Mercer Makes it Two in a Row at Hickory Motor Speedway
Media Contact: Jill Frischmann
Hickory Motor Speedway PR
828.464.3655 – Track
704.728.3182 – Cell
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Photos Courtesy of L&D Photography
( Newton, NC - - June 12, 2010 ) The temperatures were blazing at the historic short track, Hickory Motor Speedway, and so was the racing action during Church Night presented by Bojangles. The night featured the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series with appearances by the Bojangles Late Model, the Advance Auto Parts Limited, the Hickory Street Stocks, the Hickory 4-Cylinders and the Red Baron Race Parts Hobby Stocks. Fans in attendance also had the opportunity to witness a special Faster Pastor race featuring clergy members from Churches in the community. The No. 10 of Bojangles Late Model driver, Andy Mercer, was on fire as he headed to Victory Lane for a second week in a row.
The No. 7 of Ashley Huffman got the action started early during the 50 lap feature for the Bojangles Late Models, after he jumped to the high side and grabbed the lead from the No. 10 of pole sitter Andy Mercer during the second lap. On lap three the No. 5 of Dexter Canipe Jr. pulled under Mercer taking over second leaving Mercer to spend a few laps riding around in third. The first and only caution of the feature fell on lap seven after Huffman and Canipe Jr. made contact on the front stretch sending Huffman for a spin across the start-finish line. The incident left Huffman and Canipe Jr. to restart the race from the back of the pack, putting Mercer back in the lead.
The No. 2 of Michael Cherry was on the move, as he took over the third place position on lap ten grabbing the spot from the No. 43 of Jesse LeFevers. On lap 19 the No. 5 of Becca Kasten shot under LeFevers taking over the fourth place position. By the mid-point of the feature Huffman and Canipe Jr. had worked their way back up in the field and began a tight battle for sixth, with Canipe Jr. grabbing the position on lap 27. Canipe Jr. continued his run towards the front breaking back into the top five by lap 30. Mercer continued to lead the field on lap 38, when Cherry pulled under the No. 51 of Josh Wimbish as the two came out of turn four. Cherry grabbed the second place spot on lap 39, leaving Wimbish to settle for third. The three continued to spread out and ran single file until the checker flag waved. With three laps remaining Canipe Jr. pulled under Kasten creating an intense battle for fourth. The two spent the final laps running door-to-door until they hit the front stretch on the last lap, when Kasten pulled ahead of Canipe Jr. bringing home a fourth place position, leaving Canipe Jr. to complete the top five.
The Advance Auto Parts Limiteds put on a spectacular show for the fans during their 35 lap race. The No. 35 of Chris Lewis quickly moved into the second place position during the restart, using the outside line to jump ahead of the No. 11 of Matt Piercy. The No. 5 of pole sitter Dexter Canipe Jr. began to pull away from the pack, until the first caution waved on lap four after the No. 8 of Mark McIntosh and the No. 97 of Brandon Lynn made contact heading into turn four, sending McIntosh for a spin. Canipe Jr. had a great restart pulling the No. 12 of Austin McDaniel with him, allowing McDaniel to settle into third. On lap six the No. 07 of Tyler Church pulled ahead of Piercy grabbing the fourth place spot, until lap nine when Piercy regained the position.
The second caution fell on lap nine after McIntosh got into the No. 15 of Sheflon Clay as they headed into turn four, sending Clay spinning. The third caution quickly followed on lap 13 due to the No. 03 of Russell Stillwell coming to a stop in turn one. McDaniel continued his run to the front, taking over the second place spot on lap 18. Church worked his way back into the fourth place position on lap 20, grabbing the stop from McIntosh. The fourth and final caution fell on lap 21 after the No. 37 of Landon Huffman went for a spin in turn two. The restart played out well for Church, as he was able to get around Lewis to take over third. Canipe Jr. led the field to the checkers. McDaniel, Church, Lynn and Lewis completed the top five respectively.
The Hickory Street Stocks took to the track with the No. 1 of Taylor Stricklin pacing the field from the pole position for their 30 lap race. Within the first ten laps the No. 9 of Charlie Watson and the No. 64 of Marshall Sutton maneuvered around the No. 35 of David Werner, settling into the fourth and fifth positions respectively, leaving Werner to ride around just outside the top five. Meanwhile, the No. 03 of Kevin Eby patiently waited for his opportunity to work his way around the No. 21 of Roger Pitts for second place. Eby was finally able to make his move and complete the pass on lap 15. The first and only caution fell on lap 23 after the No. 84 of Jared Broadbent spun around as he headed out of turn four. With five laps remaining Pitts managed to get around Eby, regaining the second place position. As the field came out of turn four on lap 27, Eby made a bold move to get around Pitts regaining the spot. Stricklin led the field to the checkers with Eby, Pitts, Watson and Sutton in tow to round out the top five.
