Pete Bicknell, Rob Knapp and Chris Steele were the first timers in the L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modified, Original Pizza Logs Sportsmen and Premier Mademoiselle Fitness Centers Classic Mod Lite Divisions respectively. 

James Small and Bill Hogue also made visits to Victory Lane in the Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder and Hoosier Stock Features. For Small it was the second of the season while Hogue earned his third. 

“The crew’s got me so confused,” informs Pete Bicknell, “ it’s our Ransomville car tonight … we ran our Merrittville Car last night.” 

Bicknell finally overcame what has to be an uncharacteristic performance to date for the 18 time Merrittville Speedway Track Champion. Carburetor problems in the last event had the St. Catharines driver going a lap down to the field. 

“Everyone’s fast … the track’s fast … everyone’s on top of their game and with the new Brodix Aluminum Heads,” relates Bicknell, “ the field is real equal … nobody was giving an inch … I had to run hard every lap.” 

Bicknell – who started in tenth spot fought his way to the front and just past the halfway point put his Texaco Havoline # 42 in a position to challenge the lead pack. That challenge was made easier after a caution slowed the field on lap 18 after Rich Vinson lost control after challenging early leader Greg Wilson for the runner-up spot. 

Wilson was the leader at the drop of the green of the 35 lap event – setting the pace until Adam Ferri took the top spot from the Kitchener native. 

Ferri continued to set the pace through a number of early cautions but on each restart the former Sportsmen Champion was out front in his Lafarge # 1. With the Port Colborne driver out front, it was quite a race between Wilson and Vinson for the runner-up spot before the caution that affected both challengers. 

Bicknell now in the runner-up spot set his sights on Ferri – taking control on lap 21 and to the Checkered Flag – was able to open up a comfortable margin. 

“I’ve got to thank everyone for coming out on such a cold June Night,” said Speedway co-owner Bicknell. 

Following Bicknell at the finish was Adam Ferri, point leader Larry Lampman, Rick Richner and Scott Wood. 

“If you helped … you rock,” emotional comments from first time Sportsmen Feature Winner Rob Knapp, adding, “ my family and crew … everybody’s played a part in this … and Glen Rolston … thanks to him for all he does for our team and for tonight’s Dash for Cash … you won’t meet a nicer guy.” 

Sophomore driver Dave Dykstra was first to lead the 25 lap Sportsmen feature and after an early caution, Dykstra and Knapp engaged in a spirited side by side battle for top spot. 

The see saw battle ended when Knapp found an advantage and opened up a 5 car lead on Dykstra and the field. Caution would soon slow Knapp after an incident saw rookie Travis Braun spinning past the start finish line – a tire from the Braun Construction #76 – sailing into the infield. 

During the incident, Dykstra unfortunately made contact with a lap car – sending the former Hoosier Stock driver to the pits for repairs. Dykstra was able to rejoin the field when action resumed. 

With Knapp still out front - the challenger now was rookie driver Tyler McPherson.  

Knapp’s pace was slowed a final time late in the race but we was able to hold the top spot over a fleet of rookies that were having there best outing of the young season – McPherson, Mark D’Ilario and B.J. Willard. 

With Knapp out front in the closing laps, it was the three former karters that were waged in quite a race for the runner-up spot. 

Coming out of turn 4 the final time, D’Ilario ducked underneath McPherson trying to wrestle away second and despite getting a little sideways – settled for third. Knapp, McPherson, and D’Ilario were followed by Willard and sophomore driver Mat Williamson. 

“Whew … that race lasted forever … it’s just awesome though to be here in Victory Lane … Dave and I made some contact … he was right there and then I didn’t see him anymore … I don’t know what happened,” commented an overwhelmed Knapp in Victory Lane – concerned but unaware of Dykstra’s misfortune. 

Sportsmen Heat Winners and another driver picked via a draw from each heat ran a Dash for Cash presented by Glen Rolston and Wayne Conn won the special event. 

Earlier in the night during a rare break in the action for the first of two Sharpie Driver Autograph Sessions on the 2006 Schedule Chris Steele told Merrittville co-announcer Clinton Geoffrey … “I’m looking to turn the season around tonight.” 

