BICKNELL BAGS 17TH 358 CHAMPIONSHIP
(By Bruce Bonham)
Veteran Modified driver Paul Ashton puts the finishing touches on the sign commemorating his wife Kim’s birthday. There was no mention of the head scores actual age, and no one dared to ask.
(Photo by Bruce Bonham)
THOROLD, ON — Pete Bicknell bagged another Merrittville Speedway L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modified championship, bringing his home track total to 17 unprecedented titles.
And for the most part this season, the co-track owner did it his way — equipping he BRP racer No. 42 with inexpensive power plant, fueled on pump gas.
“I never thought I’d see this one (17th championship)” said the boss after taking his seventh feature of the season and continuing to rave about the budget engine he’s been campaigning practically all season.
Sliding up from his 16th starting spot within the 23-car field, Bicknell made his customary moves to the front, hugging the Turns 1 and 2 rails, where he said the bite was, and slipping past leader Todd Gordon with nine laps left.
“I had to get out of the back (track surface),” continued the champ. “It was so nice right along the rail.”
Scott Wood, who had a frightening, back stretch flip two weeks ago and is also running budget engine equipment, further proved the worth of cheaper engine by wrestling Gordon for second in the closing stages.
It was a heartbreaker for Sanborn, N.Y.’s Richie Vinson, opening up a wide margin from outside pole, but sputtered to the pits on his unlucky 13th lap.
With Gordon taking a solid third, Larry Lampman Jr., defending mod champ, fought veteran Brian Stevens, coming out in fourth. Last week’s popular winner, Robbie Krull settled for sixth.
Although he’s not having the dominant season of 2003, Wayne Conn Jr. was back in R. K. Shaver Chartered Accountant’s Victory Lane for the third time this season, commanding the 25-lapper when getting by third-place finisher Martin Polhill.
Regular Merrittville Modified runner Robbie Krull prepares his helmet before Saturday’s hot laps. Krull, who’s suffered at least three breakdowns while leading features this season, won last week’s 35 lapper.
(Photo by Bruce Bonham)
“You’re right, our season hasn’t been what we expected,” said Conn after waving the checkered flag from his racer’s roof and hinting to announcer-at-large Clinton Geoffrey’s that he might be driving SOS sprint cars next season, explaining his team isn’t that happy with the sportsman crate-engine rule which kicks in next season.
“We did a lot of work on the motor this week ... the engine’s been really lazy. Tim Black (crew chief and head mechanic) and dad, former driver Wayne Sr., discussed the situation and made a whole bunch of changes this week. It paid off tonight.”
Jim Ruston’s 6R racer has been hot of late with his best season’s finish in second, taking the spot from Martin Polhill in the final stages. Tough competitor Billy Bleich copped a decent third while Point leader Adam Ferri, in a Lap 1 mixup sending the Fort Erie Flyer to the tail of the 22-car pack, made special moves to take fourth-place points.
It just took five laps for the bad boys (and girl) of Merrittville’s Hoosier Street Stockers to turn the lights from green to yellow when Danielle Landry and Russ Davidson locked nerf bars on the front stretch.
Already way out in front from the pole position, Peter Reid led wire-to-wire to take his fourth bullet of the season.
“It was an awesome track today and despite the controversy ... we’ve worked with the Bicknells and I’m really happy. Got nothing to complain about,” said Reid after 15 circuits and holding off the 26-car pack for two more cautions.
Ron Kingsbury’s second place dwindled when Brad Sheehan showed up to steal the spot. Dave Gifford flashed across the line fourth.
And just to add a little more excitement to the popular weekly Hoosier wars, Graham MacKay, a lapped car, spun in front of the leaders coming out of Turn 4 on the final lap. Fortunately, everybody got by — somehow!
In the Seneca Niagara Dwarf Car dust up, invader Jeff Barker stageds a splendid display of driving talent, stepping hard on the gas from 15th starting and 15 laps later, waving the checkered flag in Victory Lane.
By the sixth round, Barker was heading fast to the front and running third. Seven rounds later his was a little car winner, taking his second victory after towing over three hours from the Syracuse, N.Y. area with buddy and four-time winner Don Fenner.
Kellie Mason, who’s knocked off a couple main events this season, led briefly after chasing early Chris Steele, who ended his night spinning out in Turn 4.
Scott Billing, hoping to defend his championship, rolled in third while Wayne Robins was fourth.
