BICKNELL, PIETZ, DEVOS, ACKLER & REID ALL WINNERS
AT MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY'S TRADITIONAL MEL SWART SPRING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Thorold, Ont…..June 8th…..Peter Reid took the first win of his street stock career Saturday night at Merrittville Speedway, during the Mel Swart Spring Championships. Dave Ackler held off a competitive dwarf field to take the feature. Steve Devos avoided accidents in the prostock feature to win it, and Rob Pietz came out on top in the sportsman feature. Pete Bicknell added another checkered flag to his collection, after leading the last half of the modified feature.
Ed Fargnoli took the early lead in the street stock feature, only to be shuffled back as Dave Dykstra powered forward. On the first lap, Russ Davidson got a rear flat, making him slide across the track in turn four and collided with Rick Champigny giving him a flat tire. The top five after three laps were; Dave Dykstra, Fargnoli, Peter Reid, Jerry Deschamps and Kevin Kocarik. The field went four wide in spots on the restart, but all managed to make it around alright. On lap five Dykstra relinquished the lead to Reid. Ron Kingsbury and Peter Plante collided in turn two bringing out yet another caution. Deschamps was slammed on the front straightaway by several cars as the field slowed down for the yellow. Deschamps blew his rad and had to be towed from the track, on the caution the cars had to work in the puddle he had left on the track. Kingsbury made it to the pits under his own power, and Plante was towed. Reid held onto the lead as Mike The Candyman Dooley slipped into second spot ahead of Dykstra. Tom Haughton and Shawn Emery brought out the next caution on lap 11 as they got together in turn four. Reid held onto it for the checkered and was followed in by Dooley, Dykstra, Rob Murray and Kirk Wilson.
Heat Winners: Peter Reid, Rob Murray
Final: Peter Reid, Mike Dooley, Dave Dykstra, Rob Murray, Kirk Wilson, Greg Ayers, Chris Ellis, Dolph McCready, Aaron Vasas, Barry Blanchard, Rick Simons, Peter Plante, Kevin Kocarik, Ron Kingsbury, Shawn Emery, Russ Davidson, J.T. Miller, Jeff Cook, Tom Haughton, Ed Fargnoli, Jerry Deschamps and Rick Champigny.
Greg Belyea and Nolan King started the dwarf feature on the lead row, but it was Belyea who took the early lead. His lead was short though as Dave Ackler slid into the top spot on lap three. Wally Billings made his way around Belyea for second spot on lap four, with Scott Billing in third as Belyea started the long slide backwards. On lap ten the top five were, Ackler, Wally Billing, Scott Billing, Dave Russell, and Belyea. Wally got a run on Ackler on lap 13 as they got caught up in lapped traffic, however it wasn’t mean to be as Ackler held it to the line. Wally Billing finished second, Scott third, Bill Perry fourth and Russell finished out the top five.
Heat Winners: Chris Rimmen, Scott Billing
Final: Dave Ackler, Wally Billing, Scott Billing, Bill Perry, Dave Russell, Greg Belyea, Chris Rimmen, Wayne Robins, Mark Brighton, Kellie Mason, John Wrobel, Nolan King, Mark Brubacher and Ken Robins
The prostock feature began with only eight cars and finished with six. Mike Ward and Steve Devos started the feature in the lead row, and stayed side by side until the second lap when Devos use of the outside line came to fruition, putting him in the lead. Some rubbing in turn four led to Ward putting Rick Baker into the tires in turn one, and a black flag for Ward. Baker was towed from the track, and was unable to make it back to finish the race, succumbing to some major damage. Dereck Lemyre was in second spot after the caution. Lemyre moved up to run side by side with Devos, but pushed too hard in turn one and spun himself out, taking Dan Gilbert with him. Shawn Keus and Jeff Dayman were fighting hard for second spot, but the two of them wiped out in turn four on lap eight. Both cars made it back out. Devos held onto the lead and was followed in by Lemyre, Gilbert, Jason Harper, and Keus.
