St. Paddy drivers are set

Barring any unforeseen setbacks the drivers for Monticello Raceway’s St Paddy Pace on Friday afternoon, March 16 are now finalized and waiting to join Hall of Famer Jim Doherty in the race which features the talents of reinsmenof Irish heritage are: John McDermott, John Gilmour, Mike Doherty, Jim Taggart Jr., Peter Gerry and Steve Quinn.

Unfortunately last year's winner Jimmy Marohn, who was looking forward to again participate, had to bow out due to injury. “I just got back from my doctor who took an MRI of my shoulder and he informed me it that it is broken, not dislocated as I was previously told,” Marohn related to the Mighty M’s publicity department by phone Tuesday.

Marohn has been sidelined since early February with what he thought was a dislocated shoulder sustained in a racing mishap in a qualifying race at Yonkers Raceway and he had planned to make his return to action in the St. Paddy Pace on March 16. However, after his recent MRI he had to change his plans.

“I’m just not going be able to make it (the race),” Marohn added. “I planned that my return to action would be with the St. Paddy Pace but now my doctor told me I’ll have to wait at least another month before I can get back in the bike.”

Marohn’s appearance in last year's St. Paddy Pace marked his return to the Mighty M and it seemingly reignited his career. After winning the event Marohn, who has 4,823 career winners, began to get catch-drives here and finished the season with 139 wins which was some 107 more than he had during the entire 2005 season.

Monticello Raceway’s director of racing Eric Warner said he looking for someone to take Marohn’s place but he noted that he will probably have Greg Decker Jr. round out the field, that is, as long as Decker is available.

Decker, whose mom is of Irish extraction, has competed in many other St. Paddy Paces over the years but he’s still looking for his first victory in the event.

Post positions for the St. Paddy Pace will be drawn on Tuesday, March 13. And as is customary with all Monticello Raceway ethnic races, drivers will also be assigned by a lottery drawing. (Monticello)

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