Thorold, Ontario (November 10) – Five first time champions were among the many honorees as the Merrittville Speedway Kart Club celebrated the 2008 Season November 9th at rural Thorold’s Club Castropignano. 

Jake Lutz was the only repeat champion at Merrittville as the Hamburg NY driver not only won the overall Season Championship in the RCM Racing Equipment Cassell Manufacturing Original Pizza Logs Junior 1 Division for the second straight season – he also won the division’s Spring and Summer Series Titles. In doing so, Lutz won Kart Club high 16 features en route to amassing 940 total points. 

The first of 5 new champions was James Moll who won his first Ed MacPherson Construction Original Pizza Logs Junior 2 Title – with identical stats to Lutz – 16 wins and 940 points. 

Matthew Farnham earned his first KC Auto Parts Superior PetroFuels Junior Restricted Heavy Championship in 2008 winning 5 features. 

In the Philbrick Farm & Garden Equipment Original Pizza Logs Senior Division – Blake Priestley won his first title. 

For it’s first season, the PartSource Masters Division ran combined with the Senior Medium with separate points kept. Mike Journeaux was honored as the first champion.  

For the first time in history as well, Merrittville Speedway’s KC Auto Parts Novice 2 Group ran for points all season with fourth generation driver Dylan Davidson becoming the first Overall Champion. 

Merrittville Speedway’s youngest group of karters – the Drummond Home Hardware Garden City Auto Complex Novice 1 Division received Competition Awards, as they do not run for points.  

Cierra Black, Taylor Gregoric, Donald Hingston, Joshua Hanson and Tristan Kadwell – were all presented special awards. 

Merrittville Speedway’s Kart Club Member Drivers shared in the more than $10,000 in cash point fund and prize awards. The afternoon affair celebrated the 15th season of Kart Racing. 

Kart Body Kits donated by Original Pizza Logs were won via draws by  Joshua Hanson, (Novice 1), Caleb Vandervalk, (Novice 2), Jake Lutz, (Junior 1), Dillan Sliter, (Junior 2), Ben Werth, (Junior Restricted Heavy) and Mike Journeaux, (Senior Medium and Masters combined). 

Merrittville Speedway’s Kart Club also awarded a driver in each of the Junior Restricted and Senior Medium Divisions with a Briggs and Stratton Animal Engine donated by Briggs & Stratton Racing via draws and the winners were Connor Mooradian and Bobby D’Ambrosio respectively. 

A number of Specialty Awards were handed out and the winners are listed as follows. 

Rookies of the Year:  

Caleb Vandervalk (Drummond Home Hardware Garden City Auto Complex Novice 2)

Gregory Beckett (RCM Racing Equipment Cassell Manufacturing Original Pizza Logs Junior 1)

Jordan Barnes (Ed MacPherson Construction Original Pizza Logs Junior 2)

Ben Werth (KC Auto Parts Superior PetroFuels Junior Restricted Heavy)

Dillon MacPherson (Philbrick Farm & Garden Equipment Original Pizza Logs Senior Division).

Most Improved Driver Awards

Joshua Hanson (Drummond Home Hardware Garden City Auto Complex Novice 1 Division)

Caleb Vandervalk (Drummond Home Hardware Garden City Auto Complex Novice 2)

Gregory Beckett (RCM Racing Equipment Cassell Manufacturing Original Pizza Logs Junior 1)

Dillan Sliter (Ed MacPherson Construction Original Pizza Logs Junior 2)

Isaac Pelissero (KC Auto Parts Superior PetroFuels Junior Restricted Heavy), Chris Watson (Philbrick Farm & Garden Equipment Original Pizza Logs Senior).

RCM Racing Equipment Sportsmanship Awards

Cierra Black (Drummond Home Hardware Garden City Auto Complex Novice 1 Division)

Alex Riley (Drummond Home Hardware Garden City Auto Complex Novice 2)

Mackenzie St. Jean (RCM Racing Equipment Cassell Manufacturing Original Pizza Logs Junior 1)

Jordan Barnes (Ed MacPherson Construction Original Pizza Logs Junior 2)

Vincent Pagnotta (KC Auto Parts Superior PetroFuels Junior Restricted Heavy), Frank Chadwick (Philbrick Farm & Garden Equipment Original Pizza Logs Senior).

