MERCER, Pa. — Under beautiful blue skies, Michaels Mercer Raceway began its 21st annual Little Guy Nationals with six divisions in action on Friday night.
Winners were Kyle Fink (small block modifieds); Chris McGuire (Penn/Ohio stocks); Jimmy Morris (305 sprints); Eric Gabany (FASTRAK modifieds); Nathaniel Bale (Mod lites) and Phil King (mini stocks).
In the open small block modified feature Kyle Fink started up third and held off challenges from modified stand out Eric Rudolph to take his third Little Guy Nationals win. Rudolph who was involved in a tangle with Fink as they were battling had to go to the rear for bringing out the caution and Fink, who never stopped, went back to his lead position.
Rudolph would make his way through the pack and once again challenged Fink for the lead but he kept his line and held off the New York star to capture the event. New York dominated the top spots as Rudolph finishes second, Ron Cartwright third, Tony Pangrazio fourth and last year’s winner Phil Vigneri fifth, all from the Empire State.
McGuire has taken a liking to Mercer as he held of John Boardman to win his second Penn/Ohio pro stock feature of the year at the speedway. Tim Bish who was looking to capture another Little Guy Nationals win broke while leading and McGuire would get around Penn/Ohio point champ Jackson Humanic to go on for the win.
After a 6-year dry spell, Morris now has won two Mercer Racesaver 305 sprint features in a row and he was never challenged from the pole for a seven-second victory. Greg Dobrosky was second, ahead of Kyle Colwell, Jeremy Kornbau and Steve Cousins.
Gabany raced from fourth to pick up his historic 15th career FASTRAK limited modified feature and his third Little Guy Nationals triumph.
Bale has now won two career Mercer mod lite features in his young career coming from the seventh position for the win.
King survived a caution and accident marred mini stock feature to pick up his second career win.