Thorold, Ontario (August 3) … Second generation Waterloo NY Driver Matt Sheppard picked up right where he left off since his last visit to Merrittville Speedway. 

After winning last season’s 17th and final Trevor Wilkens Memorial – the current Super DIRTcar Series Point Leader won the first Bob St. Amand Senior Memorial presented by L. St. Amand Enterprises at the Thorold facility Monday August 2nd. 

Like the inaugural WoO Late Model Feature Winner Tim Fuller earlier in the season – Sheppard hoisted a custom one of a kind Midnight Oil Fabrication Trophy in celebration. 

The Civic Holiday Tradition held annually since 1972 also had Ken Sargent in Victory Lane in the 25 lap Hoosier Stock Duel on the Dirt Big 6 Home Track Event while rookie Randy Hollingshead took home the 25 lap Modified Lite Championship Tour Event. 

For the second straight year as well many of the capacity crowd on hand may have wondered what was going on as they were on the edge of their seats anticipating the start of the 100 lap Big Block Modified Super DIRTcar Series Main Event. 

One look towards the pit area and it appeared that the starting field appeared to be leaving the premises through the Pit Gate instead of heading to the track. 

To everyone’s surprise however, Merrittville’s CMH Sales & Leasing Dodge Pace Truck with Theo Curvin at the wheel brought the cars down the front-stretch … on the spectator side of the wheel fence – right in front of the grandstands. 

“The unique driver intro was as cool as last years first time,” relayed (Merrittville GM) Erica Bicknell, “right from Turn 4 to Turn 1 … words can’t describe how electric the stands were … I know … I was out in the crowd too!” 

One by one the starting field was introduced – so close that some were chatting with fans and shaking hands.  

Once the field was introduced, L. St. Amand Enterprises Wall of Fame Member Howard Disher gave a touching invocation echoing the memory of Bob St. Amand Senior as co-announcer Clint Geoffrey had done himself. 

With everyone still standing, the Australian National Anthem was played as Darren and Michelle Latimer, friends Tony Handley and Brent Barwick saluted the welcoming crowd and the Latimer boys Rickey and Lochie proudly waved their country’s flag from the back of the Modern Corporation parade vehicle. 

The Latimers have spent the last two weeks in Canada – racing and sightseeing and will be heading home this week. Fellow Australian racer Peter Britten was also in the audience. 

It was then up to Bob Senior’s great grandchildren Annaya Rone, Madyson Rouse and brothers Ethan and Liam McNulty to give the words everyone was on their feet waiting for … “Gentlemen Start Your Engines.” 

Sheppard’s charge from 12th starting position to score his tour-best fifth ---and second straight at the storied Thorold, Ont. oval--- triumph in the nation’s premier Big-Block Modified series was worth $6,000 and more importantly extended his lead to 76 points over sixth-place finisher Jimmy Phelps in the title run after 14 rounds. 

“It was really special to win the last Trevor Wilkens Memorial here and its even more special to win the first Bob St. Amand race,” remarked Sheppard, 28, in familiar low-key fashion after staving off a late-race run by top Canadian finisher Stewart Friesen to head back to the states with a Northeast-high total of 13 Big-Block feature wins. “Just have to thank the St. Amand family along with the Bicknells and Williamsons that own this great speedway and offer such a great event.” 

The margin between Waterloo, New Yorker Sheppard and Friesen from Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. under the final checkered flag was a scant .214-second, while Dale Planck from Cortland, N.Y. crossed the line a close third ahead of perennial rivals Danny Johnson from Rochester, N.Y. and reigning Mr. DIRTcar points king Brett Hearn hauling in from Sussex, N.J. 

Veteran open-wheel campaigner Steve Paine sprinted ahead at the drop of the opening green flag thrown by Bob Sr.’s grand-daughter Andrea Curvin. 

On lap 30 - corresponding car number of the late Bob St. Amand --- Paine and Pete Bicknell hit the jackpot with the St. Amand family posting $250 bonus awards to the highest running Big-Block and Small-Block drivers – part of more than $11,000 in cash that was shared amongst the starting field. 

For the complete story and results – visit http://www.superdirtcarseries.com/news/2010/august/080210_sd_sheppardwinsmer.aspx for DIRTcar Northeast Media Director Tom Skibinski’s report. 

Recent Saturday Night Hoosier Stock Feature Winner Billy Bleich and Ron Loggie led the 28 car strong Hoosier Stock Feature to Jordyn Hardesty’s green flag and while Loggie was out front crossing the line – Billy Bleich took control of top spot along the backstretch the first time. 

A lap 2 caution for a slowing Shawn Wilson saw Ken Sargent, Mike Dooley and others come together back in the pack. 

On the restart – Bleich was being challenged by both Loggie and Brent Begolo with the three mixing it up three wide. Three cautions would ease the incredible battle for top spot with Bleich able to hold off both drivers. 

On the move too in the first half of the extra distance event was Jason Fontaine who over took both Begolo and Loggie to take over the runner up spot. Another restart had Bleich out front with Begolo challenging Fontaine. Through the entire field as well – there were plenty of two wide battles for position. 

