Thorold, Ontario (August 29) – With one final point night left on the 2010 Schedule – race fans enjoyed an action-packed Ball Hockey International Night assisted by the Niagara Ice Dogs Saturday August 28th.

Brandon Easey became only the 4th Driver in the history of the Sterling Silver Trophy to win it more than once after winning the 25 lap Original Pizza Logs Sportsman Feature.

Fred Carleton took home his first L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modified Feature and Graham MacKay won his 4th Hoosier Stock Feature. With his own car having issues, Josh Sliter drove his dad’s to victory in the 20 lap J&S Heating and Air Conditioning Modified Lite Main Event while for the second straight week – Rocco Conte drove former champion Matt Deschamp’s car to another win in the Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Feature.

“I really love this class,” prided retired Sportsman Driver and originator of the Sterling Silver Award – Ken Walsh, “it’s something that I’ve done for 21 seasons now … it’s a shame that Bill Sr never got to see its start.”

The annual award honours the memory of one of the area’s racing pioneers – Bill Willard Senior. In addition to his family – Bill Sr. was instrumental in helping so many get their starts in racing – Walsh included. So much so that Walsh created the yearly honour.

The early stages of the Original Pizza Logs Sportsman Feature saw Robbie Rounce and Gary Lindberg lead the field to the green flag and after an early caution – it was Rounce out front once again.

Jamie Gilbert was quick to challenge Rounce and took control on lap 7 before another incident slowed the field the next lap. With Gilbert setting the pace – Jim Johnstone and Rob Knapp joined the leader in as the three broke away from the pack.

Knapp would take control of the runner-up spot on lap 15 and began to challenge the leader. Through developing lap traffic the battle for top spot became sometimes 4 wide – mixing the leaders and slower cars. Brandon Easey soon ended up in second spot and set his sights on the leader. Knapp would join in creating a three wide race allowing Johnstone to close back in as well.

One lap after Easey took control of the lead on lap 21 and seemed to pull away when caution would slow the field.

Easey set the pace on the restart and in the 3 lap dash to the checkers – opened up a lead of some 5 car lengths on Rob Knapp and Jim Johnstone. Easey’s win put him into a tie with Greg Panunte for the overall points lead with Panunte taking 4th in Rick Bellante’s car. Jamie Gilbert held on to finish fifth.

About halfway through the 35 lap L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modified Feature, Fred Carleton was able to close in on early leader Rob Pietz who up until then had opened up a comfortable lead. Pietz took the lead from rookie Shawn Sliter after the two had ran a number of laps side by side in a see saw battle for top spot.

As Carleton came into striking distance of Pietz – a caution slowed the pace after initial race leader Derek Wutzke slowed along the front-stretch. Wutzke took control at the initial green with Steve Schumacher taking over before Sliter.

After a false start after the Wutzke incident – Pietz was back out front with Carleton the new leader out of turn 4 to complete lap 26.

Chad Brachmann was on the move in the latter stages and had just taken over second spot when caution would slow the field one last time. Carleton resumed control on the restart and was never really challenged to the checkered flag.

The race to watch was for second with Brachmann and Tom Flannigan battling it out. Brachmann would hold off Flannigan with Pietz settling for fourth. Todd Gordon closed out the top 5.

Vince Fargnoli was first to lead the 20 lap Hoosier Stock Feature – setting the pace until a lap 8 incident involving a number of cars slowed the event. While under yellow – Ken Sargent came to a stop at the accident scene with a fire under the hood of his car of which officials were able to put out. The race eventually went under a red flag as the cars of Billy Bleich and Barry Blanchard were hooked together. Before the event was stopped however – the leader Fargnoli headed to the pits.

Graham MacKay became the new leader on the restart and in the last half of the race – one driver on the move was Ken Sargent. Sargent rallied back after the flare up to get back to the top 3 and with 3 laps to go – took over the runner-up spot.

At the checkered flag it was MacKay in Victory Lane for the fourth time of the season but post race he was disqualified after failing post race inspection and received no points or money.

Sargent was second with Peter Reid third. Ron Loggie and Kevin Aube rounded out the top 5.

Former Champion Scott Billing set the pace at the start of the 20 lap J&S Heating and Air Conditioning Modified Lite Feature but one driver in the early laps seemed to be in his own race.

Paul Klager rocketed by a number of cars in the first few laps quickly advancing at least 6 spots and landing in third. By lap 5 he took over the lead but was slowed by caution on the next lap.

A couple back to back cautions and a false start still found Klager in control but he was now facing a challenge from Josh Sliter. Quite a battle for top spot ensued with the two swapping P1 a couple times and still managing to pull away from the field.

Sliter took the lead for good on lap 13 with the two jetted off to a lead of almost a straightaway until a lap 17 caution set up a 3 lap dash. Klager mounted one last challenge out of Turn 4 the final time but at the checkers was a car length behind Sliter.

Former Champion Dave Russell, Jason Corless and Kory Howe rounded out the top 5.

Brandon Boychuck was first to lead the 15 lap Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Feature with Terry Larmet taking control the first time down the backstretch. Larmet was soon joined by Rocco Conte and Garnet Wilson in a three way battle for the lead.

Around the half-way point it was Rocco Conte out front with Austin Wood in the runner-up spot. Eventually Wilson would take over second and with 5 laps to go Rob Overholt was now in third.

With Conte checking out on the field – the race was on for second with 5 cars so close you could cover them with a blanket.

With Conte the first to see the checkered flag – Wilson just edged out Rob Goulding for second. Austin Wood and Rob Overholt rounded out the top 5.

For complete results from Ball Hockey International Night at the Races assisted by the Niagara IceDogs visit  speednet

UPCOMING AT MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY

Brian’s Tire Repair presents the Championship Chase Finale Saturday September 4th featuring the 50 lap John Spencer Memorial for the L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modifieds. Several of the Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Points will go right down to the wire!

The fan favorite Meridian Credit Union Family Autograph Night will see all the race teams out onto the front stretch for the popular meet and greet with your favorite drivers.

Gates open at 5:30 and Show time is 7:00!

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

Join us this season on a Saturday Night for a LUCAS OIL WEEKLY RACING SERIES EVENT featuring FIVE Divisions featuring local heroes and up and coming new stars and special events leading up to the International Championship Triple Header Weekend that will close the 59th consecutive season – September 10th to 12th.

J&S Heating and Air Conditioning will present the two day event for the Modified Lites and Classic Dwarf Cars with special events including the Sportsman Super DIRTcar Series, the Southern Ontario Sprints, the Duel on the Dirt Big 6 Series and a 4 Cylinder Cars versus 4 Cylinder Trucks Challenge.

Sunday’s Merrittville Motorized Mayhem features the 100 lap Grantham Lions Ironman Enduro Series Finale accelerated by Niagara College.

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!

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