Mercer Promoter Vicki Emig is a visionary with business savy!

Despite the stressed economy and her nearest competitor, Sharon Speedway, only a half hour away operating on the same evening, she continues to be one of the most creative and innovative persons in automobile racing, thus increasing her fan base.

With fresh ideas for 11 years, Emig continually seeks ways to help the race teams and provide more for the fan's dollar.

Mercer was the first local track to offer the $25 family concept, free county nights to get new people to the track, the "Little Guy Nationals," for five support divisions, collectible admission tickets with local race cars on it, text alerts for promotions and cancellations, fan victory lane, and economic stimulus nights for the unemployed.

What's new this season? A cross promotion with the leading area baseball team, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers that features them sponsoring a collectible hero autograph card program.

The hero card will feature four drivers for 15 weeks and those drivers will autograph the collectibles between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m., a speed pass to upgrade a ticket to a pit pass before intermission, and the "Grubb Pub," with charbroiled offerings, iced cappuccino, and "Slider" kids meals with chicken nuggets, plus deep fried onion-flavored green beans.

Vicki will go to a mystery city each week and give 500 tickets away to lucky fans. You see warmth in the Mercer environment and pride in the family operation.

Proud to serve

Following in the steps of his late grandfather Don Martin and father Jim Roenigk, Second Lieutenant Donny Martin Roenigk is a part of the Armed Services.

This past week, Donny and his Marine platoon have been shipped to Afghanistan. A new form of computer communication has been established. A person can email a letter by moto-mail, which reaches the foreign base, is then printed out, and placed in the service person's mailbox in a few hours.

Other local racing notes:

n Tri-City Speedway is developing a text messaging network. By providing a cell phone number, or e-mail address, a message will be transmitted immediately.

• Tim Reeher passed away last week. He was the former announcer at Mercer, Sharon, Hickory and Raceway 7.

• Memorial Day weekend Mercer Raceway will have the ninth annual American Thunder Weekend with World Championship Truck & Tractor Pulling on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. On Monday the "Steel Valley Memorial Day Classic" will be held. The Sprint Cars have been added to the show in replace of the Big-Block Modifieds. The Sprints will compete for $1,500 to-win and will be joined by the FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series for $1,200 to-win.

Lug nuts

Bob Wearing Jr is now piloting Late Model No. 67, formerly driven by Ken Schaltenbrand. ... With a plethora of bad luck this season, Bob Felmlee is changed his green Sprint to black and hopes that the dark cloud that has been following him disappears! ... The BRP Big Block Modifieds will share the top billing at Penna. Motor Speedway Saturday. ... Kevin Bolland, who has yet to race with the Modified Tour in 2009, was turning fifteen second laps in a recent exhibition session. ... It was reported that Ed Lynch Jr was clocked at 130 mph in his Sprint. ... Donna and Jack Lentz have closed the doors at Challenger Raceway. All equipment is for sale. ... Friday at Lernerville, it is fire, police, and EMS night at the track. ... Raceway 7 will feature Super Lates, $1,500 to win plus bike races and "Faster Pastor races. ... Tri-City will have fan appreciation night and admission will be $9. A Frisbee throw may net some fan $1,000.

Carol Gamble is a racing columnist for the Butler Eagle.