Thorold, Ontario (June 20) – Lococo Wholesale Night at Merrittville Speedway Saturday June 19th delivered an action packed night of Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series racing action with Scott Wood and Tyler McPherson running to their first feature wins of 2010 in the rain delayed L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modified and regularly scheduled King of the Crates Sportsman Series Features. 

In the 358 Modified Feature finale – Pete Bicknell took the night cap with Rob Goulding and Ken Sargent also visiting Victory Lane in the Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder and Hoosier Stock Divisions respectively. 

“It was like a 35 lap heat race,” compared second generation driver Scott Wood in Victory Lane under the bright light of daylight. 

Delayed from June 12th by rain – the 35 lap SMS Machine Tools Feature saw Wood take control of top along the backstretch after a lap 4 restart that saw rookie Shayne Pierce regain his early lead briefly over the veteran driver. 

The initial start saw Shawn Sliter lose control of his car along the backstretch and miraculously – noone made contact with the off speed car. When the event did start – it was Ken Winnfield out front before Pierce took control 

Once out front Wood ran away to a comfortable lead with Pierce settling in to the runner-up spot. Soon Pierce would face a challenge from Pete Bicknell with the multi-time track champion taking over second on lap 10. 

Pierce who was running consistent laps in the lead pack would now find Fred Carleton applying the pressure. Carleton – another second generation driver would move into the top 3 on lap 13. Ahead of him – Bicknell was closing in on Wood as the race neared the half-way point. 

With 10 laps to go it was still Wood out front as the Thorold driver led the field into lap traffic. Wood and Bicknell despite weaving in and out of the slower cars enjoyed a good lead over Carleton before the field was slowed once more on lap 28. 

Bicknell driving hard into turn 1 got a little high just past the joesaver.com lap counter and save it he did but not before the yellow flag forcing him to the rear of the field on the restart. 

Wood now alone out front had put a number of slower cars between his Joe Fioravanti-owned #38 and now runner-up Fred Carleton and through to the finish – drove away to almost a straightaway lead at the finish. 

“Happy Father’s Day … Dad!” expressed Wood post race, “and to all the Dads here tonight!” 

Wood and Carleton were followed by Tim Jones who ran to his best showing of the season in taking third spot. Shayne Pierce held on to fourth spot with Todd Gordon 5th. 

To set the start order for the second 35 lap L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modified Feature – Wood would draw 14 – meaning the top 14 would be inverted. 

The driver to start on the pole in the second event – Pete Bicknell. 

With Bicknell out front - one driver on the move in the night cap was Boyd MacTavish – taking the runner-up spot by lap 5. 5 laps later caution would slow the event with Bicknell out front once again. 

MacTavish would take control of top spot on lap 12 – off to his best run of the season in the Andrew Sittler-owned 37. Caution would soon slow MacTavish’s pace with the second generation driver out front again on the restart – but not clearly until the backstretch. 

Unfortunately another caution on lap 16 would slow the field after the leader MacTavish slowed with a flat right rear tire. Bicknell set the pace on the restart with Mike Bowman now in the runner-up spot. 

Bowman briefly had the lead with Bicknell returning to top spot and through a number of restarts in the closing laps – attempts by Bowman to overtake Bicknell would find the leader shutting the door each time. 

One final caution on lap 34 set up a one lap dash to the checkered after Rob Pietz dropped out of 5th spot with problems. 

Bicknell and Bowman were followed by Travis Braun who had his best finish of the season on the eve of this first Father’s Day. Chad Brachmann and Rick Richner would close out the top 5. 

Niagara Motors’ Al Martin would drop the green flag at the start of the 40 lap King of the Crates Sportsman Feature with Tyler McPherson the first to lead. 

“It’s hard to get into a groove when you’re not out here every week,” shared Tyler McPherson post race of his 2010 season that has seen the second generation driver running a limited schedule. 

