Thorold, Ontario (April 30) – Z101 plays the latest and best the Top 40 has to offer. Z101 Night at Merrittville Speedway had race fans enjoying the best the Top 118 Drivers had to offer Saturday April 30th. The 2011 Championship Chase is underway at Merrittville Speedway as all 5 Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Divisions completed their first regular point nights with 118 drivers signed in to a crowded Pit Area.  

Third generation driver Brent Begolo has led all 80 laps of Hoosier Stock Feature action in 2011 after backing up his 60 lap event a week ago with his second straight win while BJ Willard regrouped from last week’s misfortune to win the 25 lap Original Pizza Logs Sportsman Feature. Chris Steele went flag to flag in winning the 20 lap J&S Heating and Air Conditioning Modified Lite Feature. Kingston’s Pat O’Brien won the Bobcat of Hamilton 358 Modified Main Event. Rob Goulding earned the first Feature win of the Night - putting his Herbie the Love Bug look-a-like Volkswagen into the winner’s circle in the Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Feature. 

“We were thinking of changing the gears after last week,” commented Brent Begolo in Hoosier Stock Victory Lane for the second straight time in the young season, “but it was so fast … we just left it – we did very little to it since last Saturday.” 

At the drop of Starter Doug Leonard’s green flag, Begolo picked up where he left off last week in leading the Hoosier Stock Feature despite facing early pressure from three time Champion Rob Murray. Begolo would pull away and Murray would catch back up several times before another former Champion Jeff Dayman would take over as challenger before an early caution slowed the field. 

On the restart, Begolo would lead the Camaro brigade as his #16 was followed by Murray, Kevin Knapp, Dayman and Dave Small all in the same make of car. 

Dayman would make a serious challenge pulling alongside Begolo with Murray also joining in. At the half point however Begolo had a car length on the pair. With 15 laps in the books, Murray now in the runner up spot once again would lose some ground as his car got a little out of shape twice through turn 4. With one lap to go front-runner Dave Small would drop from a top 5 finish with a flat tire. 

Similar to a week ago, Begolo would be first to get the checkered flag with Murray, Dayman, Knapp and defending Champion Ken Sargent rounding out the top 5. 

“When you start out front,” added Begolo, “it makes it a little easier but you have to stay focused … hit your marks and stay smooth … I wouldn’t be here though without everyone … sponsors … the crew and my Dad!” 

One week ago, fourth generation driver BJ Willard put on quite a performance – leading almost the entire Original Pizza Logs Sportsman Feature before an incident with a slower car sound him restarting at the back of the pack. With a similar run one week later – a last lap caution had to have him thinking of a similar fate. Anything can happen in a one lap dash. 

“Over the week … I probably relived it 10 times over every night,” relayed Willard post race, “but you just have to put it behind you and move forward.”

The one lap dash saw Willard jump out to a couple car length lead over his cousin Cody McPherson – holding it until the checkered flag. 

The start had to be trying for the two cousins with Willard holding the edge over McPherson as three cautions would slow the field in the first 5 laps. In the early stages, Rob Knapp and Spring Sizzler 60 Winner Brad Rouse would battle at the front of the pack. 

Once the event settled down – Willard once again put on quite a performance – opening up as much as a straightaway lead on the field. Through increasing lap traffic McPherson was able to close slightly before the last lap caution set up an anyone can win shoot-out. 

Willard held off McPherson, Rouse sophomore driver Adam Leslie and defending Champion Greg Panunte. 

“Dad’s got almost 30 years experience,” remarked Willard after co-announcer Clint Kruchka likened him to (former Champion) Bill Willard Jr., “it goes a long way in setting these things up … I just drive it.” 

With Bill Willard playing such a vital part in his son’s success – for Chris Steele it may be his mom Val that’s his biggest help. 

