By Jim Balentine (jbalentine2@roadrunner.com)
(Mercer,PA)
Michaels Mercer Raceway Park under the first year ownership of Earl and Michelle Michaels will celebrate it’s historic 75th anniversary season with a jam packed 22 event event season which encompasses all types of motorsports from January through October.
In late 2025 Earl and Michelle Michaels purchased the facility from his brother Ed and at the end of the season already began to make improvements and will continue to do so throughout the winter. The main focus will be on more auto racing events as there are no less than 18 nights of auto racing for the local drivers and fans to attend. There will also be many county discount nights as well as more functions for the younger generation of race fans including bike races, autograph nights, and kids club events.
The bread and butter of Mercer will continue to be the regular weekly three division show of the Racesaver 305 sprints, the DIRT 602 crate sportsman, and the mini stocks, which will appear on every regular Saturday night event along with certain divisions for specials. The 305 sprint cars are expected to have larger numbers this year. The 602 DIRT sportsman with no other track racing them weekly on Saturday nights now should have a heavily contested full field of modifieds each week with an already highly competitive field with last year just one repeat winner in 11 races. The RUSH sanctioned modifieds are able to compete with minor modifications. The mini stocks should also have an increased car count being sanctioned by the SCDRA with most of the tracks locally now following these sanctioned rules.
The methanol fueled 410 winged sprint cars will make seven appearances, including two by the All-Star sprint cars and also will be kickoff the annual western PA sprint speedweek on the Wednesday night show.
The big block modifieds will be showcased in two big shows.. one being the annual Michaels memorial and also the Rick and Bob Ryder memorial. Both will be extra high paying events.
After a very successful exciting show last year, the RUSH non-wing sprint cars will make at least nine appearances on the tricky oval which will all count for RUSH weekly points. There are no less than 25 cars that competed in the series in 2025 and with Mercer being known as a non-sprint car track for many decades it should prove to be exciting as the traditional sprint car returns to Mercer.
The super late models will return again for the traditional opening night Chiller Thriller scheduled for the last Saturday in March with more shows possible throughout the year.
The micro sprints will make a return to Mercer, as well as appearances by the crown Vics and the mod lites.
The annual little guy nationals will return in its usual complete show format for both days featuring seven classes or more each night.
The 75TH anniversary season will kickoff on January 24 with the return of the Jack Frost Enduro, along with a demo derby weather permitting, and the season will close with the annual “Pork” Mathieson memorial enduro and demo derby.
Several swap meets, car cruises, and tractor pull events will also be on the schedule.
For more information on Mercer or potential sponsorship opportunities please visit our new facebook page Michaels Mercer Raceway Park with the 75th anniversary logo or our website: www.MichaelsMercerraceway.com. You can also contact our promoter Mike Mathieson at (724) 977-9956 or on Facebook
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