The Hickory 4-Cylinders experienced some major excitement, after the first caution and a red flag flew before the first lap of their 25 lap event was complete, after the No. 21 of Todd Harrington experienced major mechanical issues heading into turn one. The red flag was displayed as the safety crew ventured onto the track to clean up the debris from Harrington's ride. During the first 10 laps the No. 4 of Adam Beaver kept the No. 16 of pole sitter Randy Freeze in his sights as in hopes of taking over the lead. By lap 11, Freeze and Beaver had come upon lap traffic allowing Beaver the chance to gain ground on Freeze. With five laps to go, Beaver finally had the opportunity to move around Freeze grabbing the lead. The second caution of the race fell on lap 21 after Freeze spun out heading into turn four. The third and final caution fell on the final lap when the No. 51 of Nathaniel Kanupp and the No. 22 of Dan Moore collided on the front stretch sending both for a spin. A green-white-checkered finish was called as the field went to restart the race. On the final lap Freeze pulled to the outside of the No. 07 of Matt Laws. The two were side-by-side as they came off of turn four, Freeze powered ahead heading down the front stretch finishing only inches ahead of Laws and grabbing the third place position. Beaver brought the field to the checkers with the No. 18 of Devon Haun, Freeze, Laws and No. 59 of Donn Wardo rounding out the top five.
The Red Baron Race Parts Hobby Stocks topped off the evening with their 20 lap race. The No. 28 of Casey Pierce brought the field to the green holding on tight to his lead until lap four when the No. 88 of Andrew Towery pulled under Pierce looking for the lead, grabbing the spot on lap five. Towery used lap traffic on lap 12 to help increase his lead over the field. Towery, Pierce, the No. 85 of Jeff Weisner, the No. 25 of Andrew Schill and the No. 13 of Jesse Slagel completed the top five respectively.
About Hickory Motor Speedway:
Known as the Birthplace of the NASCAR Stars, Hickory Motor Speedway celebrates its 59 th season of stock car racing in 2010. Opening the gates in 1951, Hickory Motor Speedway is the oldest professional sporting venue in Catawba County, and has been credited as the longest continually operating motor speedway in the country. Producing drivers like Ned and Dale Jarrett, Bobby Isaac, Harry Gant, Ralph Earnhardt and Dennis Setzer, it's easy to see why Hickory Motor Speedway is filled with such rich stock car racing history and has earned the title of, Birthplace of the NASCAR Stars.
Upcoming Events:
Don't miss the excitement during Father's Day weekend at Hickory Motor Speedway, as we present the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. The night will include appearances by the Bojangles Late Models, The Advance Auto Parts Limiteds, the Everything Attachment Super Trucks, the Hickory Street Stocks, the Hickory 4-Cylinders and a special appearance by the GREEN MAMBA JET CAR! Grandstands open at 5 PM with qualifying immediately following. An On Track Autograph Session will take place at 6 PM with feature racing action beginning at 7 PM. Tickets are only $10 for adults, $8 for teens and seniors, $5 for kids ages 7-12 with kids 6 and under FREE!
Pole Award Winners:
Bojangles Late Models: No. 10 – Andy Mercer – 15.208 seconds
Advance Auto Parts Limiteds:No. 5 – Dexter Canipe Jr. – 15.960 seconds
Hickory 4-Cylinders:No. 16 – Randy Freeze – 16.592 seconds
Hickory Street Stocks: No. 1 – Taylor Stricklin – 17.015 seconds
Official Race Results:
Bojangles Late Models Bojangles 50
1. (10) Andy Mercer
2. (2) Michael Cherry
3. (51) Josh Wimbish
4. (5) Rebecca Kasten
5. (5) Dexter Canipe Jr.
6. (88) Kyle Mansch
7. (7) Ashley Huffman
8. (21) Roger Powell
9. (92) Candace Muzny
10. (1) Megan Reitenour
11. (43) Jesse LeFevers
Advance Auto Parts Limiteds Bojangles 35
1. (5) Dexter Canipe Jr.
2. (12) Austin McDaniel
3. (07) Tyler Church
4. (97) Brandon Lynn
5. (35) Chris Lewis
6. (11) Matt Piercy
7. (8) Mark McIntosh
8. (66) Travis Byrd
9. (15) Sheflon Clay
10. (37) Landon Huffman
11. (13) Dakota Slagle
12. (03) Russell Stillwell
13. (23) Trey Buff
Hickory Street Stocks Whelen 30
1. (1) Taylor Stricklin
2. (03) Kevin Eby
3. (21) Roger Pitts II
4. (9) Charlie Watson
5. (64) Marshall Sutton
6. (35) David Werner
7. (84) Jared Broadbent
8. (54) Michael Harris
Hickory 4-Cylinder Bojangles 25
1. (4) Adam Beaver
2. (18) Devon Haun
3. (16) Randy Freeze
4. (07) Matt Laws
5. (59) Donn Wardo
6. (98) Rob Lewis
7. (22) Dan Moore
8. (6) Caleb Sisk
9. (51) Nathaniel Kannupp
10. (17) Curtis Pardue
11. (21) Todd Harrington
12. (52) Michael Issac
13. (09) Randy Canipe
Red Baron Race Parts Hobby Stocks Bojangles 20
1. (88) Andrew Towery
2. (28) Casey Pierce
3. (85) Jeff Weisner
4. (25) Andrew Schill
5. (13) Jesse Slagle
6. (31) Steven Willis
7. (3) Time Reese
8. (-1) Ronald McNeil