Thorold, Ontario  – The run of first time winners continued at Merrittville Speedway in Avondale Food Stores Night August 14^th with Derek Moore and Luke Carleton earning their first feature wins of the season in the J&S Heating and Air Conditioning Modified Lite and Original Pizza Logs Sportsman Divisions respectively.

In the Turn 4 Collision Triple Crown Series Finale for the 4 Cylinder Division – Rocco Conte won the 20 lap special with runner-up Aaron Wiley the Mini-Series Title.

In other Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series action – Ken Sargent won the Hoosier Stock Feature while Mat Williamson won his second L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modified Main Event.

Derek Moore has had some strong runs to date as a rookie in the J&S Heating and Air Conditioning Modified Lite Division. What little experience he has was called upon in a mid race battle with veterans Josh Sliter and Paul Klager.

After running a number of laps side by side with Sliter – Moore took the lead on the backstretch of lap 8 and jumped out to a couple car lead just as caution slowed the field.

Moore would lead both drivers on the restart with the top 3 joined by last week’s feature winner Kory Howe in a breakaway pack from the balance of the field. By lap 15 Klager was able to get by Sliter as it appeared to the only race for position with Moore still out front.

Klager and Sliter swapped positions in the final laps with Sliter about a car length behind Moore at starter Doug Leonard’s double checkered flag salute to the first time winner.

Sliter became the new leader after a lap 4 caution saw leader Mark Brighton lose control of his car in turn 2 in front of the field. The entire field was able to clear the car. Kellie Mason was first to lead the event in the Andy Tallman Philbrick Farm & Garden Equipment #18 before Brighton was able to get by.

“I can’t believe I’m here,” admitted Moore after winning his first ever feature, “before this season … I’d never been in a race car but it’s been good all year – I just needed a break to get out front.”

While Moore is a rookie driver this season – he is no rookie to racing – having worked numerous jobs at the Brighton Speedway while younger.

Moore, Sliter, Klager and Howe would be followed by former champion Dave Russell who closed out the top 5.

Luke Carleton took control of the 25 lap Original Pizza Logs Sportsman Feature exiting turn 4 to complete lap 4 and from that early point to the checkered flag 21 laps later – no one could touch the second generation driver.

The race for the runner up spot however was quite a battle with early leader and 2010 Feature Winner Paul Gaboury holding it until Brad Rouse took control of second on lap 9. While the battle for second was raging Carleton was able to pull away to a huge lead – a margin that disappeared on lap 12 after a caution for debris on the track made it a race once again.

With Carleton resuming control once again on the restart – it was Gaboury back to second with Rouse again swapping the position. In the latter portion of the event – Nick Cupolo raced into third and began to challenge Rouse.

“When the track was being groomed,” revealed Luke Carleton, “I knew right then that the top groove would be for me tonight … I jumped the cushion a few times … but it really didn’t slow me down.”

With Carleton some 10 car lengths out front at the finish – Rouse was able to hold on for second with Cupolo settling for third. Gaboury ran to a fourth place finish with rookie Adam Leslie taking 5^th spot.

Kyle Pelrine set the pace at the start of the 20 lap Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Crown Series Finale with Rocco Conte the new leader on lap 1.

Conte and Pelrine would be joined by front-runners Aaron Wiley and Rob Overholt with the foursome pulling away from the pack. Going into the third special event Conte was faced with a 40 point deficit to make up on leader Wiley and runner up Overholt.

With Conte pulling away to a comfortable lead – the race was on between the other two drivers. Wiley was able to take second from Overholt on lap 9 and just past halfway – Conte was into lap traffic.

Wiley had made up a lot of ground on the leader by lap 15 but in the closing laps could get no closer.

Conte and 2010 Turn 4 Collision Triple Crown Champion Aaron Wiley were followed by Overholt and Rob Goulding with Kyle Pelrine settling for 5^th spot.

“This is my first time in this car,” relayed Rocco Conte, “thanks to Matt Deschamps for letting me use his car … mine’s getting a little banged up.”

Conte was in the #43 that Deschamps drove to both the Triple Crown and Overall Points Titles last season. Work commitments have kept him away from racing this season.

For the third feature event of the night – being the early leader was not a good thing. Ron MacAulay as well lost control of his car while leading the 20 lap Hoosier Stock Feature with a number of cars coming together.

Veteran Kevin Knapp was the new leader on the restart with rookie Kevin Aube quickly challenging for top spot. The race to be number one soon became a three wide tilt with Ken Sargent joining in. Between the three it was anyone’s race with another caution slowing the thriller.

Knapp was again in control on the restart with Sargent taking second from Aube. Aube seemed to fall off the pace with rookie Charlie Lynch now into third. Sargent would soon take over top spot and by 5 laps to go – enjoyed a 5 car lead.

In the closing laps Sargent would stretch his lead with Lynch challenging Knapp. Knapp would hold on for second with Lynch settling for third. Jason Fontaine was fourth with Kevin Aube rallying back to take 5^th.

The early stages of the L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modified Feature almost had the same disastrous result as the Modified Lite Feature.

Miraculously however leader Rob Pietz was able to gain control on his car in the turn 4 lap 5 incident – still holding on to top spot.

With the front runners checking up – Pietz’s front row starter Shawn Sliter probably came out the worst unfortunately – losing several spots with the race still under green.

By lap 10 – Bill Bleich was challenging Pietz for the lead and after a lap 12 restart – Bleich was the new leader. On the move after the return to action were Travis Braun and Mat Williamson who took over second and third spots.

By the halfway point Bleich had ran away to a 20 car lead but by lap 20 – he was into lap traffic allowing Williamson who was now second and Braun to close slightly.

With 10 laps to go Bleich and Williamson still had a good lead on the field and in the closing laps the two were waging quite a battle for top spot. Along the backstretch of lap 28 however Williamson would clearly take control and in the closing laps – stretched his lead to almost a ¼ lap.

“Up until that one caution,” informed Mat Williamson, “I didn’t think I had anything for anybody … I really didn’t think the car was that fast.”

Bleich who settled for second added, “We’ve been struggling lately … I’ve got to thank (BRP’s) Randy and Ted … they’ve helped us a lot … thanks as well to the crew.”

Braun in third spot was also appreciative of his crew, “I never thought I be back in the top 3 after how this year has gone … lately I have been so busy my crew has been doing everything at the shop and to my wife Alicia … for her patience with me.”

Mike Bowman and Scott Wood closed out the top 5.

For complete results from Avondale Food Stores Night at the Races visit http://www.speednetdirect.com

Inside Track Motorsport News Pit Notes

The last time Shawn Sliter had a Happy Birthday Dillan sign on his race car – the second generation driver won his Modified Lite Feature for his son. As a rookie in the 358 Modifieds this season Dillan’s win came in his qualifying heat.