8/6/2023
Merrittville Speedway
MCPHERSON GOES BACK-TO-BACK IN BILL WILLARD SR. STERLING SILVER SPORTSMAN EVENT
THOROLD, Ontario (August 5th, 2023) … Merrittville Speedway returned to racing action for 2Cool Automotive Night featuring the Bill Willard Sr. Sterling Silver DIRTcar Sportsman event. Cody McPherson of St. Catharines, ON won the special prize for the Right Choice Auto & Leisure DIRTcar Sportsman. Brad Rouse of Fort Erie, ON won the Corr/Pak Merchandising 358 Modified feature. The Hoosier Stock feature was won by Jim Lampman of Caistor Centre, ON. Thorold, ON native Brent Begolo won in the Rona Doidge Modified Lites while Niagara on The Lake resident Austyn Werstroh scored his second feature win in as many races in Vansickle Pet Valu/PV on the Lane 4 Cylinders.
Bill Gill and Mitch Dumont brought the field to green for the Bill Willard Sr. Sterling Silver Sportsman event. It didn’t take long for the first Caution of the race, as Rob Knap spun at the back of the pack on lap one. Shortly after that, the caution came out again after the field stacked up out of corner four and Cody McPherson tagged Matteo Panunte who narrowly missed the inside wall. On Lap 6, James Friesen came to a stop on the high side of turn 1 leading to the races third caution. Taylor Vanderzanden led the field back to green and began to stretch out a sizeable lead from the field, in search of his first win of the season. Terry Smith brought out the caution once again on Lap 14 when he spun on the back stretch. During the caution laps, Vanderzanden car suddenly slowed from the lead and his night came to a sudden and heartbreaking end. Meanwhile, Cody McPherson had marched through the field to put himself on the front row for the restart where he would take the lead. The final caution of the 25-lap feature came with 5 laps to go when Nelson Mason was turned around after contact with Billy Bleich Jr. The single file restart played into McPherson’s hands perfectly and he was able to win the trophy named for his Great Grandfather for the second straight year. Mitch Dumont was second, Chad Chevalier third, Adam Leslie fourth and Brent Begolo fifth.
The Corr/Pak Merchandising 358 Modifieds struggled to get laps in early as the initial start of the race saw Fred Carleton and Scott Wood get together when Carleton tried drive to the low line as the green flag waved. Both cars suffered heavy suspension damage and would not continue. Then Todd Gordon spun in turn 1 after the caution with still no laps on the board. The field eventually settled in, and Darrell Farraway got out to an early lead. Derek VanMil’s car lost power on lap 12, setting another restart here Brad Rouse would take the advantage. Rouse opened a comfortable lead of one and a half seconds and never relinquished it, winning the 35-lap feature over Farraway, Pete Bicknell, Justin Sharp, and Luke Carleton.
In what might have been the race of the year at Merrittville, the Hoosier Stocks put on an absolute thriller. On Lap 3, front runner Mark Fawcett got turned around, and Ryan Dinning would take lead when the green flag flew again. For several laps, Pete Reid and Jim Lampman battled side by side for second, while simultaneously catching leader Dinning. Reid would be first to challenge but could not find a way to clear Dinning. As laps started to wind down, Dave Bailey moved forward and began challenging Reid, and Dinning for the top spot. Bailey slipped by for the lead with Reid in hot pursuit, then Lampman joined the top 3, making it four cars including Dinning going for the top spot. After several laps of side by side and even three wide racing, Jim Lampman cleared to the top spot coming to the white flag and would hold off Bailey to score the win. Reid settled for third with Dinning fourth and Kyle Pelrine finishing in fifth.
Chance Kotar and Ryan Anderson brought the field of 23 Rona Doidge Modified Lites to green. Tyler Winger made his presence known early, leading, and trying to become the first driver not named Begolo or Sliter to win in the. Mod Lites. His early advantage was erased when Anderson came to a stop on lap 4. On the restart, Dan Kviring went for a wild flip in turn 1, he would be okay, but his night was over. The field settled on for some green flag racing leading to Brent Begolo taking the lead on lap 12. The field would have one more single file restart when Kotar spun with 4 laps to go. Begolo was able to control the start and win his eighth feature of the season.