Steele started the Premier Mademoiselle Fitness Centers Classic Mod Lite 20 lap Feature from the 18th spot and took the top spot in turn two just past the halfway point from former champion Scott Billing. Billing had taken the top spot from early leader Derek Bredin who had led form the start. 

Billing survived several cautions as leader including one that had teammate Rick Brubacher slowing off the backstretch with an oil fire. 

When racing resumed, Billing set the pace until Steele took over in turn 2. Steele ran away to a comfortable lead until a red flag stopped the field on lap 16 when Ed Hogel slowed in turn 1 after his engine expired in a more spectacular flare-up then Brubacker’s. 

Both drivers were unharmed but it was not a good debut for Hogel who had not raced at the Thorold track for some 30 years. 

When the field slowed for the red, Steele’s father Owen who followed his son into the sport made contact with another car ending his night but there was no stopping the youngster out front. 

After his earlier lead, Billing had something going wrong on his Can On # 31 and eventually lost control on lap 16. 

In the 4 lap dash to the finish, Steele was able to hold off Shawn Sliter who made a late race charge to take the runner-up spot from Justin Sharp with Paul Klager and point leader Dave Russell rounding out the top 5. 

Steele was awarded the Glen Rolston Hard Charger Bonus for his Merrittville run and made it a clean sweep of the New York Dwarf Car Association Weekend after winning the Friday Night visit to Ransomville Speedway also. 

“Dad and I do a lot of racing,” reveals Steele, “but the competition is as good here as anywhere … we all help each other – Paul Klager … rookie Andy Tallman … Chris Long … we’re all one big team.” 

“I really had nothing for him,” confessed Hoosier Stock Feature winner Bill Hogue, “ he had built quite a lead … I was just running my line trying to catch him,” post-race comments from a driver that wasn’t expecting to be in Victory Lane for the third time of the season. 

At the start of the 20 lap Hoosier Stock Feature, Steve Robison took control of the event and checked out on the field. Just past the halfway point however, a small stream of smoke became evident from his 1R Camaro. 

In the latter stages of the race Robison had stretched his lead to almost a straightaway on Hogue and the rest of the pack with the intensity of the smoke increasing. 

The smoke – later found to be a Power Steering problem – didn’t seem to slow the Port Colborne driver down but with two laps to go a flat tire severely slowed his pace. In the two laps, Hogue was able to catch and overtake Robison for the Checkered Flag. 

Jeff Dayman also caught Robison at the finish to take the runner-up spot with Dolph McCready and Kevin Kocarik making late race charges to close out the top 5. 

Robison’s misfortunes continued post race as he was disqualified after an illegal carburetor was found in post-race inspection. Kevin Knapp was credited with 5th place after McCready and Kocarik were moved up also. 

Hogue also won the Glen Rolston Hard Charger Award. 

“This is fantastic,” commented Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Feature Winner James Small, “ the track’s so fast … I had to slow my car down.” 

Small who started from 5th spot ran smooth consistent laps in his North End Auto 10S Honda – making his second visit to Victory Lane in 2006. 

“This is such a good class,” reveals Small, “ we all help each other out.. and this scarf … James Wood’s wife gave it to me after my first win a few weeks back.” 

After Small did a reverse Victory Lap in honor of a friend he proudly sported a knitted checkered flag scarf.  

James Woods settled for second while early leader Charlie Lynch held on for third. Carey Gore who was awarded the Glen Rolston Hard Charger Award and Small’s son Dave finished out the top 5. 

The Night also featured the kick-off to the 2006 Meridian Credit Union Kids Club and a large number of younger race fans registered. 

FINANCIAL CARE GROUP NIAGARA LIONS NIGHT HEAT RESULTS – Saturday June 10th. 

Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Heat – Charlie Lynch 

Hoosier Stock Heats – 1st heat - Steve Robison, 2nd heat - Terry St. Amand, 3rd heat -Cody McPherson 

Premier Mademoiselle Fitness Centers Classic Mod Lite Heats – 1st heat - Scott Billing, 2nd heat - Kory Howe, 3rd heat - Shawn Sliter. Consi - Adam Murphy 

Original Pizza Log Sportsmen Heats – 1st heats - Dave Dykstra, 2nd heat - Rob Knapp, 3rd - Wayne Conn. 

L. St. Enterprises 358 Modified Heats – 1st  heat - Derek Lemyre, 2nd heat - Adam Ferri