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For Immediate Release from Jim
Irvine Merrittville Speedway Public Relations With files from Fran Buschardt
905-892-8266 (Office),
jimirvine@cogeco.net or
www.twitter.com/merrittville
Thorold, Ontario (July 3) After
about a dozen years away from the sport, Robert Baker probably
didn’t mind the wait to celebrate his first Merrittville Speedway
Original Pizza Logs Sportsman Feature Win Saturday July 2nd in the
Boltworks sponsored Pillers $1 Hot Dog Night.
With a severe weather watch
impending, Officials rushed the first event of July along creating a
5 Division Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Giant Victory Lane
celebration that included Aaron Wiley, Rob Murray, Josh Sliter and
Pete Bicknell in the Boltworks Night in the Turn 4 Collision 4
Cylinder, Hoosier Stock, J&S Heating and Air Conditioning Modified
Lite and Bobcat of Hamilton 358 Modified Divisions respectively.
Glen Hils closed out the night
winning his second Grantham Lions Enduro Qualifier accelerated by
Niagara College followed by a thrilling Fireworks Display by
FIREMASTER Productions.
“I won a Mod Stock Feature back in
the day … but this is my first in the Sportsman,” revealed 2011
Rookie Robert Baker, “it makes me feel real good and boosts my
confidence … the cars been getting better every week … and so have
I.”
Baker took control of the 25 lap
Event on lucky lap 13 after getting by James Mercer. Mercer had
taken the lead from initial leader Jason Farraway before a lap 5
caution slowed the field. With Mercer and Baker out front the
battle for position was sometimes three wide which allowed the front
runners to pull away.
At the front – it was Cody McPherson
challenging Mercer’s team-mate Bill Podwinski and second generation
driver Jason Moore before Paul Gaboury settled into third spot. With
Baker out front and driving away from the pack, Gaboury would
eventually take over second and began to close in on the leader with
5 laps to go. As the race wound down Baker would catch lap traffic
allowing Gaboury to close in even more but at the finish it was
Baker out front by a couple car lengths.
Gaboury settled for second with Cody
McPherson, Bill Podwinski and defending champion Greg Panunte as the
top 5.
“I have to thank my family … I
wouldn’t be here without them – and thanks to BRP’s Randy Williamson
for the set up advice,” added Baker.
“It just doesn’t end,” said Turn 4
Collision 4 Cylinder Feature Winner Aaron Wiley who recently added
another car to his Saturday Night Race Team,” I’m proud to have Nate
(Monahan) join us in what will be my son Kurtis’ car … it’s always
been a team effort for us … even tonight as Nate’s Dad provided me
with a tow vehicle to get here … thanks to him … our sponsors and
crew!”
Wiley took control of the 15 lap
Event at about the halfway point of a race that was quite eventful
in the first half.
Sophomore Driver Brandon Boychuck
was first to lead before Rob Overholt took over the first time into
Turn 3. The early stages had former Kart Racer turned Official and
now 4 Cylinder Driver Dillan Sliter attempting to hold a slew of
challengers. Eventually Tony Kelly and Rob Goulding would settle
into the top three behind Overholt. Kelly would soon take over top
spot with Goulding following – the two swapping P1 several times
before caution would freeze positions. Kelly would resume control on
the restart with Goulding, Overholt, Rocco Conte and Wiley all
challenging.
Once Wiley took control of top spot
– he began to drive away from the field. Conte would drive to the
runner up and soon would reel Wiley in but at the finish fell a
couple car lengths short of the leader.
Wiley and Conte were followed by
Overholt, Goulding and Kelly.
“He drove a good race … Kevin
(Knapp) really pressured me,” admitted Hoosier Stock Feature Winner
Rob Murray of the late race battle between the two, “he went up into
the black and I was impressed … but I just slowed down and hung on
and hoped he would disappear!”
Just past halfway Knapp would resume
control of top spot after rookie third generation driver Cory Turner
lost control. Murray – in second and Knapp would pull away slightly
from the field before another caution on lap 13. Knapp was out front
once again with Murray taking top spot out of Turn 4 with 5 laps to
go. From there to the finish Murray would pull away to a comfortable
margin of victory with Knapp settling for second ahead of rookie
Austin Wood, Ken Sargent and Brent Begolo.
Ron MacAulay was first to lead the
event before Wood took top spot out of Turn 4 to complete lap 2.
Wood held on before Knapp would take over on lap 8.
“It’s been a long time … my Uncle
Shawn’s has been beating on me,” revealed defending Champion Josh
Sliter in Modified Lite Victory Lane, “but he’s driving my other car
… so either way I still win!”
The younger Sliter would take over
top spot on a lap 11 restart after his Uncle lost control of the car
formerly driven by his brother Ray Jr. which his nephew owns. In the
closing laps, Sliter appeared be pulling away but as the laps wound
down, earlier leader Derek Moore would close slightly all the while
being challenged by Jason Corless.
Moore took the lead from the drop of
the green with Chris Steele and Corless among the challengers
through a couple of early cautions before losing top spot to Sliter
on lap 11.
At the
finish with Sliter out front – Corless would take second from Moore
with Steele and Kory Howe as the top 5.
