THOROLD, Ontario (November 8) - Merrittville Speedway welcomed an energetic capacity guest list consisting of teams, drivers, families, employees and sponsors on Saturday evening, November 8th, at Club Castropignano in Thorold to officially honor the 2008 Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Champions.

Shawn Sliter, Mike Bowman and Chad Brachmann celebrated their first Lucas Oil Open Wheel Lite, Original Pizza Logs Sportsman and L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modified titles while Abel Castelein and Rob Murray each successfully defended their 2007 championships in the Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder and Hoosier Stock Divisions respectively.

All 5 division champs earned traditional Championship Rings plus trophies and cash awards.

With Merrittville’s Announce Team of Erik Tomas and Clinton Jeffery serving as Masters of Ceremony, the 57th Annual Merrittville Speedway DIRTcar Champions Awards Ceremony not only honored the five track champions, it also awarded the top 12 points finishers from the Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinders, Hoosier Stocks, Lucas Oil Open Wheel Lites, Original Pizza Log Sportsman and the L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modifieds.

Abel Castelein - piloting the Don Parson’s Tire, Peter Hogeterp REMAX, Simmingtons Mustang was crowned the Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder champion for the second straight season collecting 2 feature wins, Castelein finished in the top 10 13 times.

Special award winners in the Turn 4 Collision-sponsored division included Aaron Wiley who earned the Triple Crown Series Mini-series title as well as for the second straight season. Matt Deschamps earned two awards – the Rookie of the Year as well as the Best Appearing Car Award.

Rob Murray powered his Camaro to his second Hoosier Stock Title aboard his Home Hardware, Midas, Turn 4 Collision #M1. The St. Catharines competitor collected 1 feature win, 15 top five finishes en-route to the championship.

Mark Fawcett earned Rookie of the Year honors. The Best Appearing Car Award went to Kevin Knapp.

Shawn Sliter from Port Colborne drove his This driver collected 7 feature wins in his Modern Corporation/ JE Culp Transport/ CMH Leasing #71 for his first Lucas Oil Open Wheel Lite Point championship. His impressive stats included 12 top five finishes – 10 of those were in the top 3.

Rookie of the Year honors went to Greg Mills while the Best Appearing Car Award was presented to Jordan Curran.

Mike Bowman, a St. Catharines native also earned his first title in the Original Pizza Log Sportsman Division aboard his Seaway Hose & Hydraulics EATON-AEROQUIP/Dynoblast #71. Bowman racked up 1 feature win and 12 top ten finishes over the course of the season.

Special Award winners included Rookie of The Year Award winner Darrell Faraway while Bowman also won the Best Appearing Car Award. Brandon Easey collected The Sterling Silvr Award that honors Bill Willard Senior from his great grandson and fellow driver BJ Willard and award sponsor Ken Walsh.

Chad Brachmann from Sanborn NY earned his 1st season championship in the Original Pizza Logs Danielewicz Dairy Farm Lake Erie Speed Specialties #3 machine without a feature win and 11 top ten finishes with 10 of those in the top five.

Other award winners included Travis Braun who won Rookie of the year honors while the Best Appearing Car Award went to Pete Bicknell.

Team Merrittville once again prevailed in three separate series once again as overall champion Jeff Dayman led his full fendered peers to another victory over the Brighton Speedway Pro Stocks in the 4th Annual Duel on the Dirt.

In the fourth annual Lucas Oil Shootouts by Dirttrackdigest.com for the 358 Modifieds and Sportsmen Divisions, Merrittville drivers also stood out including Shootout Champions Pete Bicknell and Tyler McPherson.

Several history-laden awards were also presented during the event.

The Ed MacPherson Construction Kelley-Winger Sportsmanship Award was presented by the Merrittville Speedway Reunion Committee to Sportsman driver Luke Carleton.

The Begolo-Little Award for the most improved driver in the Modifieds went to driver Boyd MacTavish.

The Gordie Award named after former Merrittville Announcer and Wall of Famer Gordie Wilson goes to a person, or group of people who exhibit dedication to the sport. The 2008 award receipt was Bruce Mason – president of the New York Dwarf Car Association – the club behind the Lucas Oil Open Wheel Lite Division.