The Vansickle Pet Valu/PV on the Lane 4 cylinders ran caution free on Saturday night at Merrittville Speedway. Cierra Keus and Cole Hardy lead the field to green with Hardy taking the lead on lap 1. Austyn Werstroh who started 7th, quickly moved his way forward and began to chase down Hardy. Werstroh was looking to make it back-to-back feature wins and eat into Hardy’s points lead in the division and did that just that by passing Hardy and scoring the win. Last year’s track champion Tyler Lafantaise also got by hardy to finish second. Hardy settled for third, finishing ahead of Alex Riley and Mason Anderson.
This Civic Holiday Long weekend’s racing action is far from over as Merrittville Speedway hosts the 2nd Annual Canadian Grand Nationals presented by Baron Roofing. The night will feature a $4000 to win 72 lap Modified feature, $2000 to win Sportsman and Hoosier Stock feature and $1000 to win for Mod Lites and 4 Cylinders. Plus, one lucky fan will $1000, and a young fan will 1000 pieces of candy. Pit gates will open at 5:00 pm, grandstands open at 5:30, and racing will begin at 7:00 pm.
Follow Merrittville on social media including Facebook (facebook.com/MerrittvilleSpeedway), Twitter (@Merrittville), and now Instagram and Tik Tok (@merrittvillespeedway). For results, point standings, and more, check out the brand new www.merrittvillespeedway.com
RACE RESULTS –- August 5th, 2023
Right Choice Auto & Leisure DIRTcar Sportsman – CODY MCPHERSON (4), Mitch Dumont, Chad Chevalier, Adam Leslie, Brent Begolo, Billy Bleich Jr., Jay Mallory, Noah Mamo, Jordan Cosco, Matteo Panunte, Matt Sharpe, Daniel McKay, Curtis Friesen, Nelson mason, Jason VanMil, Nathan Peattie, Graeme Toth, Dylan Kirkland, Bill Gill, Taylor Vanderzanden, Paul Gaboury, Terry Smith, James Friesen, Jordan Denobriga, Tyler Puchalski, Rob Knapp
Qualifying Heats – James Friesen, Mitch Dumont, Matteo Panunte
Corr/Pak Merchandising 358 Modifieds – BRAD ROUSE, Darrell Farraway, Pete Bicknell, Justin Sharp, Luke Carleton, Boyd MacTavish, Dylan Davidson, Dave Flannigan Jr., Doug Gordon, Ken Winfield, Todd Gordon, Derek VanMIl, Fred Carleton, Scott Wood
Qualifying Heats – Fred Carleton, Darrell Farraway
Hoosier Stocks – JIM LAMPMAN, Dave Bailey, Pete Reid, Ryan Dinning, Kyle Pelrine, Donny Lampman, Ron Loggie, Zach Bleich, Jonah Mutton, Jason Fontaine, Mark Fawcett, Ken Sargent, Tyler French, Gofast Teeple, Jeff Bean, Keith Dale, Murray Nicholls, Kyle Rothwell
Qualifying Heats: Ryan Dinning, Ron Loggie, Jim Lampman
Rona Doidge Building Centres Modified Lites – BRENT BEGOLO (8), Josh Sliter, Tyler Winger, Joe Isabell, Sean Iftody, R.J. Pietz, Leroy Buscumb, Tucker Halliday, Rob Misener, Cohen Corbett, Ryan Anderson, Dave Cornish, Anthony Kelly, Ashton Anderson, Ryleigh Sliter, Sam Iftody, John Isabell, Chris Watson, Roger Pardis, Chance Kotar, Justin Williams, Greg Zack, Dan Kviring
Qualifying Heats – Joe Isabell, Leroy Buscumb, Tyler Winger
Vansickle Pet Valu/PV On the Lane 4 Cylinders – AUSTYN WERSTROH (3), Tyler Lafantaise, Cole Hardy, Alex Riley, Mason Anderson, Randy Alway, Brian Aube, Rock Beales, John Lubeck, Olivier Larocque, Ro Goulding, Hana Rothwell, Tony Kelly, Kyle Rothwell, Clinton Barrick, Vincent Pagnotta, Cierra Keus, Ray Cerenzia, Mark Deagle, Rob Sauder, Dave Winniger, Ken Hair, Blair Rousselle, Jay Moulton
B Main – Vincent Pagnotta, Mark Deagle, Ken Hair, Dave Winniger, Clinton Barrick, Blair Rousselle, Douwe Degroot, Richard Hadler, Roger Winfield, James Marshall, Nick Bowman, Tina Ronning
Qualifying Heats – Tyler Lafantaise, Austyn Werstroh, Alex Riley
Article Credit: Jonathon Howe
Submitted By: Jonathon Howe
