ADAM FERRI MAKES THE MOVES!

(By Bruce Bonham)

(Photo courtesy of Monique's Photography Photos)

THOROLD, ON —Adam Ferri proved he’s serious this year about the DIRT Sportsman Tour, taking Merrittville Speedway’s Victoria Day opening-tour, grueling 50-lap holiday headliner.

Biding his time in the caution-fest from 10th starting position, Ferri, still driving somewhat injured from a pre-season industrial accident — which broke his left hand in several places — moved up to the top five just shy of mid-way mark. Picking off early leader Mike Ward, then Bobby Davidson and sliding under Greg Panunte on Lap 36, the Fort Erie hustler then aimed his No. 1F toward Boyd MacTavish, leader from the Lap 8 restart..

With a mere four laps to the end of the endurance test, Ferri capitalized a lapped car’s blocking position and crossed the line a winner.

“This is our home turf, and I’m glad we got it (the races) in tonight. The track was awesome. Everyone did a great job,” lamented Ferri in Victory Lane, slightly tuckered out from the hard race which was interrupted by nine cautions.

“We were just trying to time the lapped cars so I could pick my spots coming through, “he continued. “And it worked out good for me. Boyd ran up on the back of the lapped car a little too quick and it worked out good for us.”

Ferri said MacTavish was a good, clean runner and didn’t think he could make the pass without the help of the back marker.

Scott George crossed the border to stage a great drive, using his backup car, starting 26th and finishing third behind MacTavish. Defending Original Pizza Logs Sportsman champ, Wayne Conn, also worked his way to the front runners, fifth behind Davidson.

Early leader Mike Ward and out-of-towner Brian Sage got together on the front stretch, touching front wheels. Ward got the worse of that, hitting the wall hard and destroying his No. 95's front end. He was uninjured.

Ten BRP Can-Am Super Stocks came to Merrittville to stage a prelude to their tour event July 1. In the dash-for-cash, 2000 track pro stock champ Darren Kish took off from the outside pole and led all 10 circuits, followed by Andy Miller of Wellsville, N.Y. and Salamanca, N.Y.’s Tom Rockwell. Pete Bicknell started fifth in his first super stock ride, taking the green flag seventh.

In the 35-lap L. St. Amand Enterprises Modified skirmish, The Doctor, Danny Johnson, battled to the front, checking out on second-place finisher Larry Lampman Jr. Johnson, who ordinarily drives Friday nights at Ransomville in the St. Catharines-based Mike Maroney BRP mount — the same car that was instrumental in Stewart Friesen’s top ride Stateside this season.

“This is working out great for us in the Bicknell car. It’s our third win this season,” said Johnson, who’s brother Alan was 1998 Merrittville mod champ under the same car owner. “With the car based here in St. Catharines, I’m sure we’ll be back a few times more.”

At the outset, Chad Brachmann, a three-time sportsman title holder here before moving up, and defending champ Lampman staged an eight-lap side-by-side duel, swapping the lead, before the North Tonawanda, N.Y. speeder broke away leading. A Lap 14 spin with a left rear flat ended Brachmann’s chances. Bicknell, on the tear to the front, took third, while New Yorkers Richie Vinson and Robbie Krull settled their late-race score with Krull taking fourth.

Former Kart champ, Tyler McPherson staged a stunning Hoosier Stocks’ upset when he held off Kevin Kocarik to win in only his fourth race. The youngster stormed up to the front after starting from the seventh row of the 25-car maze.

With Kocarik taking the lead at the Lap 7 restart, McPherson, grandson of veteran Sandy McPherson and father of former driver and Turn 3 corner flagman Guy, took his Mike Granton Camaro to the point just before the yellow flew on Lap 11, checkered flagging at exactly midnight to celebrated in Victory Lane the next day..

“This is pretty awesome,” said McPherson, perhaps a little timid in The Lane the first time and remembering a near disaster when bobbling at Turn 2 with Kocarik right there to pounce past the youngster. “I think I should get the whole day off school after this!”

John Johnson moved up to third in the closing stages of the 15 lapper, ahead of early leader Russ Davidson.

Once Scott Billing got to the front of the Niagara Seneca Casino Dwarf Car 15-lap feature’s flock, he cruised to his third little-car win, distancing Dave Ackler and Dave Russell. On the seventh lap Derek Bredon’s miniature coach caught fire at the fourth turn. He clambered out of the little coupe okay.

