BICKNELL, CONN, LEMYRE, BILLING & MURRAY ALL REPEAT WINNERS AT MERRITTVILLE
It was Pen Centre night at the races and Pete Bicknell made it three in a row at taking the lead in the modified feature after starting 15th. This was Bicknell’s seventh win of the season. Three was the lucky number on Saturday night, as Rob Murray, Wally Billing, Dereck Lemyre and Wayne Conn won their third feature races in street stocks, dwarfs, pro stocks and sportsman respectively.
Rob Murray took the early lead in the street stock feature, and was never caught. Dolph McCready pulled into second spot on the third lap. After five laps the top five were: Murray, McCready, Ed Fargnoli, Rick Champigny and Aaron Vasas. The first caution on the track was on the sixth lap as JT Miller got turned around in turn one, and couldn’t get moving again. Vasas made a hard move through the field and landed in third on lap nine. Peter Reid broke on lap 12 as Jerry Deschamps spun himself out on the back chute, nearly visiting the pits early. Murray held the lead for the final three laps of the race, and was followed in by McCready, Vasas, Champigny and Fargnoli.
Heat 1: Dolph McCready
Heat 2: Mike Dooley
Final: Rob Murray, Dolph McCready, Aaron Vasas, Rick Champigny, Ed Fargnoli, Mike Dooley, Kevin Kocarik, Kirk Wilson, Tim Buck, Dave Dykstra, Rick Simons, Kyle Kirby, Russ Davidson, J.T. Miller, Barry Blanchard, Jerry Deschamps, Jens Mortensen, Peter Reid, and Ron Kingsbury
All of the dwarf cars were sporting black ribbons on Saturday night in memory of Rosemarie Webber wife of two-time dwarf champion Lee Webber. They also left the pole position open for one lap in the heats as well as the feature. Rick Brubacher started up front in the dwarf feature, but quickly fell back. Derek Bredin gained the early lead, but Wally Billing relieved him of it before crossing the start/finish line on the first lap. Chris Rimmen moved into second spot on lap two. Mark Brighton flew off the track on lap three. Brighton landed in the cornfield, and was so far away, that at a quick glance the track officials couldn’t see him. Brighton was fine, however it took almost the entire race to pull him out of the cornfield. Ackler powered around the outside of the track and was side by side with Billing for a short time, but quickly fell back again. The top five after five were: Billing, Rimmen, Dave Russell, Wayne Robins and Ken Robins. Rimmen went too high in the later laps and fell back into third spot as Wayne Robins charged up through the field and finished in second. Billing held the lead right down to the checkered. This win allowed Billings to tie Wayne Robins for the dwarf points lead.
Heat 1: Mark Brighton
Heat 2: Wayne Robins
Final: Wally Billing, Wayne Robins, Chris Rimmen, Ken Robins, Dave Ackler, Scott billing, Derek Bredin, Rick Brubacher, Nol King, Kellie Mason, Dave Russell, John Wrobel, 43x, Mark Brighton
Rick Baker and Dereck Lemyre started the prostock feature off on the lead row, but it was Baker who would take the early lead. Jeff Dayman was running in the top five until lap seven, when he got bent out of shape and fell back to eighth. The top five with five to go were: Baker, Lemyre, Mike Ward, Steve Devos and Sean Keus. With three laps to go Lemyre dropped into the bottom of turn four and came out ahead of Baker, finishing the race with the win.
Heat 1: Rick Baker
Heat 2: Jeff Dayman
Final: Dereck Lemyre, Rick Baker, Mike Ward, Steve Devos, Sean Keus, Jeff Dayman, Dan Shoop, Dan Gilbert and Ken Sargent
John McKinney and Bobby Davidson began the sportsman feature on the lead row. It was McKenney who pulled up and led the first lap. Bill Willard and Rob Pietz tangled on the first lap going down the straightaway. Willard and Pietz had to be taken apart, as their cars were hooked together. Willard came around and joined the field, while Pietz went to the pits to get his left front shock replaced. Wayne Conn moved into second spot on lap three and into the lead after five laps on the counter. Boyd MacTavish moved into fourth spot on lap ten. Darren Zumpe brought out a caution on lap 12 as he spun out on his own in turn one. MacTavish pulled up into second spot on the restart. Pietz rejoined the field on lap 15. Conn held onto the lead until the checkered. Pietz now has MacTavish and Conn right on his tail in the points lead, as they are five and 25 points behind him respectively.
Heat 1: Wayne Conn
Heat 2: Rob Knapp
Pete Cosco pulled to the early lead in the modified feature. Brad Gravestock brought out the first caution of the race, after finding himself pointing the wrong way in turn one. Chad Brachmann had a tire go down on lap six causing a caution. JamieTurner broke into the top five on the restart. Greg Panunte got bent out of shape coming out of turn four, and Fred Carleton lost control of his car and ended up with heavy damage in turn one. Action resumed and Jamie Turner flew into second position on lap 10. Turner switched spots with Cosco on lap 12, and Scott Wood moved up to take second away on lap 16. Pete Bicknell turned on the thrusters and moved into third spot on lap 18. The top five at 20 were: Turner, Wood, Bicknell, Cosco and Robbie Krull. Brian Stevens slowed and couldn’t hobble into the pits on lap 21, bringing out a yellow. Bicknell powered around Wood on the restart for second, and started hunting Turner for the lead. Caution again two laps later as Gravestock looped it around in turn four. Bicknell powered around Turner on lap 25, having made up 15 positions. Bicknell held it for the checkered and was followed in by Turner, Wood, Lampman and Krull.
Heat 1: Pete Cosco
Heat 2: Greg Panunte
Heat 3: Brian Stevens
Final: Pete Bicknell, Jamie Turner, Scott Wood, Larry Lampman, Robbie Krull, Chad Brachmann, Rick Richner, Paul Ashton, Pete Cosco, Todd Gordon, Chris Ricker, Scott Kruetter, Brad Rouse, Dwayne Winfield, Brad Gravestock, Greg Panunte, Brian Stevens, Fred Carleton, Don Turner.
Saturday August 17th Molson Canadian Fan Appreciation Night Raceline Radio/CJRN 710 presents Charlotte Super Fan Kickoff plus Full Card – Twin Street Stock 12’s plus spectator 1 on 1. For more information, call 905-892-8266 or visit merrittvillespeedway.com