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Thorold, Ontario (July 3) –The first
night of summer at Merrittville Speedway (July 3rd) saw a great
crowd celebrate Canada Day in the Boltworks Night at the Races
Saturday July 3rd - enjoying an action-packed 6 division Lucas Oil
Weekly Racing Series Event.
And like many of the race
fans waiting in line for their $1 Piller’s Hot Dogs – sometimes
things come in threes.
One week after winning his
first two career Modified Lite Features at the Thorold d-shaped oval
– Josh Sliter made it three in a row after winning his J&S Heating
and Air Conditioning Main Event.
Chad Chevalier won his
first ever L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modified Feature while
another of the Rookie Class of 2010 – Rob Murray ran away to his 2nd
career Original Pizza Logs Sportsman Feature.
Dolf McCready, Rocco Conte and Terry
McNeill also came home winners of the Hoosier Stock, Turn 4
Collision 4 Cylinder and the Grantham Lions Enduro Qualifier
accelerated by Niagara College.
“After last week,”
informed Josh Sliter, “the crew wanted to change the whole car … I
just wanted to leave it alone – it’s the same set up as last week.”
Other than maintenance –
Sliter may not want to change a thing on his car as the Port
Colborne driver took his third win of the season.
Sliter would take control about the
half-way point after wrestling top spot away from Paul Klager. Once
Sliter was out front – a possible late race challenge from rookie
Randy Hollingshead and Klager never materialized after Klager spun
his car in turn 4 after hitting some water and collecting
Hollingshead in the process.
Klager inherited the lead just before a
lap 8 caution was needed for early leader Chris Steele whose car
fell of the pace with problems. Prior to that Steele had made one of
his thrilling drives to the front – taking top spot from Blair Young
as he crossed the start finish line to start lap 3. Former Champion
Wally Billing was the initial leader of the event.
With a green white checker
run to the checkered flag it was Sliter well out in front of what
appeared to be another top finish from rookie Derek Moore.
Unfortunately earlier in the event Moore had spun out and lost a lap
to the field but was able to run with the leaders.
“This is the best night of
the year,” admitted a somewhat relieved Kory Howe with his best
finish of the season in the runner up spot, “after blowing the motor
and the flip … to have a great run on Boltworks Night … it doesn’t
get any better.”
Regardless of where he
finished, Howe knew that he would be on the front stretch after the
event. In conjunction with his long-time sponsor Boltworks – the St.
Catharines driver gave away two custom bikes to two lucky younger
race fans.
Jordan Curran also had his
best finish in taking third spot as did another rookie Dan Kviring
who was fourth. Billing as well held on for his best in rounding out
the top 5.
“Tonight … I had a game
plan,” revealed first time L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modified
Feature Winner Chad Chevalier, “I knew I was going to run the top …
and I stuck to it throughout.”
Chevalier – the former
multi-time Sportsman Champion took the lead at the start of the 35
lap Feature – driving away from fellow rookie and front row starter
Steve Schumacher at the drop of the green.
A multicar incident on lap
13 slowed the field with a second on lap 15 still finding Chevalier
in control despite a challenge from fellow Port Colborne resident
Adam Ferri who actually had the lead for a brief time.
Despite two more cautions
taking the race to the 10 laps to go point – Chevalier never
faltered – pulling away to a good lead over Pete Bicknell who was
able to get by Ferri as the event wound down.
In the closing laps slower
cars allowed Bicknell to close in on the leader but the multi-time
track champion ran out of time to get within striking distance.
“Chad was so good through
the turns,” observed Bicknell, “I just couldn’t find the same line …
congrats to him.”
Adam Ferri was third with
Chad Brachmann and Mat Williamson closing out the top 5.
The start of the 25 lap
Original Pizza Logs Sportsman Feature saw rookies Rich Farraway and
Ron Kingsbury at the controls of the event before veteran Rob Knapp
took control on lap 3.
With a number of cautions
slowing Knapp’s momentum in the early stages it didn’t seem like the
half way point would come. The first part of the event was all Rob
Knapp but slowly both Rob Murray and Nick Cupolo had advanced to the
front of the pack.
About the halfway point,
Murray was able to overtake Knapp for the lead and by lap 15 Cupolo
was now in the runner up spot. Murray – the three time Hoosier Stock
Champion was off to a lead of some 5 car lengths with Cupolo holding
a little more comfortable advantage now over Knapp.
