ALAN JOHNSON EASILY SLIDES TO MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY 100 LAPPER
by Bruce Bonham
THOROLD, on - Aug. 4 — Alan Johnson came back to Merrittville Speedway Monday, and a quarter way into the Trevor Wilkens Memorial modified 100 lapper, checked out on the 31-car field.
Johnson, the local speedway’s 1998, 358 mod champ, said everything went his way in the grueling race requiring eight cautions before the checkered flag flew.
“We hit the setup on our car pretty close tonight,” said the Phelps, N.Y. professional pilot before the track’s biggest crowd, a sellout at over 4,000 fans.
“Lapped cars got in the way a bit and made it a little harry, but the track was excellent and a fun race for me.”
In only his second visit to Merrittville, Dale Planck of Courtland, N.Y. spent most of the race dueling with Pete Bicknell and Scott Wood, getting by the local pair just past half way.
“I fought with the track early on and my crew told me to move to the high side,” said Planck. “That made the difference.”
Wood took top local points with his brilliant ride to third place in the Turning Stone Casino DIRT tour race, crossing the line ahead of Brett Hearn of Sussex, N.J.
Jipp Ortiz of Ransomville, N.Y. led the entire 30-lap pro stock Empire Sports Network DIRT tours rac, taking the point from his front-row starting position.
Dave Schulz of Somerset, N.Y. took over second after Lap 12, when 2002 pro stock champ Steve De Vos, in third, and second place runner Jim Johnson of Oakfield, N.Y. tangled. Roger Chrysler of Tuscarora, N.Y. drove to third.
In the under card street stock 15-lap skirmish, Dolf McCready sliced the 24-car pack from 13th starting spot to take the lead on Lap 6, nursing an overheated engine to his fifth win of the season. He finished in front of his strongest rival Rob Murray, who battled by Rick Champigny.
Bill Russell came to the front of the 15-lap dwarf car test on the Lap 4 restart and stayed there for his first win. Wayne Robbins was third, ahead of Hamburg, N.Y. speeder Ray Webber.
MONDAY’S RESULTS
Modified (100 laps): ALAN JOHNSON, Dale Planck, Scott Wood. Brett Hearn, Larry Lampman, Matt Sheppard, Danny Johnson, Pete Bicknell, Todd Burley, Tim Fuller, Richie Vinson, Kyle Jacobs, Rick Richner, Chad Branchmann, Todd Gordon, Alec Hoag, Jeff Rudalavage, Fred Carleton, Rob Pietz, Dan Miller, Pete Cosco, Ron White, Brad Rouse, Boyd MacTavish, Pierre Gagenais, Brian Stevens, Justin Haers, Jamie Turner, Randy Chrysler, Jason Boyle.
Pro Stock (30 laps): JIPP ORTIZ, Dave Schulz, Roger Chrysler, John Lazore, James Henry, Pete Stephanski, Dan Mayer, Shawn Keus, Jim Johnson, Steve De Vos, Pat Hobbs, John Koupen, Ken Sargent, Butch Zimmerman, Bill Hallet, Dan Shoop, Nick Micallef, Mike Williams, Brian Kotarski.
Street Stocks (15 laps): DOLF MCCREADY, Rob Murray, Rick Champigny, Russ Davidson, Ed Fargnoli, Gerry Deschamps,Dave Stolzenburg, John Johnson, Jason Fontaine, Ron Kingsbury, Ben Hornquist, Swawn Emery, Kevin Kocarik, Dave Vogt, Greg Ayres, Mike Dooley, Jens Mortensen, Terry Larmet, Carl Saunders, Kirk Wilson, Rick Simons, Peter Reid.
Dwarf Cars (15 laps): Dave Russell, Wayne Robbins, Ray Webber, Scott Billing, Ken Robins, Rick Brubacker, Derek Breden, Chris Rimmen, Wally Billing, Ken Scott, Nol King, Ken Knapp, Rob Knapp, Kellie, Mason, Dave Ackler, Justine Sharp, Mark Brighton, Bob Breden.