Even before the green flag waved, it was already a tight championship chase in the Late Model division at Peterborough Speedway. As the abbreviated 2021 regular season schedule wrapped-up Saturday, September 4^th Bryan Mercer was 2 points out of the overall point lead. This was his first year back in action at the popular Central Ontario raceway since 2017 and heading into the final show, the Port Hope, Ontario runner had logged nothing but top 4 finishes – including a main event win – in 4 starts.

“For the most part, I try to run my own race but there was a track championship up for grabs at the end of the night and I had to get everything I could out of our equipment,” Bryan Mercer admitted. “With points as tight as they were, I wanted to make sure that I held my line throughout the race distance and brought the car home in one piece at the checkered flag.”

There was a chance that things might have changed during the night’s qualifying heats, but by luck of the draw each driver lined-up in a different preliminary round. Even though they picked-up the checkered flag in their respective event, the margin remained the same. In the feature race, the duo spent most of the night together. Mercer grabbed the lead with 3 laps on the scoreboard, but his championship rival was on his back bumper. As the field worked through lapped traffic, the pair came together as they entered the first turn. The No. 81 headed pit-side and was unable to return, unfortunately sealing his fate. After the race’s final checkered flag, the point margin between 1^st and 2^nd had grown to a difference of 3.

“I’m still not happy with the way things turned-out. Maybe I need to start racing people a bit differently, or at least race them the same way they race me,” the driver explained. “Even though it was a short season, the team worked well together and the car was great. I can’t say enough about the contributions of our sponsors, family, friends and everyone associated with our team. I’m not sure about my plans for the Autumn Colours Classic. I have to see if Jake is racing that weekend.”

Jake Mercer: The No. 81 Toronto Kart Club program for 14-year-old Jake Mercer returned to action Sunday, August 15^th for the team’s Partner Appreciation Event at Mosport. During the race, he was run over and the kart was destroyed. The team acquired a new piece and back at Brechin Motorsports Park for a night race Sunday, August 29^th.

Jake qualified 9^th out of 21 karts in attendance. He finished 5^th in the 8-lap pre-final. In the 12-lap main event, he started 5^th and made it up to 2^nd for a podium finish. The next shows on the schedule for the Mercer Motorsports’ karting program are scheduled for Sunday, September 12^th and Sunday, September 19^th at Brechin. Brechin Motorsports Park is located on highway 12, north of Beaverton. www.brechinmotorsportspark.com.

The 2021 Mercer Motorsports schedule for Bryan and Jake Mercer is proudly supported by Sine’s Flooring, Durmach Precision Tooling, Courtice Septic, Facility Services, Beyond Signs & Design, Mediavandals, Kawartha Metals, Stoney Shores General Contracting, BJ Tackle, Clarke Motorsports Communications, Cobourg Auto Collision, Cressman Tree Maintenance, Eastwood Development, National Shunt Service, Richter Law, Doner Custom Carpentry, Lynch, Rutherford, Tozer Accountants, M & M Food Market – Port Hope, McDonalds Port Hope & Cobourg/AJ Wood, Press Any Key Computer Solutions, Quantrill Chevrolet Buick GMC Cadillac and Ross Funeral Home.

Fans can find team updates and information at www.81mercermotorsports.net or www.facebook.com/Mercer-Motorsports.