by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Father’s Day is always on a Sunday and Monticello Raceway is dark on Sundays. But the raceway doesn’t want to be left behind in honoring dads. So in order to do so the Mighty M will have a special race — the Junior Free For All — to honor fathers, especially the ones whose sons have become harness drivers and who carry their dad’s name with a Jr. added at the end.

The race is slated for the day after Father’s Day, Monday (June 18).

Already consenting to participate are Monticello’s leading drivers Jimmy Taggart, Jr. and Jimmy Marohn, Jr., who are currently one-two on the local leaderboad. Also ready to honor their dads by driving in the event are 15-time Mighty M driving champ Billy Parker, Jr. along with follow Maine native Kevin Switzer, Jr., who currently is sixth in races won here this season.

In an effort to get more participants in the Junior Free For All the raceway’s director of racing, Eric Warner, has been searching for more juniors and recently has heard from two others who would like to drive in the competition.

Warner was referring to Greg Decker, Jr. and Mike Marx, Jr. The former will bring his 442 career victories to the race and the latter, who currently has reined 84 winners in his fledgling career, are both anxious to be part of the father celebration.

Warner has also heard from Keith Kash, Jr. who competes regularly at Northfield Park and Buffalo Raceway. Kash said if his schedule allows he could be a possible entrant in the Junior Free For All.

“We’ve got a good start but we still need a few more juniors in order to fill the field,” Warner noted.

Any driver who fits the criteria and is interested in participating in the Junior Free For All is urged to contact Warner in the race office by calling 845.794.4100, ext. 557. Or they can call the track’s publicity office at ext. 455.