Thanks to
Chad,” commented Bobcat of Hamilton 358 Modified Feature Winner Pete
Bicknell of Chad Chevalier, “I think I came up on him too fast … he
turned away when he saw me … and thanks to the fans for coming out
on a night with threatening weather.”
Through the
first third of the 35 lap Event that was still in daylight hours …
Chad Chevalier was the leader attempting to hold off Bicknell – the
two in a great side by side battle until caution on lap 16. On the
restart Chevalier would hold a lead of .002 seconds on the Lucas Oil
Live Leaderboard but the next lap Bicknell became the new leader.
Two cautions on either side of the
10 to go mark slowed Bicknell. On the lap 26 restart Scott Wood got
by Chad Brachmann and Chad Chevalier with Mat Williamson following.
Earlier in the event Wood made another thrilling move to advance
several positions as well.
Caution on lap 33 set up a two lap
dash with Bicknell out front once again. Wood trying the high side
was a couple car lengths behind at Starter Doug Leonard’s White Flag
but could not over take Bicknell. Fred Carleton was the early leader
before Chevalier took control on lap 11.
Bicknell and Wood were followed by
Williamson, Brachmann and Tom Flannigan who made a late race move to
take 5th spot from Chevalier.
“It’s nice to get a win again,”
explained Bobcat of Hamilton 358 Modified Feature Winner Pete
Bicknell, “the last few weeks it’s been pretty tough … it seemed
like I was always in the wrong place at the wrong time – but a lot
of the time racing can be like that!”
Glen Hils picked up where he left
off May 28th – starting on the pole of the 25 lap Grantham Lions
Enduro Qualifier accelerated by Niagara College. Hils led the entire
distance but the race was all about Enduro Racer turned Sportsman
Driver James Mercer.
“How many fans would like to see him
do that in his Sportsman?” challenged Merrittville Co-announcer
Clint Geoffrey during the event.
Words almost couldn’t describe the
moves Mercer made after spinning his Enduro Car on two separate
occasions. Both times he would keep up to speed in reverse pulling
180’s once traffic cleared enough to point his car the right way.
At the finish … top 3 finishers were
the top 3 starters with Hils followed by Karl Sault and Bob
Whiteman. Rodney Rutherford and Brian Hardy both came from deep in
the 29 car starting field to round out the top 5.
The Night began with Bobcat of
Hamilton 358 Modified Driver Travis Braun honored with Pete’s
Automotive Driver of the Week honors.
ORIGINAL
PIZZA LOGS DIRTcar SPORTSMAN FEATURE (25 laps) Robert Baker, Paul Gaboury, Cody McPherson, Bill Podwinski, Greg Panunte, Adam Leslie,
Rob Knapp. David Flannigan, Brad Rouse, Nick Cupolo, Robbie Rounce,
Jason Moore, James Mercer, Jason Farraway, Steve Robins. Paul
Williamson, Ray Hockridge, Jesse Penner, Gary Lindberg, BJ Willard.
TURN 4 COLLISION 4 CYLINDER FEATURE
(15 laps) Aaron Wiley, Rocco Conte, Rob Overholt, Rob Goulding, Tony
Kelly, Garnet Wilson, Kyle Pelrine, Jocelyn Wiley, Chris Laskey,
Greg Wilson, Nathan Monahan, Jason Langaro, Dillan Sliter, Mike
Giberson, Kameron Kocarik, Jeff Larmet, Brandon Boychuck, Jason
Coutu. DNS – Terry Wilson.
HOOSIER STOCK FEATURE
(20 laps) Rob Murray, Kevin Knapp, Austin Wood, Ken Sargent, Brent Begolo, James
Thmpson, Dave Small, Larry Czinege, Ron MacAulay, Peter Reid, Billy
Bleich, Kevin Kocarik, Vince Fargnoli, Brian Schmidt, Ryan Dinning,
Jim Lampman, Ed McNamara, Chris Schneider, Terry Ronning, Jason
Fontaine, Cory Turner, Lee Winger.
J&S HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING
MODIFIED LITE FEATURE (20 laps) Josh Sliter, Jason Corless, Derek
Moore, Chris Steele, Kory Howe, Jeffrey May, Randy Hollingshead,
Shawn Sliter, Derek Wagner, Bob Bredin, Paul Lindberg, Derek Bredin,
Dan Kviring, Rick Brubacher, Greg Mills.
BOBCAT OF HAMILTON DIRTcar 358
MODIFIED FEATURE (35 laps) Pete Bicknell, Scott Wood, Mat
Williamson, Chad Brachmann, Tom Flannigan, Chad Chevalier, Larry
Lampman, Rick Richner, Mark D’Ilario, Rob Pietz, Travis Braun, Tim
Jones, Mike Bowman, Bill Bleich, Todd Gordon, Brandon Easey, Boyd
MacTavish, Pete Cosco, Paul Klager, Kenny Winnfield, Fred Carleton,
Jamie Gilbert, Ken Cosgrove, Dennis Giancola.
UPCOMING AT MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY
Modern
Corporation will present it’s annual Truck Show ‘n Shine Saturday
July 9th with a Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Program. When the
Gates open at 5:30 all Truck Drivers with proof of license will
receive a $2.00 Discount on Grandstand Admission. Showtime is 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
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