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For Release - Sunday May 18,
2008 - From Jim Irvine - Merrittville Speedway Public Relations -
905-892-8266
Thorold, Ontario (May 18) Meridian Credit
Union Rankin Cancer Run Night fans may have been chilled by the
unseasonably cool May Night at Merrittville Speedway but they had to
be thrilled by the racing action Saturday May 17th.
Defending Champions Chad Chevalier (Original
Pizza Logs Sportsman) and Rob Murray (Hoosier Stock) both earned their
first 2008 Feature Wins. Both drivers were the third different winners
in each division to date as well.
Shawn Sliter and Ron Cosco were also first
time winners in the Lucas Oil Open Wheel Lite and Turn 4 Collision 4
Cylinder Divisions – both were the second different winner for their
respective classes also.
The 5th new winner was Steve Dixon who came
home the winner of the Season Opener for the BRP Can Am Late Model
Tour.
Chevalier, who won 2 features last season en
route to his first title – only led 2 laps of the 25 lap Sportsmen
Feature for his initial visit to Victory Lane in 2008.
At the drop of the green, outside pole sitter
Graham MacKay outduelled pole sitter Jim Johnstone to take top spot in
the early going. MacKay would set the pace until Johnstone reclaimed
top spot on lap 9.
At the halfway point Johnstone opened up a
lead of some 5 car lengths before a lap 16 caution slowed the field.
Twice more Johnston’s patience would be tested but on each restart he
was able to pull away. Joe Middlemiss and Chevalier broke away from
the pack in the later stages with Chevalier over-taking Middlemiss
before a final caution on lap 22.
With starter Doug Leonard’s White Flag waving
signaling the final lap, Chevalier had the slightest of leads over
Johnstone and in the final time around the d-shaped oval was able to
stretch it to a car length.
Johnstone settled for second with a hard
charging Mark D’Ilario taking third. Middlemiss wound up 4th with Mark
Chiddy rounding out the top 5.
Similar to the Sportsmen Main, the outside
pole-sitter grabbed the lead at the start of the 20 lap Hoosier Stock
Feature.
Kirk Wilson beat Rich Champigny to the green
flag with Rob Murray over top spot around the half-way point. Murray
had control until two former Kart racers turned Stock Car drivers
surged to the front.
Shayne Pierce stole top spot on laps 18 and
19 with Murray taking it back after the leaders came together. At the
checkers, Cody McPherson also got by Pierce for who has to settle for
second. Barry Blanchard and Dolph McCready closed out the top 5.
Rick Brubacher had to wait almost a month to
use his pole starting spot earned back on April 19th’s Time Trial
Session – and it was the St. Clements’ native who was out front at the
start of the 20 lap Lucas Oil Open Wheel Lite Feature.
Adam Leslie was also locked in to the front
row but was only able to hold that spot for one lap. Shawn Sliter took
control of the runner up spot on lap 2 and by lap 6 also overtook
Brubacher.
Sliter immediately ran away to a huge lead
and after an early caution resumed control before the event was red
flagged on lap 14 after former champion Wally Billing – flipped his
car in turn 3.
There was no stopping Sliter as when racing
resumed he again set the pace until a lap 18 caution slowed the pace.
Sliter was unchallenged in the two lap dash
to the finish for his first win of the season – an early wedding
anniversary present for his wife Lenie. The couple’s 11th Wedding
Anniversary is Sunday.
Brubacher and Leslie settled for second and
third with Jamie Gilbert and Adam Murphy 4th and 5th.
The Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder 15 lap
Feature saw Ed McLean in control at the start before an early caution
saw defending champion Abel Castelein stranded for the second time of
the young season in turn 4.
On the restart Ron Cosco took control of top
spot until a red flag for AJ Castelein who came to a stop in turn 4
similar to his dad earlier.
Cosco again set the pace but not without
strong challenges from Trevor Goulding. Goulding appeared to be better
through the turns but Cosco pulled away down the straight-aways.
Goulding made one last challenge on the final
lap – pulling alongside the leader on the backstretch. Out of turn 4
the two leaders came up on a lap car forcing Goulding to the apron and
losing momentum.
Garnet Wilson was third while early leader
McLean settled for 4th. Rob Goulding was 5th.
In post race technical inspection, Cosco’s
car was found to have illegal offset wheels and was fined half of his
points and purse winnings.
Tim Schram was first to lead the 30 lap BRP
Can Am Late Model Main Event with two cautions slowing the field in
the early going. On the move however was Pete Bicknell in the Paul
Grigsby-owned #24.
From a 7th starting spot, Bicknell was soon
in the runner-up spot after 2008 Rookie Kyle Inman had made an
impressive first outing.
Coming out of turn 4 to complete lap 9,
Bicknell ducked inside in an attempt to take the lead and while Schram
was trying to hold him off – Steve Dixon stormed into the lead around
the pair at the start-finish line.
