Story By: JIM CLARKE / MERCER MOTORSPORTS – PETERBOROUGH, ONT – There is no mistaking Jacob Mercer’s 2022 performance in the Late Model division at Peterborough Speedway.
The talented teenager from Port Hope, Ontario has regularly turned-in some solid efforts during his inaugural season in the track’s headline division. With only a career in karting to draw from, the 3rd generation racer entered the Saturday, August 27th event 2nd in the overall point standings.
After using the pre-race practice sessions to build a fresh chapter of set-up notes, the driver managed a 4th place finish is his initial qualifying heat and a win in the 2nd preliminary round. Heading into the 25-lap feature event, the 15-year-old – who is getting ready to head back to class at Port Hope High School – took the green flag from the outside of the front row.
Following an early race caution flag, Mercer held on to the runner-up spot but drifted high coming through the 3rd and 4th turns. That slight miscue cost him a position on the track but he quickly regrouped and settled back into his racing rhythm. At the end of the race distance, the team was 4th in the running order and claimed yet another top-5 showing.
Prepped and maintained by Scott Robinson, Phil Winter, Glen Pearce, Dave Elziuk, Andrew Hargreaves, Dayton Crombie and Sue Dennis, the Mercer Motorsports Late Model program appreciates the contributions and support from their 2022 marketing partners. Sine’s Flooring, Durmach Precision Tooling, Facility Services, Courtice Septic, Kawartha Metals, Office Line, Cressman Tree Maintenance, Beyond Signs & Design, Mediavandals, Lynch, Rutherford, Tozer Certified Accountants, Richter Law, Press Any Key Computer Solutions, Quantrill Chev Buick GMC Cadillac, Ross Funeral Home, M&M Food Market – Port Hope, Doner Custom Carpentry, Dairy Farmers of Ontario, Cliffshore Excavating, Epic Racewear and Clarke Motorsports Communications have made valuable contributions to the team’s performance.
The night before Peterborough Speedway’s regular season finale Championship Clash Saturday, September 3rd, Jacob Mercer and the team will make the trek to Delaware Speedway for the 70th Anniversary Shootout. It will be the young racer’s initial start at the track and the first time Mercer Motorsports has visited the Western Ontario facility in close to 15 years. The team knows there will be a stellar line-up to crack. They’re looking to make the show and gain some additional extra-distance main event experience for the first year stock car racer.
