WOOD, CONN AND MCGREADY BECOME MERRITTVILLE THREE-TIME WINNERS
By Bruce Bonham
Triple feature winners ended up in Merrittville Speedway’s victory lane Saturday, as Scott Wood, Wayne Conn and Dolf McGready all produced hat tricks after five nights of racing.
Wood, whose charge to the front is becoming commonplace, tussled with the pack from 18th starting position to get by Chad Brachmann, then Richie Vinson of Sanborn, N.Y.
“I just bided my time, waited for the openings,” said Wood after getting squirted with champagne from his exuberant crew. “And I got the engine that can make it happen.”
Wood’s greatest challenge in the 35-lapper came from Brachmann – at Merrittville instead of a rained out Canadaigua where he regularity runs big block mods Saturdays. The pair went side-by-side in the closing stages, before a slower car thwarted the North Tonawanda’s bid for the lead
In the early fray, rookie Boyd MacTavish held the point before he was overhauled by another rookie, Randy Chrysler of Tuscarora, N.Y. and Vinson.
On the second lap, veteran driver Don Turner hushed the 1,200 fans when he caught the Turn 1 lip and rolled, emerging uninjured.
Conn’s brilliant car control was evident as the three-time sportsman 25-lap main event winner shook off Billy Willard’s front spot at the start-finish line on with three circuits remaining.
“Even though we picked the wrong gear tonight,” Conn said after, “The car was really hooked up tonight. I could make it work anywhere on the track.”
Once Conn broke free of the top 10 cluster, fans watched close, fast driving from Adam Ferri and Tim Jones, who sped by for third on the final lap.
Dolf McGready also joined the exclusive three-win club, coming from deep in the street stock pack to notch another.
“I got lucky on the restart,” said McGready, who won a three-wide battle after the Lap 9 caution to take over for good. “Once I got clear, that was it.”
Moving up to second after 15 laps, Mike Dooley, now tied in points with the winner, scrambled with fourth-place finisher Jerry Deschamps, then turned the screws on Kevin Kocarik.
Wayne Robbins’ two position penalty for jumping the start of the 15-lap dwarf car feature didn’t count for much, zooming into the lead eight laps in. Dave Ackler’s little pickup replica charged up to third, while mike Brubacker hung in for third.
Glen Leinen captured his first four cylinder 15-lap main. Slipping by Robbie Rouse two laps in, holding him off and going the distance. The Mark brothers, Norm and last week’s winner Jeff, were third and fourth respectively.
Tail Pipes: Former MP Mel Swart, Niagara’s oldest race fan at 84 at Canada’s old dirt track presented each feature winner with a $100 bonus ... An hour before race time, rain pelted the speedway, causing a 20 minute delay and dust-free track ... Double sportsman winner Stewart Friesen’s car soured in the heat ... He used Mike Kruchka’s racer to finish 10th, but dropped to third in points.
SATURDAY’S RESULTS
Modified (35 laps): Scott Wood, Richie Vinson, Chad Brachmann, Robbie Krull, Rich Richner, Jamie Turner, Larry Lampman, Randy Chrysler, Billy Krull, Boyd MacTavish, Rob Pietz, Pete Cosco, Brian Stevens, Jayson Boyle, Gary Kruchka, Paul Ashton, Todd Gordon, Joe Meisel, Kenny Winfeild, Mark Goulding, Gene Cevaer, Brad Rouse, Brad Gravestock, Mike Bliss, Don Turner.
Heats: 1. Boyd MacTavish; 2. Rob Pietz; 3. Joe Meisel
Sportsman (25 laps): Wayne Conn. Billy Willard, Tim Jones, Adam Ferri, Dereck Lemyre, Darrell Ebersole, Billy Bleich, Dennis Giancola, Don Spiece, Stewart Friesen, Blair Young, Dean Hoffman, Brad Malloy, Mike Ward, John McKenney, Lee Mallory, Greg Wilson, Kevin Sharpe, Doug Spiece.
Heats: 1. Brad Malloy; 2. Mike Ward; 3. Adam Ferri.
Street Stocks (15 laps): Dolf McGready, Mike Dooley, Kevin Kocarik, Jerry Deschamps, Kirk Wilson, Rob Murray, Ron Kingsbury, Rick Champigny, Peter Reid, Dave Gifford, Ed Fargnoli, Jeff Cook, Tom Haughton, A.J. Lewis.
Heats: 1. Jerry Deschamps; 2. Ron Kingsbury.
Dwarf Cars (15 laps): Wayne Robbins,. Dave Ackler,. Mike Brubacker,. Scott Billing, Wally Billing, Chris Rimmen, Ray Webber, Kellie Mason, Derek Breden, Justine Sharp, Bob Breden, Rob Knapp, Mark Brighton, Ken Robbins.
Heats: 1. Scott Billing; 2. Mike Brubacker.
Four Cylinder (15 Laps): Glen Leinen, Robbie Rouse,. Norm Mark,. Jeff Mark, Mike Giberson, Roger Shenstone, Craig Erskine, Gord Bates, Brian Lawrie, Trevor Goulding, Mike Evers, Dave Margin, Brad Cronkwright.
Heats:1. Jeff Mark; 2. Norm Mark
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CALL MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY - 905-892-8266 - or check out our Web site at www.merrittvillespeedway.com