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

 

Thorold, Ontario (July 10) Tony Kelly, Rob Murray, Chris Steele, Cody McPherson and Mark D’Ilario survived caution filled features to take home feature wins in the Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder, Hoosier Stock, J&S Heating and Air Conditioning Modified Lite, Original Pizza Logs DIRTcar Sportsman and Bobcat of Hamilton DIRTcar 358 Modified Divisions respectively.

“It sure feels good to finally get to Victory Lane,” rejoiced Tony Kelly in Turn 4 Collision Victory Lane, “ Thanks to Dave Small … Evan and Baden Curtis  … my family and sponsors.”

After a number of years in the division – Kelly probably didn’t mind a little bit of a wait to make his first trip to the Winner’s Circle as apparent winner Jason Coutu was found to be 52 pounds light in post race weighing.

The 15 lap event was all Coutu who led the entire distance after starting on the front row. Eventually Kelly would land in the runner-up spot but couldn’t catch the leader who had opened up a couple car length advantage. The gap between Kelly and Kyle Pelrine in third was even larger.

As the laps wound down on the joesaver.com lap counter – Coutu stretched his lead while Rob Goulding would take over third spot and began to chase down Kelly. Coutu who was lifting his left rear tire through the turns would drive away to about a straightaway lead at the finish about 4 seconds ahead of Kelly who was able to hold off Goulding in what would later became the battle for top spot.

Kelly and Goulding were followed by Aaron Wiley, Kyle Pelrine and Greg Wilson.

Once the break in the action resumed once Modern Corporation’s Annual Truck Show and Shine Contest concluded – track conditions would change as the racing surface increasingly slickened – causing quite a flurry through the remaining Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Program.

Once Rob Murray took control of the 20 lap Hoosier Stock Feature after a lap 9 Restart – four cautions would slow the former three time champion’s pace before lap 15 was in the books. The last involving front runners Brent Begolo and Jeff Dayman with Begolo only losing a few spots after the incident after getting back up to speed.

Challenging the leader was defending champion Ken Sargent with Murray able to keep a lead of a couple car lengths until one final incident set up a one lap dash to the checkered flag. With Murray out front – the battle was on for the runner-up spot with early leader Dave Small edging out Sargent.

Small took control of the lead on lap 6 from Brian Schmidt before losing it to Murray. The start of the event was also caution filled with three different leaders. Terry Ronning was the initial leader before Ron MacAulay and Ed McNamara both held top spot.

Murray, Small and Sargent were followed by Brent Begolo and Mark Fawcett.

“The crew knows how I like the car,” thanked Murray in Victory Lane, “they get it in the ballpark … the rest is up to me.”

The start of the 20 lap J&S Heating and Air Conditioning Modified Lite Feature was a battle of the Dereks … Rookie Derek Wagner and sophomore driver Derek Moore.

Wagner was first to lead until being slowed for a multicar incident early involving Kory Howe, Shawn Sliter and Jason Corless.  Moore became the new leader on the restart until Wagner nosed ahead on lap 5 with caution once again. With Moore out front once again, Wagner was joined by Chris Steele as the two pressured the leader.

Just before halfway Wagner would lose some momentum and a few positions allowing Steele to take on Moore. With Steele the new leader on lap 11 – Moore would quickly be challenged by the Sliters. Shawn Sliter would regroup after the early caution to challenge his nephew Josh for third spot before taking on Moore. A lap 17 caution saw Steele out front once again and to the finish pulled away from the pack by a couple car lengths.

With the tables turned on the Modern Corporation Team Cars – Shawn would face a challenge from Josh in the closing laps but was able to hold him off at the finish.

Steele, Sliter and Sliter were followed by Moore and Wagner.

About halfway through the 25 lap Original Pizza Logs Sportsman Feature, second generation driver Cody McPherson took control of the lead after a side by side battle with Adam Leslie.

Later in Victory Lane for the second time of 2011, Merrittville co-announcer Clint Kruchka commented on McPherson’s effort … “You used the top like no one else!”

McPherson would add, “I learned from my brother … he was one of the best at it!”

While his older brother Tyler is taking the summer off and racing around Europe on holiday – Cody is battling his cousin BJ Willard for top spot in the Point Standings.

