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For
Release - Thursday April 10, 2008 From Jim Irvine
Merrittville
Speedway Public Relations
905-892-8266
Thorold, Ontario (April
10) – Merrittville Speedway’s 2008 Season is 16 Days
away and there will be three #16’s that can’t wait for
their seasons to start and another wants his to
continue.
Derek Wutzke and Brett
Robins are both putting the final touches into their
cars and can’t wait for their rookie seasons to begin
Saturday April 26th in the Baron Roofing Windows and
Doors Spring Sizzler 100.
Brent Begolo – a third
generation #16 can’t wait to build upon his success as
a rookie last season either.
And it his cousin – CJ
Dickson – who wears the family trademark #16 as a
member of the Thorold ASI Group Junior B Hockey Club
wants his Hockey Season to continue.
Wutzke and Robins
share a similar background as both are graduates of
Merrittville Speedway’s Tuesday Night Kart Club.
And for those that
read yesterday’s update regarding the on track portion
of the Kart School – it was mistakenly reported that
they would take to the track this weekend. That is
scheduled for Saturday April 19th from 8:30 AM until
11:30 AM in addition to Sunday April 20th – running
all day 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM.
Wutzke was the first
to move on to Saturday Nights after 4 years of karts.
The E.L. Crossley
Student who will turn 18 on April 23rd – just 3 days
from his debut as an L. St. Amand Enterprises 358
Modified Rookie was also a first time driver last
season in the Original Pizza Logs Sportsman Division.
Just before Christmas
in 2006, Derek and his Dad saw something that caught
their eye in the Classified Section at
bicknellracingproducts.com – a former Jay
Mallory-owned race car that was for sale.
The two talked about
it, went to take a look at it and as the saying goes …
the rest is history.
“Last year was really
a thrill,” remembered Wutzke, “every time out was
exciting … I’ll never forget my first heat win either
… beating Don Spatorico.”
That career highlight
just may have come during last year’s Lucas Oil
Shootout Series.
Wutzke’s 2002 Bicknell
Chassis will carry sponsorship from Sports Obsession
at the Pen Centre, DM Concrete, Royal LePage, Marr’s
Foodland, The Peace Bridge Authority and Mossimo’s
Pizza.
“While the move to the
Crate Engine is good for the big picture,” said Wutzke,
“moving up was a better move for us economically.”
With his biggest event
quickly approaching, Wutzke is hopeful to make Test
Tune and Time Night. All’s that left to be done is to
drop the engine in … hang the body and have the
lettering done.
“It’s going to huge
for me,” added the somewhat nervous driver of his
debut in the Super DIRTcar Series 100 lapper, “last
year I was unable to finish the 50 lap Sportsman
Specials … so it will be like a marathon to me.”
Brett Robins is
another 2008 Rookie that is preparing to make his
Saturday Night Debut in a big event for his new
division – the 25 lap Street Stock Open that will also
take the green in just 16 days.
Like Wutzke, Robins
raced 4 years in Karts on Tuesday Nights and this year
will join the Hoosier Stock Division.
Since he has been old
enough he has been in the Saturday Night Pit Area
crewing for former champion Jeff Dayman. Around the
midpoint of last season, Brett started to see
different cars for sale and he got the itch to go
racing himself.
The car that the
family agreed on purchasing – is the one that Rob
Murray drove to his first Merrittville Championship
last season – not to mention the Humberstone Title his
stepson Brad Sheehan earned with it as well.
“Both Jeff and Rob
have been big helps,” boasts Robins, “and I can rely
on both of them at the track throughout my first
season.”
Brett’s dad Brian and
Jeff’s Dad Wayne have known each other for years –
both in and away from the sport. If you have been
coming to Merrittville for a number of years – you may
remember Brian as a driver himself of his 92B in the
former Bomber Division.
With Brett’s Saturday
Night debut in just 16 days – his 16B still needs some
front end work done and some bolt on parts put to the
engine and the lettering.
That lettering will
include a long list of sponsors – many of them his
father’s contacts in the local trucking scene where he
is employed by MacLaurin Trucking.
Other supporters
include O’Hara Trucking, Dressel’s Steel Works,
Whiteside Trucking, JC Auto, RoJo Farms, Mackinaw’s
Tap & Grill, TG Turner & Son Trucking, Jerry’s
Excavating, John O’Dell Trucking, Belair Welding
Supplies, Joe Vanderzalm Construction, Crystal
Mountain and Braycuts.
His rookie Hoosier
Stock Season is being done in memory of MK Trucking –
a company that has helped him since he began with
karts – a friend that passed away last summer.
Helping in the new
venture as crew are his dad, Rob, his sister Heather,
Shane and Popsie.
Rob has helped out
since his start in karts as well and Shane Robertson
is a former kart racer himself – having handed his
machine over to his younger brother Braydon who spends
his Saturday Nights as a Concession Employee.
