Thorold, Ontario (May 17) With representatives from the upcoming Rankin Cancer Run in attendance on Seaway Mall Night at Merrittville Speedway Saturday May 16th – former Pro Stock Champion Ken Sargent’s first trip to Victory Lane in a long time has special meaning. 

“I want you to build a car,” wished long-time crew chief Roly Charest of his son Chris and Sargent, “and I want Ken to race it!” 

Best friends and former drivers Charest and Sargent did just that and race it he did to Hoosier Stock Victory Lane, adding, “this one’s for you ... Roly!” 

The day before the 2009 Season Opener, Roly Charest lost his battle with cancer and passed away. 

Race fans wishing to participate or make an on line donation can visit www.rankincancerrun.com. 

In other Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Divisions’ Events – Chad Chevalier, Shawn Sliter and Paul Klager also earned their first wins in the Original Pizza Logs Sportsman, Modern Corporation Open Wheel Lites Divisions respectively. 

The BRP Can Am Late Models were featured in their only 2009 visit and coming home the winner of the caution-filled event was Larry Knowles. 

Aaron Wiley followed up his first win of the season last week with his second in the Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Division. 

The Feature Events began with the rain-delayed Stars North Mod Lite Series Event from April 25th for the Modern Corporation Open Wheel Lites and the start saw an all Modern front row. 

Defending Champion Shawn Sliter beat team-mate Jamie Gilbert to starter Doug Leonard’s Green Flag. Sliter and Gilbert pulled away from the field setting a torrid pace with Sliter running to a comfortable lead over Gilbert. 

By lap 6 the two came up on slower cars and through the lap traffic Gilbert was able to reel in Sliter before caution slowed the field on lap 8. Once again the two pulled away from the field and in clear track – Sliter was able to distance himself from Sliter before lap traffic again allowed Gilbert to close. 

As Gilbert ducked under Sliter in turn 1 of lap 18 – almost taking control of top spot – the red flag stopped the field after Adam Leslie’s car came to a stop in turn 4 after a fireball burst out of the engine compartment of Leslie’s Lucas Oil # 15. 

In the two lap dash to the finish – Sliter was able to hold off Gilbert with Rick Brubacher, Paul Klager and Jason Corless. 

In the regularly schedule Modern Corporation Open Wheel Lite Feature that closed the night – Jordan Curran took control at the start – setting the pace until lap 4. 

Earlier Feature Winner Shawn Sliter became the new leader on lap 5 until team-mate Jamie Gilbert got by to lead laps 12 and 13. Former Champion Paul Klager was next to lead – keeping top spot the last quarter of the race to the checkered flag. 

Klager’s race was almost a repeat of last week when the Beamsville native was passed by Jamie Gilbert out of turn 4 on the final lap. After his engine woes in the first feature, Adam Leslie drove his back-up car in the night cap and was all over Klager but couldn’t get by. 

Klager and Leslie were followed by Sliter while Kory Howe and Gilbert closed the top 5. 

Modern Corporation Open Wheel Lite Heat Winners – First – Paul Klager, Second – Shawn Sliter, Third – Jamie Gilbert, Consolation – Willy Billing.  

Darrell Farraway set the pace at the start of the 25 lap Original Pizza Logs Sportsman Feature before Jim Johnstone took control on lap 2.  Johnstone set the pace until lap 10 when Chad Chevalier took control on lap 10. 

In the last half of the race the former champion ran away from the field – building a straightaway lead at the checkered flag. Former karter Ryan Susice turned a rare appearance into a strong run to finish second but did not enough for Chevalier. 

B.J. Willard was third and Rob Knapp fourth while early leader Farraway settled for fifth. 

Original Pizza Logs Sportsman Heat Winners – First – Brandon Easey, Second – Robbie Rounce, Third – Jim Johnstone, Consolation – Tyler McPherson. 

The Hoosier Stock Feature saw Paul Reichel first to lead before contact with the leader and Kevin Kocarik found Barry Blanchard in control on the restart. 

Incredible 3 wide racing mid field allowed Blanchard and the front-runners to pull away from the field before another early yellow flag again slowed the pace. 

Former Sportsman and Kart Racer Alan Sleight assumed control of top spot on the restart with the return to racing delayed with another caution slowing things down before another lap was completed. Sleight survived two more restarts as leader in the second half of the race. 

With Sleight out front, Ken Sargent was on the move – taking over second spot in the closing laps. In turn 3 of lap 17 Sargent found an advantage and got by Sleight with one last caution slowing the field. 

After a false start by Sargent, the Fenwick native took control and took his first win in his return to the sport this season. 

Sargent and Sleight were followed by Rob Murray, early leader Blanchard and Billy Bleich. 

Hoosier Stock Heat Winners – First – Kevin Kocarik, Second – Ken Sargent, Third – Shayne Pierce, Consolation – Billy Hogue. 

Steve Brooker was first to lead the Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Feature but a multicar incident on the first lap shuffled the field on the restart with Evan Curtis in control on the restart. 

At the half-way point, Matt Deschamps was in the runner-up spot and closing in on Curtis. The two were bumper to bumper with some 5 laps to go and into lap traffic.  

With Curtis and Deschamps trying to hold each other off in quite a battle for the lead – Aaron Wiley was able to close in the two. 

After Curtis lost control of his car in Turn 4 with the white flag in sight, Wiley stole top spot – holding it the final lap for his second straight win of the young season. 

“I worked all the way through for this one,” remarked Wiley in Victory Lane, “the leaders kept slowing every lap … and then they bobbled.” 

Deschamps settled for second while Opening Night winner Rob Goulding was third. Former Champion Trevor Goulding and Rob Overholt rounded out the top 5. 

Heat Winners – First – Tony Kelly, Second – Matt Deschamps, Consolation – Jason Coutu. 

 UPCOMING AT MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY 

The Victoria Day Doubleheader concludes Monday May 18th with Zavitz Financial Services and Employee Benefits presenting Monday Night Madness. The L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modifieds will be featured in Twin 50 lap events – the rain delayed Mr. DIRTcar Series Event in addition to the opening round of the Lucas Oil Shoot Out presented by dirttrackdigest.com. 

Rounding out the card is the Sportsman, a 25 lap Hoosier Stock Duel on the Dirt Home Track Event and the first Enduro Qualifier accelerated by Niagara College. 

Gates open at 4 with Showtime at 6:30. 

Saturday Night action return May 23rd as Merrittville Speedway’s 58th consecutive season continues with CAA Niagara presenting a 5 Division Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Program.  

Showtime is 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 several partners, including division sponsors L. St. Amand Enterprises, Original Pizza Logs, Hoosier, Modern Corporation and Turn 4 Collision as well as contingency sponsors Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shock Absorbers, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Hoosier Tire, Lucas Oil Products, Inside Track Motorsport News, Intercomp, ISC Racer’s Tape, Jaz Products, Kirkey Racing Fabrication, Motorsports Safety Systems, Outerwears, Port City Racing, R.J.S. Racing Equipment, Racing Optics, Schroeder Torsion Bars, Schoenfeld Headers, Ultra Shield Race Products, Wrisco Industries and XRP, Inc. 

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.