Greg Merton is ready. So, too, is his brother, Mike. The Merton Brothers will be among eight drivers who will be competing in Monticello Raceway’s Munich Mile, an event restricted to drivers of German descent.
The Munich Mile will be the fifth leg of the 'Mighty M’s Heritage Drivers Series and is slated to head to post on Monday, July 30.
Greg Merton has been on fire in recent months and now is challenging Jimmy Taggart Jr. and Jimmy Marohn Jr. for leading driver honours. His 140 wins are currently four less than Taggart’s 144, which ranks Merton second on the local leaderboard, three ahead of Marohn’s total of 137.
Greg’s brother, Mike Merton, is also enjoying a good season in the sulky. He recently passed the 2,000 career win plateau, and his 87 winners here are sixth best among the local driving colony.
“I’ve gotten a few inquiries and even received some emails concerning Germany-native Wim Paal, who raced with us in the New York Sire Stakes last week, saying that he might be interested in driving in our Munich Mile,” said Eric Warner the Mighty M’s director of racing. “We’d certainly love to have him.”
Another possible entrant is Jordan Stratton, who won the event twice. In 2008, Stratton became the youngest reinsman to ever win a Monticello Raceway driving title. He has recently moved on to Yonkers Raceway where he is among the leading drivers.
“Jordan said that if he’s available he’ll be back to drive in our Munich Mile although he won’t know for sure until early next week,” Warner added.
“However, I have confirmation from Peter Kleinhans, Keith Haase and Cory Stratton, Jordan’s younger brother, but we will still need a few more drivers to have a full field.”
(With files from Monticello Raceway)
Perhaps I'm being overly
Perhaps I'm being overly sensitive, but..."The Munich Mile"????? Perhaps the people in promotions weren't born in 1972 when the Olympic massacre took place in Munich. Maybe they don't care. But on the 40th Anniversary on one of the lowest lites in the history of the Olympics, and at a time when the 2012 games are being contested in London, surely they could come up with a better name for this promotion.