Thorold, Ontario (September 10, 2012) Merrittville Speedway’s 2012 Season came to a smashing end Sunday September 9th with Glen Hils winning the 100 lap Grantham Lions Enduro accelerated by Niagara College. An added event between the Freestyle Monster Truck performances by Aftershock and Krazy Train was a Backwards Enduro with Brian Pattison the winner of the 25 lap Event.

Zavitz Financial Strategies Qualifier # 1 Winner Ken McLeod led almost 70 cars to the initial green flag before Miller’s Auto Recyclers Qualifier # 3 Lee Hils took control in Turn 2.

Hils and the field were slowed on lap 19 for a red flag to clear some stranded cars with Hils himself becoming stranded on lap 29 after dropping from top spot and pulling in the infield.

Glen Hils was now the leader until another red flag stopped the event on lap 40 after Chris Dama rolled his car just before the start finish line.

With the unofficial top three at this stage Hils, Steven D’Amrio and Karl Sault – Hils set the pace until a red on lap 51 for track maintenance. When action resumed it appeared that Robert Whiteman was out front but a check with the scorers found Hils to be in control on the field.

Hils almost met with disaster in Turn 2 of lap 82 after having to take invasive action to avoid a spinning car. Hils caught some serious air time with at least 2 wheels off the track but quickly was back to speed.

Two red flags in the closing laps slowed the field – the second after a car went hard into the Turn 4 Safety Barriers.

The final track maintenance session proved interesting for the field with the watering making handling difficult.

Especially for Hils.

While he was out front of the field behind the substitute CMH Sales and Leasing Pace Vehicle for the day under caution - coming to take the green flag – Hils lost about 10 positions.

Hils had lapped much of the field over the race but would he have enough of a lead at the conclusion of the 100 lap event?

While he was celebrating as the unofficial winner a review of scoring sheets confirmed his $1,000 win. Hils had won the 100 for the first time in 2010.

Karl Sault, pole sitter Ken McLeod, 11th starter Tim Farrell and 17th starter Robert Whiteman rounded out the Top 5.

The 25 lap Backwards Race had regular Hoosier Stock Competitor Ken Sargent out front at the start before Dwayne Meduc control. Fresh from his 4th place finish in the 100, Tim Farrell quickly took control with another 100 competitor – Max Chechalk closing in on the leader.

 Chechalk – who won the Boltworks Canada Day Enduro Qualifier # 2 eventually pulled alongside Farrell and edged his trunk ahead to take the lead on lap 11 – just as Farrell’s car went up in smoke.

Chechalk would also fall off the pace on lap 15 with James Mercer the new leader. Mercer had spun around several times during the event and eventually backed his car into a spinning Sargent.

With Doug Raye taking over top spot – the event went under a red flag after Mercer needed medical attention in the infield. After catching his breath, Mercer would eventually walk back into the pit area under his own power.

Raye was back out front when action resumed until Brian Pattison took control. All the cars on left in the event were at least a lap down to the leaders who kept dropping out of the event.

Would the same fate strike Pattison?

With two laps to go, Pattison’s car would fall victim to a flat left rear tire but it only seemed to make him better in the final two laps.

After taking the checkered flag, Pattison kept to the event rules and backed his car into Lucas Oil Victory Lane.

Merrittville Speedway would like to thank Thorold Auto Parts for their assistance and help by providing the vehicles for the performances by Aftershock and Krazy Train.

For further information on the 2013 Grantham Lions Enduro Qualifiers or 100 lap Enduro - call the Speedway Office at 905-892-8266 or visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com during the off season.

Race fans and Race teams alike can follow Merrittville on Face Book (Facebook.com/Merrittville Speedway) and Twitter (Twitter.com/Merrittville).

Join us next season on a Saturday Night for a 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!

MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY SPONSORS The 2012 Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series for Merrittville Speedway’s 5 Divisions was 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 your favorite automotive retailer or maintenance centre including B&C Truck Centre, Drummond Home Hardware, KC Auto Parts, RCM Racing Equipment and Tim Phillips Garage