COLD NIGHT, HOT TRACK AT MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY
Thorold, Ontario…..May 18, 2002
The coldest race night in Merrittville Speedway’s history brought out some hot on track action. A huge thanks to all the fans who shivered and huddled for warmth as Merrittville completed its third program of the season. Thanks also to Jr. Karters of the Merrittville Speedway Kart Club who were out displaying their machines – Larry Davidson Jr., Nick Cupolo, Kaitlyn Quigley, Jesse MacDonald and Samantha MacDonald.
Aaron Vasas picked up the checkered flag in the 23 car street stock feature. Bill Perry nabbed a win in the second dwarf car heat, and went on to top it off with his first feature win of the season, while Rick Baker picked up his first prostock feature win of 2002. Stewart Friesen came out ahead in the sportsman feature after winning his heat, and Pete Bicknell won his second modified feature in a row.
Kevin Kocarik took the early lead in the street stock feature, but the yellow flag flew early in the race as the 61j went hard into the wall in turn four. Chris Ellis moved up to challenge Kocarik for the lead on the restart, but Kocarik managed to hang onto it as Ellis started slipping backwards in the pack. Kirk Wilson pulled into second spot to try and reel in Kocarik on lap three. The top five on the fifth lap were: Kocarik, Wilson, Aaron Vasas, Jason Fontaine and Ellis. Wilson pulled into the lead out of turn four on the sixth lap, while Greg Ayres and Paul Plante tangled in turn two, but managed to not draw a caution. The yellow came back out on lap eight as Jeremy Wilson and Fred Korten collided in turn four, causing major damage to the 7f. Dave Dykstra spun himself out in turn two on the restart, but managed to get himself moving and out of the way before the pack bore down on him. Rob Murray was up to fourth on lap 12 after starting the race in the tail position. Kocarik and Jerry Deschamps found themselves in the front wall on the last lap, as the flag man waved the checkered and the yellow simultaneously. Kirk Wilson took a detour into the infield, but still managed to come across the start/finish line in second position. Aaron Vasas was your winner, followed by Wilson, Fontaine, Mike Dooley and Murray.
Heats Winners: 1. Dave Dykstra 2. Peter Reid
Final: Aaron Vasas, Kirk Wilson, Jason Fontaine, Mike Dooley, Rob Murray, Peter Reid, Ron Kingsbury, Chris Ellis, Paul Plante, Greg Ayres, Jens Mortensen, Kevin Kocarik, Jerry Deschamps, Tom Haughton, Russ Davidson, 61j, 25, J.T. Miller, Dave Dykstra, Fred Korten, 10, Jeremy Wilson, and Brian Jacobi.
Derek Bredin and Ken Robbins started the dwarf feature on the lead row, Bill Perry was really quick to grab the coveted spot, doing it on the second lap. Chris Rimmen took Perry¹s cue and followed him up into second on the same lap. Dave Russell was up into third spot by lap three, and was putting pressure on Rimmen, looking to reel him in. Caution came out on lap four as Breedin found himself pointing the wrong way in turn one. The top five were: Perry, Ackler, Russell, Ackler and Ken Robbins. Perry took the easy lead but Nolan King, and Ken and Wayne Robbins found themselves tangled up on the back straightaway, bringing out the caution again. The top five on lap six were: Perry, Rimmen, Russell, Wally Billing and Lee Webber. Kellie Mason found herself in sixth spot. Perry took the easy lead on the restart, but Webber quickly passed two cars to find himself knowing on Rimmen¹s backdoor. He easily took second on lap nine, but Billing didn¹t want to give it to him that easily. Billing came up and the pair went back and forth for a couple of laps, but Webber ultimately finished ahead. Perry took the checkered followed by Webber, Billings, Russell and Rimmen.
Heats Winners: 1 Wally Billing 2 Bill Perry
Feature Final: Bill Perry, Lee Webber, Wally Billing, Dave Russell, Chris Rimmen, Kellie Mason, Ken Robbins, Greg Belyea, Rick Brubacher, Derek Breedin, Mike Green, Dave Ackler, Mark Brighton, Nolan King, Wayne Robins, John Wrobel, and Scott Billing.
Jeff Dayman and Rick Baker started the prostock feature in the lead row. Baker was quick to power to the outside , but Dayman wouldn¹t give him the lead, the two battled back and forth, until finally Baker pulled ahead. Dayman got himself around in turn four on the fifth lap, handing Dan Gilbert second position. Mike Ward was up to third on the restart. Steve Devos started a push up the outside, but was unable to get anywhere. Gilbert spun out on lap eight, but got going again, and a lap later Ward spun out in the same spot, but got clipped by Derek Lemyre. The top five with three to go were Baker, Dayman, Devos, Brian Halliwell and Gilbert. Ward took the long ride back to the pits on the back of a towtruck. Baker held on for the checkered and was followed by Dayman, Devos, Gilbert and Butch Zimmerman.