Heat Winner: Steve Devos
Final: Steve Devos, Dereck Lemyre, Dan Gilbert, Jason Harper, Shawn Keus, Jeff Dayman, Rick Baker
Mechanics, crew and crew chiefs for Merrittville drivers were given a chance to put the car to the test with the 2nd annual Mechanics Race. Chris Crawford came out on top and was followed by Erin Farbychuk, Claire Reynolds and Cliff Allen.
Mike Kruchka and Darren Zumpe began the sportsman feature in the lead row, but it was Zumpe that took the lead on the start. The first accident occurred in turn three when Brian Elliotson got himself spun around. Someone shed papers all over the track during the caution. Dave Flanagan was black flagged for not taking the green flag in the race. Gary Kruchka hit the cone on the restart. Zumpe got turned around in four connected with Brad Malloy, and leaving him in third spot. John McKenney took the lead from him, with Rob Pietz right behind him. Pietz moved into the lead on lap seven, coming out of turn four. Elliotson got turned again in turn four on lap eight bringing out another caution. The top five on eight were Pietz, McKenney, Malloy, Jeff Leggett and Chad Chevalier. Leggett powered up into third spot on the restart, as Pietz held the lead. Chevalier made a move on McKinney for third after Leggett passed him for second and took it on lap 14. Boyd MacTavish had made it all the way up to fourth by lap 19. At 20 the leaders were: Pietz, Leggett, Chevalier, MacTavish and Adam Ferri. Bobby Davidson headed to the pits on lap 23 after breaking on the front. Pietz brought the field home followed by Leggett, Chevalier, MacTavish and Ferri.
Heat Winners: John McKenney, Boyd MacTavish
Final: Rob Pietz, Jeff Leggett, Chad Chevalier, Boyd MacTavish, Adam Ferri, John McKinney, Bill Willard, Brad Malloy, Doug Spiece, Wayne Conn, Rob Knapp, 9????, Gary Kruchka, Mike Kruchka, Darren Zumpe, Barry Davidson, Brian Elliotson
Don Turner powered to lead the first lap of the modified feature. Chad Brachmann slipped into second spot on lap two, and made a challenge for the lead, but had to fight Turner until lap four before he succeeded in taking the lead. Paul Ashton sat in third spot on four. Pete Bicknell started his drive early and was in fifth spot by lap five. He challenged Brian Stevens for fourth on lap eight and won. Brad Gravestock got himself around in lap four bringing out the first caution. Brachmann easily held the lead, and Bicknell slid into third on the restart and second a lap later. Brachmann was able to hold him off for only a couple of laps before Bicknell went around him like he was standing still. Stevens moved up to challenge Ashton for third on lap 13, and got around him on 15. Scott Wood broke the top five on lap 17, and took fourth on lap 22. Caution on lap 22 as Scott Kruetter spun out in turn four. Top five at 22: Bicknell, Brachmann, Stevens, Ashton and Wood. Stevens started to make a move on Brachmann on the restart, but was pushing too hard in the corners, falling just short of getting around him. Wood snuck into fourth spot on the restart. Brachmann and Stevens were side by side on lap 31, but Stevens slid ahead. Bicknell took the checkered followed by Stevens, Brachmann, Wood, and Jamie Turner. Post race inspection disqualified Brian Stevens moving the finish up.
Heat Winners: Chad Brachmann, Greg Panunte. Ken Winfield.
Final: Pete Bicknell, Chad Brachmann, Scott Wood, Jamie Turner, Larry Lampman, Rob Krull, Paul Ashton, Todd Gordon, Greg Panunte, Harry Sittler, Ken Winfield, Scott Kruetter, Don Turner, Chris Ricker, Brad Gravestock, Fred Carleton, Gregg Rauscher, Dwayne Winfield, and Dave Flanagan. Brian Stevens DQ.
Next on deck Molson Canadian presents the Empire Super Sprints – June 15th – treat your Dad to the ESS at Merrittville Speedway – race card also includes 358’s, sportsman, pro stocks and dwarfs. Win Molson Indy VIP tickets!!! For more information, visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com or call the Speedway office 905-892-8266.