As the race started Mercer went about his usual routine putting a lot of distance between himself and the rest of the field feeling the track out before deciding to move up to his new patented high line up in the "fourth groove" of the track. As he move up he began to go even faster and was able to stretch his lead out to just about a full straight away over the rest of the field.

As the race drew closer to the end officials began paying very close attention to sparks that were appearing from underneath Mercer's car and with seven laps left to go they chose to black flag Mercer out of the lead and bring him down pit road under caution to figure out where the sparks were coming from on the car. This placed Mercer in the rear of the field for the ensuing restart still with only seven laps remaining in the race.

On the restart Mercer knew time was short and he showed in it his driving as he made his way up to third as they took the white flag only one car length behind the two leaders as they raced side-by-side. Mercer was able to catch up to their rear bumpers but with them already being side-by-side there was really nothing he could of done to get by them for the win so he was forced to settle for a third place finish on the night.

"It was great to win the pole and be out front like that but with the whole deal with the sparks and the black flag it quickly became the 'win that should have been'," said Mercer after climbing from his car. "That's racing, all we can do is come back and win the next one."

The finish did help Mercer gain some points on points leader Kyle Mansch moving him from being back 10 to now only being back six(360-354). Mercer will continue his campaign for a second straight track title this Saturday in a special 100-lap feature for the Late Model Stock Cars at Hickory Motor Speedway.
  
Mercer Racing is supported by Steele Rubber Products, LP Gear, Reliable Fire and Safety, Mercer Race Car Engineering, Pistone LTO, WP Racing Shocks, Harrington Race Engines, Draco, RACE22.com, Dirt Wrap, Continental Cabinents Inc., Race Com, Five Star Race Car Bodies, Ultra-Pro Synthetics.  To stay up to date with Mercer Racing please visit their website at www.mercerracing.com or contact RACE22.com Driver Management at (276) 613-4208.
 
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

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