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For
Release - Saturday April 12, 2008 From Jim Irvine
Merrittville Speedway Public Relations
905-892-8266
Thorold, Ontario (April
12) – It’s 14 days and counting down to Merrittville
Speedway’s Baron Roofing Windows and Doors Spring
Sizzler 100 – Saturday April 26th.
“It was a huge day,”
relates (Merrittville Co-owner and BRP Chassis Seminar
Instructor) Randy Williamson, “drivers and crew
members alike learned a lot and with the cooperation
of the weather … all important seat time in their
cars.”
The recent rain
probably produced ideal track conditions – so ideal
that 2008 Rookie L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modified
Driver Travis Braun almost shattered track records.
Braun’s best time was
clocked at 15.069 – his first time in the car.
“It worked out a
little better than expected … that’s for sure,”
relayed Braun, “I really have to give all the credit
to my crew … they got everything ready for me today …
hopefully we will be able to keep it up into the
season.”
One of Braun’s Crew –
who attended the day as well is Merrittville Kart
Racer Vincent Pagnotta – who has joined the race team
for this season.
On the difference
between his Sportsman of last season as his new car,
Travis added, “it’s a lot more like my Hoosier Stock …
there’s more horsepower … and you are able to use
it.”
Braun also credited
his father-in-law Bill Willard who provided some
coaching and set-up advice as well as Pete Bicknell
and Randy Williamson.
Another driver finding
success was Darren Peters who equaled the times of
Pete Bicknell which were not too far off Braun’s.
“I just followed his
direction,” revealed Peters, of Bicknell who used the
one way radios to coach each driver while they were on
the track, “ the class room was very informative as
well … I’m real happy with the day and the race car.”
Another Modified
Rookie this season is Todd Kendrick and while we
learned of the plans of his family race team earlier
in the season, his 358 Modified Campaign started
today.
“Wow … what a
difference from our Lucas Oil Open Wheel Lite … it
drives completely different … and you’re in the car a
lot different too,” revealed Kendrick, “I was quite
happy … I ran some good laps and didn’t hit
anything.”
One Driver about to
start his rookie season in the Original Pizza Logs
Sportsman Division is Ryan Weece – although he has
some racing experience to draw on.
After helping build
late models for drivers from the Brighton Speedway,
Weece competed in the Cameron Motorsports Karting
Series in Hamilton in the past and has run some Enduro
Events as well.
“I’ve got so much to
learn,” revealed Weece, “I put in a good amount of
seat time and that alone was worth it … not to mention
the classroom session.”
“I’ve wanted to get
back into the sport,” added Weece, “the new mandatory
GM Crate Engine was a big help in forming our team.”
The day started in
Dipper’s Turn 1 Meeting Facility at Merrittville and
it was full of drivers and crew members eager to
become more knowledgeable.
“All in all we were
quite pleased with the questions,” relayed Randy
Williamson, “in addition to some of our local teams …
we had drivers here from a number of different tracks
and all with different backgrounds … everyone showed
improvement as the day went on.
Day 2 of the Bicknell
Racing Products Chassis Seminar and Pete Bicknell
Driving School takes place Sunday April 13th.
Your
local Dirt Track is where it’s at and it’s at
Merrittville Speedway in just 14 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 Windows and Doors.
April’s Event also includes a 40 lap event for the
Sportsman and a 25 lap Street Stock Open Event
All
of these Special Events puts Merrittville Speedway on
the map as must see events 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 |