McPherson definitely was in a groove however as except for a brief moment when Ken Cosgrove took over top spot – McPherson would lead the entire event with a number of cautions slowing the event. 

“It’s great to just show up and race,” thanked former 358 Modified driver Ken Cosgrove, “Rob Knapp and his crew get this thing ready for me … I appreciate it that they let me do this.” 

Cosgrove applied steady pressure on McPherson with Greg Panunte joining the two in a breakaway pack about the time the event reached it’s regular 25 lap distance. 

With 10 laps to go the top 3 would come up on slower cars but there would be nothing slowing McPherson down at the checkered flag. Cosgrove and Panunte who won the King of the Crates Opener earlier this season were followed by Rick Bellante and Cody McPherson – younger brother to the feature winner. 

Before the Hoosier Stock Feature took the green flag – Jason Fontaine’s car would not fire on the on ramp. When the 20 lap event did start – it was Ed Fargnoli out front with a caution before one lap was complete slowing the pace for debris.  

The debris was a body panel off the leader’s car but it would not slow Fargnoli. 

With Fargnoli out front on the restart – Ken Sargent was on the move and into second before caution on lap 6. Fargnoli resumed control before Dolf McCready came out of nowhere to take the lead along the backstretch. 

Two cautions would slow McCready with the second on lap 13 finding Sargent now in control. As the laps wound down – Sargent was able to stretch his lead over McCready with rookie Kevin Aube taking third. Graham MacKay made up a lot of ground after pitting during the event to battle back to 4th with Billy Bleich fifth, 

“I tried a little something different tonight,” informed Ken Sargent, “… we’ve been struggling a little bit lately but I like what we did.”  

“Second is good for points and all,” reflected Dolf McCready, “my car just went away at the end.”

“I’m still learning the new car,” admitted perennial Humberstone 4 Cylinder Truck Champion Kevin Aube – a Hoosier Stock rookie who has had some top finishes to date, “I’m just trying to do the best I can do.” 

Sophomore second generation driver Sam Rodgers was first to lead the Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Feature with Jason Coutu and Garnet Wilson applying some pressure right away. Rodgers opened up a couple car length lead on the field with the battle for second finding Terry Larmet making it three wide. 

Eventually Larmet made an early race charge to take over top spot into turn 1 of lap 3. Two laps later in almost the same spot – another lead change took place – this time it was Rocco Conte setting the pace. 

After taking the lead on lap 8 Rob Goulding was able to pull away to a lead of a couple car lengths but with the 5 to go signal – Conte was back on the challenge. 

With a couple laps left Goulding and Conte were almost side by side before a late race caution eased the battle for top spot. In the green white checker run to the finish – it was Goulding holding on to top spot with Conte settling for second. Aaron Wiley ran to third with Larmet and Coutu closing out the top 5. 

“I made some good moves (behind Rocco) and stayed clean,” shared Rob Goulding, “the track was nice and tacky … the way VWs like it.” 

On their first time as event sponsors – Semenuk’s Esso Night at the DIRTcar sanctioned facility did find three drivers in Victory Lane for the first time in 2010. 

For complete results from Lococo Wholesale 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 

In preparation for their double features June 26th, the J&S Heating and Air Conditioning Modified Lites were on the road with stops at Edelweiss Friday Night and Brockville Speedway Saturday Night. 

Paul Klager won both events with Josh Sliter, Jason Corless Rick Brubacher and Adam Murphy as the top 5 in the opener with Murphy, Ray Sliter, Sylvain Erickson and Scott Billing following Klager in the Saturday Night event. 

UPCOMING AT MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY 

K&K Insurance Canada presents a Summer Blast Off - Saturday June 26th featuring the Double J&S Heating Modified Lite Features as part of the Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Line Up. 

When the gates open at 5:30 – the Tuesday Night Merrittville Speedway Kart Club will have a display and all Students with valid Student Cards are eligible for a $2 discount. Showtime 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