Teeters, Moore and Lutz Also Find Victory Lane
Mercer, PA (May 22, 2011) – Mercer Raceway Park locals gave the All Star Sprint Circuit of Champions teams a run for their money last night but it was current hot shoe Daryn Pittman that came out the victor, picking up the $5,000 feature win over a strong 46-car field. Pittman is on a streak, having swept the weekend with a victory at Lernerville Speedway on Friday following a World of Outlaws win at Williams Grove last weekend.
[galleryview id=1]
Pittman is the second of two drivers to pick up back-to-back victories at Lernerville Speedway and Mercer Raceway Park, following in the footsteps of Danny Smith who was the winner at Mercer on May 7.
“Right now we’re riding a pretty good high,” Pittman said. “This is three wins in a row so we’ll just try to keep it going while we can. After the [World of Outlaw] win last weekend at Williams Grove, you just have to pinch yourself. Winning three sprint car races in a year is something and winning three in a row in Pennsylvania against this competition is really difficult.”
Mike Lutz was the early favorite in the ASCOC sprint car feature as the Hermitage, PA driver jumped to an early lead over outside pole sitter Ed Lynch, Jr. Lutz, who timed seventh fastest, earned the pole position by winning the dash after fast qualifiers Dale Blaney, Danny Holtgraver and Kyle Sauder were unable to advance to the feature, and, thus, the dash, through their heat races.
Lutz led the first 22 laps, navigating lap traffic in the caution-less race, as Daryn Pittman patiently picked off positions from his fifth place starting spot. Lap traffic looked to give Lutz the advantage but as the laps ticked off, Pittman reeled him in and a bobble at the flagstand allowed Pittman to swoop in and take the lead on lap 22. The Owasso, OK native walked away with the lead and remained untouched for the rest of the 30-lap feature.
Lutz picked up a strong second-place finish over David Gravel, Ed Lynch, Jr. and Danny Smith. As the highest finishing local driver, Lutz earned a $500 bonus from McCandless Ford.
“[Mike Lutz] ran a great race,” Pittman said. “That car is fast. I’ve only been here twice and both times he was pretty good. We don’t race against a lot of these cars very often so we don’t really know what the level of competition is or who to watch for but that #8’s always been quick every time we’ve been here.”
Mercer Raceway Park locals had a strong showing with Lutz, Lynch, Brian Ellenberger and Danny Holtgraver earning top ten honors. Bob Felmlee ran in the top five for the majority of the race before spinning on lap 28. Felmlee was able to keep the car going but fell from fourth to an 11th place finish. Rod George, Brandon Spithaler, Eric Williams, Andy McKisson, Carl Bowser and Todd Bauer also made the A-Main.
The Stars Mod Lite series also visited Mercer Raceway Park for the first time this season, and Jeff Teeters became the first repeat winner of the year in the Big Daddy’s Speed Center Mod Lite class. Teeters grabbed an early lead and made off with the $500 victory relatively unchallenged.
“It felt great,” Teeters said of picking up the win. “The last time I was here, the car was much easier to drive. Tonight it was really hard. I had to work hard.”
Teeters made a beeline for the front of the field from his ninth place starting position, taking the lead from pole sitter Alan Knepper on lap four after multiple cautions bunched the field up. Tracy Fritter, Mercer Raceway Park’s April 30 winner, also used the cautions to his advantage as he advanced from the ninth place starting spot to make his way into second place.
Fritter had a shot at taking the lead from Teeters on a mid-race caution flag and then again on a lap 18 caution but Fritter didn’t give Teeters a challenge, quickly falling back on the restart. Despite his heroics, Fritter was unable to regain his second-place position and the final finish saw Alan Knepper, Lynn Knepper, Fritter, and Mark Marcucci as the top five.
Rusty Moore was another repeat winner in the Precise Racing Products Stock Car division, picking up the win over a strong Chad O’Brien, who was also looking for his second win of the season. O’Brien led the first seven laps after grabbing the lead from pole sitter Russ Byler from his second place starting spot, while Moore quickly went to work on the field. As last race’s winner, Moore started in twelfth position but a multitude of cautions gave him the opportunity to advance, taking the lead from O’Brien on lap eight. O’Brien didn’t give up easily, though, challenging Moore throughout the race and picking up the second place finish. Terry Wheeler, Bob McCann and Jace Ferringer rounded out the top five.
Mike Lutz used his momentum from the ASCOC feature to pick up the win in the ti22 Performance Outlaw Sprint Warrior division to become the second winner in four races in the class. Jeff Taylor took the early lead from pole sitter Skip Daugherty and looked as if he would pick up his first victory, but the Cherry Hill, NJ native broke under the flagstand on lap 12. Lutz, who was challenging for the lead, was able to walk away from the field in the remainder of the 20-lap feature. Dennis Wagner picked up second over Daugherty, Justin Whitesell and Adam Anderson, who got his first win of the season the night before at Sharon Speedway.
