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For
Release - Thursday March 20, 2008 - From Jim Irvine -
Merrittville Speedway Public Relations - 905-685-7223
– Winter Office
Thorold, Ontario
(March 20) – Hurray … Spring is here!
Back in the spring of
1974 – Harry Sittler was about to launch his Modified
Career for car owner Ray Stevens – the same year his
son Andrew was born.
In 2008, Andrew
Sittler will start his Modified Career in a car owned
last year by Ray Stevens in just 37 days in
Merrittville Speedway’s Baron Roofing Windows & Doors
Spring Sizzler 100 – Saturday April 26th.
It’s an event that
will bring the cream of the crop to the Thorold track
– and he his well aware of that.
“I’m hoping to
qualify,” said Sittler, realizing, “what I need is
some seat time and to get some laps in ... I’ve got
quite a learning curve ahead of me … it should be
quite a field in the opener.”
Sittler’s learning
curve is not all that long as some as growing up with
his dad as a racer – Andrew spent many a summer in the
grandstands before working on the cars at home and in
the pits. While staying active with his Dad’s storied
career – Andrew eventually got behind the wheel
himself.
Prior to Pat McGrath’s
Merrittville Speedway Championship Season in the 90’s,
Sittler who was a partner in the car - ran the car a
number of times at the Ransomville Speedway in
addition to a couple of races in his dad’s car.
Last season, Sittler
purchased his own car and joined the ranks of the
Lucas Oil Open Wheel Lites as a Rookie.
“It’s a great class,”
reflects Sittler, “it’s a real family atmosphere …
everyone helps each other out … I hate to leave it
behind … but the 358 Deal was too good to turn down.”
Sittler’s new ride is
the Brian Stevens’ #44 of last season and so the
reunion of sorts between the Stevens’ and Sittlers.
“I was looking at a
few more seasons in the Mod Lite,” added Sittler, “but
it needed up-dating … Brian’s car cost me less than it
would have to update the other car.”
It was still a few
years away but the 34 year old was maybe thinking to
launch his 358 Modified Career in his #37 in
celebration of his 37th birthday.
That was done a few
years ago by Tim Tallman when in celebration of his
40th Birthday – spent the season in a Open Wheel Lite
– to learn the division before his son Andy embarked
on his own career.
Andrew and his wife
Danica have two children – A.J. who is 8 and 5 year
old Brooke. While both are a little young yet to
consider a 3rd generation driver for the family – the
two help out on the car at home.
Andrew has not ruled
out giving his Dad Harry another shot either. In
getting the ’05 Bicknell Chassis together … his
shopping list included racing seats to fit both him
and his dad.
“When this deal
started,” revealed Andrew, “both Dad and Ray tried to
get me to start as a Sportsman … but in the end we all
agreed on the 358’s.”
Andrew and his dad
have been hard at work on the car in preparation for
the upcoming Bicknell Racing Products Chassis Seminar
and Pete Bicknell Driving School that he will
participate in.
At the track, the
Sittlers will have help from Bob Reid who works with
Andrew at the Ontario Street Midas Auto Service
Experts location in St. Catharines.
The Sittlers are also
hoping to draw on the more than 50 years of racing
knowledge earned by Ray Stevens as they write another
chapter in the long history of Merrittville Speedway.
Midas will be joined
on the side panels by his major sponsor Gaston’s Auto
Sales in addition to PartSource. All three businesses
are located on Ontario Street in St. Catharines.
Precision Transmission is also supporting Sittler’s
Rookie Season this year.
Much of Merrittville’s
success and longevity has been built from the support
of it’s many ‘racing’ families.
With the 57th Season
now just 37 days away – second generation driver
Andrew Sittler looks to having some fun when the
familiar 37S makes its return to it’s Saturday Night
Home – the L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modified
Division.
Your
local Dirt Track is where it’s at and it’s at
Merrittville Speedway in just 37 Days – Saturday April
26th.
The
star studded 358 Modified Super DIRTcar Series Stars
are set to challenge our home town heroes in the
Spring Sizzler 100 Super DIRTcar Series presented by
Baron Roofing.
April’s Event also includes a 40 lap event for the
Sportsman and a 25 lap Street Stock Open Event.
With
plenty of free camping – it puts Merrittville Speedway
on the map as a must see event and it’s just the start
of 2008 – you won’t want to miss a single event all
season!
To
learn more call 905-685-7223 until April 1st or visit
www.merrittvillespeedway.com. |
