(Danny Clum Photo)
Tulsa, OK | December 27, 2017 – With a spot in the record books on the line, Grady Mercer will be attempting to become only the second back-to-back champion in Restricted class history this week at the 33rd annual Lucas Oil Tulsa Shootout. Following his dominating Golden Driller bid from a year ago and his epic 2017 season across the midwest, the 13-year old wheelman is set for one final showdown with the Restricted class in hopes of scoring another title. Another entrant focused solely on this division, Mercer will be carrying in loads of momentum from a 16-win season where he triumphed in several different states. Piloting his Driven Midwest No. 42 machine, the Owasso, Oklahoma shall be one to keep your eye on this week as goes for a back-to-back Golden Driller bid.
Making his sixth-straight appearance at the Tulsa Shootout, Mercer has been a consistent threat ever since he made his debut in 2013. Starting in the Jr. Sprint ranks, Mercer debuted with a 12th-place, but made his mark at the 2014 showing when he claimed a strong second-place finish in the main event. He ended his Jr. Sprint career with a top-five bid at the 2015 event and transitioned into the Restricted ranks. After missing the show in 2016, Mercer returned with a vengeance at the 32nd annual event and dominated the field. After sweeping heat race and qualifier action, Mercer started from the pole and led all 20 laps as he scored the Golden Driller.
On the heels of a remarkable campaign in 2017, Mercer enters this week with the hot hand. A 16-time victor, he triumphed from Oklahoma to Missouri and Illinois while taking home wins from the biggest races in the Midwest. A champion of the Show-Me Showdown, Pete Frazier Memorial, Red Dirt Nationals, Mini Sprint Nationals and Donnie Ray Crawford Memorial, the 13-year old rising star was a threat everywhere he went.
Beginning on Thursday, December 28th with practice and heat races, the 33rd edition of the Lucas Oil Tulsa Shootout will run through Sunday, December 31st when a new batch of Golden Driller winners are crowned. Walkapedia will continue our Tulsa Shootout coverage all week long with countless previews leading up to the race as we highlight this year’s contenders.
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