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Mercer
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All Stars Coming Back to Mercer Raceway Park

(Mercer, PA June 2, 2017): Tony Stewart’s Arctic Cat All Stars Circuit of Champions are ready to invade Mercer Raceway Park this Saturday, June 3. It will be the second half of a Western Pennsylvania doubleheader. The action will kick off at nearby Lernerville Speedway on Friday, June 2. These events make up for the postponement of the All Stars’ dates from early May. “The weather forecast looks favorable for the weekend, so we are expecting a great turnout of racers and fans,” said track owner Bill Altman. “This will be our biggest event of the season, and the fans ought to enjoy some fabulous winged Sprint action.”

Current points leader and defending champion Chad Kemenah will lead the troupe into the Park. Caleb Armstrong and Caleb Helms are within striking distance of Kemenah in the standings, and could move ahead with a little bit of luck. Ryan Smith, a prior victor at the Park, and rookie Max Stambaugh hold down spots in the top five.

Several racers familiar to the Mercer fans will be part of the visiting team this time around. The father and son team of Brent and Brandon Matus are in the All Stars’ top ten in points. Also in the top ten is Brandon Spithaler, who finished ninth last week at Mercer without his wings. The third member of the Matus team, John Garvin, will also be at the Park.

Other top drivers expected include former All Stars champ Tim Shaffer and Danny Holtgraver. Shaffer is following a partial schedule with the series this season, and Holtgraver will be making his 2017 debut with the tour this weekend. Indeed, the Pittsburgh native rolled into Mercer just a couple of weekends ago for a shakedown run. Also expected are the Wild Child, Jac Haudenschild, exciting Lee Jacobs, and West Middlesex favorite Adam Kekich.

The Precise Racing Products 410 Sprint contingent will be out to defend their home turf. Current Mercer points leader Jack Sodeman, Jr. would love to take the win in front of so many faithful fans. Jimmy Seger, Michael Bauer, Gale Ruth Sr., Rod George, A.J. Flick, and many more will carry the Mercer colors proudly.

Joining the All Stars on the card will be the Turn 4 Toilets 358 Modifieds, led by Jimmy Holden and last week’s winner Lonny Riggs. The Bonnell’s Rod Shop 305 Sprints will also be on hand. Darin Gallagher holds down the top spot in those rankings, and he will be challenged by the likes of Gregg McCandless and Mike Marano, II. A question on everybody’s mind will be, will Andy Priest be back? Priest was unexpectedly absent last weekend.

A different timetable will apply for this week’s All Stars program. Pit gates will open at 3 p.m., and spectator admission will begin one hour later. The Sprints will get their engines warm at 6 p.m., with hot laps and qualifications for the 358 Modifieds and 305 Sprints slated for 6:15. All Stars hot laps are set for 6:30, with their time trials to follow immediately thereafter.

Special event ticket pricing will apply this weekend. Adults will see all of the stars and cars for just $25. Seniors (60+) will be admitted for $23, and students (ages 9-15) for $9. The youngsters (ages 8 and under) will be admitted for free. Family Passes will be $52, and that will apply for two adults and up to four minors of any age. Pit Passes will be $35, for those who want to get an up close view of the racers as they prepare for action.

Mercer Raceway Park has plenty of free camping available, so traveling fans can spend their weekend at the speedway. There are no hookups, however.

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.

Marketing partners of Mercer Raceway Park for 2107 include Hovis Auto & Truck Supply, Schaeffer’s Specialized Lubricants, Scheidemantle Motors, Greenhill Farms Equipment, Inc., the Normandy Banquet Center of Hickory VFW Post 6166, Ritenour Equipment Center, Pizza Joe’s, AMSOIL, Noga Ambulance Service, Inc., Pyrotechnico, Watson’s, Inc., Big Dog Indoor Racing & Hobby, Herr’s Foods, the American Cancer Society, Sunburst Environmental, and Lias Tires.

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.