Thorold, Ontario (August 24) – Brandon Easey made it look real easy Saturday Night – earning his second straight Original Pizza Logs Sportsman Feature

For Brian Stevens – it didn’t start all that easy but the veteran rebounded with his second L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modified Win of 2008.

The August 23rd race card presented by TRW St. Catharines and Modern Corporation also saw Abel Castelein in Victory Lane in the Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Division for the second time of the season.

Adam Leslie ran to his third Lucas Oil Open Wheel Lite Feature Win of 2008 while Dolf McCready continues to lead all Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Drivers – earning his 7th Hoosier Stock Victory.

“I really can’t believe how far back I started and still I could get the job done,” expressed an emotional Brandon Easey in Victory Lane for the second straight week, “this car is just unbelievable thanks to my family … sponsors and everyone that has helped … I can’t thank them all enough.”

One week ago – Easey ran to his first career Merrittville win after starting from the pole. This time it wasn’t all that easy as it came after a 15th starting spot.

The start of the 25 lap Feature saw Norm Mark in control before Rick Bellante took control on lap 2. Bellante’s pace would be slowed for the first time on lap 15 with the sophomore St. Catharines driver facing a challenge from veteran Luke Carleton when racing resumed.

The two ran side by side for a number of laps in quite a battle until caution would again slow the event on lap 21.

Turn 2 would play quite a role throughout the entire night – this time claiming race leader Bellante as his victim. Bellante would lose control of his car and after a quick pit stop – returned to the tail of the field. With Carleton now in control, the new challenger was Brandon Easey.

“This is unreal,” added Easey, “I was able to get under Luke this is just unreal.”

Exiting turn 4 with Starter Doug Leonard’s white flag in sight, Easey surged ahead of Carleton and went on for his second straight win – just hours before his own birthday.

Carleton would have to settle for second with Chad Chevalier, Joe Middlemiss and Brad Rouse as the top 5.

The win for Easy also earned him the 2008 Sterling Silver Award – an annual trophy presented by former Sportsmen  competitor Ken Walsh and his wife Fran that honors the memory of racing pioneer Bill Willard Senior.

Mat Williamson had won the event the last two seasons and after winning the consolation – soldiered home to a 12th place finish. Williamson of course is still competing with a broken arm from a work accident.

“Usually we like to relax when we get to the track,” remarked Brian Stevens in Victory Lane, “but tonight was the total opposite – just a rotten start … I got to being quite miserable … but I’m doing a lot better now.”

Right from before warm-ups through to his qualifying heat, Stevens’ #44 was showing all kinds of problems and adds Stevens, “it started with the battery and the starter … then a valve cover gasket split and blower problems … but fortunately the issues didn’t seem the effect the car’s performance.”

2008 Rookie Tom Flannigan was first to lead at the start of the main event after Starter Doug Leonard waived off the initial attempt.

Dan Miller then took control of top spot before Flannigan stormed back out front to start the third lap. Prior to lap 10 the driver on the move was Stevens who took second in advance of the 1/3 mark. While Flannigan had opened up a comfortable lead on the field – Stevens eventually ran him down under increasing lap traffic.

“Tommy’s got to hate seeing me coming on the outside,” added Stevens, “but his time is going to come.”

The tell tale smoke that appeared in the heat could be seen just past the half-way point but there was no slowing Stevens – who ran away to a half lap margin of victory.

Stevens was also able to get by Flannigan when the rookie was leading earlier in the season. The result – the 33 year veteran’s first win.

Flannigan held of for second while Scott Wood, Chad Brachmann and Larry Lampman closed out the top 5 in the caution free event.

Unfortunately Flannigan did not make weight in post race inspection and was fined half of his points and money earned as a result of the infraction.

Greg Wilson immediately opened up a 5 car lead at the start of the Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Feature before it would be erased by an early caution. On the restart it was an all Wilson front row as the race leader would be joined by his dad Garnet.

The elder Wilson took control of the lead before an incident that was the start of many originating from Turn 2 through-out the night. Point leader Trevor Goulding and Rob Overholt came together and before racing resumed – a number of laps had to be run under yellow to run the track back in.

