Mercer Victorious Once Again at Hickory Motor Speedway
Media Contact: Jill Frischmann
Hickory Motor Speedway PR
828.464.3655 – Track
704.728.3182 – Cell
hickorymotorspeedway@gmail.com
Photos Courtesy of L&D Photography
( Newton, NC - - June 5, 2010 ) It was another great night for NASCAR racing at the Birthplace of the NASCAR Stars, as fans piled into the stands for Whelen Night at the Races. The night included appearances by the Advance Auto Parts, the Everything Attachment Super Trucks, the Hickory
Street Stocks and a special 100 lap feature for the Bojangles Late Models. The weather cooperated as the rain clouds worked their way around the speedway dropping only a few sprinkles just moments before qualifying began. The No. 10 of Bojangles Late Model driver and 2009 Track Champion, Andy Mercer, earner another victory at the historic short track after starting the special 100 lap feature event presented by Whelen in the pole position.
The Bojangles Late Models put on an excitement filled show for the fans during the special 100 lap feature event. The No. 7 of Ashley Huffman managed to hold on tight and run door-to-door with the No. 10 of pole sitter Andy Mercer for the first three laps until Mercer slowly pulled ahead. The first caution fell on lap four when the No. 43 of Jesse LeFevers came to a stop in turn three, due to mechanical issues. By lap six the No. 57 of Grant Wimbish had moved into the fourth place position, pushing the No. 5 of Dexter Canipe Jr. back into fifth. Canipe Jr. patiently waited for his chance to work his way to the front as he regained the fourth place position on lap 20.
On lap 24 the No. 2 of Michael Cherry was able to maneuver his way around Huffman taking over the second place position. Caution number two flew on lap 26 after the No. 1 of Jessica Brunnelli stalled heading into turn three. Canipe Jr. had a great restart, jumping into third leaving Huffmanto ride around in fourth. The third caution and first red flag of the feature fell on lap 27 after Wimbish and the No. 92 of Candace Muzny connected heading into turn three, sending both for a spin and Wimbish hard into the outside wall. The restart was beneficial for Huffman as he worked his way back into the third place position on lap 28. By lap 30 Mercer began to pull away creating a straight away lead over the field. Canipe Jr. continued his run to the front by getting his nose under Cherry on lap 40 as the two headed into turn three. Canipe Jr. completed the pass for second as the two headed out of turn four.
Caution number four waved on lap 46 after Cherry experience mechanical issues. The No. 88 of Kyle Mansch had an unusual run during the 100 lap feature, running mid pack for the majority of the race. Mansch did however, manage to work his way into the top three by lap 49. On lap 71, Huffman pulled under Mansch to battle for third. Huffman gained ground coming out of turn four, but Mansch was fast heading down the front stretch and continued to pull away. Muzny was able to battle her way to the front after her involvement with an incident earlier in the race. On lap 78 Muzny began to put pressure on Huffman for fourth, taking over the position on lap 81. With four laps remaining Mansch, Muzny and Huffman were three wide coming out of turn four as they all hoped to finish the feature in the top three. Muzny was able to pull under Mansch on the front stretch with only two laps to go. The two came to finish line side-by-side, but it was Muzny who would inch her way ahead of Mansch coming home third. Mercer, Canipe Jr., Muzny, Mansch and Huffman made up the top five during the night's 100 lap feature event presented by Whelen.
The Advance Auto Parts Limiteds kept the action clean and running smooth as they took to the track for their 35 lap race. The first and only caution of the race fell on the first lap after the No. 23 of Caleb Mahler came to a halt outside of turn four. The No. 5 of pole sitter Dexter Canipe Jr. got a great restart when the field came to the green and began to pull away as he cleared turn two. The front of the field began to spread out over the first ten laps. By lap 12 the No. 8 of Mark McIntosh began to work his way towards the front as he began to battle the No. 12 of Austin McDaniel for sixth, grabbing the spot on lap 18, and working his way into the top five with ten laps to go. With only five laps remaining, the No. 35 of Chris Lewis began to close in on Canipe Jr. as they approached lap traffic. Lewis got under Canipe Jr. on the final lap on entrance into turn one. Canipe Jr. shot out of turn two and again pulled away from the field to grab the checkers. Lewis, the No. 28 of Sammy Jasper, the No. 07 of Tyler Church and McIntosh made up the top five.
The Everything Attachment Super Trucks got the night started right during their 35 lap event. The first lead change happened on lap two when the No. 33 of rookie and last week's race winner, Jeremy Birch, pulled into the lead grabbing the spot from the No. 25 of pole sitter, Mark Johnson. The first caution fell on lap three when the No. 05 of Kyle Wilson got loose coming off of turn two and slapped the outside wall on the back stretch. On lap four the No. 11 of Thomas Beane worked his way around Johnson, pulling into the second place position. As the field headed out of turn four on lap six, Birch got loose and wiggled on the front stretch, causing him to lose momentum allowing Beane to shoot by him for the lead.
