SCOTT WOOD PICKS UP A LAST-LAP WIN AT MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY

by Bruce Bonham

THOROLD, ONT - MAY 10 — Larry Lampman felt the agony of defeat at Merrittville Speedway when Scott Wood barged by two turns from the end of Saturday’s 35 lap modified feature.

It was a heartbreaking finish for the Port Colborne racer after working his way through the 23-car pack, finally passing Wood at the Lap 27 restart. driver

After the sixth and final Lap 33 caution for a five-car, Turn 1 pile up, the dueling pair made contact entering the back chute with Wood sliding through Turns 3 and 4 for the checkered flag.

“We had a little bit of rain on the track and the car just got out from under me,” said Wood, explaining there was no intention of knocking Lampman out of the lead when asked if he might have drifted up a little high at Turn 2. “Oh no, nothing like that, you guys know me better than that.”

Lampman, whose car broke a right-front brake line at the restart and couldn’t drive as hard into the final turn, didn’t think the contact was necessary.

“I still managed a good run off Turn 4,” said Lampman. “It would have been interesting without Wood’s hit.”

Rich Richner of Niagara Falls, N.Y. grabbed the lead from Jamie Turner in the early going, finishing third, while Brian Stevens held fourth and last week’s winner Robbie Krull of Lockport, N.Y. took fifth after a good drive from deep in the pack.

Pete Cosco, off a strong Ransomville Speedway run Friday, was black flagged when his brake rotor caught fire. The veteran returned to finish 10th.

Wayne Conn capped off a perfect sportsman weekend, repeating his Friday Oshwegan victory. After overhauling rookie Derek Lemyre and Adam Ferri at Lap 14, Conn went the remaining distance.

Stewart Friesen -- off his Ransomville win Friday -- spun on Lap 7, to restart at the rear of the field, but sped to the finish line second at the end of 25 laps, ahead of hard-charging Tim Jones of Hamburg, N.Y. and Billy Willard – fourth here after spending all day repairing a blown engine from Ransomville’s Friday feature.

Last year’s Street Stock champ Kirk Wilson led the early going before he slid backwards with mechanical problems, fading to 12th, and giving the point to last week’s 15-lap feature winner, Rob Murray. Mike Dooley drove clean and mean to come up to second, while Kevin Kocarik’s 7k flagged third.

After holding off the a snarling pack of dwarf cars and enduring seven restarts, defending champ Wally Billing of Elmira emerged from his little racer an exhausted winner of the 15 lapper.

“Phew, this wasn’t easy,” said Billing. “The car had a bad push and I had to drive it hard into the corners to stay ahead.”

Billings brother Scott threatened to beat the champ, but was eventually passed by second-place finisher, Lewiston, N.Y.’s Chris Rimmen.

Norm Mark of Fort Erie became a two-time winner, taking the point of the 15-lap four cylinder main when passing Roger Shenstone at the Lap 4 restart. Glenn Leinen of Binbrook came to the front to challenge, but settled for second ahead of Robbie Rouse.

Round one of the four-race ladies series was won convincingly by Christine Porter who checked out on the nine-car field. Defending champ Charlene Dooley drove to second.

Tail Pipes: With threatening skies and more chilly temps, 1,800 fans sat through another fast-paced show ... despite seven dwarf car cautions, a half dozen mod yellow flags, the added ladies race and a 10-minute rain delay, the program ended at 9:45 ... Jay Mallory had a close call last week when struck by a flying debris from Billy Bleich’s errant drive shaft, striking his shoulder and helmet - “It certainly rang my bell a little,” he said, praising his full-face head gear ... Rookie mod runner Rob Pietz sat out the feature after a blown engine, while Richie Vinson of Sanborn, N.Y. raced Randy Chrysler’s backup car after he also smoked his power plant. Rookie Pietz, who won strong at Ransomville said it was the first time he finished a Big R race in over 15 years. Next Saturday, CAA member appreciation night with a full card, then a special 50-lap Syracuse qualifier modified 50 Victoria Day (Canada) Monday with a special $500 half-way bonus.

RESULTS

Modified (35 laps): 1. Scott Wood; 2. Larry Lampman; 3. Rich Richner; 4. Brian Stevens; 5. Robbie Krull; 6. Billy Krull; 7. Joe Meisel; 8. Todd Gordon; 9. Richie Vinson; 10. Pete Cosco; 11. Kenny Winfeild; 12. Mark Golding; 13. Brad Gravestock; 14. Brad Rouse; 15. Randy Chrysler; 16. Boyd MacTavish; 17. Gary Kruchka; 18. Jason Boyle; 19. Jamie Turner; 20. Chris Ricker.

