Story By: JIM CLARKE / MERCER MOTORSPORTS – PORT HOPE, ONT – Local racing can be an emotional thrill ride, with more ups and downs than an amusement park. Saturday, July 20th at Peterborough Speedway, 18-year-old Jacob Mercer experienced both ends of the spectrum.
After battling power steering issues during the pre-race practice sessions, the 3rd generation speedster from Port Hope, Ontario took the checkered flag in his first qualifying heat after starting 4th. As the Late Model field was getting set for its 2nd preliminary round, the team’s No. 81 ride rolled to a stop on the front stretch and needed a tow back to the pits. A broken pan hard bar was the culprit. The Mercer Motorsports team would like to thank Graham Annis from Ryan Kimball’s crew for welding the bar back into place.
For the night’s 25-lap main event, Jacob would once again start from the outside of the 2nd row and had his sights set on cracking the top 3 just short of the halfway mark. Following a mid-race yellow flag, he moved into the runner-up spot and despite another caution, would finish there when the checkered flag waved.
“Our team works really hard through the week in the shop and that carries over once we get to the track,” Jacob Mercer explained. “We went through a lot during the early stages of the show, but it is the level of commitment from the team and everyone who is associated with our program. Thanks to their help, we finally got the car working the way we wanted it.”
As the 2024 schedule continues, Jacob Mercer thanks the team’s marketing partners Sine’s Flooring, Durmach Precision Tooling, Facility Services, Courtice Septic, Beyond Signs & Design, Lindsay Dodge Chrysler, CARSTAR Lindsay, Lindsay Buick GMC, Highland Designs by Tracy Pattison, Cressman Tree Maintenance, Richter Law, BJ Tackle, Kawartha Metals, K9INE Protection, YoungCo Septic Design & Install, Cliffshore Excavating, Sarah Turck Sherwood Mortgage Group, Andrea Spohn Desjardins Insurance, Ganaraska Financial, Cooper Equipment Rentals, Parkin Lawn Care, Holdaway Motorsports and Clarke Motorsports Communications.
Next action on the calendar for the team will be Saturday, July 27th at Peterborough Speedway It will be the 3rd date in a 3 race stretch for the KOD Disposal Late Model runners.