Garnet Wilson unfortunately did not abide by Race Officials requests to assist in the track regrooming and was sent to the rear of the field on the restart.

Greg Wilson was back out front with rookie Matt Deschamps in the runner-up spot. Deschamps soon became the new leader before contact between the leader and Wilson found Aaron Wiley in control.

Wiley’s lead was short-lived however as Abel Castelein quickly took control with drivers sometimes 4 wide behind him battling for position in the closing laps.

At the checkered, former Merrittville Kart Racer Mitchell Brown took 2nd in his second appearance of the season with Garnet Wilson and Trevor Goulding both rebounding from their earlier misfortunes to close out the top 5 with Kyle Pelrine.

“Tonight … it just kind of fell into my lap,” remarked the defending Point Champion Castelein, “it was a tough race … I was able to stay out of all of it though.”

Scott Billing was first to lead the Lucas Oil Open Wheel Lite Feature before a Turn 2 incident slowed the field on lap 2.

Shawn Sliter and Jamie Gilbert were surely hoping to put on quite a show for all of the Modern Corporation co-workers in the grandstands … but probably not this way.

With the Olympics winding down in Beijing, the two team-mates scored perfect 10’s for their performances in executing their synchronized spin in Turn 2.

Billing was again in control on the restart before another caution would quickly slow the former champion.

Unfortunately Turn 2 would claim another victim when Billing would lose control of his car.

Adam Leslie then became the new leader on the restart – the Port Colborne driver opening up a comfortable lead on Josh Sliter before a final caution set up a one lap dash to the finish.

“Thanks to my crew and family … and the fans – this is as good as it gets,” added Leslie in Victory Lane for the third time of the season after a rooftop bow to the crowd.”

Leslie and Josh Sliter were followed by Wayne Robins, Dave Russell and Shawn Sliter who had recycled himself from the earlier miscue.

Mark Fawcett was first to lead the Hoosier Stock Feature before losing the top spot to fellow rookie Brett Robbins. Fawcett returned to P1 before a chain reaction incident involved many cars as it made its way through the field.

When racing resumed – the new leader was Shayne Pierce.

Just before a lap 7 caution slowed Pierce – another former Merrittville karter, Dolf McCready had made his way into the top 3. Pierce survived another restart as leader on lap 9 but about the half-way point – McCready took control.

The two front-runners pulled away on their own before a lap 18 would bring the field back together. McCready went unchallenged – running to his 7th win of the season – a mark the veteran also reached back in 2003.

Point leader Rob Murray made a late race charge to take third while Kevin Knapp and Barry Blanchard rounded out the top 5.

Merrittville Speedway Results – Saturday August 23, 2008

TRW St. Catharines Modern Corporation Truck Show ‘N Shine Night

L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modified Feature – 35 laps

Brian Stevens, Tommy Flannigan, Scott Wood, Chad Brachmann, Larry Lampman, Fred Carleton, Dan Miller, Pete Bicknell, Bill Bleich, Todd Kendrick, Travis Braun, Travis Cunningham, Ken Cosgrove, Dereck Lemyre, Boyd MacTavish, Tim Jones, George Bosse, Andrew Sittler, Derek Wutzke, Francisco Perera, Graham Mackay, Todd Gordon.

L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modified Heat Winners First – Chad Brachmann, Second –Tim Jones, Third – Brian Stevens.

Original Pizza Logs Sportsman Feature – 25 laps

Brandon Easey, Luke Carleton, Chad Chevalier, Joe Middlemiss, Brad Rouse, Tyler McPherson, Mike Bowman, B.J. Willard, Mark D’Ilario, Justin Sharp, Robbie Rounce, Mat Williamson, Tony Cowal, Norm Mark, Jay Doerr, Kevin Sharpe, Rick Bellante, Ron Macaulay, Ron Kingsbury, Rob Knapp, James Michael Friesen, Jim Johnstone, Mark Chiddy, Darrell Faraway.

