Jack Sodeman, Jr. survived a seven-car wreck on the initial green flag and went on to win the feature for the 4 Your Car Connection and World of Wheels 410 Sprint Cars on a busy night at Mercer Raceway Park. In addition to celebrating Christmas in July, and Herr’s Meet Your Heroes Night, there were fireworks courtesy of Pizza Joe’s. It was Sodeman’s first win of the season at the Park.
Sodeman said that the opening lap skirmish may have worked to his advantage. “I think that gave me a little bit more of an incentive to do well.” He was put on the hot seat by starting towards the rear when the race resumed, but it did not take him long to get to he front. “I didn’t know exactly how it was going to turn out, but the car was really good, it hooked the bottom and we just chose everything right tonight.” Sodeman also noted that he got a boost from Lady Luck when leader Eric Williams spun while lapping another car. “The luck came our way tonight. It sucks for Turkey (Williams), he had a good car and I think we would have had a heck of a race.” Sodeman continued, “we had about eight laps left there, we might have been able to run him down and put on a show for the fans, but, unfortunately, he just got caught up in lapped traffic.”