A number of cautions slowed Dixon who ran the
extreme high side of the track to comfortable leads on Bicknell in
green flag runs.
“It was real fast … and lots of fun,” said
Dixon, “I’d planned at the start to run the bottom … I made some
passes high and found how good it was and stayed there.”
Bicknell ran a number of laps around the
bottom but soon joined Dixon running the high groove.
“I really wasn’t thinking I’d be up front,”
revealed Bicknell, “the Grigsbys gave me such a good piece … I wasn’t
quite comfortable with the throttle … an adjustment may have made it
better … all in all a good night.”
Late in the race it was looking like a real
good night for the Grigsbys until car owner Paul Grigsby made heavy
contact with the front-stretch wall after contact with another car on
lap 24.
Dixon and Bicknell were followed by Jon
Rivers, Schram and Mikey Wonderling.
Merrittville Speedway Results – Saturday May
17, 2008
Meridian Credit Union Rankin Cancer Run Night
Original Pizza Logs Sportsman Feature – 25
laps
Chad Chevalier, Jim Johnstone, Mark D’Ilario,
Joe Middlemiss, Mark Chiddy, Tyler McPherson, Justin Sharp, Darren
Zumpe, Mike Bowman, Brad Rouse, Mat Williamson, Luke Carleton, Darrell
Farraway, Graham Mackay, Don Spiece, Mark Dixon, Robbie Rounce, James
Friesen, Brandon Easey, BJ Willard, Rick Bellante, Rob Knapp, Ken
Winnfield, Kevin Sharpe. DNQ – Ron MacAuley, Norm Mark, Tony Cowal,
Dave Flannigan, Gary Klutt.
Original Pizza Logs Sportsman Heat Winners –
First – Jim Johnstone, Second – Mark Chiddy, Third – Robbie Rounce.
Original Pizza Logs Sportsman B Main Winner –
Tyler McPherson.
Hoosier Stock Feature – 15 laps
Rob Murray, Cody McPherson, Shayne Pierce,
Barry Blanchard, Dolph McCready, Rick Beales, Kevin Knapp, Billy
Hogue, Dave Small, Jason Fontaine, Ron Kingsbury, Vince Fargnoli, Rob
Disher, Russ Davidson, Mark Fawcett, Billy Bleich, Rich Champigny, Ron
Loggie, Driver Car #2, Kevin Kocarik, Kirk Wilson, Michael Bosse, Mike
Dooley, Brent Begolo. DNQ – Adam Gracey, Jack Myers, Driver Car # 2S,
Driver Car # 29.
Hoosier Stock Heat Winners – First – Vince
Fargnoli, Second – Kevin Knapp, Third – Kirk Wilson.
Hoosier Stock B Main Winner – Billy Hogue
Lucas Oil Open Wheel Lite Feature – 25 laps
Shawn Sliter, Rick Brubacher, Adam Leslie,
Jamie Gilbert, Adam Murphy, Josh Sliter, Kory Howe, Scott Billing,
Kellie Mason, Jason Corless, Derek Bredin, Greg Mills, Dale Leonard,
Wayne Robins, Wally Billing, Bob Bredin, Scott Phillips.
5 Star Racing Products Lucky Dog Winner –
Josh Sliter
Lucas Oil Open Wheel Lite Heat Winners –
First Shawn Sliter, Second – Scott Billing.
Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Feature – 15 laps
Ron Cosco, Trevor Goulding, Garnet Wilson, Ed
McLean, Rob Overholt, Evan Curtis, Tony Kelly, Abel Castelein, Bob
Gill, Rocco Conte, David Lopes, Mike Giberson, Roger Gilbert, Chris
Laskey, Jocelynne Wiley, Rick Grundy, Damian Gore, Matt Deschamps,
Terry Larmet, A.J. Castelein, Mike Peterson. DNS – Rob Overholt.
Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Heat Winners –
First – Trevor Goulding, Second – Ed McLean.
Merrittville Pit Notes: Merrittville Speedway
presents Zavitz Financial Strategies Monday Night Madness Monday May
19th featuring the 50 lap opening round of the 2008 Lucas Oil 358
Modified Shoot Out plus a 40 lap Sportsman and 25 lap Duel on the Dirt
Home Track Street Stock Events. Capping off the Monday Show is a
Konzelmann Estate Winery Enduro Qualifier.
Saturday Night action returns May 24th with
CAA Member Appreciation Night featuring the opening round of the 2008
Turn 4 Collision Triple Crown 4 Cylinder Series and a Best Appearing
Dog Contest.
Gates open Monday at 5:00 while Saturday it’s
5:30. Show time at 7:00. For further info call 905-892-8266 or visit
www.merrittvillespeedway.com.
MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY SPONSORS
The 2008 DIRT Weekly Racing Series for
Merrittville Speedway’s 5 Divisions is brought to fans by partners
including Zavitz Financial Strategies, Rankin Cancer Run, CAA Niagara
and Turn 4 Collision 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 |