Dolf McCready, Shayne Pierce, Rob Murray, Kevin Knapp, Billy Bleich, Barry Blanchard, Jason Fontaine, Cody McPherson, Dave Small, Kirk Wilson, Mike Dooley, Brett Robbins, Kevin Knapp, Mark Fawcett, Jesse Penner, Rob Disher, Brent Begolo, Shaun Hagar, Mike Calagiro, Tyler Anderson, Jeff Dayman, Vince Fargnoli, Ron Loggie, Michael Bosse.

Hoosier Stock Heat Winners First – Dave Small, Second – Cody McPherson, Third – Dolf McCready.

Lucas Oil Open Wheel Lite Feature – 20 laps

Adam Leslie, Josh Sliter, Wayne Robbins, Dave Russell, Shawn Sliter, Scott Billing, Paul Klager, Andy Tallman, Jason Corless, Jamie Gilbert, Kory Howe, Lorne Colling, Jordan Curran, Bob Bredin, Ryan Grady, Greg Mills, Rick Brubacher, Kellie Mason, Wally Billing, Scott Philips..

5 Star Racing Products Lucky Dog Winner – Lorne Colling.

Lucas Oil Open Wheel Lite Heat Winners – First – Kellie Mason, Second – Scott Billing.

Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Feature – 20 laps

Abel Castelein, Mitchell Brown, Garnet Wilson, Trevor Goulding, Kyle Pelrine, Tony Kelly, Ron Cosco, Terry Larmet, Aaron Wiley, Mike Giberson, Greg Wilson, Tom Defoe, Ken Kadwell, Matt Deschamps, Bob Gill, Dave Larroque, Chris Laskey, Rocco Conte, Jocelynne Wiley.

Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Heat Winners – First – Ken Kadwell, Second – Greg Wilson.

MERRITTVILLE PIT NOTES

Modern Corporation presented each of the 5 Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Feature Winners with Fuel Cards while the FOAR SCORE Fan Club presenting several of the drivers with Club Jackets.

The Thorold ASI Group Blackhawks presented Jean Howe with more than $1200 in cash after she won the 406 Auto Parts 50-50 Draw. Jean’s son Kory is a Lucas Oil Open Wheel Lite Veteran.

Mitchell Brown – as mentioned as a former Merrittville Karter has made two straight starts in the Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Division as of late. Mitchell’s dad is Doug Brown – a regular along the Canadian Tire NASCAR Canadian Series.

UPCOMING AT MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY

Brian’s Tire Repair will present the Labor Day FANtastic featuring the 50 lap John Spencer Memorial for the L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modifieds - August 30th. The final Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Point Night for all divisions will also be highlighted by an Autograph Night.

Race fans can collect ballots once again for a chance to win Tickets to the Bank of America NASCAR Sprint Cup Race at the Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte North Carolina this October – a presentation of the Raceline Radio Network and 105.1 The River. Draw is to be held Saturday September 6th and the winner must be present to win.

Gates open at 5:30. Show time is at 7:00. For further info call 905-892-8266 or visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com.

MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY SPONSORS

The 2008 Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series for Merrittville Speedway’s 5 Divisions is brought to fans by partners including TRW ST. Catharines and Modern Corporation in addition to contingency sponsors Bilstein Shock Absorbers, Hoosier Tire Canada, Inside Track Motorsport News, Intercomp, ISC Racer’s Tape, Jaz Products, Kirkey Racing Fabrication, Motorsports Safety Systems, Port City Racing, R.J.S. Racing Equipment, Sway-A-Way, Ultra Shield Race Products, Outerwears and XRP, Inc.

You’re among friends at Boston Pizza and Merrittville Speedway. Check your Merrittville Speedway Ticket stubs for a special offer from the Niagara Street Welland Boston Pizza location.

Modern Corporation and Merrittville Speedway have joined the race to reduce waste – why don’t you?

At the track ... at home and at work – reuse … reduce and recycle.

For further information - check the Region’s website (www.niagararegion.ca) or call the Waste Management Info Line at 905-356-4141 or 1-800-594-5542.

Lucas Oil Products is one of the fastest growing additive lines in the consumer automotive industry featuring a premium line of oils, greases and problem-solving additives.

Through innovative product research and development, along with aggressive marketing programs, Lucas Oil Products has established itself as the top selling additive in the industry.