Schaffer Memorial Saturday For 602 Crate Sportsman; Double Features For Mini Stocks; 305 Sprints & PA Vintage Modifieds On Card

Story By: JIM BALENTINE / MICHAELS MERCER RACEWAY – MERCER, PA – After an exciting week of racing, Michaels Mercer Raceway presented by Sunbelt rentals will try for two in a row this week as they present the Schaffer memorial for the top shelf trucking DIRT 602 crate sportsman paying at least $2000 to win which is the highest paying crate modified event in the area for 2025. The IMCA racesaver 305 sprints will be in competition as well as double features for the SCDRA King’s forestry products mini stocks, which will begin the evening with the make up feature, the PA thunder on the dirt vintage modifieds will be competing in heat and feature action and at intermission time there will be powerwheel/bicycle races for the kids. Helmets are required by Pennsylvania law.

The Schaffer name at Mercer almost goes back to the very beginning of the 74 year old speedway. 3 of the 5  Schaffer brothers began competing at Mercer in the mid 1950s with Andy #53, Bill #17, Paul #15 and nephew Frank. Younger brothers  “big Ed” #10 and “big Al” #14 Schaffer beginning  racing at Mercer in the 1960s. even sisters Rosie and Marie competed at Mercer with Cindy the only original family member who never competed at the speedway.

Multiple generations of the Schaffer family have completed regularly at Mercer with brothers Jimmy, and  Jeff and Jerry, capturing many feature wins and track championships in the 90s though last year and offspring third generation drivers such as Brian who picked up three straight crate modified track championships from 2019-2021; Jeff Jr., who has won 4 crate modified feature events, Todd, Troy, Billy and Trevn, who is starting his crate modified career after competing in mini stocks. Mercer will be celebrating the memory of the original six who laid the foundation for the following generations to follow in their footsteps.

It has been an exciting year for the top shelf trucking dirt 602 crate sportsman as in four races there  have been four different winners. Todd English, Eric Gabany, Jordan, Ehrenberg, and last week Bill Adams all have wins this year and would like nothing better than to capture the Schaffer memorial this Saturday night.

Finishing position extra money to be given to the drivers in the pits after the feature.

1st $200 gift card Russ King Racing

2nd $200 gift card Big Daddys speed Center

3rd $200 gift certificate Eric Gabany Racing

4th $444 turn 4 toilets and Will Schaffer 

5th $400 Andy Schaffer Family

6th

7th

8th

9th $200 In memory of Wayne Black

10th $500 Ed Schaffer Family

11th $100 Rays Racing collectibles

12th $100 Gift card for rays racing collectibles 

13th 

14th $411 Family of Al Schaffer

15th $500 Family of Paul Schaffer

16th

17th $500 Family of Bill Schaffer

18th $200 gift certificate Eric Gabany Racing

19th

20th

21st

22nd

23rd

24th $200 gift card Russ King Racing

As of July 24th, 2025, the following payout for the 602 crate modified race on July 26th has been confirmed…However, please note that this amount will continue to grow as additional sponsors participate. It will pay a minimum of $2000 to win and $200 to start.

1st $2000

2nd $1250

3rd $1000

4th $550

5th $425

6th $400

7th $220

8th$220

9th $220

10th $220

11th $220

12th$220

13th $200

14th$200

15th $200

16th $200

17th $200

18th $200

19th $200

20th $200

21st $200

22nd $200

23rd $200

24th $200

Jerry Schaffer will present the feature winner with two checkered flags autographed by the entire field of cars, one to keep as a commemorative, and one to hand out to a special person in the grandstands. Jerry also has a last lap pass challenge where if a driver completes a last lap pass for the win the driver will receive an extra $200 cash in victory Lane from Jerry.

In the IMCA racesaver sprints last year‘s track champion Vivian Jones has won two of the four races completed. Lock Haven PA’s Jeff Weaver Jr. and 2019 track champion Jarrett Rosencrance are the other victors.

The Kings forestry products SCDRA mini stocks will be running two features Saturday night as they will be running their make up feature from last week first on the program and then the regular feature as the night capper. Long time Mercer competitors and multi time feature winners Andy Thompson and Tim Callahan along with Randy Ealy have picked up the victories this season. Only qualified cars from last Saturday are able to race in the make up feature. No additions will be permitted.

Also, on the card will be the popular Pennsylvania vintage dirt modifieds as they will compete in heat races and feature events for the two separate classes as they will bring back memories of the days of the pintos, the gremlins, the Vegas, the station wagons, and the original Troyer, Weld, Olsen and mudd bus designs which is always a popular event at Mercer

General admission will be $15 and  $13 for seniors. Kids ages 13 and under are free .Pit passes will be $30 and $25 for seniors and kids under 10.

Pit gates will open at 4 PM.Grandstand will open at 5 pm.Hot laps if needed at 6:15 and the first heat takes the green at 7 PM.

All drivers must have working raceivers and use the red ambit or yellow transponder system. 

Concessions will be open. Coolers must fit between the bleachers with no glass. Alcohol is permitted. Lawn chair seating is permitted in the grassy area by the fence. We are a cash or credit facility at all locations.

Michaels Mercer raceway presented by Sunbelt rentals is sponsored by H&H materials; SRM slippery rock materials; Sunbelt rentals; Sandy lake auto parts; Heckman diversified; Sara Cipriano/Novus mortgage; Brocon industries; 21st century energy group; On it automotive; Wabtec corporation; Amsoil; Ben Bissett Chevrolet; cot korner; Country fair; Big daddy’s speed center; J&J Sauer; RKR(Russ King Racing); Mercer mercantile; King’s sanitation; Big sky landscaping; Brown’s towing; Top shelf trucking; King forestry; Big Dog R/C park; Hoosier tire.

For more information on Mercer please visit our Facebook page or our website: www.MichaelsMercerraceway.com You can also contact the track at 724-662-1310 or on Facebook  messenger.