would just ride and ride they did as for the first 50-laps of the race they kept themselves in second position just behind the leader. Just after the lap 50 mark a restart gave Mercer the opportunity to get into the lead and as he did for the first 50-laps, Mercer was just riding, but this time he was setting the pace.

Mercer held the lead and even began putting some distance on the rest of the field as the strong 34-car field raced behind him. Then while he was still just riding out front, the second place car began catching Mercer as he was starting to feel something wrong with the car, but was hoping to ride it out and then soon after he was passed and dropped a little through the field, his tire was cut down.

Mercer rolled to a stop on the track in turn four and after coming to pit road his team, led by his brother, David got the tire changed and sent Mercer back out. The team was still confident that they could get back up front considering there was still 35-laps to go in the 177-lap race and many of the 34-cars that started the race had been eliminated.

"We were just on cruise control until that tire starting going down," said Mercer following the race. "We had a great car and we thought we'd be right there at the end and then that tire got us."

Mercer's bad luck continued as on lap 163 the red flag went in the air after he had gotten hit from behind and turned around off turn two and this time his night would be done as it damaged the radiator. Mercer would finish 16th, but that in no way was indicative of how he and his team had performed.

"We felt like we had it under control, I mean there were a lot of good cars there and I would have just like to have mixed it up with (Matt)McCall and (Steven)Wallace there at the end. It looked like a lot of fun."

Mercer and his team will have little time to repair his Pistone LTO Chassis before the next race of the season, but they will certainly be back in race winning form. The next race of the season will be this Saturday, July 18th and Mercer is hoping to get back in victory lane and start a new streak.

"We'll work all week and get this car back ready to go for Saturday night and see if we can get back in victory lane," concluded Mercer.

For more on Mercer Racing and driver, Andy Mercer please visit their new website at www.mercerracing.com or contact RaceBrand Driver Management at (276) 613-4208.  Mercer is supported by Reliable Fire & Safety, Steele Rubber Products, Performancenter Racing Warehouse, WP Racing Shocks, and Mercer Race Car Engineering.

For more on Mercer Racing and driver, Andy Mercer please visit their new website at www.mercerracing.com or contact RaceBrand Driver Management at (704) 745-4282.

About Reliable Fire & Safety
Based in Gastonia, NC, Reliable Fire & Safety offers fire extinguisher sales and service, restaurant and industrial fire suppression systems, as well as emergency light testing and repair. View the full line of Safety Supplies and Services at www.ReliableFireandSafety.com

About Steele Rubber Products
Steele Rubber Products is located in Denver, North Carolina. Our company manufactures and provides only the highest quality rubber parts and weatherstripping for classic cars, trucks and street rods. Steele was founded on a simple philosophy; it is less costly to "do it right the first time" than to buy inferior products that won't stand up over time or meet our customer's high expectations. For more visit www.steelerubber.com or www.springrubber.com