The Crew Chief of Year Award named after Billy Matthews went to Bob Walton – engine tuner of numerous drivers including this year’s champions Rob Murray and Mike Bowman.

The Tyler’s Trophies Performer of the Year Award went to Hoosier Stock veteran Dolf McCready who topped all 2008 Lucas Oil Weekly Series Drivers with 8 wins in addition to a 9th in the season ending non-point Duel on the Dirt event.

The Pete’s Automotive Driver of the Year was Brad Rouse as he was the driver that received the most points each week during the season in the Driver of the Week Award voting – earning those honors twice during the season.

The Awards Ceremony concluded with Randy Williamson addressing the audience as co-owner of the famed facility.

On behalf of his wife Tracey and their partners – Pete and Nancy Bicknell and their daughter Erica who serves as General Manager, Williamson saluted the crowd and thanked everyone for their continued support throughout the 2008 Season. Plans are well underway for the upcoming 2009 season and race fans and teams alike can look forward to an exciting schedule that begins with the 3rd Annual Spring Sizzler Saturday April 25th that will feature a 358 Modified Super DIRTcar Series Main Event for the second straight season.

For information on Merrittville Speedway’s 58th consecutive season as the best family entertainment in Niagara – visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com or call the Winter Office during business hours – 905-685-7223!

The 2008 Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series for Merrittville Speedway’s 5 Divisions and special events is brought to fans by 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.

Divisional, event and other partners include Turn 4 Collision, Hoosier Tire Canada, Lucas Oil, Original Pizza Logs and L. St. Amand Enterprises in addition to season long advertisers in alphabetical order: Archer Truck Service, Avondale Food Stores, Ball Hockey International, Baron Roofing, Bicknell Racing Products, Bobcat of Hamilton, Boltworks, Braun Construction, Brian’s Tire Repair, Bryan Fretz Financial, Buona Pizza, CAA Niagara, Canadian Custom Fabricating, Canadian Tire Financial Services, Clare’s Cycle & Sport, Club Castropignano, CMH Leasing, Cotton, Inc., David Chevrolet, Dilt’s Piston Hydraulics, Dirttrackdigest.com, Donut Diner, Economy Paving, Ed MacPherson Construction, EMJ Metals, Garden City Auto Complex, 91.7 Giant FM, Girdlestone Brokerage, Heart of Niagara Hotels, Henderson’s Pharmasave, Hingston Metal Fabricators, J&S Heating, K&K Insurance, Kala’s Home Hardware, Ken Cosgrove Auto Repair, Konzelmann Estate Winery, Lakeview Siding, Martindale IDA Pharmacy, Meridian Credit Union, Modern Landfill, Mountainview Homes, Niagara College, Niagara Truck ‘n Stuff, Nickerson Appliances, Ontario Environmental Safety Network, Original Pizza Logs, PartSource, PenFinancial Credit Union, Pepsi, Pete’s Automotive, Performance Powder Coating, Performance Security, Philbrick Farm & Garden Equipment, Public Metal Supply, Raceline Radio, RCM Racing Equipment, RK Shaver, Seaway Hose & Hydraulics, SMS Machine, Solaristint, Stadelmier Septic Service, Superior PetroFuels, Sway-a-way, The Pen Centre, 105.1 The River, Thorold ASI Group Blackhawks Junior B Hockey Club, Toolneeds, TRW and Zavitz Financial Strategies.

You’re among friends at Boston Pizza and Merrittville Speedway. Check your Merrittville Speedway Ticket stubs for a special offer from the Niagara Street Welland Boston Pizza location. Remember to visit them throughout the off season as well.

Lucas Oil Products is one of the fastest growing additive lines in the consumer automotive industry featuring a premium line of oils, greases and problem-solving additives.

Through innovative product research and development, along with aggressive marketing programs, Lucas Oil Products has established itself as the top selling additive in the industry.

Race fans can look for Lucas Oil Products at their favorite automotive retailer including the St. Catharines and Niagara Falls PartSource locations, Drummond Home Hardware in Niagara Falls and through RCM Racing Equipment.