Mercer Continues his Reign of Domination…
By: Jill Frischmann
Hickory Motor Speedway News
May 9, 2009
Photos by: Legacy Video & Photography
(Newton, NC -- May 9, 2009) Rain may have delayed the start of round six of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series at the Worlds Most Famous Short Track, Hickory Motor Speedway, but the drivers still put on a spectacular show for the fans. The night featured appearances by the Bojangles Late Models, Advance Auto Parts Limiteds, the Bad Boy Mowers Super Trucks, the Hickory Street Stocks and the Red Baron Race Parts Hobby Stocks. Mothers who attended the show that evening not only got the opportunity to witness the #10 of Andy Mercer continue on his road of dominance, but they also had a chance to win some wonderful Mother's Day give-a-ways.
Mercer continued his dominant streak as the Bojangles Late Models hit the track for their 50 lap feature event. All drivers were itching to make it to the front of the pack looking for their chance to battle Mercer and take home the trophy. The #88 of Dexter Canipe Jr. was the only driver able to get close enough to Mercer and challenge him for the lead, but Mercer proved too much to handle and didn't allow Canipe Jr. any opportunity to grab the top spot. Coming off of a strong run last week the #25 of David Wilson was in a battle with the #33 of James Goff and the #7 of Ashley Huffman, as Goff and Huffman challenged Wilson during the first ten laps as they worked to come home with a finishing position up front.
The first caution waved on lap 22 when the #92 of Candace Muzny made contact with the #57 of Grant Wimbish, sending Wimbish into a spin heading down the back stretch. From the restart the #6 of Cole Miktuk was on a mission working his way to the front of the pack from his 12 th place starting position. On lap 36, the #36 of Neil Meredith made contact with Muzny as they headed down the front stretch sending Muzny spinning into turn one. With ten laps remaining Miktuk, had worked his way into the top five. With only three laps remaining, the third and final caution flew as the #52 of Julia Dawson came to a crawl on the back stretch. Canipe Jr. used the restart to try and take over the lead, but Mercer wouldn't allow it and left Canipe Jr. to settle for second. The #43 of Jesse LeFevers came home third, leaving Goff and Wilson to complete the top five.
It was an unusual sight during the Advance Auto Parts Limiteds 35 lap race, as the perfect streak of the #17, Kyle Mansch, came to an end when the #49 of Josh Wright took the pole position. It didn't take long for the first caution of the night to fall as the #83 of David Hasson went for a spin heading into turn one. On lap 14 the second and final caution flew as the #54 of J R Kessler rolled to a stop at the pit road entrance and climbed out of his smoking car. The safety crew was quick to arrive and put out the flames that brought Kessler to an abrupt stop on the track. From the restart Wright had something to prove, that there actually was a driver that could overtake Mansch. As Wright led the way to the checkers with two laps to go, the #24 of Taylor Doggett began to put the pressure on Mansch as the two battled side-by-side for the second place finishing position. Mansch proved too much to handle as he powered across the finish line only feet ahead of Doggett. As Doggett battled Mansch, the #32 of Justin Sorrow managed to squeeze past the #33 of Cory Joyce, grabbing fourth leaving Joyce to settle for a top five finish.
The Bad Boy Mowers Super Trucks were the first to qualify after the mid day rain had fallen leaving racers with a clean and slick track. Qualifying order made for an interesting race as some of the faster trucks started the 35 lap event in the back of the pack. Coming off his win two weeks ago, the #6 of Brandon Setzer started the race dead last. This didn't stop the young Setzer as he began picking off trucks one by one as he worked his way through the field. It didn't take long for the top three drivers to gain a full straight away lead over the field. The #25 of Mark Johnson was leading the pack from his pole position, but the #44 of Ron Hall was right on Johnson's tail looking for his chance to take over the lead.
On lap 21 Hall was still in hot pursuit of Johnson when the #11 of Thomas Beane quickly joined the two in their battle for first. As the pack headed into turn four, Hall made a dash for the inside line, but Beane caught the back end of Hall sending him spinning bringing out the first caution. The second caution fell at the restart when the #88 of Tyler Baird got into the back of Sezter sending Setzer sliding up the track. The third and final caution flew on lap 22, when the #10 of Barry Williams spun out on the backstretch.
Johnson, Beane and Hall continued their first through third lead over the field until they reached the checkers, while Sezter continued to work his way through the pack coming home with a fourth place position leaving Baird to round out the top five.
The Hickory Street Stocks kept the action going as they hit the asphalt for their 30 lap adventure. On lap eight the #5 of Mike Newton made contact with a fellow competitor sending his ride spinning as the field headed into turn one, bringing out the first caution of the race. Eleven laps into the race the #10 of Kevin Townsend moved into the second place position and set his sights on the pole sitter, the #15 of Waylon Flynn. With ten to go the #32 of Jeremy Harrell and the #03 of Kevin Eby, were running door to door fighting for the third place position. Eby pulled a cross over move and dived to the inside of Harrell as the two came out of turn four trying to regain the third place position. Harrell rallied back and regained the spot as the two headed into turn one.