The four cylinder crowd’s 15-lap war was led entirely by point leader Trevor Goulding.
In back of the winner, cousin Rob was attempting to deflower Trevor, but came up short to settle for second. Paul Klager, consistently in the top three, finished in that position while Norm Mark’s mount came from way back to take fourth.
Young NASCAR driver Stanton Barrett of Bishop, Calif. points to one of his
sponsor's decals in the Rick Ware Nextel Cup car in the garage area at
Watkins Glen, N.Y. last weekend. Since qualifying was rained out, the team
was forced to pack up and head back to North Carolina. Ware operates
Bicknell Racing Products South.
(Photo by Bruce Bonham)
Tail Pipes: For the first time, Merrittville staged a pit crew competition ... The crew of mod driver Rob Pietz came out on top. With head starter Barry Davidson away from his finish line post, Turn 1 flag man Bruce Hope, aided by Rob Divini. Terry McNeil handed the action in Hope’s Turn 1. Next Saturday new sponsors Lancaster, Brooks and Welch Barristers and Solicitors stage the weekly racing series which includes the final round of Ladies Race for the Cup and Fat Kat’s Kids Club back-to-school pizza party.
Caughtcha!! Former 1970s Merrittville racer Mike Granton sneaks a puff after vowing to quit the weed when his young mount Tyler McPherson won the August 2 special Hoosier 25-lap feature. Granton, who also worked in NASCAR after retiring from racing, describes himself as a closet smoker.
(Photo by Bruce Bonham)
RESULTS:
L. St. Amand Enterprises Modified (35 laps): PETE BICKNELL, Scott Wood, Todd Gordon, Larry Lampman, Brian Stevens, Robbie Krull, Rob Pietz, Fred Carleton, Paul Ashton,
Rick Richner, Don Spatorico, Jamie Turner, Tim Jones, Kenny Winfield, Bobby Davidson, Brad Malloy, Dan Miller, Pee Wee Evens, Greg Wilson, Richie Vinson, Gary Kruchka, Dwayne Winfield, Tim Murdock.
Heats: 1. Todd Gordon 2. Scott Wood 3. Richie Vinson.
Original Pizza Logs Sportsman (25 laps): WAYNE CONN, Jim Ruston, Martin Polhill, Billy Bleich. Adam Ferri, Chad Chevalier, Mike Ward, Joe Meisal, Boyd Mactavish, Mike Kruchka, Don Spiece, Dave Flannigan, Bob Winter, Rick St. Pierre, Darren Zumpe, Tom Flannigan, Dennis Giancola, Boyd MacTavish, Dereck Lemyre, Billy Willard, Mike Bowman.
Heats: 1. Jim Ruston 2. Chad Chevalier 3. Martin Polhill.
Hoosier Street Stocks (15 laps): PETER REID, Brad Sheehan, Ron Kingsbury, Dave Gifford, Kirk Wilson, Tyler McPherson, Rob Knapp, Rob Murray, Dave Dykstra, Mike Dooley, John Johnson, Ed Fargnoli, Rick Simmons, Russ Davidson, Danielle Landry, Rick Beales, Kevin Kocarik, Greg Ayres, Bill Hogue, Josh Murgach, Graham MacKay, Terry Larmet, Rick Champigny, Travis Braun.
Heats: 1. Ron Kingsbury 2. Dave Dykstra 3. Greg Ayres.
Seneca Casino Dwarf Cars (15 laps): JEFF BARKER, Kellie Mason, Scott Billing, Wayne Robins, Wally billing, Don Fenner, Dave Russell, Shawn Sliter, Derek Bredin, Rick Brubacker, Chris Steele, Mark Brighton, Justin Sharp, Dave Arnold, Ray Sliter, Dave Ackler, Kory Howe, Bob Bredin, Ken Knapp.
Heats: 1. Kellie Mason 2. Jeff Barker.
Four cylinder (15 laps): TREVOR GOULDING, Rob Goulding, Paul Klager, Norm Mark, Glenn Leinen, Mike Giberson, Gord Bates, Tony Kelly, James Wood, Dave Small, Larry Erskine, Mark Swayze, Vic Mealing, Bob Brown, Carey Gore, Bob Overholt, Roger Shenstone.
Heats: 1. Norm Mark 2. Glenn Leinen.
Pit Crew Competition: Rob Pietz’ team.