Thorold, Ontario (September 13) – A great final Saturday Night crowd of 2009 enjoyed quite an action-packed J&S Heating and Air Conditioning Weekend Finale at Merrittville Speedway September 12th. 

Mikey Hay of Somerset Pennsylvania picked up right where he left off about 24 hours earlier in the 10th Annual Rose Webber Invitational after backing up opening night win with another 25 lap win – earning more than $3000 in the two day Mod Lite special. 

Rob Murray put an exclamation mark on his third straight Hoosier Stock championship – taking his second 50 lap Victory earning $1000 after the St. Catharines driver won the first of two combined Duel on the Dirt events against the Brighton Automotive Pro Stocks. 

BJ Willard’s first Original Pizza Logs Sportsman Victory in two seasons at the Thorold d-shaped oval found the 4h generation driver winning the 50 lap Sportsman Super DIRTcar Series Event. 

For complete results – refer to DIRTcar Racing NorthEast Series Correspondent Dave Robert’s report.  

Sprint Car Fans have waited since May 30th for the conclusion of the twice rain-delayed Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints Northwood 2 Construction/LaSalle Motorsports Canadian Sprint Car Series Tour Stop. 

What they got was probably one of the most dramatic and spectacular finishes with Chuck Hebing taking the win – just feet ahead of the start-finish line. 

Newly crowned Modern Corporation Open Wheel Lite Champion Jamie Gilbert was quick to lead the 25 lap Rose Webber Invitational after passing Andy Hennigar of Ankeny Iowa before one lap was in the books. 

Gilbert was hoping for some home track advantage and before caution slowed the field on lap 7 – he’d opened up a 10 car lead over Steve White of Laurel Delaware. 

White would become the new leader on the restart with Mikey Hay soon challenging Gilbert for the runner-up spot. Just as Hay took control of second – caution would again slow the pace on lap 9.  

White - the defending race winner set the pace on the restart while Tim White of Salisbury Maryland took over third – rebounding from his Friday Night flip. 

Another caution just before half-way found Hay in control of top spot and before the race was red flagged on lap 17 – had ran away to a huge lead. 

2007 Rose Webber overall champion Rod Jones of West Middlesex Pennsylvania rolled his car several times along the backstretch but was unharmed as he was out of the car before safety crews arrived. 

Hay again set the pace on the restart with Tim Devendorf now into third spot. 

One final caution would slow Hay on lap 18 after early leader Gilbert spun in turn 4 but was able to rejoin the field. 

With Hay out front, Devendorf set his sites on White. The battle for the runner-up spot allowed Hay to pull away to a huge lead once more in the run to the checkered flag.

When Hay crossed the start-finish line in fact, Devendorf from Brewerton NY was in second was leading the rest of the field out of turn 4. 

At the finish, Hay and Devendorf were followed by Steve White and Michael Stratton of Camden Delaware. Adam Leslie took fifth spot finishing with a flat tire and was the highest finishing Merrittville regular on the night. 

“Up until 3 days ago … I didn’t think I was going to make this year’s Rose Webber,” revealed Hay post-race, “but we’re all here for her … this event is all about her and the people here – it’s a privilege to race here and the fans are the best of anywhere … thanks to everyone involved..” 

Hay’s winnings included a bonus for being the overall two day top Mod Lite Driver while Merrittville regular Kory Howe was the top overall Classic Dwarf Car. 

Regular L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modified up and coming driver Chris Steele returned to his roots and earned an award as top New York Dwarf Car Association Member Mod Lite Driver while Howe received the same Club honors for the Classics as well. 

NYDCA Board Member Scott Billing presented a special award to Event organizer Bruce Mason while Wally Billing presented another to Eddie Crutchfield in appreciation for the support of Leader Race Cars and Crutchfield Racing Engines of Chickamauga Georgia. 

“There’s no event anywhere for us like the Rose Webber,” added Hay, “the purse … the prizes … the BBQ and the people … it should be on everyone’s schedule next season.” 

