For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Lou Long (412-760-9755)
Mercer, PA (September 22, 2011): As anticipation builds for the annual Little Guy Nationals at Mercer Raceway Park (September 23-24), track officials announced the first success in 305 Sprint Car diplomacy. In 2011, the speedway embarked upon its first year of 305 Sprint Car racing by launching the ti22 Performance Outlaw Sprint Warriors, a class that was designed to give racers an opportunity to engage in affordable Sprint Car Racing. As soon as the class debuted, fans in the know wondered how would their “guys” would fare against the potent 305 Sprints that have raced at Ohio venues for several years. Well, now they will get the chance to see the answer first hand, as speedway officials have reached an accord with officials of Fremont Speedway to allow the western cars to compete at the Little Guy Nationals.
The 305 Sprint Cars that race regularly at Attica Raceway Park and at Fremont Speedway will go head to head with the ti22 Performance Outlaw Sprint Warriors this weekend! “This should be an exciting race for our fans,” said Mercer Raceway Park owner Bill Altman. “Plus, it will give us an opportunity to see how far our racers have come in one short year of competition.”
The rules package for the Ohio-based 305’s has been modified minimally in an attempt to achieve parity. Those cars will have to follow all of their normal rules, including the use of steel racing wheels and their customary tire requirements. However, they must also meet the ti22 Performance Outlaw Sprint Warrior weight requirement of 1585 pounds.
For the betterment of the class, it is the objective of both organizations to move toward a unified set of rules over the off-season, and discussions will take place after the final checkered flag falls to work toward that goal. “This is an unprecedented cooperative effort to grow the 305 class for both regions,”
Altman added.
As a test, last weekend, Mercer Raceway Park regular, and multi-time winner, Dennis Wagner ventured west to take on the 305 Sprintsw at Fremont Speedway. He was allowed to race his ti22 Performance Outlaw Sprint Warrior car without modifications.
Ohio racers wanting to enter the Little Guy Nationals will be required to complete the entry blank and to pay the $25 entry fee for the two-day show. The entry form can be obtained from the track’s website at www. mercerracewaypark.com. Follow the
link to the information page for the Little Guy Nationals event. Or, racers can complete the entry form at the track. Due to the overwhelming response to this initiative, Mercer Raceway Park will waive the late entry penalty for the 305 Sprints coming from the west.
About Mercer Raceway Park: Mercer Raceway Park is a 3/8-mile dirt track 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 from late March through late September. For more information, check out www. mercerracewaypark.com, www.twitter.com/mercerraceway, or www.facebook.com/mercerracewaypark.