in the Big Block Modifieds in the region.

But King Jr. will have plenty of stiff competition in the Diehl Ram Modifieds. His father, the Bristolville Bandit, was running in second when he suffered a flat tire in the Chiller Thriller. The misfortune of King Sr. allowed Jimmy Holden to chase King Jr. home, and Holden would like to score his first Big Block win at the track he dominated while racing a 358 Modified. Lonny Riggs, another 358 Modified stand-out, will be ready to challenge, along with racers like Kyle Fink, Garrett Krummert, J.R. McGinley, Jeremiah Shingledecker, and Dave Murdick, to name just a few.

Krummert will be doing double duty again, as he will also take to the post in his Fastrack Limited Modified. This division, presented by Turn 4 Toilet Rentals, will have Steve Slater, Will Shaffer, and Jessica Kriegisch in action.

While Jessica will be looking for her first victory at Mercer, she will not be the first female racer to put her name in the record books. That distinction goes to teenager Vivian Jones, of West Middlesex, who copped the Modified Lite feature. The Modified Lites race under the colors of Barris Trucking.

The Racesaver 305 Sprint Cars will add winged excitement to the Chiller Thriller. Jacob Gomola took the win the first time out. Can he do it again? Hards Welding and Fabrication and River Valley Butcher Block will tout this class throughout the 2019 season.

Last but not least, traditional Mercer sponsors Ray’s Racing Collectibles and Eperthener’s Auto Wrecking will hail the Mini Stocks into the ring. “We send our heartfelt condolences to the Eperthener family on the recent passing of Ron Sr.,” Michaels noted. “He would be proud of the full field and tough competition that these racers bring to the track.” Todd Hanlon scored his first of the season in the Chiller Thriller.

The pit gates will swing open at 4 p.m. for the racers and the front gates will open at 5 p.m. for the spectators. Practice sessions will start at 6:30 and the first heat race will hit the track at 7 p,m.

The new, regular season pricing program will be in effect for the first time in 2019. Adult admission to the stands will be just $12, and seniors will be admitted for $10. Children and youths ages 13 and under will be free as long as they are accompanied by a paying guest.

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 Michaels Mercer Raceway: Michaels Mercer Raceway is a 3/8-mile dirt track located minutes from both Interstates 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 early October. For more information, check out www.mercerracewaypark.com.