For Immediate Release       from Jim Irvine          Merrittville Speedway Public Relations         905-892-8266 (Office), jimirvine@cogeco.net or www.twitter.com/merrittville

 

Thorold, Ontario (August 6) A last lap incident in the 35 lap Bobcat of Hamilton 358 Modified Feature set up a one lap dash but before the green flag reappeared leader Mat Williamson fell victim to a flat tire. Early leader Rob Pietz held off a last lap challenge from Pete Bicknell to win the event.

Brad Rouse won the 40 lap King of the Crates Sportsman Series Finale powered by Niagara Motors – earning the Mini-Series Point Race as well.

Dave Small won the 20 lap Hoosier Stock Feature holding off defending Champion Ken Sargent while Shawn Sliter held off his nephew Josh Sliter to win his 5th J&S Heating and Air Conditioning Modified Lite Feature

Jocelyn Wiley began the night winning the Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Feature.

For Mat Williamson – it appeared that he was well on his way to another Bobcat of Hamilton 358 Modified Feature Win after cruising to almost a full straightaway lead on the field. A last lap caution would change things up … dramatically. Gone was the huge lead he had built up but more importantly also gone was his rear tire as the leader fell victim to a flat tire while under caution for the incident that saw Mike Bowman and Larry Lampman come together in Turn 1 with Lampman’s CMH Sales and Leasing sponsored #22 coming into a stop in the barriers along the top of the track.

Williamson would rejoin the field although at the opposite end after pitting with Rob Pietz leading the field back to the green flag for the one lap dash which was delayed after a multicar incident collected a number of cars at the front of the pack. Several cars were out of line on the first attempt at a restart causing those behind them to check up. The cars involved were given their spots back after the mishap with Pietz back out front but facing a strong challenge from Pete Bicknell.

The two would make contact coming out of Turn 4 the final time which put the finish in question after Bicknell’s car never registered on the Lucas Oil Live Leaderboard. With Pietz apparently out front – a rare video review confirmed the call.

“I saw Mat go in and felt bad for him,” admitted Rob Pietz in Victory Lane, “it was his race … I had nothing for him but then I look at the scoreboard to see it’s Pete behind me now. I just tried to be where he wasn’t and make the track as wide as possible and we’re here … finally!”

The start also was quite dramatic after early leader Ken Winfield’ s pace was stopped with a red flag on lap 3 after Mark D’Ilario flipped his car after making contact with Pete Cosco. D’Ilario landed right side up and was able to drive away from the incident.

Winfield was back out front on the restart before Rob Pietz took control on lap 5 just as the pace was slowed once again. With Pietz in control on the restart the driver on the move was Williamson who was into the runner up spot by lap 12 but had a lot of ground to make up to catch the leader in the final two thirds of the 35 lap event.

By the half way point Williamson had closed to within 5 car lengths of Pietz and the next lap it was Williamson out front by a fraction of a second. By lap 25 the leader never let increasing lap traffic slow him down – stretching his advantage to some 4 seconds and a full straightaway before the final caution.

Pietz was followed by Bicknell, Chad Chevalier, Fred Carleton and Tim Jones.

In the King of the Crates Series Finale powered by Niagara Motors – the final third of the 40 lap Event saw quite a battle between two drivers who had split the Series Events to date.

BJ Willard was the new leader on a lap 25 restart after his cousin and earlier leader Cody McPherson had to drop out of top spot with a flat tire. Through a couple restarts in the next 5 laps Willard would set the pace although facing strong challenges from Brad Rouse. The two swapped the lead a couple of times before another incident on lap 33 slowed the field for a multicar incident that included defending Series co-champion Greg Panunte. Willard was back out front before one final caution found Rouse into the top spot for good to start lap 35.

The car was real bad at the beginning,” revealed 2011 King of the Crates Series Champion powered by Niagara Motors Brad Rouse,”   way too tight but set it up for the end. I’ve been running good last couple weeks … real happy to be here … used to be the top was the backwards lane but the last four or five years it’s been real racy around the top and on the bottom.”