“Every time she comes to the races … I win,” thanked Chris Steele in Victory Lane after winning the J&S Heating and Air Conditioning Modified Lite Feature, “but thanks to my dad too … I wouldn’t be here without them.”  

For the second generation driver he wouldn’t be here without car owner Dean Pronovost either who delivered the car for him from his Quebec home, “ I just love to race … we had some success with Dean’s car last year in the International … and in February in Florida … but I think Dean will be back behind the wheel next week.” 

Right from the start Steele distanced himself from the field – opening up a lead of almost a half track on then runner-up Randy Hollingshead. Just before a caution on lap 11 – Josh Sliter was able to get by Hollingshead. Steele in resumed control once again on the restart with Sliter some 10 car lengths behind. Sliter – the defending Champion was on the move with two laps to go eventually catching Steele’s rear bumper.  

Through the white flag lap Steele was able to hold off Sliter with Hollingshead settling for third ahead of Kory Howe and Derek Moore. 

Like Steele, the driver/car owner relationship is a long distance affair for Kingston Ontario DIRTcar 358 Modified veteran Danny O’Brien and his Ridgeway-based Kendrick Racing Team. 

“They’re a good crew and it’s a good package,” said O’Brien after his first career Merrittville 358 Modified Win, “Darren (Kendrick) has spent a lot of time with me this winter and along with the guys at BRP … they’ve taught me how to drive this track … it’s a tough track.” 

O’Brien would make it look easy after taking over top spot from Scott Wood on lap 11. O’Brien looked to be on cruise control as through the half way point he managed to open up a lead of a quarter lap despite increasing lap traffic. By lap 20 he stretched it to a half lap with the race for the runner-up spot the one to watch. 

Lap 26 saw Pete Bicknell take over second after diving underneath Wood out of turn 2 – with the 20 time Champion setting his sights on O’Brien. Bicknell would make up quite a bit of the gap but at the checkered flag … O’Brien’s margin of victory was some 4 seconds.

The Bobcat of Hamilton 358 Modified Feature started with pole-sitter Tim Jones holding off Wood until the backstretch of lap 1. Wood would set the pace through two early cautions before O’Brien took control. 

O’Brien and Bicknell were followed by Wood, Jones and second generation driver Tommy Flannigan. 

“I didn’t know if it would work at all,” admitted Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Feature Winner Rob Goulding, “it was good in practice last week but with so much weight in the front … it just seems to pull through the turns.” 

Goulding had to have a car that pulled its weight after taking control of top spot on a lap 10 restart. Defending Champion Rocco Conte pressured Goulding the remainder of the 15 lap event including a second restart on lap 12 after Sam Rodgers slowed out of Turn 4. Goulding held off Conte by at most a car length advantage at the checkers. 

Kyle Pelrine was the initial leader before Terry Larmet took before a lap 4 caution has Rob Overholt breaking into the top three. Pelrine regained top spot with Goulding battling Larmet for the runner-up spot. Larmet unfortunately would retire to the pits on lap 10. 

The Volkswagens of Goulding and Conte were followed by Overholt, Pelrine and Jeff Hill at the finish.

For all the news on Merrittville Speedway’s 60th Consecutive Season visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com or join Merrittville Speedway on Face Book or follow on Twitter. The Speedway Office can be reached at 905-892-8266.

RACE RESULTS:

BOBCAT OF HAMILTON 358 MODIFIEDS: DANNY OBRIEN, Pete Bicknell, Scott Wood, Tim Jones, Tommy Flannigan, Mat Williamson, Mike Bowman, Todd Gordon, Mark D’Ilario, Rick Richner, Fred Carleton, Chad BRachmann, Boyd MacTavish, Ryan Susice, Rob Pietz, Travis Braun, Chad Chevalier, Bill Bleich, Brandon Easey, Robbie Krull, Jamie Gilbert, Shayne Pierce, James Friesen, Pete Cosco.  DNQ: Kenny Winfield, Justin Sharp, Steve Schumacher, Shawn Sliter, Paul Klager, Dennis Giancola