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.
Then, join us as the USA-EAST Championship Tractor and Truck Pull Series comes 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 rain date is scheduled for Monday, May 30.
Full Results:
All Star Sprint Circuit of Champions/Luxaire Heating & Cooling 410 Sprint Cars (30 laps): 1. DARYN PITTMAN (27) 2. Mike Lutz (08) 3. David Gravel (89G) 4. Ed Lynch, Jr. (2L) 5. Danny Smith (4) 6. Brian Ellenberger (22E) 7. Sam Hafertepe, Jr. (15H) 8. Danny Holtgraver (D4) 9. Tim Shaffer (83) 10. Dale Blaney (2) 11. Bob Felmlee (6F) 12. Byron Reed (5) 13. Rod George (4G) 14. Brandon Spithaler (22s) 15. Cole Duncan (22) 16. Eric Williams (7) 17. Jessica Zemken (1Z) 18. Dean Jacobs (97) 19. Chris Andrews (0) 20. Andy McKisson (0x) 21. Carl Bowser (10) 22. Brad Bowman (51) 23. Todd Bauer (45x) 24. Jac Haudenschild; DNQ – Cap Henry (04), Chris Shuttleworth (11), Lindsay Enscoe (96), Gale Ruth, Jr. (1R), Zach Ames (6z), Rob Chaney (45), Scott Priester (15), Brian Steinman (24s), Aaron Shaffer (97s), Jimmy Light (23), Greg Wilson (20w), Adam Kekich (5k), Broc Martin (83), Jeff Taylor (17t), Brent Matus (33), Dan Kuriger (08), Pete Miller III (3), Kevin Lee (3J), Kyle Sauder (7K), Jared Ridge (12), Brandon Matus (13), Sheldon Haudenschild (93) Dash Winner: Mike Lutz; Heat Race Winners: Brad Bowman, Dean Jacobs, Brian Ellenberger, Rod George; B-Main Transfers: Dale Blaney, Danny Holtgraver, Eric Williams, Chris Andrews; C-Main Transfers: Jeff Taylor, Brent Matus
Stars Mod Lite Series/Big Daddy’s Speed Center Mod Lites (20 laps): 1. JEFF TEETERS (23) 2. Alan Knepper (20) 3. Lynn Knepper (10) 4. Tracy Fritter (59) 5. Mark Marcucci (8m) 6. Andy Feil (08) 7. George Englert (11x) 8. Shane Pfeuffer (717) 9. Darin Gallagher (12) 10. Andrew Bruce (70×7) 11. Cody Bova (20B); Heat Race Winner: Jeff Teeters
Precise Racing Products Stock Cars (20 laps): 1. RUSTY MOORE (17m) 2.Chad O’Brien (77) 3. Terry Wheeler (2w) 4. Bob McCann (33) 5. Jace Ferringer (02) 6. Shaun Hooks (65) 7. Russ Byler (06r) 8. Brian Wagner (56) 9. Tony Spaghetti (97) 10. Matt Wagner (12) 11. Jim Flaherty (38spl) 12. Brandon Johnston (14J) 13. Darrin Hyde (4) 14. Travis Walsh (1) 15. Gary Miller (1m) – DSQ 16. Marty Warren (05) – DSQ 17. Joe Kelley (100) – DNS; Heat Race Winners: Rusty Moore, Joe Kelley
ti22 Performance Outlaw Sprint Warriors (20 laps): 1. MIKE LUTZ (86) 2. Dennis Wagner (38) 3. Skip Daugherty (27) 4. Justin Whitesell (17) 5. Adam Anderson (5B) 6. Jim Morris (16) 7. Jeff Taylor (17t) 8. Chad Mathews (1) 9. Guy Griffin (11) – DNS 12. Cory Theiss (30) – DNS; Heat Race Winner: Adam Anderson
Upcoming Events:
5/28: Auto Racers for Kids Sprint Car Shootout ($5,000 to win) with 358 Modifieds ($1,000 to win), Outlaw Sprint Warriors, and Big Dog R/C Mini Stocks. Pits and grandstands open at 4:00pm. Hot Laps at 6:15pm. Racing at 7:00pm.
5/29: USA-EAST Championship Tractor and Truck Pull Series with Big Rig Semis, Smoker Series Tractors, Modified 4×4 Trucks, and 2.6 Street Licensed Diesel 4×4 Trucks. Racing at 6:30pm. Rain Date: Monday, May 30 at 5:00pm.
6/4: Saturday Night Live with 410 Sprints, 358 Modifieds, Outlaw Sprint Warriors, Mod Lites, Stock Cars, Mini Stocks. Pittsburgh Circle Track Club Night. Pits and grandstands open at 4:00pm. Hot Laps at 6:15pm. Racing at 7:00pm.