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Bolland's BRP Modified Tour Win is First at Mercer Since 1982
By Mike Leone
September 6, 2003
It took 21 years, but Kevin Bolland returned to victory lane
at Mercer Raceway Park to win the 30-lap $1,500 to-win Campbell-Peterson
Trail & Turf Big-Block Modified BRP Tour-sanctioned event.
The 1982 Mercer Champion recorded three wins that year in his
rookie season, but had been unable to win ever since.
“It’s been a long time,” acknowledged the
New Brighton, Pa. winner after his fourth Tour victory of the
season. “This is a tough track to get around. We’ve
searched for a number of years. We’ve struggled for a long
time, but we’re glad to be back.”
Bob Dorman raced ahead of Rodney Beltz on the start to take
the early lead with Bolland in third. On lap three, Bolland worked
his way past Beltz on the backstretch to take second. Beltz would
bring out the first caution with five laps completed when engine
woes ended his night. This moved Dean Pearson to third and Dave
Murdick to fourth.
When racing resumed, Bolland took charge getting past Dorman
in turns one and two. Murdick had moved ahead of Pearson for third
then took second away from Dorman on lap eight. Rex King was charging
to the front and took third on lap nine with an outside move on
Dorman.
By lap 11, Bolland had opened up a straightaway lead on Murdick.
Ron Smoker, who started 18th, was slowly working his way to the
front. Smoker cracked the top five on lap 12 taking the position
away from Pearson then dropped Dorman back another spot on lap
16. Bolland was in heavy lapped traffic on lap 17 when the second
caution was displayed for Frank Guidace.
When green replaced yellow, Smoker edged ahead of King for third
on lap 17. Following another restart, King went back ahead of
Smoker on lap 18. Murdick put the pressure on Bolland as the two
raced side-by-side on laps 20 and 21. Following a caution for
debris, Smoker went back ahead of King for third on lap 21. It
was now a four-car shootout with Bolland trying to hold off Murdick,
Smoker, and King.
Smoker continued his progression to the front when he got under
Murdick in turn two on lap 24 for second. Debris would bring out
the final caution with 26 laps completed and set up a four-lap
dash. Bolland got the advantage on the restart and held off Smoker
for his fourth career Mercer win in his Bol-Tech Motorsports,
Inc.-owned, Bicknell, Bolland Machine-powered, Brighton Hot Dog
Shoppe/Cintas/Richmond Gear/Turbo Start Batteries/Car Cleen Supply/Lake
Erie Speed-sponsored #777.
“The track was sort of rough getting into turn one, otherwise
it was fantastic,” explained Bolland after his 13th win
overall of 2003. “I had some lapped cars to contend with.
Vicki (Emig) has done a nice job here. I have to thank my crew
for putting us here.”
Campbell-Peterson Trail & Turf Big-Block Modified BRP
Tour (30 laps):
1. KEVIN BOLLAND ($1,500) 2. Ron Smoker 3. Dave Murdick 4. Rex
King 5. Mark Flick 6. Bob Dorman 7. Jim Weller, Jr. 8. Alan Dellinger
9. Jim Rasey 10. Chanda Reitz 11. Tommy Kristyak 12. Skip Moore
13. Jimmy Weller III 14. Dean Pearson 15. Rick Hall 16. Steve
Young 17. Del Rougeux, Jr. 18. Carl Weatherby 19. Steve Barr 20.
Joe Crawford 21. Lonny Riggs 22. Frank Guidace 23. George Hobaugh
24. Rodney Beltz 25. Tim Doran-DNS DNQ: Carl Murdick, Randy Snider,
Brian Fink, Jeremy Paup, Shawn Kozar, Adam Siegel, Tom Armstrong,
Ed Alcorn, Justin Broerman, Jeff Walters, Lee Miller, Greg Unrue,
Travis Shingledecker, Rick Kress, Conny Allen, Adam Kozar, Tom
Shaffer, J.R. McGinley, Doug Fleeger, Andy Priest.
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