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Thorold, Ontario (July 11)
–After a scorcher of a week – a little drop in the temperature made
for an exciting night of Lucas Oil Weekly Series Racing at
Merrittville Speedway July 10th.
Modern Corporation’s Annual Truck Show
‘n Shine found Paul Wichert and Tom Flannigan winning their first
features of 2010 in the Hoosier Stock and L. St. Amand Enterprises
358 Modified Divisions respectively.
In the J&S Heating and Air
Conditioning Modified Lites – Josh Sliter took his win streak to
four straight.
Aaron Wiley and Brandon Easey both
would win their second features of the season in the Turn 4
Collision 4 Cylinder and Original Pizza Logs Sportsman Divisions.
After taking the lead out of Turn 4
to complete lap 6, Paul Wichert seemed to be battling an ill
handling race car – yet ‘Big Truck Guy’ as he is known quickly ran
away to a comfortable lead until a lap 11 caution slowed the field.
Wichert became the new leader after
overtaking Ed McNamara who had taken top away from fellow front row
starter Nick Calaguiro along the backstretch of lap 1.
With Wichert holding on to top spot
action back in the pack found cars racing three and four wide. Mid
race – the battle for the runner-up spot found Devin Habiuk able to
hold off Barry Blanchard. Behind them the battle to fill out the top
5 had another three wide challenge develop. Completing lap 18
several cars would make contact slowing Wichert’s pace but he was
able to pick it up on the return to action – pulling away to a 5 car
lead as the event wound down. Blanchard would close to within a car
length at the finish but that’s as close as he could get.
“Really been struggling so far,”
admitted Wichert, “both the car … and the driver after a 2 year
layoff – recently I have made a lot of headway though … went to a
softer tire and it makes it a little dicey at times.”
It was the second time in less than
a week in Merrittville’s Victory Lane as Wichert helped Tyler
Wichert win his first Kart Feature just this past Tuesday Night at
the infield oval.
Brent Begolo made a late race charge
to take third with Habiuk holding on for fourth with former champion
Mike Dooley taking fifth.
Six laps into the 35 lap L. St.
Amand Enterprises 358 Modified Feature – Tom Flannigan became the
new leader – overtaking Scott Wood who had led from the drop of the
green flag thrown by Australian V8 Modified driver David Clark.
Two cautions in the first half of
the race would still find Flannigan out front with Wood staying
fright with the leader. After the second on lap 15 Flannigan would
pull away to his biggest lead as the half way point came and went.
One final caution some ten laps
later saw Flannigan maintain top spot in the run to the checkered
flag. Both Flannigan and Wood were running right around the extreme
top of the track with Flannigan able to run away to another good
lead on by the checkered flag.
“A good starting spot helps,”
commented Tom Flannigan, “it was my plan from the start of the night
– I’m definitely more comfortable around the top … we needed this
one – this will definitely pick it up for the crew.”
Lap 30 was almost disaster for Wood
after jumping the cushion. Wood wouldn’t lose second but could not
reel in Flannigan. Todd Gordon, Fred Carleton and Pete Bicknell
rounded out the top 5.
After starting deep in the field it
would take Josh Sliter just 7 laps to race into the runner-up spot
of the J&S Heating and Air Conditioning Modified Lite Feature. A lap
8 Caution would find the Port Colborne driver leading the field into
turn 1 on the restart – out racing Paul Klager.
“There was lots of bite around the
bottom,” revealed Sliter post race, “I was able to pull the same
pass for the lead last week … the wins are something else – I’m on a
mission now to equal what (former champions) Jamie (Gilbert) and
Uncle Shawn (Sliter) have accomplished.”
Klager became the new leader after a
lap 5 restart from early leader Howard Grady who had taken top spot
from Scott Billing after a lap 3 restart.
Lap 11 saw three separate incidents
in three different turns slow Sliter and the field. On the restart,
Chris Steele was now pressuring Klager for the runner-up spot but
eventually Steele would fall off the pace after suspension issues
would develop.
Two late race cautions would set up
a green-checker restart with Sliter holding a car length advantage
over Klager in the one lap dash.
