POINTS RACES HEAT UP AS SUMMER COOLS OFF AT MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY

Thorold, Ontario…August 24th…Flying Brian Stevens held off Pete Bicknell for the modified feature win, Norm Mark took the checkered over the field of 22 mini stocks, and Dolph McCready went from 12th to first to win the street stock feature. Jeff Dayman survived a rocky prostock feature to bring home the checkered flag, and Adam Ferri outran the pack of sportsmen for the win. Pete Bicknell’s second place finish was enough to secure an unprecedented 16th Merrittville Speedway modified track championship. Doug Rose’s Green Momba wowed the crowd as jet fuel met steel in a spectacular show of flame, sparks and meltdowns. It all happened on Competition Speed Supply night at Merrittville Speedway.

The mini stocks were the first to hit the track and Norm Mark took the early lead. Caution came out on the track on the first lap as a car swooped off the back side of the race track. Jim Swing slid into the lead on the restart but Mark had it back before five laps were done. Another caution on six was caused by Mike Giberson losing a wheel, and Roy Rinne blowing up and dropping fuel all over the track. Mark lost control of his car coming in turn three on lap 10, but slid the rest of the field up, and held the lead.

Swing lost three positions in the corner, but within two laps had his positions back. Mark held onto it for the checkered and was followed in by Blair Young, Swing, Tom Beales and Doug Erskine.

Ron Kingsbury took the early lead in the street stock feature, with Jerry Deschamps knocking on his back door. The top five after five laps were: Kingsbury, Rick Champigny, Jerry Deschamps, Kevin Kocarik, and Russ Davidson. Deschamps moved into the lead out of turn two on the sixth lap, but Champigny took the lead out of turn four. Dolph McCready started charging around the race cars, and had manoeuvred up to third after seven laps. McCready moved into the lead out of turn four on lap 11. Aaron Vasas made a late charge through the field and came around into second spot on lap 12.

McCready held onto it for his fourth feature win of the season and was followed in by Vasas, Deschamps, Kocarik and Kirk Wilson.

Rick Baker jumped positions as the green flag fell, and then proceeded to take out Butch Zimmerman as they came around for the completion of the first lap, and was sent tail for his troubles. On the second lap, Dan Gilbert lost control in turn one and collected Dereck Lemyre, Jay Tries and Bill Gill. After the green came out, Steve Devos moved into the lead with Jeff Dayman right behind him. Mike Ward blew up in turn two on lap 9 and pulled into the infield after running third. The top five after ten laps were: Devos, Dayman, Baker, Lemyre and Zimmerman. Devos went high in turn four as they came around for the checkered, and very quickly slid from first to third. Dayman took his third prostock feature win of the season – his 2nd in a row.

Dennis McCarthy, plant manager from Hayes-Dana in Thorold was the honorary starter for the sportsman feature, and as he waved the green, Rob Knapp and Gary Kruchka led the field around. Knapp maintained the lead through the first five laps of the 25-lap feature. Bill Bleich looped it around in turn four bringing out the caution on lap seven. Another yellow on ten as Darren Zumpe spun out in turn one. The top five after ten laps were: Knapp, Adam Ferri, Chad Chevalier, Boyd MacTavish and Stewart Friesen. Ferri pulled into the lead on the restart. Rob Pietz found himself in sixth spot after 12 laps. Pietz moved into third after going into turn three three-wide. The yellow was back out on the track on lap 15 as Doug Spiece and Brad Malloy spun out in turn one. Pietz moved into second spot on lap 17. Ferri held onto it for his third sportsman feature win this season, and was followed in by Pietz, Friesen, Knapp and MacTavish.

Brian Stevens took the early lead in the modified feature. Chad Brachmann slid into fourth spot on lap seven out of turn four, ahead of Don Turner. Pete Bicknell was up to 7th after 11 laps. Bicknell broke the top five on lap 16. The top five at 20 were: Stevens, Todd Gordon, Brachmann, Larry Lampman and Bicknell. Brachmann slid into second spot on lap 25. Lapped pilot Chris Ricker blew up in turn three on lap 33, taking out Brachmann and Lampman with him. That left the spot open for Pete Bicknell to put the heat on race leader Stevens. Bicknell tried his best, but this was Stevens race. Stevens held him off for the final two laps and came home with his fourth feature win.

Action continues and the points race for DIRT divisions will be held next Saturday – August 31st when Hoosier Tire Canada presents Bicknell Racing Products 50 lap 358 Season Championship. Sportsmen and Pro Stock points championships decided plus street stocks and dwarfs. It’s Photo/Autograph night too and kids – bring back your colouring contests, as a winner will be decided. For more information call 905-892-8266 or visit merrittvillespeedway.com.

358-Modified Final: Brian Stevens, Pete Bicknell, Todd Gordon, Jamie Turner, Scott Wood, Greg Panunte, Robbie Krull, Rick Richner, Chad Brachmann, Don Turner, Pete Cosco, Brad Rouse, Larry Lampman, Chris Ricker, Dwayne Winfield, Paul Ashton.; Heat 1: Todd Gordon, Heat 2: Chad Brachmann

Sportsman Final: Adam Ferri, Rob Pietz, Stewart Friesen, Rob Knapp, Boyd MacTavish, Chad Chevalier, Wayne Conn, Tammy Willard, John McKenney, Gary Kruchka, Darren Zumpe, Brad Malloy, Bobby Davidson, Bill Bleich, Stan Zanchin, Doug Spiece, Guy Bougie, and Jeff Leggett.; Heat 1: Adam Ferri, Heat 2: Chad Chevalier

Pro Stock Final: Jeff Dayman, Rick Baker, Steve Devos, Dereck Lemyre, Butch Zimmerman, Tom Green, Dan Gilbert, Mike Ward, Bill Gill, Jay Tries.; Heat 1: Mike Ward, Heat 2: Jeff Dayman

Street Stock Final: Dolph McCready, Aaron Vasas, Jerry Deschamps, Kevin Kocarik, Kirk Wilson, Russ Davidson, Mike Dooley, J.T. Miller, Rick Simons, Ed Fargnoli, Peter Reid, Peter Plante, Rick Champigny, Barry Blanchard, Ron Kingsbury, Jason Fontaine, Brian Seban.; Heat 1: Rick Champigny, Heat 2: Russ Davidson

Mini Stocks Final: Norm Mark, Blair Young, Jim Swing, Tom Beales, Doug Erskine, Glen Leinen, 111, Rob Goulding, Dave Magrin, Craig Erskine, Jeff Mark, Roger Shenstone, Bryan Sweers, Mark Swayze, Bob Gill, Larry Erskine, 72f, 8p, Mike Giberson, Roy Rinne, Dan Stewart, Gord Bates; Heat 1: Jim Swing, Heat 2: Norm Mark