BACK ON TRACK: Stan Mertz Racing, Woody Pitkat Return To Seekonk For Season Finale
WHITINSVILLE, Mass. — After a few months off to regroup, Stan Mertz Racing and driver Woody Pitkat will return to the track this Saturday, October 23. The team is set for competition in the Tri Track Open Modified Series Haunted Hundred, a 100-lap race worth $6,000 to win. It’s both the season-finale for the Tri Track Series after a successful six races, and the final race of the year for Mertz Racing after a year filled with ups, and downs.
Multiple times this year Mertz Racing has suffered from mechanical issues that have changed the outcome of race day. In the Tri Track race at Star Speedway in July, a motor problem sidelined the No. 6 Truly/Twisted Tea machine, and Pitkat drove a borrowed ride. For the last Tri Track event at Seekonk, Pitkat drove a car out of the Norm Perry stable, another borrowed ride, as the Mertz Racing machine wasn’t quite recovered from a mechanical failure.
But the team has not quit. And this Saturday, everyone is hoping for a successful day at Seekonk, a place where Pitkat enjoys. So far, the best finish of the season is a second-place finish in one of Stafford Motor Speedway’s Open 80 Modified events. They would love to end the season in Victory Lane.
“Hoping to have one of our best results of the year. We have to make sure everything is perfect,” Pitkat said. “Going there on Friday and practicing will be helpful for us to check everything, and anything, we might have missed. The mindset is to go there and try to win the race and finish the best we can. Last time there was a whole different animal. I’m excited to go back to Seekonk. Stan’s worked hard to get the motor back for us to finish the year out.”
Sponsors of the team include Twisted Tea, Truly Hard Seltzer, Axis Engineering Group, Black and White Grille (Spencer, MA), TowBoatUS, Cape Towing & Salvage, J&S Motors, Pomfret Wine & Spirits, Mike Holmes & Son Excavating, Earnest Performance Shocks & Kenneth Blackmer Transport.
A full Saturday of racing at Seekonk includes the Tri Track 100, the Pro All Star Series Pro Stocks, and American-Canadian Tour Late Models. Practice begins at 10 a.m., followed by the start of qualifying heats at 1 p.m. The Tri Track feature is estimated to take the green flag at 3:30 p.m.
For more information on Stan Mertz Racing, visit StanMertzRacing.com and follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates, including from the track.
Sources: Souza Media/Kyle Souza
Tom Morris Racing Photography