Thorold, Ontario (July 19) Merrittville Speedway’s Reunion Committee hosted Lucas Oil Nostalgia Night July 18th and for a change – the annual celebration was completed all on the same night. 

The 58th Anniversary Reunion Night began with a pre-race dinner for former drivers and their families amongst a wide variety of vintage race cars prior to the L. St. Amand Wall of Fame Inductions that saw Doug Gordon and Howard Disher announced to the fans as the class of 2009 on the CAA Stage on the front stretch. 

Larry Lampman finished the night in Victory Lane after winning the 50 lap Jerry Winger Memorial for the L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modifieds. 

Brad Rouse, Rob Murray, Shawn Sliter and Aaron Wiley also visited Victory Lane in the Original Pizza Logs Sportsman, Hoosier Stock, Modern Corporation Open Wheel Lites and Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Divisions respectively. 

A big part of the Annual Reunion Night is Nostalgia and a Vintage Race Car Event and winning the throwback event that featured cars from all eras of Merrittville’s past was Dave Charczuk – in a 1985 Troyer Chassis with a steel Gremlin Body – surely bringing back memories for Alumni and race fans in attendance. 

It was also a homecoming for St. Catharines Standard Motorsports Writer John Steckley who watched the evening’s action from the Toolneeds Tower and gave the famous words – Gentlemen … Start your Engines – after the 25 car 358 Modified Starting field was introduced. 

Steckley was in his familiar spot for the first time in 2009 after battling a recent bout with cancer. 

When the starting field took Honorary Starter Howard Disher’s green flag – it was Lampman who took the initial lead – beating fellow front row starter Chad Brachmann to the line.  

An early caution on lap 3 eased the battle between the two after Mark D’Ilario and Rob Pietz came together. The driver that probably took the heaviest hit from the incident was Pete Bicknell who limped to the pit area with heavy right front suspension damage. It was the first race in many years that the 19 time champion has not finished. 

With Lampman out front on the restart – Brachmann again put the pressure on the leader before another caution slowed the field on lap 6. Lampman resumed control on the restart but along the backstretch Brachmann took control of top spot 

Brachmann pulled away slightly from Lampman with the two opening a 10 car lead on third place runner Scott Wood. 

Despite coming up on slower cars on lap 20, Lampman was able to stay with the leader. 10 laps later the points race would take another dramatic turn when Scott

Wood pulled into the pits. 

With the laps winding down, Lampman made his move out of turn 4 on lap 39 regained the lead. By lap 45 – Lampman was able to stretch his lead through lap traffic and by lap 50 – had put 17 cars down at least one lap. 

“Thanks to the fans for coming out … the weather sure hasn’t cooperated,” expressed Larry Lampman in Victory Lane, “ you have to get lucky these days – everything has to go your way to win … everyone’s so fast … it takes a lot of luck but it also takes a lot of hard work … thanks to the crew for that.” 

Lampman was followed by Chad Brachmann, Danny O’Brien in a rare visit, Travis Braun and Tommy Flannigan. 

Rick Bellante was first to lead the 25 lap Original Pizza Logs Sportsman Feature before a caution right away on lap 1 slowed the field. Two laps later another caution would put the race under yellow once again. 

With Bellante driving away from the field Steve Schumacher was challenging for top spot until Brad Rouse took control of runner up spot on lap 7. With Rouse eventually closing in on Bellante – another driver on the move was Tyler McPherson who climbed to third. 

By the half-way point Rouse began to close in on the leader – the two going side by side on lap 16. Soon Rouse would get by Bellante with McPherson looking to follow suit. 

McPherson would take over the runner-up spot on lap 21 but in the closing laps – could not reel Rouse in. 

“I was hoping to keep to the top,” revealed Brad Rouse in Victory Lane, “I wasn’t set up for the bottom … we sure had some tough luck last week … but we’re back on top tonight.”

Rouse and McPherson were followed by Rick Bellante, Chad Chevalier and Rob Knapp. 

Just as the Hoosier Stocks took to the track for their 20 lap Feature – a Rainbow stretched through the infield with Vince Fargnoli the first to lead in search of the pot of gold awaiting the winner. 

Kevin Kocarik joined the battle for top spot and took control – only to lose it to Ron Loggie on lap 4.  

Two separate incidents would slow the field on lap 6 after Kocarik slowed with a flat tire and Fargnoli went off the backstretch.

Ron Loggie set the pace on the restart before Rob Murray challenged the leader. 

Two cautions would slow the full fendered cars just before the halfway point with Murray out front on each restart. 

