Thorold, Ontario (August 2) The
ASCS Lucas Patriots made a return to Merrittville Speedway
August 1st for the first time since 2006 for the second round of
their 2009 King of the Golden Horseshoe Mini-Series.
A Familiar face sat in Victory
Lane as former 358 Modified Driver Scott Kreutter won his first
feature of the season.
The Original Pizza Logs
Sportsman were also featured in their 2nd 40 lap King of the
Crates Series powered by Niagara Motors and again – it was a
familiar face in Lucas Oil Victory Lane as Greg Panunte won the
second event of the new for 2009 Series.
The Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinders
were also in the spotlight in their second Triple Crown Event
and again – opening round winner Rob Goulding was in Victory
Lane once again.
Rounding out the Cotton Inc.
Winners was a new driver – veteran Kirk Wilson who captured the
Hoosier Stock Feature.
Some 7 years ago Scott Kruetter
raced a 358 Modified at area tracks including Merrittville
Speedway. In the weeks leading up to his return with the ASCS
Lucas Oil Patriot Sprints – there wasn’t too much else that
could go wrong.
From motor problems to losing
control of his winged sprinter while leading – he’d probably had
seen it all.
That last misfortune left his
#52 with some major repairs, “from a bare frame Wednesday … to
Victory Lane Saturday,” revealed the 22 year old Kreutter in
Victory Lane, “it’s been a long time coming.”
The front row at the start of
the A Main had two drivers very familiar to Merrittville with
Kreutter joined by former Sportsman Competitor Dave Dykstra with
Kreutter taking control right away.
After a number of early
cautions, Don Adamczyk took control of top spot with the
Williamsville NY driver setting the pace until Kreutter regained
the lead out of turn 4 to complete lap 12.
Bryan Howland – who won the
Patriot Event back in 2006 – followed Kreutter and was soon was
able to get by Adamczyk for the runner-up spot.
As the leaders came up on slower
cars, Howland was able to close in the leader before two
cautions around the 5 to go mark slowed the field on two
occasions.
In the last 6 laps – Kreutter
finally had thing go his way and held on for the win with Tim
Kelly taking second in the closing laps. Howland settled for
third with brothers Blake and Bobby Breen closing out the top
5.
Lucas Oil’s Steve Snowden was
one of the first to greet the first time winner in Victory
Lane.
Adamcyzk, Dykstra, Ryan
Hunsinger, Glen Styres and Jared Zimbardi rounded out the top
10.
For complete results – visit
www.ascsracing.com/racenotes.asp?ID=58376&yr=2009
Like the opening round of the
2009 King of the Crates Sportsman Series powered by Niagara
Motors – Greg Panunte had the pole for the 40 lap event and took
control of top spot after the initial start was called off.
Right from the start Chad
Chevalier and Panunte broke away from the pack with Chevalier
pulling alongside the leader to challenge for top spot.
Two cautions would slow the pace
through to the one third mark Chevalier would soon pressure
Panunte with the #99 holding the edge before back to back
cautions just prior to half way again slowed the field.
The drive on the move as the
race passed the half-way point was Tyler McPherson who was now
in the runner-up spot.
Panunte with McPherson in tow
now would both pull away from the field with BJ Willard taking
control of third with 10 laps to go.
One final caution slowed the
pace on lap 32 but in the closing laps – there was no catching
Panunte. McPherson settled for second with Chad Chevalier
regaining third.
BJ Willard was fourth with Rob
Knapp fifth.
“Sometimes you get lucky,”
remarked Panunte in Victory Lane, “the last little while things
haven’t been too good specially after a good start to the season
… now we are three in a row when you add in Sunday Nights.”
Defending Triple Crown Champion
Aaron Wiley was the early pace setter in the second event of the
2009 Miniseries.
Just before the halfway point
however Rob Goulding was on the move – taking control of top
spot along the backstretch of lap 10.
No sooner had Wiley dropped back
to second – he quickly dropped off the pace – pulling into the
pit area.
With Goulding out front the lead
pack of some 4 cars pulled away from the field – slicing through
increasing lap traffic in the process.
Defending Points Champion Abel
Castelein had his best run of the season going – taking over
second just after getting Starter Doug Leonard’s white flag
signaling the final lap – but that lap was not enough.
Goulding was followed by
Castelein, Matt Deschamps, Garnet Wilson and Rocco Conte.
“What a turnaround from
Wednesday,” relayed Goulding in Victory Lane, “the car was so
good tonight.”
Vince Fargnoli set the pace at
the start of the Hoosier Stock Feature with Mark Fawcett taking
control in the early going. A slowing Brent Begolo brought out
the first caution on lap 4 after the third generation driver
fell victim to a flat right rear tire.
Fawcett resumed control before
Kirk Wilson became the new leader crossing the start finish line
to begin lap 8.
With Wilson out comfortably –
action back through the field was three and four wide in
position battles. With 5 laps to go Wilson enjoyed a 5 car lead.
In the closing laps however, Rob Murray was on the move and soon
was right with the leader.
The two battled door handle to
door handle right down to wire but at the finish – it was Wilson
by a car length.
“Finally … it feels like forever
since I last won,” rejoiced the 31 year on and off racing
veteran – Kirk Wilson, “I wasn’t going to let this one slip
away.”
With Murray a close second –
Mark Fawcett, Shayne Pierce and Kevin Knapp appeared to have
filled out the top 5.
Post race inspection however
found Fawcett to be disqualified due to illegal springs.
MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY INSIDE
TRACK MOTORSPORT NEWS PIT NOTES
The infield flags were at half
staff in memory of Harvey Hainer Senior and Mike Collins who
both recently passed away.
Hainer – the father of former
racer Harvey Hainer Jr and L. St. Amand Enterprises Wall of Fame
Member was a crew chief and mentor to so many – most recently
the Knapps – Rob, Kevin and Tim.
In Hainer’s memory Rob has
changed his 2K to 2H, (the number that Harvey Jr raced with)
while Kevin has gone from 4K to 4H.
Mike Collins – brother to former
driver Pat Collins got involved in the sport in his own way as a
photographer, writer and announcer.
UPCOMING AT MERRITTVILLE
SPEEDWAY
Merrittville Speedway’s Trevor
Wilkens Memorial 100 lap Big Block Modified Super DIRTcar Series
Event is Monday August 3rd – it’s unparalleled … unrivalled and
unsurpassed and it’s a must see event.
The heart-pounding,
high-powered, pedal-mashing entertainment includes a 25 lap Duel
on the Dirt Home Track Event as Merrittville’s full fendered
Hoosier Stocks continue the drive for five against the Brighton
Speedway Pro Stocks and a 25 lap Stars North Mod Lite Tour Event
for the Modern Corporation Open Wheel Lites.
It’s been a Civic Holiday
Tradition since 1972 - make it yours in 2009 and follow the Big
Block Super DIRTcar Series to the Thorold d-shaped oval for the
17th annual Trevor Wilkens Memorial 100 presented by Hingston
Metal Fabricators and Toolneeds.
Gates open Monday
August 3rd and the Club Castropignano Pasta Dinner begins at 4
PM and runs until 6.
Adult Grandstand
Tickets are $25, Students and Seniors - $20, Juniors from 8 to
12 are $10 and Children under 8 are free.
Merrittville Speedway is located
in Thorold Ontario Canada – just a short drive from the
International Bridges. For further information call 905-892-8266
or visit merrittvillespeedway.com.