Last year’s Four Cylinder champ, Glen Leinen appeared to be back in winning form after leading the 15-lap feature until Trevor Goulding nosed by with three laps remaining. Karter Paul Klager posted another top five finish, crossing the stripe third.

Tail Pipes: About the time the rain started (5:30), four cylinder driver Carey Gore and Trudy Goodfellow, both of Niagara Falls, tied the knot on the front stretch before friends, family and curious fans filing in for the holiday card. With rain threatening to spoil the night, yeoman’s work by track staff got the speedway ready for the start at 8:20 p.m. ... The night-ending mod race was pushed ahead of the Hoosier Stockers because of noise during the late hour. An electrical hiccup which flashed the power on-and-off further delayed the show, waiting for lights to power up ... The midnight ending was a record in recent memory. This Saturday, Niagara Lions Club and member Glen Rolston dish out some extra cash for a special modified dash-for-cash. Once again twin modified features fill the card, making up for last weeks rain-shortening program.

RESULTS:

Original Pizza Logs Sportsman (DIRT Tour - 50 laps): ADAM FERRI, Boyd MacTavish, Scott George, Bobby Davidson, Wayne Conn, Greg Panunte, Rob Ledingham, Kevin Wells, Mark Schulz, Eldon Payne, Brian Sage, Billy Bleich, Russ Hefty, Dennis Giancola, Scott Kerwin, Billy Willard, John McKenney, Kyle Inman, Darrell Ebersole, Stan Zanchin, Loren Lincoln, Don Wetmore, Dick Park, Darren Zumpe, Don Spiece, Rick St. Pierre, Mike Ward, George Bossy, Martin Polhill, Chad Chevalier.

Heats: 1. Don Spiece 2. Mike Ward 3. Boyd MacTavish.

Consolations: 1. Kyle Inman 2. John McKenney.

BRP Can-Am Super Stocks (10 laps): DARREN KISH, Andy Miller, Tom Rockwell, Kyle Bradigan, Ron Baker, Pete Bicknell, Bob Babbit, Neil Patterson, Justin Chaddock.

Heats: 1. Bruce Miller 2. Darren Kish

St. Amand Modified (35 laps): DANNY JOHNSON, Larry Lampman, Pete Bicknell, Robbie Krull, Richie Vinson, Brian Stevens, Todd Gordon, Ricky Richner, Fred Carleton, Scott Wood, Chad Brackmann, Rob Pietz, Tim Jones, Pete Cosco, Brad Malloy, Paul Ashton, Dwayne Winfeild, Gary Kruchka, Corey Gruhl, Ken Winfield, Sam Grogan.

Heats: 1. Larry Lampman 2. Chad Brachmann 3. Danny Johnson

Hoosier Street Stocks (15 laps): TYLER MCPHERSON, Kevin Kocarik, John Johnson, Russ Davidson, Rick Beales, Dave Dykstra, Rob Murray, Terry Larmet, Brad Sheehan, Ron Kingsbury, Mike Dooley, Greg Ayres, Ed Fargnoli, Danielle Landry, Peter Reid, No. 9, Travis Braun, Graham Mackay, J.P Gosselin, Chris Schneider, Paul Morin, Rob Knapp DAQ..

Heats: 1. Greg Ayres 2. Ron Kingsbury 3. Dave Dykstra

Seneca Casino Dwarf Cars (15 laps): SCOTT BILLING, Dave Ackler, Dave Russell, Justin Sharp, Kellie Mason, Chris Steele, Shawn Sliter, Dave Arnold, Bob Bredon, Bill Perry, Kory Howe, Ken Knapp, Dennis Kemper, Ray Sliter, Wayne Robins, Derek Bredon, Wally Billing, Scott Brighton, Rick Brubacker.

Heats: 1. Shawn Sliter 2. Dave Russell

Four cylinder (15 laps): TREVOR GOULDING, Dan Erskine, Paul Klager, Mike Giberson, Kevin Soules, Jeff Mark, Tony Kelly, Vic Mealing, Carey Gore, Roger Shenstone, Tom Overholt, Larry Erskine, Gord Bates, Norm Mark

Heats: 1. Tony Kelly 2. Norm Mark