by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Monticello Raceway’s Heritage Drivers Series began on January 15 with the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Pace for drivers of African-American heritage and continued for seven consecutive months with a race for a different ethnic group and culminated with the Godfather Pace for drivers of Italian-American descent on September 1.

Now on Monday (Nov. 22) the winners of each of the preliminary legs in the Heritage Drivers Series will return to battle in the final event, dubbed the All-America Cup.

“Two winning drivers in the preliminary legs will not be available to compete in the final so the runner-up in each event will be substituted,” noted Eric Warner, the track’s director of racing.

“Since Lady Godiva winner Jennifer Lappe is unavailable, Betsy Phillips will represent the women of America in the All-America Cup and Greg Merton, who won the Mayflower Mile, is also not available so runner-up Zeke Parker will drive and represent the Americans of British heritage.”

Jordan Stratton, who won last year’s All-America Cup, will be back to defend his title after winning the Munich Mile, for drivers of German heritage, during this past summer.

George Polk, Jr, victorious in the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Pace, will be coming up from Delaware, which is the longest distance any of the competitors will have to travel to compete in the series finale.

The field for that event has been drawn and drivers were assigned to their pacers by a lottery drawing and after the ninth race on the Monday card one ethnicity will have earned bragging rights on the strength of their driver’s victory.

Rising Debt, from post position two with Zeke Parker aboard, has been installed as the early line favorite. The veteran Keystone Raider pacing mare owns a seasonal best of 1:57.4 taken at Tioga Downs earlier this year. However, Betsy Phillips, with Carolina Storm from the pole position, may be the biggest threat to upset. The daughter of Cambest won in 2:01.3 here at the Mighty M earlier this season.

Other Heritage Drivers Series preliminary winners who’ll have a mount in the All-America Cup include Kenny Devaux, as winner of the Maple Leaf Pace he’ll represent Canadian Americans; Alan Charles, winner of the Passover Pace carries the hopes for Jewish Americans; John Gilmour, winner of the St Paddy Pace will be driving for Irish Americans; and Jimmy Marohn, repeat winner of the Godfather Pace will try to make the other drivers an ‘offer they can’t refuse.’

“On paper it seems to be a very competitive race with nearly any of the eight pacers with a chance to win,” Warner added. “And with many of the drivers among the track’s leaders it’s anybody’s ball game.”

The 13-race card gets underway at 12:25 p.m. with the post time for the All-America Cup slated at approximately 2:50 p.m.