As the race wound down –
increasing lap traffic allowed Cupolo to close in on Murray but
there was no holding back the St. Catharines driver.
Like Chevalier, Murray
would share the same plan, “I thought that the top would come in …
so I just stayed there,” revealed two time winner Rob Murray,
“lately we’ve been struggling … I’ve had so much help from a whole
lot of people … thanks to everyone.”
Cupolo would have to settle for second
with B.J. Willard, Greg Panunte and Brad Rouse as the top 5.
Peter Reid was first to
lead the Hoosier Stock Feature with Mike Dooley quick to challenge.
Dooley would soon get out of shape though on the back stretch
without losing much ground. After a lap 2 caution Reid would face
challenges from Dooley and Kevin Knapp – the three - almost three
wide. Reid would set the pace through two restarts with Knapp
holding a brief lead.
Quickly Dolf McCready and
Ken Sargent would join the fray. Along the backstretch of lap 7 the
front runners were 4 wide with Reid keeping his lead before yet
another caution delayed quite a race.
Kevin Knapp would soon
challenge Reid with Knapp taking control on lap 10. Another caution
found Knapp in top spot on the restart with Sargent, Reid and
McCready three wide for the runner up spot. Sargent would fall off
the pace with McCready now in the runner up spot.
Coming out of Turn 4 to
complete lap 16 McCready would get out of shape allowing Knapp to
close in with another caution again slowing the field.
McCready would keep top spot on the
restart and in the closing laps – would drive to a 5 car length lead
for his 4th win of the 2010 Season. Knapp would hold on to the
runner-up spot with Jason Fontaine third. Reid held on for fourth
with Kevin Aube rebounding from an early race incident to salvage
fifth.
The start of the Turn 4
Collision 4 Cylinder Feature saw the front-runners three wide and
when the pack got to the start finish line – it was Kyle Pelrine and
Austin Wood as the top two. Eventually the second generation driver
would take over top spot. Unfortunately though after pulling out of
line on the original start – Wood would be put back two spots on the
first caution or at the end of the event whichever came first.
The first caution would
come on lap 7 with Rocco Conte the new leader on the restart with
another second generation driver Damian Gore quick to challenge
before another caution slowed the field.
Gore was the new leader
when racing resumed. Gore was slowed on lap 11 for another race
slowing incident – regaining top spot on the restart.
Another late race caution
set up a green white checker finish and in the run to the finish –
Conte regained top spot with Gore settling for second.
Rob Goulding took third
spot with Rob Overholt and Aaron Wiley as the top 5.
The second Grantham Lions
Club Ironman 25 lap Enduro Qualifier accelerated by Niagara College
closed the action packed night and it wasn’t until late in the event
that Terry McNeil found the accelerator.
Fred Koorneef was first to
lead the almost no holds barred event before Martin Paddock took
control early. Contact between the two found Ken McLeod out front
before Ryan Ferri was next to set the pace. Two red flags on each
side of the half way point would stop the field with Joe Cvetovic
taking control after the first restart.
A third red flag situation
on lap 21 would put the leaders right together for the run to the
finish and it was in the last 4 laps that McNeil would take the
lead. Cvetovic would settle for 2nd with Ferri third. Tim Farrell
and Mike VanMaaren rounded out the top 5.
For complete results from
Boltworks Night at the Races visit
http://www.speednetdirect.com/rss/rss_file.php?track_id=8430.
(When visiting link, you may need to change the date to July 3rd to
see 4 Cylinder, Mod Lites, Sportsman and Modified results)
Inside Track Motorsport
News Pit Notes
A great crowd saw the
Thorold ASI Group Blackhawks 406 Auto Parts 50-50 winner take home a
prize just short of $1500.
The Night concluded with
quite a Fireworks Display presented by Firemaster Productions in
celebration of both Canada Day and the US 4th of July!
Merrittville Speedway would once again
like to thank Paul Stewart and the Piller’s Grillers Team for all
their efforts and help with another record $1 Hot Dog Night.
UPCOMING AT MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY
Modern Corporation
presents the 8th Annual Truck Show ‘n Shine - Saturday July 10th in
addition to a 5 Division Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Event.
Truckers – show your license for a $2 Discount on Grandstand
Admission.
Owner
Operators wishing to show their vehicles – contact the Speedway
Office at 905-892-8266.
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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