Heats Winners: 1 Jeff Dayman 2 Rick Baker
Final: Rick Baker, Jeff Dayman, Steve Devos, Dan Gilbert, Butch Zimmerman, Brian Halliwell, Derek Lemyre, Mike Ward and Bill Wade
Bill Bleich and Gary Kruchka started the sportsman feature on the lead row, but it was Kruchka that powered to the lead after the first lap. Jeff Leggett started to put the moves on Bleich, and made it around him for second on lap for. Stewart Friesen moved up to grab third spot on lap five. Rob Knapp had a run in with the wall on lap six bringing out the yellow, and some flared tempers. The top five on six were: Kruchka, Leggett, Friesen, Bleich and Joe Meisel. Friesen moved forward to challenge Kruchka for the lead on the restart, he was side by side with Leggett, but pulled ahead of him out of turn two. On the tenth lap, John Zimmerman, Brian Elliotson, Brad Mallory, and John McKinney all came together in turn two. McKinney was the only one that left the track on a tow truck. Friesen powered to the lead as Kruchka went high and lost momentum. Mike Kruchka spun out in turn four, bringing out another caution. Yellow again on lap 12 as Zimmerman spun out in turn four. Wayne Conn grabbed second sot on the restart almost taking Leggett out in the process. Rob Pietz finally made it up into the top five to challenge. And made it into third spot on lap 15. Conn was in second with eight to go, with Boyd McTavish right behind him, securing third spot, but Pietz was to put a damper on that party and he passed both of them and slid into second spot. Friesen took the checkered followed by Pietz, McTavish, Conn and Joe Meisel.
Heats Winners: 1 Wayne Conn 2 Joe Meisel 3 Stewart Friesen
Feature Final: Stewart Friesen, Rob Pietz, Boyd McTAvish, Wayne Conn, Joe Meisel, Adam Ferri, Jeff Leggett, Gary Kruchka, Mark Feore, Bobby Davidson, Shawn Sliter, John McKinney, Brian Elliotson, Brad Malloy, Doug Spiece, Bill Bleich, John Zimmerman, Darren Zumpe, Glen Styres, Mike Kruchka, Bill Willard and Rob Knapp.
Birthday boy Pete Cosco took the early lead in the modified feature. Ken Winfield fell back into second spot off the start. Paul Ashton moved up and secured second on the second lap. Jamie Turner was sitting in fourth spot on the fourth lap, and moved up in lap eight to take second spot. Larry Lampman followed him up and sat in third on the tenth lap. The first caution of the race came out on lap 12 as Dwayne Winfield spun out in turn three. Cosco held the lead on the restart, but Turner wrangled it from him a lap later.
On lap 15 a car headed out for the cornfield in turn one causing another caution. Turner held the lead on the restart as Pete Bicknell started pushing him, looking for the lead. Bicknell took the lead on lap 18. Brian Stevens was up to fifth spot on lap 19, using the outside line to make waves through the field. He secured third spot on lap 21 going into turn one. Scott Wood barreled around Ashton to nab fifth spot on lap 22. Yellow on lap 23 as a few cars got together in turn four. The 17 car of Cosco blew up as he slowed down for the caution. Having to be taken from the track on the back of a tow truck. The top five on 23: Bicknell, Turner, Stevens, Lampman and Wood. Stevens used the outside to his advantage yet again and slid into second spot on lap 24. Lampman took a cue from Stevens and used the outside line to get around him for second spot on lap 34. Bicknell brought home the checkered followed by Lampman, Stevens, Turner and Wood.
Heats: 1 Pete Cosco 2 Scott Wood 3 Jamie Turner
Feature Final: Pete Bicknell, Larry Lampmn, Brian Stevens, Jamie Turner, Scott Wood, Fred Carleton, Paul Ashton, Robbie Krull, Dan Miller, Chad Brachmann, Todd Gordon, Chris Ricker, Rick Richner, Don Turner, Dwayne Winfield, Brad Gravestock, Ken Winfield, Gregg Rauscher and Pete Cosco.
Join us on Monday night for the Victoria Day Firecracker. 50 lap 358 plusSptmn, SS, 4 cyl and Fireworks. For more information call 905-892-8266 or visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com