The start of the event saw Adam Leslie and Greg Panunte lead the field to the green flag and for the entire first lap the two were side by side until Panunte nosed ahead. A lap 3 caution would slow the event for the first time with Panunte back in control with Leslie staying right with him.

Eventually Cody McPherson would wind up in the runner up spot and by lap 10 took over top spot from Panunte. McPherson had opened up a comfortable lead on his cousin Willard and the field until suffering the flat tire.

At the finish Rouse and Willard were followed by a strong run from Jesse Cotriss, an even stronger run from Cody McPherson who battled back after the pit stop and an impressive run by teenage second generation driver Matt Sharpe

Dave Small would lead the 20 lap Hoosier Stock Feature on two occasions – the final time right at the start finish line as he edged defending champion Ken Sargent by a bumper. The first time out front Small took the leader from rookie third generation driver Austin Wood at the start leading the field down the backstretch the first time.

Early on Sargent would take over the runner up spot from Wood with Small off to a 10 car lead. Eventually Sargent would close on Small with the two off to a comfortable lead.

Eventually Sargent would close the gap with the two to a comfortable lead on the field. Behind the two leaders – Kevin Knapp would take over third until Billy Bleich Junior overtook Knapp.

Lap after lap Small would cling to the high side with Sargent trying to drive under the leader – a strategy that found Sargent as the new leader in Turn 3 of lap 17. Out of Turn 4 the final time Small made one last move pay off – taking the lead around the outside of Sargent right at the line.

“You can use the outside to your advantage,” cautioned Dave Small post race, “but you have to hit your marks every lap … he was crowding me but would give me just enough room but I guess we touched,” added Small who had a tire going flat in Victory Lane.

Small and Sargent were followed by Knapp and Jeff Dayman who made a late race charge to get by Billy Bleich Jr. who had to settle for fifth.

“it’s been an awesome year so far,” relayed Shawn Sliter in J&S Heating and Air Conditioning Modified Lite Victory Lane for the 5th time of the season, “ my team-mate raced me real hard … he was right there the whole time. Thanks to our crew and thanks to Phil Engs at CMH Sales and Leasing and all our other sponsors!”

Sliter’s team-mate of course is his car owner and nephew Josh Sliter. After Shawn took control of top spot out of Turn 4 to complete lap 6 – Josh would quickly land in the runner up spot. The younger Sliter would challenge his uncle until the 5 to go point when Shawn open up some breathing room.

Quickly though Josh would regroup and took the lead on lap 17 with Shawn back out in control one lap later. A last lap caution would set up a one lap dash with Shawn Sliter coming home ahead of Josh Sliter with Chris Steele, Derek Moore and Randy Hollingshead rounding out the top 5.

Derek Bredin was first to lead the 20 lap feature before Ray Sliter Jr. took control. Derek Moore was the new leader on lap 3 before caution slowed the field with Moore in control until Shawn Sliter got by on lap 6.

Greg Wilson was first to lead the 15 lap Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Feature – pulling away to a couple car length lead over both challengers Jocelyn Wiley and Tony Kelly. Quickly with a couple laps in the books, Wiley would take control of top spot with Kelly in pursuit.

By the halfway point the two leaders would soon pull away from Wilson and the field. Despite increasing lap traffic Wiley would soon put some distance between herself and Kelly.

“The confidence level is up for sure,” revealed Jocelyn Wiley in Merrittville Victory Lane for the first time in two years, “they’ve been putting a lot of work into this car … I couldn’t do it without Aaron and the guys and our sponsors – especially V&G Auto for the new rims … they’re purple!”

In the caution free event – Wiley held a couple car length lead at the finish over Kelly,   Chris Laskey, Kyle Pelrine and Rob Goulding.

INSIDE TRACK MOTORSPORT NEWS PIT NOTES

With no Hot Laps once again – Mat Williamson was the first car on the track after being announced as the Pete’s Automotive Driver of the Week.

