ROBBIE KRULL TWO-FOR-TWO AT MERRITTVILLE
By Bruce Bonham
THOROLD, ON - August 2 — After racing borrowed equipment the past few weeks, Robbie Krull drove his own car impressively to two Merrittville Speedway modified features Saturday.
Krull, of Cambria, N.Y. led the entire 35 laps in the opening feature — rain-delayed from last week — taking off on the 24-car field, until the Lap 27 caution for veteran Don Turner’s blown engine bunched the field.
Sanborn, N.Y. pilot Richie Vinson tried, unsuccessfully, to catch the leader, while Scott Wood out battled Pete Bicknell for third.
In the action-packed second 35-lap war, rookie Rob Pietz held the point until Krull came to the front from starting 14th to pass Pietz on a beautiful, Turn 4 slide job just past half way.
Pietz attempted to regain the lead, but once again Krull dominated and pulled away.
Brian Stevens, off his Ransomville win, then wrestled second from Pietz while Dan Miller was third on his strongest run of the season.
“The car was just awesome tonight, said Krull before 2,100 fans at his second trip to victory lane which jumped him two spots to third in title points.. “Winning here tonight is sweet after all the engine trouble we’ve had lately.
“We didn’t change the car much for the second race, the track stayed together all night. Everything was just awesome for us tonight.”
It took Tim Jones of Hamburg, N.Y. two race nights to win his second sportsman 25 lap main event, slowed by seven cautions.
Jones came on strong from mid pack, avoiding the Lap 12 pile up which put front runners — including five-feature winner Wayne Conn and Jack McKenney — to the rear of the field, passed early leader Adam Ferri, powering out of Turn 4 with 10 laps left.
“All the restarts made me a little nervous,” Jones said, “But our car was really hooked up tonight.”
Ferri stuck to second and 25-year veteran Billy Willard maintained third.
In the street stockers’ clash, Rob Murray won his fifth of the season, getting by Greg Ayres half way into the 15 lapper.
With the caution flag flying on the final lap, Murray out raced point leader Dolf McCready. Mike Dooley finished third.
Scott Billing somehow held off a strong challenge from Lewiston, N.Y. dwarf car racer Chris Rimmen, winning his first 15-lap feature of the season.
Rimmen wowed the crowd by coming to the front from eighth to second by the fourth turn, but settled for second. visiting little car pilot Jeff Burke of Woodstock copped third.
Glenn Leinen took over the points race by winning his fourth four cylinder 15 lapper, followed by Robbie Rouse and early leader Trevor Goulding.
Charlene Dooley made a brilliant Lap 3 pass over Christine Porter to the Round 2 of the ladies series.
RESULTS
Modified #1 (35 laps): ROBBIE KRULL, Richie Vinson, Scott Wood,.Pete Bicknell, Dan Miller, Rich Richner, Larry Lampman, Randy Chrysler, Boyd MacTavish, Pete Cosco, Rob Pietz, Brian Stevens, Brad Rouse, Chris Ricker, Fred Carleton, Paul Ashton, Glen Styres, Dwayne Winfield, Billy Krull, Don Turner, Jamie Turner, Kenny Winfield.
Modified #2 (35 laps): ROBBIE KRULL, Brian Stevens, Dan Miller, Rick Richner, Rob Pietz, Chad Brachmann, Larry Lampman, Boyd MacTavish, Billy Krull, Jamie Turner, Scott Wood, Pete Cosco, Richie Vinson, Fred Carleton, Todd Gordon, Pete Bicknell, Randy Chrysler, Glen Styres, Chris Ricker, Dwayne Winfield, Paul Ashton, Brad Rouse, Kenny Winfield.
*no heats.
Sportsman (25 laps): TIM JONES, Adam Ferri, Billy Willard, Bobby Davidson, Joe Meisal, Wayne Conn, Stan Zanchin, Paul Gaboury, Darren Ebersole, Chad Chevalier, Don Spiece, Dereck Lemyre, Dennis Giancola, Dean Hoffman, Mike Ward, Doug Spiece, Billy Bleich, John McKenney, Blair Young, Martin Pohill, Darren Zumpe.
Heats: 1. Darren Zumpe; 2. Tim Jones.
Street Stocks (15 laps): ROB MURRAY, Dolf McCready, Mike Dooley, Kevin Kocarik, Greg Ayres, Kirk Wilson, Carl Saunders, Rick Champigny, Ron Kingsbury, John Johnson, J.T. Miller, Peter Reid, Terry Larmet, Ed Fargnoli, Steve Shoop, Jens Mortensen, Gerry Deschamps, Jeff Burke.
Heats:1.Ed Fargnoli; 2. Carl Saunders
Dwarf Cars (15 laps): SCOTT BILLING, Chris Rimmen, Jeff Burke, Wayne Robbins, Mark Brighton, Dave Russell, Dave Ackler, Ray Webber, Ken Knapp, Dereck Breden, Wally Billing, John Wrobel, Kellie Mason, Rick Brubacker, Jason Corless, Nol King, Ken Robbins, Justin Sharp.
Heats: 1. Wally Billing; 2. Dave Ackler; 3. Scott Billing.
Four Cylinder (15 Laps): GLEN LEINEN, Robbie Rounce, Trevor Goulding, Rob Wagner, Doug Erskine, Rick Beales, Dave Bitner, Mike Giberson, Alex Wheeldon, Gord Bates, Larry Erskine, Roger Shenstone, Mark Swayze, Bob Brown.
Heats:1. Dave Bitner; 2. Trevor Goulding.
Ladies Series (8 laps):CHARLENE DOOLEY, Christine Porter, Karen Kocarik.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CALL MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY - 905-892-8266 - or visit our Web site: www.merrittvillespeedway.com