Brett’s sister Heather
is also leaving her kart racing behind although Brett
is hoping to let her take the Hoosier Stock for a spin
once in awhile.
Robbins at 19 is just
about finished his first year at Niagara College in
the Architecture Program but will transfer to the Auto
Mechanics Department next fall.
This season while
watching the Hoosier Stocks – you might think you are
seeing double as Brent Begolo will also be in a #16 –
following in both his dad’s and grandfather’s tire
tracks.
2008 is the third
generation driver’s sophomore season in the division
and as a rookie last year – made quite an impressive
start.
Begolo’s ’07 racing
resume included Merrittville Speedway Rookie of the
Year honors, a Driver of the Week Award, a top 10
Points Finish and most importantly – his first career
feature win. Add to that a top 10 finish in the Duel
on the Dirt against the Brighton Speedway Pro Stocks.
“We went into last
year just hoping to survive,” relates Begolo who had
virtually no racing experience prior to last year, “…
we just hoped to finish events and learn but wow! … I
guess it runs in the family … I eventually got the
itch to carry on the family tradition.”
Brent’s dad is Jim
Begolo while his grandfather is Merrittville Speedway
Wall of Famer and Reunion Committee Member Jeno Begolo.
Prior to 2007, Brent’s
only racing experience other than spectating was
helping out his Dad at the garage when he was 10 or
11. That was when Jim drove the Harvey’s Swiss Chalet
Terry St. Amand-owned #16.
After a whole summer
on the track, Begolo and Robins are destined to meet
up again in the off season as the 18 year old will be
in his second year in the Automotive Technology
Program at Niagara College.
Brent’s Camaro has
quite a history to it as back in its first go round,
Brent’s Dad drove it on the street when about the same
age. It caused quite an uproar with Jeno when he
learned that the car he had saved was going to become
a race car.
Jim and his longtime
crew member Johnny and Randy McPherson built the #16.
Jeno’s despair
probably turned into some great joy as soon as he saw
his grandson out on the track though we’re sure.
Brent’s redone car was
recently on display at the Pen Centre Race Car Show
and long-time family race team sponsor Beechwood Golf
Club received quite a bit of exposure as the golf
season is about to start as well.
Also supporting his
efforts this season is Mr. Transmission in Welland,
Royal LePage, Mackinaw’s Taps and Grill, the Summit
Place Tavern and JD Flooring.
It may not be too long
before Merrittville Race Fans see another chapter take
place in the long history of the famous Red #16 as a
move to either Open Wheel Division – Sportsman or 358
Modified is down the road.
“Like I said … it’s a
family thing,” prides Begolo, “we have some goals for
this year … we’ll see how it goes as to where we go
from here … with the help of our sponsors of course.”
This time of year can
see an overlap of two Niagara sporting favorites – the
Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League - Golden
Horseshoe Division and Merrittville Speedway’s 57th
consecutive Racing Season.
We learned earlier in
the count down that Jeno is one fan that would like to
see the two sports overlap as he cheers for #16 – on
the ice as a member of the Thorold ASI Group Jr. B
Blackhawks in addition to Brent’s summertime efforts.
Jeno is a regular
around the local rinks following his grandson C.J.
Dickson who in his third season is looking to help
lead his hometown team to its second Sutherland Cup
Championship.
CJ scored the
insurance goal this past Monday Night to lead the team
past the St. Catharines Mountainview Homes Falcons to
move on to the Sutherland Cup Round Robin Tournament
against the Elmira Sugar Kings and the Tecumseh
Chiefs.
Hockey Season starts
all over again this Friday at the Thorold Arena at
7:30.
While the Hawks are
surely counting down to April 26th and selling their
406 Auto Parts 50-50 Tickets all summer at
Merrittville – the team wants their season to continue
– with the goal to be the best of the 28 Junior B
Teams from across Ontario.
Race fans owe it to
themselves to check out a playoff game or support one
of the 8 teams next season. To keep track of the on
ice action – visit www.ghlhockey.com. Keeping track
took on a whole new meaning this past season as by
clicking on the Poinstreak icon – you can watch score
sheets during actual games from your computer – but it
still can’t beat catching a game live.
The St.
Catharines-Thorold Game 7 produced an incredible
$2752.00 50-50 Jackpot for a lucky winner. Make sure
you get your tickets at the game or at the races this
summer!
Merrittville fans will
see yet another 16 in action this season with Rob
Goulding.
The Turn 4 Collision 4
Cylinders will join the Saturday Night Show Saturday
May 3rd when we welcome Global Warranty Corporation.
When the fan favorite
driver’s Season Opener is 16 days away – we will try
and provide you with an update on how his season is
shaping up too.
Your
local Dirt Track is where it’s at and it’s at
Merrittville Speedway in just 16 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 presented by Baron Roofing Windows
and Doors.
Rounding out the show are 40 lap Sportsman and 25 lap
Street Stock Events.
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 905-892-8266 or visit
www.merrittvillespeedway.com. |