Jim Lutz was presented the Crew Chief of the Year Award for his efforts behind his son Jake who won the RCM Racing Equipment Cassell Manufacturing Junior 1 Championship for the second straight season. 

Tim Werth was presented the Race Director’s Award. Werth annually presents the Club’s season highlight event through his  Performance Manufacturing and Slack Karts companies while guiding the kart racing career of his son – Ben Werth and other competitors. 

A Special Recognition Award was presented to Joey Mastroianni.  

Kart Banquet Notes

For further information on Kart Racing at Merrittville Speedway including the Annual RCM Racing Equipment Philbrick Farm & Garden Equipment Kart School this spring, contact the Winter Office at 905-685-7223 or visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com.

Merrittville Speedway 2008 Overall Kart Point Standings 

Drummond Home Hardware Garden City Auto Complex Novice 1 Division

1. Dylan Davidson … 940, 2. Gene Gregoric … 866, 3. Joshua Dmytrow  … 814, 4. Caleb Vandervalk … 760, 5.  Steven Beckett … 758, 6. Alex Riley  … 716, 7 Courtland Turner … 652, 8. Chance Watt t… 450, 9. Eric Veihdeffer … 304, 10. Jordan Peters … 183. 

RCM Racing Products Cassell Manufacturing Original Pizza Logs Junior 1 Division

1.      Jake Lutz … 940, 2. Matthew Veihdeffer … 868, 3. Travis Majuery  … 860, 4. Dylan Culp … 732, 5.  Gregory Beckett … 722, 6. Jordan Cosco  … 718, 7. Mackenzie St. Jean … 698, 8. Greg Kohut… 692, 9. Travis Miller … 666, 10. Jesse Cassell … 474. 

Ed MacPherson Construction Original Pizza Logs Junior 2 Division  

1.      James Moll … 940, 2. Jordan Barnes … 846, 3. Dillan Sliter  … 634, 4. Brett Senek … 552, 5. Teagan Andrews … 392, 6. Jesse Cassell … 328, 7. Braden Bilinsky … 298, 8. James Gorchek … 212, 9. Josh Baker … 208, 10. Nick Schultz … 96. 

KC Auto Parts Superior PetroFuels Junior Restricted Heavy Division 

1.      Matthew Farnham … 882, 2. Connor Mooradian … 860, 3.   Ben Werth … 826, 4. Kevin Daunce … 794, 5. Corey Bodman … 758, 6. John Matthews … 750, 7. Isaac Pelissero … 698, 8. Matthew Watson … 508, 9. Vincent Pagnotta … 498, 10. Matthew Barker … 382.  

Philbrick Farm & Garden Equipment Original Pizza Logs Senior Division

1.      Blake Priestley … 902, 2. Chris Watson … 804, 3. Dillon MacPherson … 794, 4. Frank Chadwick … 790, 5. David Janker … 746, 6. Bobby D’Ambrosio … 738, 7. Mike Janker … 632, 8. Braydon Robertson … 626, 9. Brian Cullen … 484, 10. Aaron Barker … 450. 

MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY SPONSORS
 

The 2008 Lucas Oil Kart Weekly Racing Series for Merrittville Speedway’s 6 Divisions is brought to racers by partners including the Drummond Home Hardware, Garden City Auto Complex, Ed MacPherson Construction, RCM Racing Equipment, Cassell Manufacturing, PartSource, Hoosier Tire Canada, Bicknell Racing Products, Superior PetroFuels, Philbrick Farm & Garden Equipment, Briggs & Stratton, KC Auto Parts, Original Pizza Logs, Performance Manufacturing, Slack Performance Karts and Burris Tire. 

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.  

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.