Rookie Derek Moore has another
impressive run to take third while Steele held on for fourth. Kory
Howe followed up his runner-up finish last week to close out the top
5.
With Greg Wilson running away to a
comfortable lead at the start of the Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder
Feature his dad Garnet had a pretty vantage point as the runner-up
in the early stages.
What the Wilsons couldn’t see
developing behind them was quite a battle for the third spot between
Rob Overholt, Kyle Pelrine and Aaron Wiley. Overholt would lead the
charge trying to reel in the leaders.
Overholt would charge into the lead
along the backstretch of lap 10 while two laps later – Wiley would
take over the runner-up spot with Rob Goulding also joining the fray
at the front.
Contact however between the
Gouldings - Rob and his cousin Trevor would find Rob losing momentum
in the closing laps. The latter portion of the event found the
leaders in lap traffic with Overholt leading Wiley into turn 4 for
the final time.
On the exit however contact between
the leader Overholt and Sam Rodgers opened the door for Wiley. At
the start-finish line Wiley surged to a car length advantage ahead
of Overholt.
“I saw his (Rodger’s) line into Turn
1 the final time … I made up my mind to run high out of Turn 4,”
confessed Wiley, “I wouldn’t be here at all if not for dad … so this
one’s for you!”
Trevor Goulding was third with Rocco
Conte and initial leader Greg Wilson as the top 5.
Once Brandon Easey got out front in
the 25 lap Original Pizza Logs Sportsman Feature – the only thing
slowing the St. Catharines driver was a caution. A late race
incident on lap 20 eliminated quite a lead over challengers Adam
Leslie and Cody McPherson.
Once on lap 16 McPherson was able to
get by Leslie for the runner-up spot with Leslie battling back.
Again on lap 22 McPherson would get by Leslie. By the checkered flag
Leslie was determined to regain the position but had to settle for
third behind Easey and McPherson.
Leslie had originally taken over top
spot from Rich Farraway at the start – unable to hold off Easey who
became the new leader out of turn 4 completing lap 10.
On a restart about half-way with
Easey out front – Leslie was quickly challenged by Ryan Susice and
Rob Knapp with the rookie Leslie holding off the veterans.
With Easey, McPherson and Leslie as
the top 3 at the finish – Brad Rouse and Ryan Susice closed out the
top 5.
“We’ve been struggling lately … I’ve
been talking quite a bit with (BRP’s) Randy Williamson and Bob Slack
on what to do and here we are,” said Easey, “thanks to them … Dad
and Khamber as well.”
For complete results from Modern
Corporation Night at the Races visit http://www.speednetdirect.com/results.php?track_id=8430http://www.speednetdirect.com/results.php
http://www.speednetdirect.com/results.php
Inside Track Motorsport News Pit
Notes
Modern Corporation’s ET Paradis
split the prizes for the Truck Show ‘n Shine with runner-up entry
from Dave Speck Trucking after the company’s own new Service Truck
was voted Best of Show by a vote by the fans.
Modern Corporation and Merrittville
Speedway would like to thank all of the entries that participated in
the 8th Annual Event.
Dawn Eggleton – wife of former
racer/car owner Larry Eggleton took home slightly more than $1200 in
the Thorold ASI Group Blackhawks 50-50 Draw.
UPCOMING AT MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY
Lucas Oil presents Nostalgia Night
2010 Saturday July 17th celebrating 59 Years of Memories featuring
the Jerry Winger Memorial 50 Lap 358 Modified Main Event plus 20 lap
Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Triple Crown Event #2, Hoosier Stocks,
the J&S Heating & Air Conditioning Modified Lites & Vintage Cars!
Also the newest inductees into the
L. St. Amand Enterprises Wall of Fame will be revealed.
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 including the inaugural Bob St. Amand Memorial
proudly presented by L, St, Amand Enterprises Monday August 2nd. The
100 lap Big Block Modified Super DIRTcar Series Event will be joined
by another round of the Duel on the Dirt Big 6 Series and the
Modified Lites Championship Tour.
A Kids Bike Giveaway will also take
place in addition to the famous pre-race Pasta Dinner hosted by Club
Castropignano.
For Pasta Dinner Ticket Information
– call the Speedway Office at 905-892-8266
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
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