By lap nine, Birch and the No. 6 of Brandon Setzer were in a tight battle for second that continued until lap 19 when the second caution flew after Birch got loose coming off of turn one. Birch spun hard into the outside wall and collected the No. 16 of Clint Fields. Fields received minor damage to the back end of his truck from the contact. The third and final caution waved during the restart after Birch went for another spin heading into turn four. It was smooth sailing to the end with Beane leading the pack to the checkers with Setzer, the No. 7 of Justin Crider, Fields and the No. 69 of Trevor Hignutt in tow to round out the top five.
The Hickory Street Stocks ran a smooth and steady race during their 30 laps of 
excitement on the famed Hickory Motor Speedway. The No. 1 of Taylor Stricklin didn't get the best start allowing the No. 21 of pole sitter, Roger Pitts, to pull away from the field. The field ran a smooth race for the first 20 laps, as the drivers slowly spread out and began to run single file. The first and only caution was brought out on lap 21 for debris on the track. Pitts got a great start as the field went back to green and began to once again pull away from the field. With nine laps to go Stricklin and the No. 03 of Kevin Eby began to run side-by-side competing for the second place position. On lap 23 Stricklin pulled ahead of Eby to capture the spot. Pitts led the field to the checkers with Stricklin and Eby following behind in the second and third. On the final lap the No. 9 of Charlie Watson pulled under the No. 5 of Mike Newton in turn three on the final lap looking to take over the fourth place position. Watson completed the pass as the two headed out of turn four, coming home fourth leaving Newton to finish fifth.
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:
It's Church Night at the Races presented by Bojangles on Saturday, June 12 th . The night will feature the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series with appearances by the Bojangles Late Models, the Advance Auto Parts Limiteds, the Hickory Street Stocks, the Hickory 4-Cylinders and the Red Baron Race Parts Hobby Stocks. The night will also include a special Faster Pastor Race featuring Clergy members from local congregations. 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! Members of participating Churches can pick up vouchers to get in for ONLY $5 per person.
Pole Award Winners:
Bojangles Late Models:No. 10 – Andy Mercer – 15.227 seconds
Advance Auto Parts Limiteds:No. 5 – Dexter Canipe Jr. – 15.745 seconds
Everything Attachment Super Trucks:No. 25 – Mark Johnson – 15.985 seconds
Hickory Street Stocks:No. 21 – Roger Pitts – 16.950 seconds
May Advance Auto Parts ‘Keep the Wheels Turning' Award
Advance Auto Parts Limited No. 66 – Travis Byrd
Official Race Results:
Bojangles Late Models Whelen 100
1. (10) Andy Mercer
2. (5) Dexter Canipe Jr.
3. (92) Candace Muzny
4. (88) Kyle Mansch
5. (7) Ashley Huffman
6. (51) Josh Wimbush
1. (5) Rebecca Kasten
7. (15) Chazz Anderson
8. (1) Jessica Brunnelli
9. (2) Michael Cherry
10. (57) Grant Wimbush
11. (43) Jesse LeFevers
Advance Auto Parts Limiteds Whelen 35
1. (5) Dexter Canipe Jr.
2. (35) Chris Lewis
3. (28) Sam Jasper
4. (07) Tyler Church
5. (8) Mark McIntosh
6. (11) Matt Piercy
7. (12) Austin McDaniel
8. (69) John Hilliker
9. (66) Travis Byrd
10. (6) Brandon Hudnall
11. (97) Brandon Lynn
12. (03) Russell Stillwell
13. (44) David Parks
14. (32) Jeremy Harrell
15. (13) Dakota Slagle
16. (35) David Sell
17. (15) Sheflon Clay
18. (23) Caleb Mahler
19. (84) Donnie Harmon
Everything Attachment Super Trucks Whelen 35
1. (11) Thomas Beane
2. (6) Brandon Setzer
3. (7) Justin Crider
4. (16) Clint Fields
5. (33) Jeremy Birch
6. (69) Trevor Hignutt
7. (25) Mark Johnson
8. (5) Johnny James
9. (05) Kyle Wilson
Hickory Street Stocks Whelen 30
1. (21) Roger Pitts II
2. (03) Kevin Eby
3. (9) Charlie Watson
4. (5) Mike Newton
5. (64) Marshall Sutton
6. (71) Robert Divanna
7. (55) Arrin Matthews
8. (1) Taylor Stricklin *
* Disqualified due to failure to pass post-race technical inspection.