Michaels Mercer Raceway Celebrates 75th Anniversary Season Opener Featuring Regular Three Divisions and RUSH Sprints; $5 Venango and Crawford County Night on Saturday, May 16

By Jim Balentine
(Mercer, PA)

With new owners Earl and Michelle Michaels and a new attitude, Michaels Mercer Raceway, presented by Sunbelt Rentals and Erme’s Distributing, is ready to try for the fourth time to kick off its historic 75th Anniversary season with the first point night for the regular three divisions: the Top Shelf Trucking DIRT Crate 602 Sportsman Modifieds, the Mercer Mercantile IMCA RaceSaver 305 Sprints, the SCDRA-sanctioned King Forest Products Mini Stocks, and the first 2026 appearance of the RUSH Non-Wing Sprint Cars.

It is also $5 Crawford and Venango County Night, as anyone with a valid driver’s license or state ID residing in Crawford or Venango County, Pennsylvania, will be admitted for just $5. It will also be autograph night for the SCDRA King Forest Products Mini Stocks.

The new Kids Club will meet behind the grandstands from 5:00–6:00 PM with games and prizes sponsored by Mercer Dairy Queen.

Event Schedule:

Pit Gates Open: 4:00 PM
Grandstands Open: 5:00 PM
Hot Laps: 6:15 PM
Racing Starts: 7:00 PM

Grandstand Admission:

Adults: $20
Seniors: $18
Kids 13 and under: Free
Family Pass (2 adults and up to 3 kids): $35

Pit Passes:

Adults: $35
Seniors: $30
Kids 10 and under: $30

A reminder to all drivers: competitors must pay the division registration fee at the pit gate when signing in for their pit pass. Both yellow and red AMB transponders are now accepted at the speedway. All cars must have a transponder, with rentals available at the track. Raceivers are mandatory, with the default channel set to 454.000.

Additional red clay has been added over the winter, which has already produced exciting two- and three-wide racing, utilizing the entire speedway from top to bottom.

The RUSH Non-Wing Sprint Cars will make their first of eight appearances on the tricky 3/8-mile Bent Egg Oval. The series has over 25 drivers committed and brings a throwback feel to the traditional non-wing sprint car racing days at Mercer. Based on the excitement the division brought last year, it should once again provide highly competitive racing.

The Mercer Mercantile IMCA RaceSaver 305 Sprint Cars should also feature a strong field on Saturday, as drivers put the finishing touches on their cars and many rookie competitors are expected to make their debut.

The Top Shelf Trucking DIRT 602 Crate Sportsman Modified division should once again attract an impressive field, as all local crate modified competitors are permitted to race. With Mercer being the only track running the 602 DIRT Crate Sportsman division weekly, an extremely large field of cars is expected each Saturday night.

The SCDRA Mini Stocks, sponsored by King Forest Products, will once again compete weekly at Mercer for national championship points and point fund money.

For more information on Michaels Mercer Raceway, please visit our 75th Anniversary Facebook page or our website at michaelsmercerraceway.com. Questions may also be directed through Facebook Messenger, to promoter Mike Mathieson at 724-977-9956, or by leaving a message at the track office at 724-662-1310