Sportsman (25 laps): 1. Wayne Conn 8c; 2. Stewart Friesen 10a; 3. Tim Jones 9; 4. Billy Willard 77; 5. Darrel Ebersole 43; 6. Derek Lemyre; 7. Rod Ledingham; 8. Billy Bleich; 9. Doug Spiece; 10. Blair Young; 11. Brad Malloy; 12. Adam Ferri; 13. Bob Davidson; 14. Kevin Sharpe; 15. Mike Ward; 16. Jay Mallory.

Street Stocks (15 laps): 1. Rob Murray; 2. Mike Dooley; 3. Kevin Kocarik; 4. Peter Reid; 5. Greg Ayres; 6. Dave Gifford; 7. Jerry Deschamps; 8. Rick Simons; 9. Ron Kingsbury; 10. Terry Larmet; 11. Jeff Cook; 12. Kirk Wilson; 13 Dave Dykstra; 14. Aaron Vasas; 15. Tom Haughton; 16. Ed Fargnoli; 17. Dolf McGready.

Dwarf Cars (15 laps): 1. Wally Billing; 2. Chris Rimmen; 3. Scott Billing; 4. Ray Webber; 5. Mike Brubacker; 6. Derek Breden; 7. Mark Brighton; 8. John Wrobel; 9. Justine Sharp; 10. Bob Breden; 11. Rob Knapp; 12. Greg Belyea; 13. Jeff Johnson; 14. Wayne Robbins; 15. Kellie Mason; 16. Ken Robbins.

Four Cylinder (15 Laps): 1. Norm Mark; 2. Glenn Leinen; 3. Tom Beales; 4. Mike Giberson; 5. Jeff Mark; 6. Alex Weeldon; 7. Roger Shenstone; 8. Rick Beales; 9. Brian Lawrie; 10. Bob Brown; 11. Trevor Gouding.

Ladies Series (8 laps): 1. Christine Porter; 2. Charlene Dooley; 3. Darlene Gifford; 4. Julie Davidson; 5. Kelly Murray. 6. Kellie Murray; 7. Karen Kocarik; 8. Danielle Landry; 9. Marti Wilson; 10. Kim Como.

TOP 10 POINTS STANDINGS

Modified: 1. Larry Lampman, 112; 2. Scott Wood, 110; 3. Robbie Krull, 108; Brian Stevens, 92; 5. Todd Gordon, 90; 6. Rick Richner, 86; 7. Boyd MacTavish, 80; 8. Randy Chrysler, 80; 9. Pete Cosco; 10. Joe Meisel, 72.

Sportsman: 1. Wayne Conn - Stewart Friesen, 116 (tie); 3. Darrell Ebersole, 100; 4. Tim Jones, 98; 5. Billy Willard, 94 6. Rob Ledingham, 84; 7. Adam Ferri, 80; 8. Doug Speice, 72; Darren Zumpe, 20; Blair Young, 68.

Street Stock: 1. Rob Murray, 120; 2 Mike Dooley, 108; 3. Peter Reid, 98; 4. Kevin Kocarik, 96; 5. Jerry Deschamps, 94; 6. Dave Gifford-Greg Ayres, 88 (tie); 8. Terry Larmet, 84; 9. Dolf McGready, 82; 10. Jeff Cook, 70.

Dwarf Cars: 1. Ray Webber, 100; Chris Rimmen, 98; 3. Mike Brubacker-Wally Billing, 96 (tie); 5. Greg Belyea, 94 6. Derek Breden, 92; 7. John Wrobel-Wayne Robbins-Scott Billing, 86 (tie); 10. Justine Sharp, 80.

Four Cylinder: 1. Norm Mark, 120; 2. Robbie Ruse-Glenn Leinen, 108 (tie); 4. Jeff Mark, 98; 5. Roger Shenstone, 90; 6. Alex Weeldon, 86; 7. Larry Erskine, 80; 8. Rick Beales, 72; 9. Trevor Goulding, 70; 10. Mike Giberson, 50.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CALL MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY - 905-892-8266 www.merrittvillespeedway.com