McPherson and Leslie would pull away slightly from Willard and the field. One driver on the move from being involved in an earlier caution was Brad Rouse who had climbed back to fourth. With McPherson comfortably out front with 5 laps to go – the race for second was the one to watch. Eventually Willard and Rouse  would catch Leslie with Willard able to take over the runner up spot through to the finish.

Rookie Steve Robins was the initial leader before second generation driver Jason Moore took over. Moore unfortunately would lose control of his car in Turn 2 collecting a number of cars before Jesse Penner set the pace on the restart. Leslie would take over on the backstretch after the lap 4 incident.

McPherson, Willard, Leslie and Rouse were followed by Rob Knapp.

After taking the lead from Fred Carleton on a lap 13 restart, Mark D’Ilario immediately drove away to a 10 car lead but had to be wondering if he would ever see Starter Doug Leonard’s Checkered Flag after a rash of yellow flags to the halfway point and beyond.

D’Ilario also found success around the top en route to his second win of the season revealed in Victory Lane, “just like the first … it was all about hitting my marks … although it got a little dicey a few times!”

Shayne Pierce was the initial leader through a lap 8 restart before Fred Carleton took control down the backstretch. D’Ilario and Tom Flannigan would follow Carleton to the front landing in the top three before the two were both able to overtake Carleton.

Three cautions almost back to back after lap 20 would find Pete Bicknell was now in the runner up spot. In the final 5 laps Bicknell was able to edge ahead with D’Ilario bouncing back each time. One final time out of Turn 4 Bicknell made his move but at the finish was a half a car length short.

D’Ilario and Bicknell were followed by Flannigan with Larry Lampman and Carleton closing out the top 5.

The Night began with Robert Baker awarded Pete’s Automotive Driver of the Week honors.

INSIDE TRACK MOTORSPORT NEWS PIT NOTES

The flags were at half mast in memory of Glenn Rolston who passed away the past week after a brave battle with cancer. Rolston was a great fan of the sport and was a great supporter of racing – especially drivers Rob and Kevin Knapp, Scott Wood and Tuesday Night Kart Racer Greg Kohut.

Merrittville Speedway would like to thank all the Entries in the Annual Truck Show and Shine including Yager Bros. Trucking, Cam Hiltz Trucking, Pepsi, Ontario Truck & Heavy Equipment School, Modern Corporation, St. John Ambulance, Transport Sales and Service and Race Enterprise.

UPCOMING AT MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY

Lucas Oil  will present a special Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Program featuring the Bobcat of Hamilton 358 Modifieds in the Jerry Winger Memorial Lucas Oil Slick Mist 60. The 60th Anniversary Celebration will also feature Vintage Racing Cars and the L. St. Amand Enterprises Wall of Fame Inductions.

 At 3 PM, Vintage Cars and Race Cars of Today will come together for a Car Show in the Speedway Parking Lot until 5 PM. Grandstands will open at 5:30 with Showtime at 7:00 PM.

ORIGINAL PIZZA LOGS DIRTcar SPORTSMAN FEATURE (25 laps) Cody McPherson, BJ Willard, Adam Leslie, Brad Rouse, Rob Knapp, Nick Cupolo. Gary Lindberg, Greg Panunte, Paul Gaboury, West Talons, Robert Baker, Len Dignard, Darrell Ebersole, Robbie Rounce, Kevin Sharpe, Jason Moore, Ray Hockridge, Jason Farraway, Bill Podwinski, Stave Robins, Jesse Penner, Paul Williamson, AJ Lewis, David Flannigan, Jr.

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

HOOSIER STOCK FEATURE (20 laps) Rob Murray, Dave Small, Ken Sargent, Brent Begolo, Mark Fawcett, Kevin Knapp, Kevin Kocarik, Billy Bleich, Chris Crawford, Jeff Dayman, Jason Fontaine, Brian Schmidt, Chris Schneider, Jeremy Bean, Ed McNamara, Cory Turner, Ron MacAulay, Vince Fargnoli, Terry Ronning, Jim Lampman, Austin Wood, Pete Reid, Larry Czinege, James Thompson.

J&S HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING MODIFIED LITE FEATURE (20 laps) Chris Steele, Shawn Sliter, Josh Sliter, Derek Moore, Derek Wagner, Randy Hollingshead, Jeffrey May, Rick Brubacher, Scott Billing, Blair Young, Bob Bredin, Kory Howe, Derek Bredin, Dan Kviring, Jason Corless, Jared Turnbull.

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

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