It took 4 months for the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints to do their 4 wide salute to the fans parade lap after rain delayed the original Meridian Credit Union Special from May 20th but once they finally got Starter Doug Leonard’s green flag – Chuck Hebing took control at the start from fellow front row starter Tom Huppenen. 

Immediately Hebing set a blistering pace – opening up almost a half lap lead by lap 2. 

Another driver on the move was Merrittville co-announcer and second generation driver Mikey Kruchka. 

Soon Kruchka was into the runner-up spot with the two front-runners into lap traffic just after lap 5 was complete. 

Five laps later, Ryan Hunsinger lost control of his Sprint Car slowing Hebing’s blistering pace on lap 10. 

Before the caution, Kruchka had closed in on the leader slightly but on the restart – Hebing again pulled away to a lead of almost a ¼ lap. 

With 10 laps to go – Kruchka was on another run and tracking down the leader as the two came up on increasing lap traffic. 

Kruchka eventually caught the leader with Alain Bergeron closing in on Kruchka as well.
Exiting turn 4 to complete lap 23 – Kruchka became the new leader with Bergeron following suit and taking over the runner-up spot. 

Coming out of turn 4 for the final time and with the leaders in heavy lap traffic, Kruchka came a little close to the front-stretch wall and lost control of his #01. 

Kruchka climbed the barrier after getting his car turned around – opening the door for Hebing and Bergeron to get by.  

Lance Yonge did too as while crossing the finish line backwards and sliding along the top of the barrier – Kruchka was credited with fourth while Steve Poirier closed out the top 5. 

For complete results visit http://www.empiresupersprints.com/2009Tour/Results/Merrittville091209.html

Vince Fargnoli was first to lead the 50 lap Duel on the Dirt Combined Event presented by DL Services before Ryan Dinning took top spot to complete lap 1. 

Immediately caution slowed the event of lap 1 after Kevin Knapp went too hard into turn 4 and made heavy contact with the front stretch wall. The impact saw both rear wheels and axles ripped out of his #4K.

Dinning set the pace on the restart before Shayne Pierce became the new leader on the backstretch.  

Picking up where he left off some 24 hours earlier, Rob Murray soon was pressuring Dinning for the runner-up spot. 

Murray took second on lap 5 and heading out of turn 4 to complete lap 6 was the new leader. Pierce regained the lead along the backstretch of lap 7 before Murray was back out front.

Meanwhile, Brighton Speedway Pro Stock competitor Phil Potts was now in the third spot. 

By lap 10 Murray had opened up a comfortable 10 car length lead over Pierce who in turn had about 3 times that gap over Potts and the field. 

Caution again on lap 12 would find Murray out front on the restart with a three wide battle for third. Brent Begolo and Ken Sargent would challenge Potts with Sargent taking the show position. 

Sargent would take second on lap 19 with Dolph McCready moving into 4th as well. While Murray at one point was stretching his lead – Sargent would reel him slightly to the halfway point. 

Increasing lap traffic was becoming a factor as Pierce was closing in on Sargent looking to take back the runner-up spot. 

Pierce regained second crossing the start-finish line to complete lap 40.  

With Pierce and Sargent mired in heavy lap traffic, Murray was able to pull away to almost a half lap lead at the finish. 

Sargent regained second while Pierce settled for third. Dolph McCready and Brent Begolo closed out the top 5. 

Murray – quick to grab the cordless microphone in Victory Lane from co-announcer Mikey Kruchka – began to turn the tables on the Sprint Car Racer – asking about his event earlier in the night but the focus turned back to Murray. 

“I made some calls on tire pressures,” informed Murray, “the car came to me … it was just awesome … thanks to everyone … family … friends and sponsors.” 

Two years ago Murray won both the Friday and Saturday Night portions after just wrapping up his first Hoosier Stock Championship and will know lead Team Merrittville in the drive for five when the 2009 Duel on the Dirt concludes at the Brighton Speedway Saturday September 26th as part of the Cool 100FM Applefest Weekend presented by imagefactor.ca and Lucas Oil.  

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

Join us next 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.