ORIGINAL PIZZA LOGS SPORTSMAN: BJ WILLARD, Cody McPherson, Brad Rouse, Adam Leslie, Greg Panunte, Rob Knapp, Gary Lindberg, Jim Johnstone, Jesse Penner, Bill Podwinski, Jason Farraway, Robbie Rounce, Nick Cupolo, James Mercer, Paul Gaboury, Tony Cowell, Jason Moore, Ron Kingsbury, Paul Williamson, Derek Smith, Mark Chiddy

HOOSIER STOCKS: BRENT BEGOLO, Rob Murray, Jeff Dayman, Kevin Knapp, Ken Sargent, Jason Fontaine, Mike Ward, Billy Bleich Hr, James Thompson, Larry Czinege Jr, Chris Crawford, Mark Fawcett, Brian Schmidt, Rob Goulding, Jim Lampman, Ed McNamara, Terry Ronning, Dave Small, Peter Reid, Doug Crawford, Chris Schneider, Austin Wood

J&S HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING MODIFIED LITES: CHRIS STEELE, Josh Sliter, Randy Hollingshead, Kory Howe, Derek Moore, Ray Sliter Jr., Jason Corless, Jeffrey May, Derek Wagner, Dan Kviring, Derek Bredin, Blair Young, Bob Bredin, Kellie Mason, Jared Turnbull, Rick Brubacher, Greg Mills, Steve Manners

TURN 4 COLLISION 4 CYLINDERS: ROB GOULDING, Rocco Conte, Rob Overholt, Kyle Pelrine, ?, Garnet Wilson, Trevor Goulding, Brandon Iudiciani, Jocelyne Wiley, Rob Hoskinds, Tony Kelly, Dillan Sliter, Greg Wilson, Rodney Rutherford, Kameron Kocarik, Evan Curtis, Terry Wilson, Dave Bailey, John Janssens, Tim Gilby, Sam Rodgers, Jake Brown, Terry Larmet, Kevin Clow.  DNQ: Brandon Boychuck, John Coty, Jason Coutu

INSIDE TRACK MOTORSPORT NEWS PIT NOTES

Despite leading the Bobcat of Hamilton 358 Modified Points … Danny O’Brien’s next visit to Merrittville will be Monday May 23rd when Zavitz Financial Strategies presents the 100 lap 358 Modified Super DIRTcar Series Main Event. O’Brien is the defending champion at the DIRTcar sanctioned Brockville Speedway. With second generation driver Ken Winnfield experiencing problems on the parade lap … Bill Bleich was given the nod to start as the bubble car. Nick Wood – son of Scott met fans as they entered the gates – displaying his School Project that told a lot of the story of Merrittville’s 60th Anniversary.

Younger race fans were given the chance to register for the 2011 PartSource Kids Club prior to race time.

Merrittville Speedway’s 60th Season continues Saturday May 7th with Lococo Wholesale presenting Salute to the Troops Night with action for all 5 Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Divisions – the Bobcat of Hamilton 358 Modifieds, Original Pizza Logs Sportsman, Hoosier Stocks, J&S Heating and Air Conditioning Modified Lites and the Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinders. When the gates open at 5:30 – Avon Representative Sandra Wood will have a special gift for the first 100 Moms in celebration of Mother’s Day.

Showtime is 7:00 PM. 

MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY SPONSORS 

The 2011 60th Anniversary Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series for Merrittville Speedway’s 5 Divisions is brought to race fans and racers by division sponsors – Bobcat of Hamilton, Original Pizza Logs, J&S Heating and Air Conditioning, Hoosier Tire Canada and Turn 4 Collision in addition to many contingency sponsors. 

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 the PartSource locations in Welland and St. Catharines, Drummond Home Hardware, KC Auto Parts, RCM Racing Equipment and Tim Phillips Garage