Thorold, Ontario (August 8) – Ron Loggie, Kory Howe and Tim Jones all put their first 2010 feature wins into the record books at Merrittville Speedway in the CMH Sales & Leasing Night August 7th.

Loggie and Howe both ran to their initial career victories at the Thorold facility.

In other Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series action – Aaron Wiley and Cody McPherson won their respective events in the Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder and Original Pizza Logs Sportsman Divisions.

Prior to the main events – the Aaron’s Lucky Dog Kids Club and others took to the track for their Meridian Credit Union Box Car Races.

In the youngest age group – the Mini Stock Division – Christopher Magrin – nephew of Ohsweken Speedway Thunder Stock Driver Kyle Magrin won the race in a beautifully crafted rendition of Mater the Cars Tow Truck.

Ethan Kelly won the Modified Lite Event while Tuesday Night Kart Racer Kourtney Kocarik won the Modified Division in a rendition of her brother Kameron’s 4 Cylinder Truck.

Scarlet Gaboury – daughter of Sportsman racer Paul Gaboury was voted as ‘Best of Show’ over all entries.

Meridian Credit Union’s Lori Sliter presented all the winners with their winner’s trophies.

Later in the evening that would include Hoosier Stock Feature Winner Ron Loggie as well.

Loggie took the lead early in the 20 lap event from Ron MacAulay after an early incident slowed the field. Right away Loggie was slowed as well after Ken Sargent and Brent Begolo became hooked together on lap 4.

With Loggie out front once again – the third year driver was trailed by Peter Reid. With cars 4 wide for position through the field the two front-runners were able to pull away slightly.

Al Sleight would fall off the pace pulling into the infield on lap 11 without a caution allowing Loggie to pull away from Reid with 5 laps to go. In the closing laps the battle for third spot was the one to watch with veteran Paul Wichert challenging rookie Kevin Aube for the show spot.

With two laps to go – one final caution slowed the field after Graham MacKay scraped the front-stretch wall.

Loggie set the pace on the restart with Reid still in the hunt. At the checkered flag – Loggie was the first across the line – a car length ahead of Reid.

“I was starting to think I would never get here,” revealed Loggie – a Meridian Credit Union Corporate Office Employee, “this unbelievable … thanks to MCU for all they do … my newest sponsor Dumont Security and my dad!”

Loggie - who has had a number of promising runs go away this year until now and Reid were followed by Wichert, Aube and former champion Mike Dooley.  

Mark Brighton set the pace at the start of the J&S Heating and Air Conditioning Modified Lite feature eventually being challenged by 7th starter Kory Howe who was quick to make his way to the front.

Out of turn 4 to start lap 6 Howe was the new leader and by the half-way point – the former Tuesday Night Karter had opened up almost a ¼ lap lead on the field.

By lap 14 – another former karter now Tuesday Night Race Director – Paul Klager was into the runner-up spot. With the event still caution free – Klager had quite an uphill battle as How had stretched his lead to that point. Klager did close in somewhat but there was no denying Howe of his first career win in his 13 years racing – between Karts and Modified Lites.

“”My first ever win … this is just amazing – thanks to mom and dad and my sponsors,” remarked a somewhat overwhelmed Kory Howe, “we’ve been working and working on the car getting it better each week.”

Howe and Klager were followed by Josh Sliter, Brighton and Ray Sliter, Jr.

Any early caution on lap 2 slowed a battle between veterans Ken Winnfield and Rob Pietz at the start of the L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modified Feature with Pietz in control on the restart.

With cars 4 wide back in the pack – the battle for top spot quickly developed into a 4 car battle with Pietz challenged by Rick Richner, Bill Bleich and eventually Tim Jones.

Along the backstretch of lap 8 Bill Bleich took control of top spot and almost at the same spot the next lap – Tim Jones was now in the runner up spot. Fred Carleton broke into the top 3 on lap 14 but by lap 20 – Pete Bicknell took over the spot.

With increasing lap traffic as the race wound down the leaders weaved their way through with Jones the new leader into turn 3 of lap 26. Jones would eventually clear the slower cars – opening up a 5 car lead.

Heading into the same turn 3 where he took the lead on lap 34 – Jones’ first taste of victory in 2010 went to the back burner with caution setting up a one lap dash.

“Definitely not something I wanted to see,” said Jones who last won exactly 2 years and 2 months ago, “and then to see (Pete) Bicknell’s 42 on the lap counter … it really got me nervous.”

Jones was never challenged in the final lap for the win – his second straight after being presented the Hoosier Tire in last Monday’s Bob St. Amand Sr. Memorial, adding, “thanks again to Guy Colbey … my crew as we had a busy day to get here and everyone that helped!”

Jones and Bicknell were followed by Richner, Carleton and Scott Wood.

Two second generation drivers were on the front row at the start of the Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Feature with Damian Gore beating Sam Rodgers to the initial green flag. With Gore out to a 5 car lead – Kyle Pelrine was just as quick to take the runner-up spot.

An increasing lead went away for Gore after a multi-car incident on lap 4 slowed the field.

On the restart – the race was on for third with Rodgers being challenged by Austin Wood, Rob Goulding and Aaron Wiley. Wood would settle into 2nd approaching the half way point.

After winning his first ever heat earlier in the night, Rodgers would fall off the pace on lap 9 retiring to the pits as Wiley was now challenging Wood. Wiley would take the spot just before caution on lap 11 with Gore still out front on the restart.

With two laps to go – Wiley was able to get by Gore for top spot and with one lap to go – it was Gore off the pace.

Wiley would be followed at the finish by Goulding, Wood, Pelrine and Rocco Conte.

The start of the Original Pizza Logs Sportsman Feature saw Paul Gaboury and Jim Johnstone joined by Nick Cupolo with a three wide battle for top spot along the backstretch the first time.

Cupolo would wind up out front before an early caution slowed the field. After a second incident on lap 5 – Cupolo would again set the pace until another yellow on lap 13. Cupolo had pulled away to a good lead over Ryan Susice who enjoyed the same margin over Luke Carleton.

On the restart Susice began to challenge the leader with Carleton also pressured by Cody McPherson. McPherson would soon take third spot – setting his sights on Susice with Brandon Easey trying to take third from Carleton.

Just before lap 20 – McPherson would take over the runner-up spot and with the field into increasing lap traffic – closed in on Cupolo.

Out of turn 2 for the last time McPherson made his move – leading the field to the checkered flag with Cupolo and Easey following. Susice and Carleton would have to settle for fourth and fifth spot.

For complete results from CMH Sales and Leasing Night at the Races visit  http://www.speednetdirect.com/results.php?track_id=8430

http://www.speednetdirect.com/results.php http://www.speednetdirect.com/results.php Inside Track Motorsport News Pit Notes

L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modified Driver Todd Gordon celebrated his birthday. Long-time Tuesday Night Kart Sponsor Drummond Home Hardware were guests of 105.1 The River in the Toolneeds Tower.

UPCOMING AT MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY

Avondale Food Stores presents a Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Event - Saturday August 14th featuring the final round of the Turn 4 Collision Triple Crown Series for the 4 Cylinders plus the annual Best Appearing Dog Contest.

Gates open at 5:30 – 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!

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