At the 5 laps to go signal, Murray enjoyed a comfortable lead over Kevin Knapp who was now in the runner-up spot. 

A lap 18 caution set up a 2 lap dash to the finish and it was Rob Murray out front to the checkered flag – stretching his lead in the process. 

Murray - in Victory Lane for the third time of the season was sporting sun glasses, “it was sunny when we took the green … I probably didn’t need them in the end though … I can’t thank all my sponsors enough though … my crew and my family too.” 

Murray was followed by Kevin Knapp, Al Sleight, Brad Sheehan and Dolph McCready. 

Bob Bredin was first to lead the 20 lap Modern Corporation Open Wheel Lite Feature – setting the pace in the early going 

One driver on the move was Shawn Sliter who had worked his way to the front quickly. Just as Sliter took control of top spot – caution would slow the field on lap 6. 

With Sliter out front – another driver on the move was Paul Klager who after starting last on the field was soon into 5th spot. 

At the half-way point Klager continued his race to the front taking third spot before another caution slowed the action on lap 14.

Sliter and his Modern Corporation team mate Jamie Gilbert were in quite a battle for top spot after the restart before another caution on lap 18 set up a two lap dash.

A daring move by Gilbert in an attempt to take the lead almost met up with contact between the two team mates but at the finish it was Sliter who prevailed with an almost photo finish for the runner up spot. 

Gilbert would edge out Klager with Adam Leslie and Josh Sliter rounding out the top 5.  

With it being Nostalgia Night – it was fitting that third generation driver Austin Wood lead the 15 lap Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Feature to the green flag. 

Wood is the grandson of L. St. Amand Enterprises Wall of Fame Member Lyndon Wood, nephew of Scott Wood and son to Humberstone Starter Chris Wood. 

The 2009 rookie had his best showing to date – leading the event until a multicar incident slowed the field. 

On the restart – the new leader was Aaron Wiley with Kyle Pelrine soon to take the runner-up spot and challenging Wiley to the half way point. 

Caution would soon slow Wiley after early leader Wood was spun out by another car. 

Wiley again set the pace on the restart with Pelrine and Rob Goulding in pursuit in a breakaway pack from the field. 

Last week’s co-driver of the week Matt Deschamps would soon join the group with Goulding taking the runner up spot just before the 4 to go mark. 

There was no catching Aaron Wiley tonight however. 

“It was all about the hat tonight,” informed Aaron Wiley, “my wife has one … my son has one … and now I do.” 

It was all about his son too as a proud dad talked more about his son’s karting start this season, “he spent a little time in the ambulance Tuesday Night after a heat incident … but he refocused and went out and won another feature … he’s such a trooper,” prided Wiley of his son Kurtis. 

Goulding and Pelrine would follow with Deschamps and Greg Wilson closing out the top 5. 

While Dave Charczuk won the Vintage Race Car Event – Pat Sonnenburg, Jamie Swain, Brian Paige and Al Heroux rounded out the top 5. 

For a complete listing of results – visit - www.speednetdirect.com/rss/rss_file.php?track_id=8430 

UPCOMING AT MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY 

Merrittville Speedway will host Hingston Metal Fabricators Saturday July 25th when the Lucas Oil Sportsman Shoot Out makes its return. 

The Big Block Modified Grand Marshall Contest drawing will take place in preparation for Monday August 3rd’s Trevor Wilkens Memorial Big Block Modified Super DIRTcar Series 100 lap Event. 

Race fans named either Dale or Junior will receive a $2 Grandstand Discount with ID. 

The 5 Division Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Event will begin at 7:00 PM with the Gates opening at 5:30. 

For further info call 905-892-8266 or visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com.   

Join us this season on a Saturday Night for A LUCAS OIL WEEKLY RACING SERIES EVENT featuring FIVE Weekly Racing Divisions featuring local heroes and up and coming new stars!  

Make your plans … call your friends and maybe even get a car pool together and enjoy a staycation at the speedway with plenty of free parking and camping spots! 

You’re among friends at Boston Pizza and Merrittville Speedway. Check your 2009 Merrittville Speedway Grandstand Ticket stubs for a special offer from the Niagara Street Welland Boston Pizza location. 

Your Local Dirt Track is where it's at!! Merrittville Speedway "The Best Family Entertainment in Niagara" 

MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY SPONSORS
 

The 2009 Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series for Merrittville Speedway’s 5 Divisions is brought to fans by division sponsors – L. St. Amand Enterprises, Original Pizza Logs, Modern Corporation, Hoosier Tire Canada and Turn 4 Collision in addition to Baron Roofing Windows and Doors and the Niagara IceDogs. 

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.