Mercer, PA (May 13, 2011) – After a beautiful week of sunshine and high temperatures, Mother Nature has taken away another weekend of racing at Mercer Raceway Park as the track has decided to cancel all racing activities for May 14-15 due to the anticipated heavy rains. The All Star Sprint Circuit of Champions program, presented by Bill McCandless Ford and Hovis Auto & Truck Supply, will be rescheduled for next Saturday, May 21.
The O’Reilly Auto Parts All Star Sprints will be joined on the racing card by the Stars Mod Lite Touring Series, the ti22 Performance Outlaw Sprint Warriors, and the Precise Racing Products Stock Cars. Each of these divisions will compete for $500-to-win. The night will not count towards the Mercer Raceway Park point standings.
To reduce the risk that race fans and teams would bear the travel expense to the show only to be rained out, the Mercer Raceway Park management team made an early decision on the program and worked with the All Star Sprint Circuit of Champions to choose an alternate date. The May 21st event was chosen from available dates to quickly provide fans and teams the opportunity to attend this exciting show leading into a weekend of special events on Memorial Day weekend!
A long-time Mercer Raceway Park partner, Hovis Auto & Truck Supply will be on hand to celebrate Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Night as race fans enjoy a pre-race driver autograph session, a $5,000-to-win sprint car feature and loads of racing excitement with some of the best drivers in the country.
The May 21st All Star Sprint Circuit of Champions event will be the first visit of two this season as part of their Ohio region and Midwest All Star points series, with the second date scheduled for August 27. Current Ohio region points leader Dale Blaney will be making the stop, along with 2010 ASCOC Points Champion and 2010 Knoxville Nationals Winner Tim Shaffer, who sits in second in the points standings.
As an added bonus for sprint car teams, Mercer Raceway Park and Bill McCandless Ford have teamed up to offer Mercer Raceway Park regulars a $500 bonus for the highest finishing race team this weekend. To qualify, teams must have run at least one show at the track in 2011 prior to May 14 and at least two shows in 2010 to be eligible for the prize.
Fans will enjoy the lowest ASCOC ticket prices in the region at $19 for adults, $17 for seniors, $9 for students and kids 8 and under free as always. Family passes are $38 and pit passes are $35. Pit gates and grandstands open at 4:00pm with time trials scheduled for 6:30pm and heat races beginning at 7:00pm. The rain date is scheduled for Sunday, May 22.
This event will lead the track into Memorial Day weekend, where two special events await race fans. On Saturday, May 28 the Auto Racers for Kids Charities Sprint Car Shootout will be on the card with a $5,000-to-win Luxaire Sprint Car feature, Approved Toilet Rental 358 Modifieds, ti22 Performance Outlaw Sprint Warrior division and Big Dog R/C Mini Stocks. The 358 Modifieds will race for an increased purse and a $1,000 top prize.
All competing divisions will be eligible for a special bonus, as Stewart Financial Services has offered a $500 prize to the race team that raises the most money prior to May 28 for Auto Racers for Kids Charities.
Not only will the race teams benefit from this amazing program, but fans will also be in for a treat as admission prices will stay at the regular Saturday Night Live pricing levels for this event! At only $12 for adult admission and $25 for a pit pass, the Sprint Car Shootout will offer an unmatched deal for racers and fans alike.
The USA-EAST Championship Tractor and Truck Pull Series is coming to Mercer Raceway Park on Sunday, May 29 for the All American Spring Nationals World Championship Pulling Event, where fans can see some of the top pulling vehicles in the sport! The Big Rig Semis, Smoker Series Tractors, Modified 4×4 Trucks, and 2.6 Street Licensed Diesel 4×4 Trucks will try out the newly-built pulling track at Mercer Raceway Park as they compete for top honors. The pull is sanctioned for points in its entirety by the USA-EAST Sled Pulling Association.