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For
Immediate Release April 23, 2007. From Jim Irvine
Merrittville
Public Relations
905-892-8266
Thorold, Ontario (April
20) … There is probably no other driver that has put
more laps in at Merrittville Speedway other than Pete
Bicknell – if you are counting track maintenance
go-rounds, the recent 3 sessions of his own Pete
Bicknell Driving School not to mention his illustrious
racing career.
One driver that put in
a faster lap during April 19th’s Test Tune and Time
Trial Session however was Wheatfield NY’s Chad
Brachmann. The former Merrittville Sportsmen Champion
ran a 16.3270 to Bicknell’s 16.5260 – locking both
drivers into the front row to start the first regular
point race of the 2008 Season – Saturday May 3rd – a
presentation of Global Warranty Corporation.
The start order of the
event is in reverse order to how the two finished in
the final event last season when Bicknell edged
Brachmann in the Garden City Auto Complex John Spencer
Memorial to earn his 19th L. St. Amand Enterprises 358
Modified Points Championship at the Thorold Track.
Rick Richner was just
beat out by Bicknell while Scott Wood and Larry
Lampman rounded out the top 5 fastest.
In the Original Pizza
Logs Sportsman Division, Brad Rouse narrowly beat out
Mike Bowman for top starting spot. Rouse’s best lap
was clocked at 16.960 seconds while Bowman’s was
16.993.
James Michael Friesen,
Tyler McPherson and Luke Carleton were all very close
to each other with Friesen clocked at 17.008,
McPherson at 17.033 and Carleton in at 17. 043.
Rouse surely would
like to keep the Test, Tune and Time momentum rolling
into April 26th’s Sportsmen Event – part of the night
presented by his sponsor Baron Roofing & Siding.
In the Hoosier Stock
Division, Mike Dooley will again sit on the front row
as he did last year but his time of 19.364 wasn’t good
enough for the pole. Barry Blanchard took that spot
with a 19.286.
Ron Kingsbury, Shayne
Pierce and Kevin Knapp rounded out the 5 fastest with
times of 19.435, 19.445 and 19.464 respectively.
Ironically it was
Knapp and his race team that reworked Kingsbury’s car
in the off season with Knapp having raced it earlier
in April at the Black Rock Speedway.
For Rick Brubacher, it
was worth the drive from his Mi-Wesern Ontario home as
the St. Clements Driver bested the Lucas Oil Opne
Wheel Lites with a time of 17.888. Local favorite Adam
Leslie will join him on the front row after turning a
2nd fastest time of 17.912. Sophomre driver Jamie
Gilbert, 2007 Champion Paul Klager and former
champion Wally Billing were next inline at 18.038,
18.174 and 18.282 each.
Trevor Goulding, Rob
Overholt and Damian Gore were the only Tuirn 4
Collision 4 Cylinders to take time with veteran
Goulding and Overholt bumping the rookie second
generation driver Gore off the front row with times
21.737 and 22.102. Gore clocked in at 22.935.
All
the focus now is on the Spring Sizzler 100 presented
by Baron Roofing Windows and Doors Saturday April
26th which is now just 6 days away.
Race
Fans can look forward to quite a first event of 2008
with the L. St. Amand Enterprises 348 Modifieds
challenged by DIRTcar’s best in a 100 lap Super
DIRTcar Series Main Event.
Also
featured on the card are the Original Pizza Logs
Sportsman in a 40 lap Event in addition to the Hoosier
spotlighted in a 25 lap Street Stock Open.
The
Gates will open at 4:00 with Showtime at 6:30.
The
first full 2008 Point Night for all 5 DIRTcar Weekly
Racing Series Divisions is set for Saturday May 3rd’s
Global Warranty Corporation Night. Gates will open at
5:30 with Showtime at 7:00 PM.
Your
Local track is where it's at!! Merrittville Speedway
"The Best Family Entertainment in Niagara"
For further information
on Merrittville Speedway’s 2008 Stock Car Season -
race fans and race teams can also call the Speedway
Office at 905-892-8266 or visit
www.merrittvillespeedway.com |
