By:  Lou Long

Mercer, PA (August 17, 2013): DaveMurdick continued his hot streak, picking up the big win in the annual visit ofthe BRP/Hoosier Tire Modified Tour to the shortest track on the circuit, MercerRaceway Park. Murdick's win continued the domination by the Big Block Modifiedsover the Approved Toilet Rentals 358 Modifieds that race weekly at thespeedway.

Murdickwas pleased with his win in the BRP/Hoosier Tire Modified feature. His carrecently came back from the Troyer shop, and it has been fast ever since."The track was good and racy tonight, and I enjoyed it." AlthoughMurdick was able to work all over the track, he made the most of the outsidegroove. "I didn't think there was going to be an outside groove, but wewere able to make that work."

"Weneeded a caution there at the end," said Brad Rapp. He was closing fast,but ran out of laps. "I think we would have had something for Dave, as thecar was working really good, but the last 25 going green didn't help me."

Onedriver who wished things had ended one lap sooner was Chad Brachmann. He lostsecond by an eyelash to Rapp. "I didn't think he got me at the line, but Iguess the transponders don't lie." Brachmann was relieved to get third,though. "I'm happy to come out of this with a top three finish; we didn'thave the best car here by far."

WithSteve Barr and Joe Kubiniec on the front row for the start of the 30 lapper,presented by Schaffers Oil Company, the field charged off turn four, butseveral of the machines did not make it to the starting line, as car in themiddle of the pack began to check up. Some drivers took evasive action into theinfield.

Thesecond time, the field got away cleanly, with Kubiniec seizing the lead overEric Gabany. As Kubiniec came off turn four to complete lap one, some of theracers behind him got impatient, and New Yorker Phil Vigneri spun to theinside, clipping a utility tire as he left the track. Corner workers had toflee Vigneri's machine, but everybody got away safety.

Kubiniec and Gabany led the wayfor another circuit before another caution was displayed. That delayed theonslaught of Gabany, who was looking to Kubiniec's inside coming through theturns.

Theracers ran one more lap before the red flag waived. This time, it was forfive-time BRP/Hoosier Tire Modified Tour champion, Rex King, Sr., who flippedhis car twice in turn two. Several other cars were involved. King's mount wasfinished for the evening, but he walked away unscathed.

Two morelaps were finished before the final stoppage of the race. During this shortstint, Gabany slipped into the lead. Kyle Fink, who was running in the top fiveat the time, was the culprit. Several others were collected, with significantdamage to Skip Moore, Rob Curtis and others. Kubiniec's night also came to anearly end, as he sun alone several yards further down the speedway from themajor incident in turn four. Curtis, Fink, and Kubiniec retired from the event.

Whenracing resumed, the remaining 25 laps were run off without incident. Gabany ledthe way to the green flag, with the series' points leader, Chad Brachmann, andDave Murdick lined up in the row behind him. Track favorite Jimmy Holden wasfourth.

Theleaders were running single file, but from sixth on back, the rest of the carswere two and three wide fighting for positions.

After ahandful of laps, Murdick assumed second. He then began to close in on Gabany.When he reached Gabany's rear bumper, Murdick kept looking to the inside for aplace to pass. As the leaders were racing through turn four on lap 19, Gabanyslipped a little further out of the groove, and Murdick powered off the cornerwith the advantage.

Brachmann moved into second threelaps later, and began to close in on Murdick, who was stuck behind some lappedcars. Meanwhile, Brad Rapp was charging on the high side. He had climbed from17th on the grid to the top five, and he was looking for more.

With Murdick and Brachmannleading, Rapp worked his way to third. He closed quickly on the lead duo.Murdick pulled away by a car length or two, as Rapp continued to reel inBrachmann.

As Murdick swept under thechecker, Rapp was on the charge again, He rolled into turn three on the outsideand pulled even with Brachmann. Rapp grabbed the spot at the finish line byjust a fraction of a second.

RonCartwright crossed in fourth, with Randy Chrysler finishing fifth. Like Rapp,he also came from the middle of the pack at the start.  Gabany slipped to sixth in the final tally.Jimmy Holden placed seventh, taking the honors of being the highest finishingMercer regular. Kevin Hoffman, J.R. McGinley and Jeremiah Shingledeckercompleted the top ten.

There were four heats for theBRP/Hoosier Tire Modified Tour event. The winners were Rex King, Sr., JeremiahShingledecker, Kevin Hoffman, and Frankie Guidace, sporting a "big"Small Block. Brad Rapp and Rob Curtis were victorious in the twin B Mains.

Finish: Dave Murdick, Brad Rapp,Chad Brachmann, Ron Cartwright, Randy Chrysler, Eric Gabany, Jimmy Holden,Kevin Hoffman, J.R. McGinley, Jeremiah Shingledecker, Jeff Schaffer, SkipMoore, Rex King, Jr., Phil Vigneri, Jr., Rick Richner, Steve Barr, FrankieGuidace, Mark Frankhouser, Matt Reeher, Mike Turner, Tommy Mattocks, Kyle Fink,Rob Curtis, Joe Kubiniec, Rex King, Sr., Steve Feder. 

DNQ: Bob Warren, Eric Beggs,Dillon Barr, Rodney Beltz, Tom Glenn, Max Smoker, Carl Murdick.