The racing action also included the annual PartSource Kids Club Box Car Races and only having first names, the winners were Kendra in the youngest Mini Stock Division, Mateo in the Mod Lite Division and Cierra in the Modified Class. Rumour has it that Mateo is the son of Sportsman Driver Greg Panunte while Cierra is the daughter of Tim Black – longtime crew man for many drivers. Taya’s entry was also picked as Best of Show. Merrittville Speedway and the PartSource Kids Club would like to congratulate all the participants for their fine efforts.

UPCOMING AT MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY

Avondale Food Stores will present a Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Event Saturday August 13th that features the finale of the 2011 Turn 4 Collision Triple Crown Series for the 4 Cylinders in addition to the annual Best Appearing Dog Contest. Gates open at 5:30 with Showtime at 7 PM.

BOBCAT OF HAMILTON DIRTcar 358 MODIFIED FEATURE (35 laps) Rob Pietz, Pete Bicknell, Chad Chevalier, Fred Carleton, Tim Jones, Justin Sharp, Todd Gordon, Ryan Susice, Shayne Pierce, Tommy Flannigan, Rick Richner, Brandon Easey, Mat Williamson, Bill Bleich, Mark D’Ilario, Travis Braun, Pete Cosco, Dennis Giancola, Larry Lampman, Mike Bowman, Boyd MacTavish, Kenny Winfield, Scott Wood.

ORIGINAL PIZZA LOGS DIRTcar SPORTSMAN FEATURE (40 laps) Brad Rouse, BJ Willard, Jesse Cotriss, Cody McPherson, Matt Sharpe, Justin Wright, Gary Lindberg, Rob Knapp, Greg Panunte, Robbie Rounc e, West Talons, Jason Moore, Darrell Farraway, Jason Farraway, Paul Gaboury, Paul Williamson, Adam Leslie, Brent Begolo, David Flannigan, Ron Kingsbury, Robert Baker, Nick Cupolo, George Bosse, Jesse Penner.

HOOSIER STOCK FEATURE (20 laps) Dave Small, Ken Sargent, Kevin Knapp, Jeff Dayman, Billy Bleich Jr., Rob Murray, Austin Wood, Larry Czinege, James Thompson, Lee Winger, Jason Fontaine, Kevin Kocarik, Vince Fargnoli, Jim Lampman, Ed McNamara, Jeremy Bean, Devin Habiuk, Pete Reid.

J&S HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING MODIFIED LITE FEATURE (20 laps) Shawn Sliter, Josh Sliter, Chris Steele, Derek Moore, Randy Hollingshead, Jeffrey May, Ray Sliter Jr., Derek Bredin, Rick Brubacher, Jason Corless, Derek Wagner, Bob Bredin, Kellie Mason, Jared Turnbull, Greg Mills.

TURN 4 COLLISION 4 CYLINDER FEATURE (15 laps) Jocelyn Wiley, Tony Kelly, Chris Laskey, Kyle Pelrine, Rob Goulding, Greg Wilson, Rob Overholt, Jeff Hill, Nathan Monahan, Garnet Wilson, Terry Larmet, Kameron Kocarik, Shawn Emery, Jason Coutu, Mike Giberson, Dillan Sliter, Brandon Boychuck, Jeff Larmet, Aaron Wiley.

Avondale Food Stores will present a Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Program featuring the Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Triple Crown Series Finale. Gates open at 5:30 with Showtime at 7:00 PM.

For all the news on Merrittville Speedway’s 60th Consecutive Season – call 905-892-8266 or visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com. Race fans and Race teams alike can follow Merrittville on Face Book (Facebook.com/Merrittville Speedway) and Twitter (Twitter.com/Merrittville). 

Join us this season on a Saturday Night for a 60th Anniversary LUCAS OIL WEEKLY RACING SERIES EVENT featuring FIVE Divisions with local heroes and up and coming new stars.

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.”

Crazy Offer! Race fans – check your 2011 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!

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 marketing partners Visit them at . http://www.merrittvillespeedway.com/sponsors.htm and visit them when you require their products and/or services.

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