By lap 20 – Ken Sargent had made his way to the top 5. Fontaine would pressure Bleich in the closing laps with Sargent eventually into the top 3. As the event neared completion – both Fontaine and Sargent would put quite the challenge to Bleich as the three drivers ran almost a whole lap three wide. 

At the checkered flag – Sargent would rebound from his earlier misfortune to edge out Bleich at the checkered flag with Fontaine settling for third. Ron Loggie had an impressive run to finish 4th as did Dolf McCready who made a late race charge to round out the top 5. 

Sargent was also joined in Victory Lane by Melissa Willms of the Aaron’s Lucky Dog Kid’s Club. Willms picked Sargent’s starting position earlier in the night and was rewarded with a giant stuffed Aaron’s Lucky Dog.  

The start of the 25 lap Championship Tour Event for the J&S Heating and Air Conditioning Modified Lites Saw Kory Howe as the initial leader after taking Ethan McNulty’s green flag. By lap 5 the St. Catharines driver had opened up a lead of some 5 car lengths on the field. Just after the joesaver.com lap counter clicked off another lap – caution would slow the pace for the first time. 

With Dan Kviring as the new leader on the restart – defending race winner Paul Klager was on the move and into third spot. As quick as he was moving forward however – something broke on his #1 and he began to fall off the pace and retired to the pit area. 

Kviring led the field back to the green flag before another caution slowed the pace on lap 7. Josh Sliter was the new leader on the restart and immediately drove away to a comfortable lead. 

The race to watch at this point was for the runner up spot with Kviring trying to hold off Randy Hollingshead and Rick Brubacher. 

Another caution found Sliter in control once again with Hollingshead into the runner up spot on lap 14. With 10 to go Sliter and Hollingshead began to pull away from the field with Hollingshead the new leader along the backstretch of lap 16. 

Hollingshead pulled away to a couple car lead until a lap 20 caution slowed the event. In the 5 lap dash to the checkered flag – Hollingshead pulled away to a 5 car lead for this first win in the new division. 

Josh Sliter had to settle for second with Kory Howe a strong third. Dan Kviring and Ryan Grady also had their best finishes in rounding out the top 5. 

For complete results for the L. St. Amand Enterprises Bob St. Amand Senior Memorial – visit  http://speednetdirect.com/results.php?track_id=8430

INSIDE TRACK MOTORSPORT NEWS PIT NOTES 

Early in the night one driver received a special award from Guy Colbey’s Colbey Custom Fabricating. 

“Instead of cash … I wanted to help one of the lower budget teams with a new Hoosier Tire … someone who is does a lot with what he has and is respected by his peers,” informed Guy Colbey in explaining his donation, “after seeing some of the qualifying … talking with Bob Jr., … the Tim Jones #15 is my choice.” 

Colbey’s St. Catharines Company was a main sponsor of former Merrittville Driver Lloyd Holt who also raced as #15. Holt stole 1973’s Civic Holiday 100 – besting Jack Johnson, Jackie Wilson and Dave Kneisel who rounded out the top 4. 

In last year’s event – Jordan Curran flipped his Modified Lite early in the feature event. This year his car sported a “Happy Birthday to Me!” sign. 

UPCOMING AT MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY 

CMH Leasing Help a Child Smile Night at Merrittville – Saturday August 7th – features all 5 Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Divisions plus Meridian Credit Union Aaron’s Lucky Dog Kid’s Club Box Car Races. 

Gates open at 5:30. Show time is 7 PM. 

Event Information can also be found by visiting www.merrittvillespeedway.com. 

For further information on the 59th Season – race fans and race teams alike can follow Merrittville on Face Book and Twitter. 

Crazy Offer! 

Race fans – check your 2010 Ticket Stubs for a Crazy Offer from Little Caesars Pizza – located at 572 Niagara Street in Welland. With the purchase of a HOT-N-READY Pizza and Crazy Bread – receive a Free Crazy Bread!

Sounds Good!

Enjoy all the play by play from the Merrittville Announce Team of Clint Geoffrey, Mikey Kruchka and Fran Buschardt and special guests all season long on our new state of the art Yorkville NX Series Loudspeakers. Race fans and teams can also tune into 89.9 FM to listen to live feeds from our FM Transmitter.

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

Make your plans … call your friends and maybe even get a carpool together and enjoy a staycation at the speedway with plenty of free parking and camping spots – a night at the races is so much fun and so close to home! 

Your Local Dirt Track is where it’s at!!! Merrittville Speedway ‘The Best Family Entertainment in Niagara.” 

MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY SPONSORS 

The 2010 Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series for Merrittville Speedway’s 5 Divisions is brought to race fans and racers by division sponsors – L. St. Amand Enterprises, Original Pizza Logs, J&S Heating and Air Conditioning, Hoosier Tire Canada and Turn 4 Collision in addition to 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 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. 

Look for Lucas Oil Products at their favorite automotive retailer or maintenance centre including Drummond Home Hardware, KC Auto Parts, RCM Racing Equipment and Tim Phillips Garage