During the final laps Townsend was able to gain ground on Flynn, but time ran short and Townsend would have to settle for second. Harrell and Eby put on quite a show for the fans during the last five laps as the two traded places back and forth, but it was Harrell who was able to power forward and take home the third place position leaving Eby to settle for fourth. The #00 of Ronnie Buckner rounded out the top five respectively.
The Red Baron Race Parts Hobby Stocks were full of excitement as drivers went for broke during the 20 lap race. The #82 of Bradley Hasson jumped to the lead and pulled away from the field early in the race. Hasson's lead didn't last long as the #90 of Ronnie Sims was quick to attach himself to the back bumper Hasson. On lap seven Hasson and Sims were running side-by-side as they came out of turn four giving Sims the momentum to capture the top spot. The first and only caution came out on lap nine when the #85 of Jeff Weisner made contact with the outside wall and slid down the track across the start/finish line. As Weisner came across the track, the #93 of Dwayne Wilson didn't have enough time to react and slammed Weisner into the inside wall.
Sims jumped back into the lead from the restart bringing Hasson and the #9 of Scott Bumgarner with him. With only eight laps remaining the #83 of William Dagerhardt went high on the track allowing the #01 of Paul Wyatt to slide under Dagerhardt and take over the fourth place position, leaving Dagerhardt to round out the top five.
Be sure to join us at the track next Saturday and Sunday, May 16 th and 17 th for the ASA SE Late Models and the ASA Modifieds. This is a special event you certainly won't want to miss.
The NACAR Whelen All-American Series will be back in action in two weeks on Saturday, May 23 rd . The night will feature appearances by the Bojangles Late Models with a special 100 lap feature, the Advance Auto Parts Limiteds, the Bad Boy Mower Super Trucks and the Hickory Street Stocks. Fans can also register for their chance to win a 42” flat screen television, scheduled to be given away on May 30 th .
Grandstands open at 5:00 PM with qualifying immediately following, an On Track Autograph Session will take place at 6:00 PM, with feature racing action beginning at 7:00 PM. Tickets are only $10 for adults, $7 for Seniors and Teens, $4 for kids 7-12 with 6 and under FREE! Don't miss the great deals for the family; Family Packs ONLY $25 (2 adults and all of their children under 12). For more information visit www.hickorymotorspeedway.com or call 828-464-3655.
Remember, if you're not here you're missing out!
Pole Winners:
Bojangles Late Models:#10 Andy Mercer – 15.245 seconds
Advance Auto Parts Limiteds:#49 Josh Wright – 15.648 seconds
Bad Boy Mowers Super Trucks:#25 Mark Johnson – 16.155 seconds
Hickory Street Stocks:#15 Waylon Flynn – 16.765 seconds
Tommy Johnson's Motorsports Warehouse Hard Charger Winners:
Bojangles Late Models:#6 Cole Miktuk
Advance Auto Parts Limiteds: #37 Rick Hale
Bad Boy Mowers Super Trucks: #6 Brandon Setzer
Hickory Street Stocks: #00 Donnie Buckner
Red Baron Race Parts Hobby Stocks:#90 Ronnie Sims
OFFICIAL RACE RESULTS
LATE MODEL STOCKS
1. 10 Andy Mercer
2. 88 Dexter Canipe Jr.
3. 43 Jesse LeFevers
4. 33 James Goff
5. 25 David Wilson
6. 6 Cole Miktuk
7. 51 Josh Wimbish
8. 28 Ryan Glenski
9. 36 Neil Meredith
10. 8 Brennan Poole
11. 92 Candace Muzny
12. 57 Grant Wimbish
13. 52 Julia Dawson
14. 12 Caitlin Shaw
15. 7 Ashley Huffman
16. 28 Chris Chapman
LIMITED LATE MODEL
1. 49 Josh Wright
2. 17 Kyle Mansch
3. 24 Taylor Doggett
4. 32 Justin Sorrow
5. 33 Cory Joyce
6. 37 Rick Hale
7. 8 Mark McIntosh
8. 14 Brandon Cox
9. 54 JR Kessler
10. 83 David Hasson
11. 6 Brandon Hudnall
HOBBYS
1. 90 Ronnie Sims
2. 82 Bradley Hasson
3. 9 Scott Bumgarner
4. 01 Paul Wyatt
5. 83 Lance Dagerhardt
6. -1 Ronald Dale McNeill
7. 85 Jeff Weisner
8. 93 Dwayne Wilson
9. 3 Tim Reece
STREET STOCKS
1. 15 Waylon Flynn
2. 10 Kevin Townsend
3. 32 Jeremy Harrell
4. 03 Kevin Eby
5. 00 Ronnie Buckner
6. 7 Gary Ledbetter
7. 64 Marshall Sutton
8. 5 Mike Newton
9. 99 Jonathan Smith
10. 1 Taylor Stricklin
11. 25 Jeremy Pelfrey
12. 54 Michael Hicks
13. 4 Shane McKee
14. 88 Josh Burchette
15. 46 Michael Worthington
TRUCKS
1. 25 Mark Johnson
2. 11 Thomas Beane
3. 44 Ron Hall
4. 6 Brandon Setzer
5. 88 Tyler Baird
6. 16 Clint Fields
7. 15 Jenn Crossman
8. 0 Jody Church
9. 10 Barry Williams
10. 5 Johnny James