BICKNELL’S TRADITIONALLY TEAR NETS WIN IN NEW 2004X
By Bruce Bonham
Pete Bicknell was up to his old tricks at Merrittville Speedway Saturday, coming from the rear of the 24-car modified field and ending up in victory lane at the end of 35 laps.
Bicknell, co-owner of the speedway and builder of the race cars he drives, has sat out most of the season. Now he’s back on the local track testing new equipment.
Friday at Ransomville (N.Y.) Speedway Bicknell’s new2004X model was a slug.
“It’s the same car,” said Bicknell before almost 3,000 sticky-weather fans. “We made some changes we knew would work for tonight. We’ve been struggling, but after this race, things are looking up.”
Sanborn pilot Rich Vinson was once again denied a win, leading 33 laps before the No. 42 slipped by. At Ransomville he led all but the final circuit when Stewart Friesen one his first mod race.
“If these races were shorter, I’d be a winner,” said the good-natured Vinson after leading 61 laps without a win, and then being bumped to third here when Scott Wood sped by for second.
Larry Lampman maintained his point lead with a fourth-place finish.
The final 50 metres of the sportsman 25-lap clash was a thriller when Billy Willard and John McKenney roared out of Turn 4 side-by-side. Willard won his second straight main, this time by a nose.
“When John and Wayne (title leader Conn) where scrambling for the lead, I knew I had two laps to take my car as far as it would go,” said the veteran racer who also came from the rear of the field after a Lap 1, Turn 4 mix up with Chad Chevalier.
McKenney held off Conn for second, while Adam Ferri produced another good night in fourth.
In the Southern Ontario Sprint Car dust up, Warren Mahoney of Defroy swept the night, winning his heat, dash for cash and held off Tim Philips of Grand Island, N.Y. to win the 20 lapper. Early leader Kyle Patrick of Tilbury crossed the line third.
While Kevin Kocarik was leading the last 13 circuits of the15-lap street stock skirmish, the action was hot and heavy behind.
At one point, seven cars where bunched in three-wide racing, all fighting for second. With Rob Murray chasing Kocarik, Dolf McCready shook loose from the pack to reach third and cling to the title chase.
Even though Glen Leinen was another driver starting from the rear when spinning in the early going, he still managed to drive up to second, having nothing for second-time 15-lap four cylinder feature winner Robbie Rounce. Rick Beales, who led the opening laps fell to third.
Tail Pipes: Chuck Hossfeld took over Bicknell’s spare car and finished a respectable 17th ... The Ransomville, N.Y. resident who’s a former Jack Rouse Craftsmen Series Truck driver and currently field is own modified at the paved Lancaster Speedway, near Buffalo, plus a few wins this season in the NASCAR Feather-Lite series, said his dirt track experience before Saturay was the walk through the pits to Bicknell awaiting car ... After many instructions from Bicknell and crew, Hossfeld enjoyed the drive, proving that a good driver can handle most anything.
The sportsman crew received extra cash for their main event in special sponsor bonuses ... Ashley Taws is scheduled to appear at Merrittville next Saturday ... Taws, 19, of Newmarket is the Canadian Formula Ford driver of the pink Barbie-Doll-sponsored racer ... She have her car at the track, sign autographs and try out Bicknell’s back up car.
Veteran racer Brian Stevens was out of action this weekend due to an accident at home when suffering a fall during the Thursday electrical backout.
RESULTS
Modified (35 laps): PETE BICKNELL, Scott Wood, Richie Vinson, Larry Lampman, Randy Chrysler, Dan Miller, Jamie Turner, Jason Boyle, Rob Pietz, Fred Carleton, Todd Goron, Chris Ricker, Brad Rouse, Tim Murdock, Kenny Winfield, Pete Cosco, Chuck Hossfeld, Brad Gravestock, Dwayne Winfield, Robbie Krull, Boyd MacTavish, Don Spatorico, Rick Richner, Paul Ashton.
Heats: 1. Todd Gordon; 2. Boyd MacTavish; 3. Richie Vinson.
Sportsman (25 laps): BILLY WILLARD, John McKenney, Wayne Conn, Adam Ferri. Tim Jones, Darren Zumpe, Mike Ward, Chad Chevalier, Martin Pohill, Bobby Davidson, Stan Zanchin, Don Spiece, Dereck Lemyre, Dennis Giancola, Mike Kruchka, Blair Young, Dean Hoffman.
Heats: 1. Stan Zanchin; 2. Wayne Conn.
SOS Sprints (20 Laps): WARREN MAHONEY, Tim Philips, Kyle Patrick, Keith Dempster, Glen Styres, Kevin Loveys, Jim Porter, Mark Schulz, Bob Crawford, Phil Armishaw, Paul Ballentyne, Peter Ucci, (12), Curt Sherwood, Dave MacLeod, Joel Lehman, Dick Mahoney.
Heats: 1. Kyle Patrick; 2. Warren Mahoney - Dash: Warren Mahoney
Street Stocks (15 laps): KEVIN KOCARIK, Rob Murray, Dolf McCready, Greg Ayres. Ron Kingsbury, Rick Champigny, Ed Fargnoli, Carl Saunders, Kirk Wilson, Jens Mortensen, Mike Dooley, Peter Reid, Paul Plante, Wayne Paquette.
Heats: 1.Peter Reid; 2. Ron Kingsbury
Four Cylinder (15 Laps): ROBBIE ROUNCE, Glen Leinen, Rick Beales, Mike Giberson, Alex Wheeldon, Trevor Goulding, Cherri Turner, Roger Shenstone, Robert Allerellie, Vic Mealing, Stan Farmer, Craig Erskine, Gord Bates, Norm Mark.
Heats:1. Robbie Rounce; 2. Rick Beales.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CALL MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY - 905-892-8266 - or visit our Web site: www.merrittvillespeedway.com