by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Monticello Raceway’s year-long Heritage Drivers Series will continue with a race for drivers of German descent on Monday, July 26.

Dubbed the Munich Mile, the race will be the seventh event in the track’s year-long series of races for drivers of different ethnicities.

“I was surprised to find out that many of our top drivers are of German heritage, either on their father’s or mother’s side,” said Eric Warner, the Mighty M’s Director of Racing. “And they’re all looking forward to competing in this year’s Munich Mile.”

Among the drivers Warner was referring to include Bruce Aldrich, Jr. and Mike Merton. Aldrich, a previous driving champion, won the title of driver of the past decade after having reined more winners than any other Mighty M driver from 2000 through 2009. And this year he’s leading the driving colony with 223 wins.

Mike Merton, who is a winner of 1,760 races, year-in and year-out is always among the top ten on the local leaderboard. This season Merton’s 52 wins here currently ranks him ninth in the drivers’ standings.

According to Warner he has also received inquiries from locals Chuck Poynton, Jimmy Clouser and Keith Haase, who would also like to be part of the event. However, Warner says the event will still need more participants.

The winner of the Munich Mile will earn the right to compete in the series finale, ‘the All-America Cup,’ in early October, which will feature the winning drivers of each of the ethnic legs presented during the season.

Already with berths in the finale after winning their Heritage Series preliminary legs are George Polk, Jr. (Martin Luther King Pace for African-Americans); Jennifer Lappe (Lady Godiva Pace for women); John Gilmour (St. Paddy Pace for Irish-Americans); Alan Charles (Passover Pace for drivers of Jewish heritage); Ken Devaux (Maple Leaf Pace for Canadian heritage drivers); and Greg Merton (Mayflower Mile for drivers of British descent).

“Though we have a good start on filling the Munich Mile we still need eight drivers to have a full field,” Warner added.

Any licensed driver of German heritage who may want more information or would like to enter the event is asked to please contact Warner in the racing office at Monticello Raceway by calling 845.794.4100, ext. 557; or call the track’s publicity office at ext. 455.