410 Sprint Cars Ready To Make 2025 Debut Saturday At Michaels Mercer Raceway
Story By: JIM BALENTINE / MICHAELS MERCER RACEWAY – MERCER, PA – After a successful season opening “chiller thriller” which had the best crowd in recent years, Michaels Mercer raceway presented by Sunbelt rentals is ready to bring the popular 410 Sprint cars back on Saturday, April 19, 2025.
Also on the card will be the first appearance of the mod lites for the season and the regular three divisions the DIRT crate 602 sportsman modifieds, the IMCA 305 racesaver sprints, and the SCDRA sanctioned mini stocks.
Pit Gates will open at 4 PM grandstands opening at 5 PM hot laps at 6:15 and racing at 7 PM.
Grandstands
- $20 adults
- $18 seniors
- 13 and under free
Pit passes
- $35 adults
- $30 seniors
- Kids 10 and under $30
A reminder, all drivers competing who did not race on opening night must pay the division registration fee at the pit gate where they sign in at for a pit pass. The yellow and the red AMBIT transponders can both be used now at the speedway. All cars must have a transponder and none are available to rent.. raceivers are mandatory default channel 454.000.
The fire breathing 900 hp 410 sprint cars have been a staple at Mercer since near the beginning of the speedway 74 years ago. Last season on a reduced schedule AJ Flick picked up two wins, including $9300 in the Jeff Gilliland Memorial Western Pennsylvania sprint car championship, Brandon Spithaler and Jeremy Kornbau also won feature events.
Since the red clay has been put down the Sprint cars have provided exciting two and three wide racing, utilizing the entire speedway from top to bottom. Along with last year‘s feature winners, Bob Felmlee and Jack, Sodeman Jr. who have won over 20 features each should be in competition, as well as many other Eastern Ohio/Western Pa contingents including some new faces who have moved up from the racesaver 305 series.
The IMCA racesaver 305 sprint cars should have a larger field on Saturday as more drivers are putting their finishing touches on the cars and many rookie drivers are expected to make their debut. Opening night special dash winners were Jeremy Kornbau and Jarrett Rosencrance, both former track champions.
The DIRT 602 crate sportsman modified class sponsored by Top Shelf trucking should have another great field of cars as all local crate modified are permitted to compete with only minor rule modifications with no GM bottle cap seals. On opening night, Todd English based out of Clearfield, Pennsylvania, who has won many races at hidden Valley. Speedway drove the Russ King racing modified to victory. Last year‘s winners, Garrett Krummert, Pat Lane, Ayden Cipriano, and track champion Eric Gabany should be back along with former champion Brian Schaffer and others.
The SCDRA mini stocks sponsored by King Forestry will now be able to compete for a national championship and point money running weekly at Mercer. Former track champion Andy Thompson was in the right place at the right time on opening night picking up his 21st career win in the division. Devin Haley who won his first career last year will be looking to pick up another feature win along with former track champions Carl Ealy, Tim Callahan among other.
The mod lites/dwarf cars will make their first of three appearances courtesy of division sponsor JR‘s garage for the first time since 2020. The late Mark Marcucci leads the win list with 41 followed by Rod Jones with 29, who has won in many different divisions at the speedway over the years. Vivian Jones was the final track champion with seven wins in 2020. Many drivers that compete weekly at blanket Hill in Kittaning,Pa, hilltop in Millersburg, Ohio and goods in Deerfield, Oh should be on hand to compete.
There will be an open practice with all cars from all classes from all tracks welcome on Thursday April 17th 2025. Only the pits will be open and there is a $20 fee per person. Pits open at 3 and practice will be 4 PM until dark.
