BICKNELL BACK IN WINNER’S CIRCLE AFTER 50 LAPS
By Bruce Bonham
Thorold, ONT - When Pete Bicknell strapped on his helmet Monday at Merrittville Speedway for the Victoria Day 50-lap modified Syracuse qualifier special, he says its doesn’t matter who owns the track – he’s there to race.
Bicknell, who took possession of the 52-year-old speedway in early March with partner Randy Williamson, slid high in Turn 2 to pass early leader Brian Stevens and went the remaining 41 out front.
“There was no coasting in this run,” said Bicknell, explaining he learned from Saturday’s race a little mistake will set you back.
“I saw Larry (Lampman) come up to me in Turn 2 near the end and he went into three hard. I got back into my rhythm. I had to watch the lapped cars.”
Lampman who’s notched two seconds and a third, charged to second at half distance, while two-time winner Scott Wood also roared to the front, but settled for third, ahead of Stevens.
Stewart Friesen jumped to the Sportsman point lead after convincingly winning his second 25-lap main event when rocketing into the lead after a Lap 9 restart.
“It’s a very aggressive field here (26 cars started) and I just took it easy t begin with,” said the opening night winner, joking he had to catch up to his 18-year-old cousin James Michael Friesen who’s won four straight quarter midget features this season.
When the green flag waved, a mid-pack tangle at the start-finish line destroyed back-to-back winner Wayne Conn’s front end, forcing a complete restart.
Rookie Derek Lemyre maintained the point before Friesen took over. Don Ledingham, getting by Lemyre at the half way mark, followed the leader for second ahead of Billy Willard.
After starting a dozen cars behind the pole sitter, Dolf McGready persevered the top six cluster to win the 15-lap street stock skirmish, passing Peter Reid with one lap to go.
Reid held second while Ed Fargnoli passed Kirk Wilson for third. Once again Mike Dooley came from the rear of the 19-car pack to finish fifth to maintain his points lead.
The red flag flew at the start of the dwarf car 15 lapper when John Wrobel ended on his side after hitting the Turn 1 tire barrier.
The Hamburg, N.Y. veteran drove his car to the pits but was later was treated for a separated shoulder.
When racing resumed, Wayne Robbins checked out, leading the distance despite Scott Billing’s strong challenges. Dave Ackler of Welland was third.
Tail Pipes: Bicknell also won the $500 half-way cash, provided by Glenn Ralston’s Region 5 Lions Club ... Friesen won a welder from night’s sponsor Air Liquide in a special feature winners’ draw ... Pete Cosco suffered a blown head casket after hot laps and failed to make the feature ... Nineteen street stockers appeared for the feature, despite management deciding to including them in the holiday program Saturday ... Only out-of-town modified to appear was former sportsman champ Chad Brachmann of North Tonawanda, N.Y., finishing ninth ... Chilicthe, Ohio dwarf car racer Jerry Cushing towed seven hours to make the field, only to drop out in the little car feature’s early going ... The Victoria Day crowd was near-capacity at 2,750.
MONDAY’S RESULTS
Modified (50 laps): Pete Bicknell, Larry Lampman, Scott Wood. Brian Stevens, Robbie Krull, Todd Gordon, Rich Richner, Richie Vinson, Chad Brachmann, Rob Pietz, Jason Boyle, Boyd MacTavish, Jamie Turner, Ken Winfeild, Gary Kruchka, Randy Chrysler, Paul Ashton, Brad Rouse, Don Turner.
Sportsman (25 laps): Stewart Friesen, Don Ledingham, Billy Willard, Tim Jones, John McKenney, Adam Ferri, Kevin Wells, George Bossy, Darrell Ebersole, Derek Lemyre, Mike Ward, Billy Beich, Mike Kruchka, Bobby Davidson, Dennis Giancola, Paul Cunningham, Doug Spiece, Blair Young, Brad Malloy, Darren Zumpe, Tom Flannigan, Dean Hoffman, Greg Wilson, Jack McKenney, Don Spiece.
Street Stocks (15 laps): Dolf McGready, Peter Reid, Ed Fargnol, Kirk Wilson, Mike Dooley, Rob Murray, Dave Gifford, Rick Simons, Kevin Kacarik, Ron Kingsbury, Jerry Deschamps, J.T. Miller, Rich Champigny, Greg Ayres, Russ Davidson, Jeremy Wilson, Tom Haughton, Terry Larmet, John Murgich.
Dwarf Cars: Wayne Robbins, Scott Billing, Dave Ackler, Ray Webber, Chris Rimmen, Mark Brighton, Wally Billing, Derek Breden, Mike Brubacker, Kellie Mason, Bob Breden, Jerry Cushing, John Wrobel, Rob Knapp.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CALL MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY - 905-892-8266 - or check out our Web sit: GOTOBUTTON BM_1_ www.merrittvillespeedway.com