MOTORSPORTS Mercer will host lucrative 360 sprint car event

The Wheelman URC race is set for July 5.
MERCER, Pa. -- On July 5, Mercer Raceway Park will host the richest 360 Sprint Car event in the history of Western Pennsylvania.
"The Wheelman" URC 360 Summer Nationals returns for the second consecutive year.
Armstrong Zoom Cable Internet Service will televise and webcast the event live.
The United Racing Club (URC), in its 56th season of competition, is the nation's oldest traveling sprint car club.
The URC 360 Sprints will be featured in a 25-lap $2,500 to-win, $250 to-start main event. Positions 3 through 12 have been increased over last year's show.
Lineup
Joining the 360 Sprints will be the Campbell-Peterson Trail & amp; Turf Big-Block Modifieds racing for $1,500 to-win, the Butterfield's Pub Stock Cars for $600 to-win and another G & amp;G Auto Outlet "Gladiator Series" Demolition Derby.
Heading into today's event at Delaware International Speedway, Kevin Welsh of Farr Hills, N.J., leads the URC Advance Auto Parts Sprint Series, sponsored by BAR's Leaks.
In their first nine events, seven different drivers have won, including Dave Ely three times. The others are Trevor Lewis, Randy West, Dan Kaszubinski, Kevin Welsh, Danny Massey and Lance Dewease.
A strong field of sprint cars is expected as URC has averaged more than 35 cars this year. Last year's show drew 47 entries and was won by Chris Coyle, of Wilmington, Del., with a last-lap pass.
URC will be awarding its members an additional 50 show-up points due to the travel time, along with regular points.
The Mercer 360s also will be eligible as this will be part of "Pegasus" 360 Sprint Car point series.
Chris Matthews of Kennerdell, Pa., leads the points as 55 different 360s have participated thus far, either with the 410s or on the stand-alone event on May 17.
Cars also are expected in from New York and Ohio, where Wayne County Speedway is idle.
There have been five 360 races held in the history of Mercer Raceway Park, with five different winners: Gary Edwards, Mike Woodring, Chris Coyle, Scott Bonnell and Mike Lutz.
Details
Pits open at 3:30 p.m. The grandstands will open at 4:30 p.m. Hot laps will begin around 6 p.m. Time trials will commence around 6:30 p.m., which will be utilized to help determine the lineups.
Heat races will kick off following time trials.
Admission prices are $15 for adults, $33 for a family pass, $5 for students ages 6-15 and free for children 5 and younger.
Pit passes cost $30.
For more information, call the office at (724) 964-9300 or the track on race day at (724) 662-1310, or visit www.mercerracewaypark.com.